Disney/Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ Remains No. 1 at Weekend Box Office Through March 15
Disney/Pixar’s animated sequel Hoppers held the weekend box‑office lead with a $28.5 million second‑weekend, pushing its global gross to nearly $165 million and ranking third among all 2026 releases. Universal’s romance Reminders of Him debuted with $18.2 million, while A24’s micro‑budget horror Undertone generated $9.3 million on a $500,000 budget. Paramount’s Scream 7 added $8.4 million in its third weekend, taking its worldwide total to $177 million, and Sony’s GOAT and Warner’s The Bride! and Wuthering Heights posted modest gains. The results highlight animated dominance and strong returns for low‑budget genre titles.
Dwayne Johnson & Jason Momoa’s $714 Million Action Movie Streams Today on Peacock
Universal Pictures’ blockbuster Fast X, the latest Fast & Furious installment starring Dwayne Johnson, Jason Momoa, Vin Diesel and an all‑star ensemble, has launched on Peacock’s streaming platform. The film earned over $714 million worldwide during its theatrical run and holds...
Hit Crime Drama with Perfect Seasons Is About to Leave Netflix – Don't Miss Out!
The hit crime drama Power is set to leave Netflix on March 31, ending its six‑year streaming run. All six seasons, totaling 63 episodes, remain available for a final binge before the departure. The series, executive‑produced by 50 Cent, boasts an...
Has Primal Season 4 Been Canceled or Renewed?
Adult Swim has not yet announced whether the critically acclaimed animated series Primal will return for a fourth season. The show, created by Genndy Tartakovsky, concluded Season 3 only weeks ago, leaving renewal prospects uncertain. Tartakovsky told Forbes he would love...
Paramount+ Is Merging With BET+ and HBO Max to Form a Super Streaming Service – Here Is What We Know...
Paramount Global announced a plan to merge its Paramount+ streaming service with BET+ and HBO Max, creating a single super‑streaming platform. The move follows Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and aims to combine libraries, technology and subscriber...
What Makes ‘Good TV’ on the Internet? Piers Morgan Has Thoughts.
Former Fox broadcaster Piers Morgan has turned his YouTube channel, Uncensored, into a growing media platform. The channel now boasts over 4.3 million subscribers and recently secured $30 million in funding to launch new shows and hire talent, including a former MSNBC...
“I’m Sure Soph and I Will Work This Out”
Talent agency 22 has denied allegations by Australian singer Sophie Monk that it improperly withheld over $500,000 in earnings. Monk is suing for $544,683 in unpaid commissions, interest and fees, while the agency has filed a cross‑claim for $124,000, alleging...
Warner Bros. Discovery Investors Eyeing 14% Return if Paramount Merger Closes by Sept. 30
Warner Bros. Discovery investors anticipate a roughly 14% upside if the $111 billion Paramount‑Skydance merger closes by the Sept. 30 deadline. WBD’s stock slipped to $27.14, down from $29, after Netflix withdrew its $83 billion offer, while Paramount has pledged $31 per share...
Brendan Carr Now Trying to Threaten Away the Networks' Negative War Coverage
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr used social media to warn broadcasters that stations spreading what he calls “fake news” about the U.S. bombing of Iran could face license renewal challenges. He emphasized the FCC’s public‑interest mandate and suggested that non‑compliant stations...
‘Buffy’ Reboot Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar Not Going Forward At Hulu
Hulu has cancelled its planned *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* reboot starring Sarah Michelle Gellar after the pilot failed to meet internal standards. The project, ordered a year ago and directed by Oscar‑winner Chloé Zhao, featured a script by the Zuckerman sisters and...
The MLB Angels Buy Out FanDuel Sports Network & Will Launch Their Own RSN Cable TV Network
The Los Angeles Angels have bought Main Street Sports Group’s 50 percent stake in FanDuel Sports Network West, gaining full ownership of the regional sports network. The deal eliminates the bankruptcy‑related uncertainty surrounding Main Street and allows the Angels to launch an...
Namita Jadhav Steps Down as VP of Corporate Communications at JioStar
Namita Jadhav has stepped down as vice‑president of corporate communications at JioStar after a 1.5‑year stint, ending a career that includes nearly two decades at Disney and senior roles at Weber Shandwick. Her departure marks the loss of a seasoned media‑industry...
