Television News and Headlines
Television News and Headlines
Global Distribution Services has added two FAST channels to the UK Freeview platform: Music and Memories on channel 290 and Outdoor Channel (paired with World Fishing Network) on channel 291. Both services employ a waterfall monetisation model, server‑side ad insertion and a consent management platform to maximise ad fill while staying GDPR‑compliant. Music and Memories moves from the shared Channelbox slot to a dedicated listing, offering classic hits and country music. Outdoor Channel brings fishing, wildlife and adventure programming, widening Freeview’s genre portfolio.
Deloitte’s 20th‑year Digital Media Trends survey shows US streaming spend flat at $69 per month, while fan‑identified viewers are driving higher engagement and spend. 68% of subscription video‑on‑demand (SVoD) users now carry an ad‑supported tier, and fans spend $71 monthly—27%...
Seven Network has appointed veteran journalist Rahni Sadler as Executive Producer of its flagship current‑affairs program 7NEWS Spotlight, succeeding Gemma Williams who will become Managing Editor of 7NEWS. Sadler returns to Seven after a senior producer stint at the ABC,...
KSI will stream Dagenham & Redbridge's National League South match against Hampton & Richmond on March 28 via his YouTube channel, offering free worldwide access. The partnership involves DAZN and the National League, aiming to make the fixture the most‑watched...
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) is overhauling its sales organization to create an integrated, data‑driven monetisation engine that serves both traditional TV and fast‑growing digital platforms. The restructuring, led by COO Sandeep Mehrotra, appoints new chief sales officers for regional...
OpenAI announced it is shutting down Sora, its AI‑powered video generation tool, effectively terminating a planned three‑year, $1 billion partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The deal, which would have given Disney access to Sora and allowed OpenAI to tap Disney’s...
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the suspension of BARC television rating points for news channels by four weeks, citing concerns that sensational coverage of the US‑Iran conflict could fuel public anxiety. The pause, now entering a second...
Apple TV+ announced that its sci‑fi drama *For All Mankind* will conclude with a sixth season, making it the streamer’s longest‑running series alongside *The Morning Show*. Season 5 launches on March 27, followed by the spin‑off *Star City* on May 29. The creators...
LG Electronics unveiled a slate of new exclusive programming for its LG Channels during the NewFronts event in New York. The lineup includes a puppy‑soccer tournament called World Pup, a culinary lifestyle channel “All Chewed Up,” an expanded Fantasy Life sports...
ABC News announced that a pending labor strike will cause interruptions to its broadcast schedule, with presenter Gemma Veness warning viewers of potential programming gaps. The strike is part of a broader dispute between the network’s journalists and management over...
Level 33 Entertainment will launch the Czech‑produced animated fairy‑tale "Proud Princess" on demand on April 7, 2026. The story follows young King Benjamin, who disguises himself as a gardener to win over the proud Princess Carolina, leading to a daring...
The second season of "Daredevil: Born Again" launches on Disney+ on March 24, 2024, with the first episode streaming at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes will roll out weekly, primarily on Tuesdays, though the schedule includes a double‑drop on March 31. The...
ESX Entertainment is releasing a feature‑length version of its Freevee series "Casa Grande" in theaters on May 1, 2026. Directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz, the drama follows a prodigal daughter returning to a family ranch amid a ruthless land‑grab. The film stars...
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are developing a scripted polo drama for Netflix, following a poorly received documentary series they executive‑produced. The untitled project will be written by Francisca X. Hu and set in Wellington, Florida, the host of the...
Sky Business and Netflix have forged their first partnership to broadcast Tyson Fury's return fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in UK and Irish pubs on April 11. Sky Business secured exclusive commercial rights to stream the event in hospitality venues, while...
Oscar‑nominee Aunjanue Ellis‑Taylor has been added as a series regular to CBS’s upcoming drama Einstein, portraying Captain Frost, a seasoned police officer counting down to retirement. The show, starring Matthew Gray Gubler and Melissa Fumero, joins CBS’s 2026‑27 broadcast lineup...
