Global media consumption hit 57.2 hours per week in 2024, up 2.4% thanks to major events like the Summer Olympics and federal elections, according to PQ Media’s newly released 2025 Global Consumer Media Usage Forecast. Time spent with ad-supported content declined, and 2025 is expected to see the first drop in overall media use since 2009 — down 0.3% globally. In the U.S., usage is projected to fall more sharply by 1.8%, averaging 79.6 hours per week, as digital engagement levels off in developed markets.

Discovery Channel is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a yearlong celebration across the US and international markets, featuring special programming, social media campaigns, branded merchandise and a new brand spot. As part of the milestone, Warner Bros. Discovery has teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant more than 40,000 trees worldwide. Fans can explore a specially curated 40th anniversary collection on discovery+ and Max.

NewsNation is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing with a new weekend special entitled “ON AIR LIVE: The Oklahoma City Bombing” on Saturday, April 19. The two-hour report will look back at the most chaotic moments of America’s deadliest homegrown terrorist attack.

Streaming channel Western Bound will feature a curated lineup of films as part of a special programming event called Legends of the West: Cowboy Movie Classics. On Saturday, April 19, catch “Angel and the Badman” at 12p and “Vengeance Valley” at 8p. On Sunday, April 20, watch “Cavalry Chance” at 12p, “The Proud Rebel” at 6p and “McLintock!” at 8p.

Lindsay Lohan will headline and executive produce “Count My Lies”, a new drama in development at Hulu. It’s the “Mean Girls” star’s first TV series starring role. The project is based on the novel by Sophie Stava and written by “This Is Us” EPs Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.

HGTV has greenlit 12 new episodes of its hit series’ “Ugliest House in America” and “Scariest House in America”, hosted by actress, comedian, and design enthusiast Retta. “I’m back looking at ugly houses in America babeee!” said Retta. “And yes I am also back (with much less enthusiasm) to look at the scary ones.” In the new six-episode season of “Ugliest House in America”, which drew over 10.3 million viewers last time around, one home will be named the “ugliest in America” and win a $150,000 renovation by HGTV star Alison Victoria. The season premieres in 2026.

NBC has ordered “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon,” an unscripted series hosted, executive produced and created by the late-night talk show star that chronicles what happens when he opens a premier marketing agency filled with competitive talent. Bozoma Saint John, a marketing expert who is also one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, will serve as the On Brand Agency’s Chief Marketing Officer and mentor the creatives in each episode as they come up with big campaign ideas for brands such as Captain Morgan, Dunkin’, Pillsbury and Samsung.

Grey’s Anatomy alum Jessica Capshaw has joined the cast of ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville” as a series regular. Chris O’Donnell was previously announced as the lead.

Sony Pictures Television has optioned the rights to iQIYI’s “The Bad Kids”, the 2020 series from China, which boasted over 5 billion views on Weibo, the Chinese social media platform. Marco Ramirez is serving as executive producer and showrunner and will write the pilot episode for the drama, about three kids who witness a murder and blackmail the killer.

Apple TV+ has announced a new family musical special, “Lulu is a Rhinoceros”, premiering worldwide on Friday, May 30. Inspired by the popular children’s book by father-daughter team Jason and Allison Flom, the pop musical celebrated kindness and self-acceptance. The voice cast includes Auli’l Cravalho (“Moana”), Dulé Hill (“Psych) and Alex Newell (“Glee”).

Season 17 of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” premieres Wednesday, July 9 on FXX and will feature a crossover with “Abbott Elementary”, another sitcom based in the city of Brotherly Love. The crossover story began on “Abbott” in January.

Photos from season three of the HBO Original Series, “The Gilded Age” were released ahead of its June return. Over the course of eight episodes, look for the Russells to be poised to take their place at the head of society, the Brook household to be thrown into chaos and for Peggy to meet a handsome doctor.

The new season of AMC+ drama “Scrublands” launches Thursday, May 29. Luke Arnold and Bella Heathcote reprise their roles from season one as Martin Scarsden and Mandy Boyd.

CBS has tapped comedian Nate Bargatze to host the “77th Emmy Awards”, set to air live on Sunday, September 14 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. “It’s a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world,” said Bargatze in a statement.

“Adult Best Friends” makes its US streaming debut on Max on Friday, May 2, followed by HBO linear on Saturday, May 3. Starring Delaney Buffett, Kate Corwin, Zachary Quinto, Mason Gooding and Cazzie David, the film follows a group of friends in their 30s.

Western Union is moving into commerce media with its new Media Network business, using technology from Magnite to buy media as an advertiser and monetize its owned media, and tapping into Magnite’s ClearLine solution for direct access to premium streaming inventory. Using Magnite’s Curator Marketplaces for self-serve audience extension, Western Union Media Network is providing its customers access to a multicultural audience leveraging anonymized transaction data against Magnite inventory. “It’s great to see the advanced technology we’ve built for publishers and advertisers providing value to clients in new fields,” said Stephanie Reustle, Head of Commerce Media at Magnite. “We’ve seen the firsthand benefits of bringing sellers and buyers closer together and helping commerce media brands integrate into the landscape will bring additional advantages for all.”

Attention, micro agencies and SMBs: AI-powered video ad creator Waymark and CTV platform Skybeam are teaming up to bring instant, AI-generated commercial production and cross-platform distribution into a single, self-serve solution. “This partnership brings together two crucial elements of modern TV advertising: instant creative production and comprehensive distribution,” said Steve Paule, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Skybeam. “While other solutions limit advertisers to a single network’s inventory, our platform gives businesses access to premium programming across all major streaming services, maximizing their reach and impact.”

The United States Tennis Association announced a multi-year renewal and expansion of its long-standing partnership with IMG. Under the new agreement, IMG will continue to advise and represent the USTA on both domestic and international media rights for the US Open Tennis Championships.

The Harlem Globetrotters and Jersey Mike’s Subs have revealed the 10 finalists for their third annual Court of Creativity contest — a nationwide challenge where K-5 students channeled their creativity through basketball and Globetrotters-inspired projects. Each finalist school will receive a $1000 cash award from Jersey Mike’s and one grand prize winner will be treated to a special lunch catered by the sandwich company and an in-school visit from the legendary Globetrotters.

Free TV streaming service Freely will launch 16 new channels, many dedicated to fan-favorite shows and genres from top British broadcasters. ITV is adding two new streamed channels, “The Chase” and “Saturday Night Every Night”, while Channel 4 will contribute “4Reality”, “4Homes” and “4Life”. With this expansion, Freely will now offer over 55 live channels streamed over the internet, a first-of-its-kind in that space.

All3Media International is growing its lineup of FAST channels with the debut of Demand Drama, set to launch in the UK this month. Demand Drama will showcase a wide range of series from All3Media International’s scripted library.

Chris Fulton has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Customer Operations and Experience for Spectrum Business.

Katz Media Group has promoted PJ Stack to Vice President of Political Sales and Kevin McTigue to Director of Political Sales for their Katz Digital Video division.

Mike Evans was named Senior Vice President, Head of U.S. Sales by LG Ad Solutions.

Producer Mandy Safavi has joined Kang & Co Entertainment as President of TV and Film Development where she will oversee the company’s properties under its overall deal at Amazon MGM Studios.

Meredith Williams, former Global Group Account Director at Goodby Silverstein & Partners, has been named Head of Brand Development at Where The Buffalo Roam.

Fabel Entertainment, home to the “Bosch” properties, as well as NBC’s “Brilliant Minds”, has promoted Jasmine Russ to SVP.

Today’s Trivia Question
No googling week: What was the third spin-off of “Happy Days” (1974-84)? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)