Dame Dash Talk Show Gets Approved By BET
Hip‑hop entrepreneur Dame Dash has secured a partnership with BET to launch a new talk‑docuseries titled “OG Stories.” The series, which he will produce and host, will spotlight “OGs,” cultural architects, street legends, and self‑made bosses, debuting in the spring...
Netflix Premium Vs. Netflix Standard: I Compared the Subscriptions Plans to Find the Best Deal
Netflix offers two contrasting subscription tiers: Premium at $25 per month delivers 4K HDR video, spatial audio, and four simultaneous streams, while the ad‑supported Standard plan costs $8 per month, limits streaming to two devices and caps video at 1080p....
Psyop Names Dotti Sinnott EVP of Studio
Psyop has named Dotti Sinnott executive vice president of studio, adding a seasoned production and studio‑management leader to its senior team. Sinnott will direct studio operations, production pipelines, and creative development while overseeing Psyop’s global network of partner studios. Her...
Blumhouse Television Wants to Be the Face of Horror TV Without Relying on Monsters and Slashers
Blumhouse Television, under new chief Melissa Aouate, is expanding its horror portfolio beyond traditional monsters and slashers to embrace a full spectrum of sub‑genres. The strategy is exemplified by the Amazon series "Scarpetta," a forensic procedural infused with creepy elements,...
JAM Media’s John Rice: Why Children’s Brands That Don’t Own Their Audience Will Be Left Behind
John Rice, CEO of JAM Media, warned that the traditional broadcaster‑centric model for preschool animation is becoming obsolete as platforms cut budgets and demand more audience ownership. He highlighted the need for studios to build direct relationships with children and...
Key Contextual Data Points for Targeted and Brand-Safe CTV Advertising
At Streaming Media Connect 2026, Philo and Roku executives discussed how contextual data drives brand‑safe CTV advertising. Philo, a lean MVPD with just 11 ad‑operations staff, relies on programmatic workflows and granular tone signals—such as happy versus sad moments—to match...
Ratings Roundup: FOX Smashes WBC Records, ESPN Nets Best College Hoops Audience in 10+ Years
Fox Sports shattered World Baseball Classic pool‑play viewership records, delivering an average 3.17 million viewers – a 183% increase over 2023 – with the Italy‑USA upset becoming the most‑watched telecast on FS1. ESPN posted its strongest men’s college basketball season in...
CVC’s Allera Confident in ‘Healthy’ Media Market and Data-Driven Opportunities
Marc Allera, chair of CVC Capital Partners' Global Sport Group (GSG), said streaming platforms have made the sports media rights market healthier and that data‑driven revenue streams will drive future growth. GSG, which consolidates over €4.6 billion of CVC’s sports investments,...
Shorties Studios Launches New Micro-Drama
Shorties Studios, the premium vertical‑series producer founded by OGM Pictures’ Onur Güvenatam, has debuted a new micro‑drama titled “The Prince and the Royal Wedding Planner” on the GammaTime streaming app. The five‑episode romance stars Toby Elliot, Emily Gateley, Kayleigh Foster,...
Simulmedia Names A Chief Commercial Officer, Skybeam GM
Simulmedia announced two senior hires to boost its commercial and product capabilities. Justin Nesci, formerly iHeartMedia’s EVP of Advanced Audio and Data Revenue, joins as chief commercial officer to steer global sales, marketing and brand partnerships. Adam Gaynor, with a track record...
How ‘Virgin River’ Became One of Netflix’s Biggest Hits
Netflix’s romance series "Virgin River" has become one of the platform’s most reliable hits since its 2019 debut, despite modest budgets and a cast without A‑list names. Filmed largely in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, the show leverages authentic small‑town scenery...
YouTube TV Is an Almost Perfect March Madness Streaming Machine
YouTube TV introduced a $65‑per‑month sports‑focused plan that delivers every men’s and women’s NCAA tournament game across CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN, and has expanded multiview functionality for simultaneous viewing. The service still lacks ESPN+ integration, requiring an extra subscription...
NAB 2026: Harmonic Takes Wraps Off Spectrum X Plus Media Server
At NAB 2026, Harmonic unveiled Spectrum X Plus, the latest iteration of its Spectrum X media server line. The new platform doubles channel density, handling up to eight HD or two UHD channels per chassis while cutting rack space and...
