 IN THE NEWS |
 Prime Video has its sights set on young adult audiences. On Thursday, the streamer announced Obsession Is In Session, a new initiative bringing together talent, creators, and cultural tastemakers to build an ecosystem where YA stories can foster the kind of passionate fan communities that define the genre. Anchoring the initiative is Obsessed Fest, a debut summer event coming to LA on June 27 that aims to bring those fandoms to life in the real world.
Divine, a six-second looping video app described by the company as reimagining the spirit of early internet human creativity “by restoring Vine classics and banning AI slop,” is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. At launch, Divine has resurfaced roughly 500,000 archived videos from Vine, which shut down in 2017, including content from creators like Lele Pons, Hannah Stocking, King Bach, and the Paul brothers. Users can also create their own original six-second clips. The app received grant funding from a open-source development collective called “and Other Stuff,” founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
Global consumers spent $2.439 trillion on media content and tech in 2025 — a 2.8% bump, though slower than the 4.4% growth seen in 2024, per new PQ Media research. A few highlights:
· Wireless data subscriptions led all 28 digital media categories with $313.79 billion in spending, while digital audio streaming and satellite radio were the fastest-growing, each up 13.4%.
· On the traditional side, basic and premium TV subscriptions topped the 14 categories at $231.32 billion.
· Looking ahead, global media spending is expected to grow 3.7% in 2026, with the U.S. market close behind at a projected 3.6% gain.
Pushing back against accusations of political retaliation, FCC Chair Brendan Carr maintained Thursday that the agency’s decision to order an accelerated license renewal review of ABC’s owned-and-operated stations was rooted in concerns over DEI practices, not retribution. “You can’t discriminate based on race and gender,” Carr said, adding that evidence submitted to the agency suggested Disney was doing exactly that.
Meanwhile Donald Trump continued to call for the firing of ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel. “When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television?” Trump posted on Thursday. “People are angry. It better be soon!!!”. Kimmel landed in Trump’s crosshairs after joking two days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner that the First Lady looked like “an expectant widow.”
Netflix has added a vertical video feed to its mobile app. “With our enhanced navigation and Clips, our new vertical video feed, we’re building on past learnings to deliver an experience designed for the way members want to enjoy Netflix on their phones: for the moments in between, to discover a new title, or a quick laugh,” Chief Product and Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone said in a statement. “Our vision is to make our mobile experience as entertaining as what you watch, delivering increasingly personalized, immersive experiences for any mood or moment. This is just the beginning.”
Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier is being nominated by Donald Trump for surgeon general. On Truth Social, Trump said Saphier, director of breast imaging at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s facility in Monmouth, N.J., is “a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention.”
ABC has renewed its “Scrubs” revival for a second season, and “Shifting Gears” for a third. “Scrubs” drew over 11 million viewers across platforms in its first 35 days, according to Nielsen, while “Shifting Gears” was ABC’s most watched comedy on linear. On the other hand, comedy “Do You Want Kids?” didn’t make it past the pilot stage. |
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| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Season three of “My Adventures with Superman” launches Saturday, June 13 at midnight on Adult Swim. “This is the kind of show action‑animation fans tune into Toonami for,” said Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim. “Season three of ‘My Adventures with Superman’ goes harder, looks bigger, and packs the emotional punch that makes this series such a standout.”
“Lethally Blonde” is back for season two on Monday, June 1 at 10 p.m. on ID. The series explores the intersections of beauty, desire, and deception.
Unscripted sports series “The Champion’s Edge with Bonnie Bernstein” debuts Saturday, May 9, airing weekend mornings on ABC stations nationwide within the Weekend Adventure educational/informational programming block (check local listings). Every episode delivers actionable advice covering topics like sports nutrition, mental readiness, and injury prevention. Host Bonnie Bernstein spent nearly two decades as a reporter and studio host for ESPN, ABC and CBS Sports.
The U.S. premiere of “Hudson & Rex” hits Up Faith & Family on Thursday, June 11. The family-friendly procedural follows a K9 dog and a police department’s crime unit. |
Today’s Premieres
BritBox/Tubi: Twenty Twenty Six
Disney+: Travis Japan Summer Vacation in the USA
HGTV: My Lottery Dream Home at 9p; Zillow Gone Wild at 9:30p
Netflix: Glory
Prime Video: Viterie Joyal
Saturday’s Premieres
Nat Geo: Amsterdam Narcos at 9p; Primal Combat at 10p
Sunday’s Premieres
Oxygen: Snapped: Killer Couples at 6p
The Roku Channel: Soccer Meets America |
| PRODUCTION |
| AMC Global Media had a busy Upfront content showcase, unveiling several new projects. Among the announcements: a greenlight for “Thunder Road,” a family drama fronted by Dennis Quaid; an addition to its “Rise Sports” docuseries franchise titled “Rise of the Saints,” chronicling the New Orleans Saints and slated to arrive in February 2027; a writers’ room for potential series “Bannerman,” drawn from John Maxim’s bestselling spy novels; and the acquisition of exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Crave’s mystery thriller “Yaga,” which is headed to AMC+ later this year.
“You may have noticed we recently changed our name to AMC Global Media. This new name represents who we are today – a global, studio-driven company built on incredible IP that fuels the world’s largest collection of targeted services,” Said Kristin Dolan, CEO of AMC Global Media, at the Upfront event. “In a media environment that can feel crowded and chaotic, our goal is simple: make great stuff and get it to viewers wherever they want to watch.”