Law&Crime announced the launch of Law&Crime+, a subscription platform delivering immersive true‑crime content. The service provides exclusive access to case files, raw footage, and early trial coverage for high‑profile cases such as Karen Read, Alex Murdaugh and Bryan Kohberger. Subscribers...
Witbe will debut an AI‑native video streaming test and monitoring infrastructure at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The solution weaves artificial intelligence through four layers—real‑device execution (Witbox), AI‑driven automation (Agentic SDK), operational control (REC) and intelligent analysis (Smartgate). Leveraging...
The YES Network is expanding its Yankees game coverage by adding an extra hour of pre‑game analysis and a 30‑minute post‑game segment, pushing total broadcast time to roughly 6.5 hours per weeknight matchup. New shows such as Yankees Rewind, The...
Jeff Winemiller, a veteran low‑power television (LPTV) trader, has acquired a Daystar‑affiliated LPTV station in Seattle through his company Lowcountry 34 Media. The deal marks his entry into the Pacific Northwest’s most populous market, expanding his portfolio beyond the Southwest...
Netflix veteran Steven Maeda, known for steering the One Piece live‑action series, is now helming Amazon MGM Studios' adaptation of the award‑winning comic *Monstress* into an adult animated series for Prime Video. He will co‑run the project with fellow One...
Zoic Studios has named Raphael A. Pimentel as its new Director of Animation, overseeing animation for feature films, episodic series, commercials, and experiential projects. Pimentel arrives from Luma Pictures, where he directed animation teams in Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Vancouver...
Finalists for the 2026 Digiday Video and TV Awards highlight a shift toward immersive, audience‑driven storytelling, with brands treating video as a core business engine. Adobe’s “Great Big Giant MAX Creator Challenge” earned 36.3 million interactions and a 6 % engagement rate,...
Tubi unveiled a suite of new ad formats at IAB NewFronts, including the interactive Scene Sense overlay and pause‑time carousel ads that tie messaging to on‑screen content. The streamer also announced original creator‑driven series aimed at Gen Z and a partnership...
Early‑bird applications for the Melbourne International Film Festival’s 37°South Market are now open until 13 April, with discounted rates for producers seeking financing. The four‑day market will take place in August in Melbourne, offering one‑on‑one meetings, pitch sessions, and roundtables that...
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has appointed Samantha Turi, former Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Matchbox Pictures, to lead its newly created commercial strategy role. Turi brings over a decade of experience negotiating rights and structuring deals across scripted...
Triggerfish Animation Studios has opened a new UK base in Bristol, occupying the Royal Talbot Buildings. The location leverages Bristol’s UNESCO City of Film status and strong animation ecosystem, and is backed by a £25 million (≈$32 million) Creative Places Growth Fund...
Plimsoll Productions has appointed veteran executive producer Paul Wright to spearhead its live programming across adventure, factual entertainment, and natural history. Wright arrives fresh from Netflix’s high‑profile "Skyscraper Live with Alex Honnold," a technically demanding event that showcased Plimsoll’s production...
Philo has expanded its free, ad‑supported streaming lineup by adding six new channels from Lionsgate and Blue Ant Media, bringing the total to over 130 channels. The additions—Heartland, The Conners, Nash Bridges, Caught in Providence, True Crime, and Shockwave—cover a mix...
Apple Music announced a partnership with Ticketmaster to power its concert discovery feature, embedding ticket links directly within the streaming app. The integration adds a dedicated Concerts tab, homepage carousel, artist‑page badges, and push notifications that surface nearby shows based...
Paramount+ has renewed the long‑running procedural "Criminal Minds" through a landmark 20th season while announcing a May 28, 2024 premiere for Season 19. The upcoming season returns the core ensemble—Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, among others—and adds a star‑studded roster of...
Network‑management specialist MNC Software has named Heartland Video Systems as its authorized North American reseller, a partnership that will be showcased at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The deal centers on MNC’s newly launched Tapestry broadcast automation and...
Victory+ has launched a free, ad‑supported streaming service called “NWSL Sunday Night Soccer,” delivering live coverage of 99 matches—including 57 national broadcasts—for the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season. The platform pairs live games with on‑demand replays, creator‑led content, and...