NAB 2026: Net Insight Introduces Nimbra 520 Media Processing Node
At NAB 2026 Net Insight unveiled the Nimbra 520, a high‑density media processing node designed for live contribution and distribution. The node handles multi‑channel HEVC and AVC, UHD, 10‑bit video and low‑latency workflows while delivering up to 50 % bandwidth savings versus legacy...
Movistar Plus Adds 278,000 Subs in 2025
Movistar Plus added 278,000 subscribers in 2025, raising its total base to 3.8 million and delivering a 7.9% year‑on‑year increase. The growth marks a sharp acceleration from the 94,000 new customers recorded in 2024 and represents the second consecutive year of...
Ronaldinho: The One and Only Leads Netflix’s New Soccer Documentaries for 2026
Netflix is rolling out a three‑part Brazilian soccer documentary slate in 2026, headlined by the three‑episode series "Ronaldinho: The One and Only" premiering April 16. The docuseries offers never‑before‑seen archival footage and interviews with legends such as Messi, Neymar and Galvão...
Lessons From Independent Studio: Standing Out in Podcasts' Shift to Video
Apple announced video‑streaming capabilities for Apple Podcasts, letting users toggle between audio and video while supporting dynamic ad insertion. The move follows Spotify’s similar rollout and reflects a broader industry shift toward video‑first podcast experiences. Independent Studio argues that standing...
Two Spanish Titles Selected for Series Mania Forum’s Buyers Upfront
Series Mania Forum’s Buyers Upfront, an invitation‑only market event on March 23 in Lille, has selected ten premium series for its second edition. Among them are two Spanish productions – the sci‑fi drama *In Vitro* and the thriller *The Dark Book:...
Portugal Pay-TV Growth Hits 19-Year Low; Fibre Passes 70%
Portugal ended 2025 with 4.7 million pay‑TV subscribers, a modest 0.5 % year‑on‑year increase – the slowest growth since 2006. Residential customers accounted for 88.3 % of the base, rising to 4.1 million, while non‑residential connections grew 2.3 % to 546,000. Fibre‑to‑the‑home remained dominant, delivering...
Fremantle Appoints Ben Crompton as New Global Head of Entertainment
Fremantle has named Ben Crompton as its new Global Head of Entertainment, effective later this month, reporting directly to Global CEO Jennifer Mullin. Crompton arrives from NBCUniversal, where he served as Vice President of International Unscripted, and brings a track...
Amagi Report: Applied AI Moving Into Core Media Workflows
Amagi’s March 2026 Airtime Report shows FAST (Free Ad‑Supported Streaming TV) viewership rising 21% YoY in Q4 2025, with ad impressions up 27%. The growth was strongest in LATAM, where hours of viewing jumped 66% and ad impressions 77%. A survey of...
Sportdigital Acquires Rights to AFC Women’s Asian Cup
German broadcaster Sportdigital has secured broadcast rights to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, beginning coverage with the quarter‑finals in Australia. The 12‑team tournament also serves as the Asian qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, granting direct berths...
Are CAPIs The Next Phase Of Performance TV?
Streaming giants are adding conversion APIs (CAPIs) to bring performance‑driven measurement to connected TV. Netflix unveiled its CAPI alongside new targeting options, while Roku and Comcast have introduced self‑serve APIs aimed at SMB advertisers. CAPIs promise to bridge the attribution...
Are CAPIs The Next Phase Of Performance TV?
Streaming giants are bringing conversion APIs (CAPIs) to connected TV as advertisers demand measurable performance. Netflix unveiled its CAPI alongside new targeting options, while Roku, Comcast and LinkedIn already provide similar APIs for CTV measurement. CAPIs promise to close the...
Filming Underway on Deadliest Dinners
Australian adventurer‑chef Mario Kalpou is filming "Deadliest Dinners," an eight‑part documentary series for Binge/Foxtel. The show follows Kalpou as he ventures into some of Australia’s most hazardous landscapes to hunt wild, often dangerous ingredients. He collaborates with Indigenous custodians and...
AEW PPVs Available via DAZN
DAZN is adding All Elite Wrestling pay‑per‑view events to its global sports lineup, excluding India. The first title‑fight, AEW Revolution, streams on March 15, followed by Dynasty, Double or Nothing, and All In later in the year. Viewers can buy each event...
GEORGIE GARDNER to Exit NINE After 25 Years with the Network
Nine announced that veteran journalist Georgie Gardner will leave the network after nearly 25 years of service. She began in 2002 as a weather presenter and morning news reader, later anchoring the Today Show and the 6pm weekend bulletin in...
Thursday VOZ Ratings | NRL Sneaks in Front of the AFL but Seven Takes the Night
Thursday’s VOZ ratings show the NRL’s Round 2 clash between Brisbane and Parramatta pulling 772,000 average viewers, edging out the AFL’s Round 1 Carlton‑Richmond game at 675,000. Seven Network captured the night with a 30.9% total‑TV share and a 31.3% consolidated share,...
10 Years Later, Mark Wahlberg's Big-Budget Disaster Epic Wins Big on Streaming
Mark Wahlberg’s 2016 disaster epic *Deepwater Horizon* has resurfaced as a streaming hit on Netflix, despite its original $150 million budget and a $112 million box‑office loss. The film, which earned two Oscar nominations, now ranks among the most‑watched titles on Netflix’s...
Court TV Finalizes Layoffs; Matt Johnson, Julie Grant Depart Network
Court TV is undergoing a major restructuring after its sale to Jellysmack’s Law&Crime Network, announcing sweeping layoffs and a reduced on‑air schedule. Anchor Julie Grant and crime correspondent Matt Johnson are among the high‑profile departures, while roughly two dozen behind‑the‑scenes...
CMO Spotlight: Netflix ANZ’s Tony Broderick on Creative Risks
Netflix ANZ’s director of marketing Tony Broderick champions "uncomfortably exciting" creative risks, exemplified by the large‑scale Wednesday Island event that turned Cockatoo Island into a fan festival. He emphasizes a title‑led strategy where bold cultural moments drive broader business metrics,...
Apple Revs Up Formula 1: Eddy Cue Says Response to First Race “Exceeding Both F1 and Apple Expectations” (Exclusive)
Apple’s senior VP of Services Eddy Cue announced that viewership for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix on Apple TV+ rose year‑over‑year, surpassing both Formula 1 and Apple’s expectations. While exact numbers were not disclosed, the increase follows Apple’s acquisition of U.S....
‘War Machine’ Is Latest Netflix Action Flick to Top Streaming Chart
Netflix’s new action film “War Machine,” starring Alan Ritchson, topped the Samba TV weekly Wrap Report chart with 7 million households watching in its first three days. The movie marks the platform’s second major action hit of 2026, following the thriller...
California Attorney General Vows to Scrutinize Paramount's Deal for Warner Bros. Discovery
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an open investigation into Paramount’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, warning that federal antitrust enforcement has receded. Bonta said the state could file suit or join other AGs to block the deal, citing...
Nine Digital Leader Alexander Needs to Depart After 24 Years
Senior media executive Alexander Needs announced he will leave Nine Entertainment after a 24‑year tenure. His career at Nine evolved from ACP magazine publishing to live‑TV roles on A Current Affair and Today, culminating in leading the network’s digital video and social...
‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Orbiting $160M+ 5-Day Opening; Bound To Be Biggest YTD – Box Office Early Look
Illumination, Nintendo and Universal expect The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to open with more than $160 million in its first five domestic days, positioning it as the biggest box‑office performer of 2026 so far. The sequel surpasses the 2023 Mario Bros launch, which earned $204.6 million...
Teamsters Call on DOJ to Stop Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger: “We’ve Seen What Happens When Corporations Consolidate Power”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has formally asked the Department of Justice to block the $111 billion Paramount‑Warner Bros. merger unless enforceable worker protections are included. Union leaders highlighted concerns that the deal could trigger layoffs and diminish domestic production for...
Why Bones' Creator Wasn't Surprised When The Spin-Off Series The Finder Tanked
Hart Hanson, creator of "Bones," said he expected the spin‑off "The Finder" to struggle, and the series indeed faltered after one season. Fans of the original procedural were skeptical of new characters and resisted the backdoor pilot that introduced Walter...