Netflix ended its DVD‑by‑mail service on September 29, 2023, leaving millions of U.S. movie fans without a physical‑media option. DVD Inbox launched to fill that void, offering a subscription model that mirrors Netflix’s former system, including the ability to import...
HBO Max has signed a first‑look content agreement with former Movistar+ chief Domingo Corral to produce original Spanish series, beginning with the in‑production drama “El Nani.” The partnership is part of HBO Max’s accelerated push into Europe, following recent launches...
The Sports Video Group’s 2026 Regional Sports Production Summit in Denver will feature a keynote from MLB Local Media, highlighting how Major League Baseball has built a local‑broadcast operation for 14 clubs. Executives Doug Johnson and Kendall Burgess will discuss...
The National Association of Broadcasters will open its 2026 NAB Show by honoring the reality series “Survivor” as it reaches its 50th season, presenting the Spirit of Broadcasting Award. The ceremony features a live remote interview with host Jeff Probst...
Second Rodeo Productions, led by CEO Scott Brown, is pioneering a new production model that focuses on digitally native scripted formats such as micro‑dramas—short, one‑minute chapters monetized per episode. Drawing on collaborations with megastars like MrBeast, The Rock and Kevin...
EITB has awarded Barcelona‑based Konodrac a contract to deliver HbbTV‑based audience measurement and addressable TV services across its connected television platforms. The system will capture real‑time viewing data from smart TVs, enable interactive promotions and targeted ads, and integrate with...
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show 2026 will take place April 18‑22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring a packed lineup on the creator economy, AI, streaming and broadcast technology. Among the highlights, Telestream introduced UP, a cloud‑native...
Disney+ has officially renewed Marvel Studios' series Wonder Man for a second season, following its January premiere. Lead actors Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II and Ben Kingsley will return, with creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest continuing as showrunner and director. The renewal...
Paramount Skydance has launched BBTV, a dedicated streaming service for the long‑running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. The platform debuts with over 9,000 episodes covering the first 37 seasons, with additional seasons slated for later addition. Subscriptions are...
Netflix’s animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters” became the platform’s most‑watched film, earned an Oscar and launched a massive merchandising line. After the breakout, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans secured an exclusive five‑year agreement worth roughly $10 million per year, plus...
Verimatrix, a security firm with over 400 customers and 200 engineers, is positioning itself as a global leader in anti‑piracy technology for live sports. In a new SVG Sponsor Spotlight, VP of Product Management Juan Martinez explains that the time‑sensitive...
France TV Distribution has secured a slate of international sales for the first episodes of the French light‑crime series *Curious by Nature*. The show landed deals in Spain with ETB, Aragón TV and NBCUniversal’s Calle 13 channel, and expanded into Poland,...
European scripted TV production is entering a downturn, with the European Audiovisual Observatory reporting fewer episodes per season and shorter episode runtimes after a growth peak in 2022. The shift reflects a broader market correction as streaming platforms curb original‑content...
Amazon abruptly cancelled "The Wheel of Time" in May 2025 despite the series earning 81%‑97% Rotten Tomatoes scores and strong fan enthusiasm. One year later, IP owner iwot Studios announced a partnership with Arcane producer Thomas Vu and Initiate Entertainment...
IBC has announced nine projects for its 2026 Accelerator Media Innovation Programme, entering a six‑month development phase that will culminate in live Proof‑of‑Concept demos at IBC2026 from September 11‑14. The initiatives span open‑5G network control, AI‑driven content discovery, quantum‑secure live...
Rusk Media announced that Performax and DaMENSCH will serve as special partners for the second season of its reality competition, Battleground, which launches on Amazon MX Player in April 2026. The show brings back creator‑mentor Abhishek Malhan, aka Fukra Insaan,...
CNN recently revamped its flagship shows with a casual, podcast‑style set‑up, rolling up sleeves and broadcasting from home offices to mimic the authenticity of popular YouTube and TikTok clips. The experiment aimed to modernize the network’s image but fell flat,...