Netflix handed a series order to “Minimum Wage,” based on the viral short-form “American High Shorts” series from Jeremy Garelick’s American High. The workplace comedy is set in a chaotic pizza shop.
Taye Diggs (“All American”) and partners are launching a mobile-first vertical video storytelling platform, Microhouse Films, which will enable creators to produce, distribute and monetize their work within a single platform. “When we thought about how to meaningfully impact the vertical space, we immediately focused on the creators and storytellers whose livelihoods depend on where this industry is headed,” said Diggs. “Microhouse Films is about creating a model that supports them in this next phase and allows them to keep telling stories that move us.”
STARZ is saddling up. The network has ordered an untitled family drama diving deep into the world of Black rodeo in Texas — eight episodes, one hour each, and fully owned. It’s the second wholly owned series in STARZ’s growing pipeline as the company bets big on original programming.
GBH, the multi-platform creator for public media, is consolidating “American Experience” with “NOVA” and “Frontline” into a single documentary unit. The move comes alongside an expansion into social media, YouTube, and new multi-episode PBS specials for both broadcast and streaming. “Public media organizations must accelerate innovation in both our storytelling and our delivery immediately,” said GBH President and CEO Susan Goldberg, adding that evolving these brands for a digital-first world will keep fact-based journalism, science, and history accessible to new audiences across every screen.
Production is underway on season two of Great American Media’s “Crossroad Springs.” The faith-driven drama is slated to premiere this Fall, streaming on Great American Pure Flix and premiering on Great American Family and GFAM+. “Great American Media has been intentional from day one about building a lasting library of quality programming – hundreds of hours of original movies, specials, and series that reflect our values, meet the expectations of our audience, and uphold the storytelling standard our brand represents,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “Original Series are an essential part of the strategy because they give viewers the opportunity to return to beloved characters and communities, deepen their emotional connection to our stories, and engage with our platforms in more meaningful ways.”
MLB Network docuseries “Grass Routes” returns Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m., exploring baseball through the Minor League Baseball communities that shape it.
Three manga giants just joined forces. Line Digital Frontier (Webtoon Entertainment’s Japanese arm) has teamed up with Kadokawa — one of Japan’s biggest publishers — and Redice Studio, the South Korean outfit behind “Omniscient Reader,” to launch a new webcomic production company called Studio White. The mission: adapt stories from Kadokawa’s enormous story library into original webcomics. |
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June 4 | New York City
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| TECH |
| Guideline has expanded its SQADCosts Local solution with a new Digital Extension, bringing CPM benchmarks for locally geo-targeted digital video and audio buys across 60+ top U.S. publishers. SQADCosts Local has served as a pricing reference for local linear media on both the buy and sell sides; now, the Digital Extension carries that same Average / Low / High benchmarking framework into CTV, audio streaming, and podcasting—all with a focus on locally geo-targeted inventory. The familiar structure is designed to mirror the existing linear offering, giving buyers and sellers a consistent tool to answer everyday planning and transaction questions, from price benchmarking to competitive analysis. The Digital Extension is available now as an add-on to SQADCosts Local. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| Amazon and Duke University struck a multiyear agreement for Prime Video to present exclusive coverage of Duke’s men’s basketball program. Starting this fall, the streamer will present three Duke Blue Devils neutral-site men’s basketball games per season as part of its first college sports deal.
U.S. viewers spent nearly 80 billion minutes watching soccer matches in 2025, according toa Nielsen report, Get Ready with Media Intelligence: 2026 FIFA World Cup Edition. Additional insights include:
· 33% of the general U.S. population expects their interest in soccer to increase over the next 18 months
· 64% of U.S. soccer fans expect their interest in soccer to increase over the next 18 months
· 56% of current U.S. soccer fans expect their interest to increase specifically because of the upcoming World Cup
· Viewer interest in international soccer tournaments has been on the rise in the U.S.: In 2024, the average audience for Copa América more than doubled compared to 2021, and in 2025, both the UEFA Women’s Euro and the CONCACAF Gold Cup saw significant increases. |
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| DAZN Group has struck a deal to absorb ViewLift, a streaming and digital solutions provider, into its operations. The move positions DAZN to expand beyond its existing model into a more flexible B2B2C and SaaS offering — giving leagues and clubs the ability to run their own direct-to-consumer products while tapping into DAZN’s scale, infrastructure, and broader ecosystem.
World Rugby has teamed up with sports marketing agency IMG on a long-term media rights deal — and the timing is no accident. With the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups both on the horizon in 2031 and 2033, the partnership is all about building momentum for the sport. IMG will help World Rugby figure out how to get rugby in front of more eyeballs, covering everything from media rights and distribution to content and on-the-ground efforts in key markets. |
| THINK FAST |
| Trusted Media Brands has acquired the exclusive FAST rights to “Pamela’s Garden of Eden,” the home renovation and lifestyle series starring Pamela Anderson. Two seasons of the series will air on TMB’s At Home With Family Handyman channel, starting Monday, May 4 across major streaming platforms. |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| Going Dutch: Blue Ant Media has launched natural history brand Love Nature on DELTA in the Netherlands. Programming highlights include the premiere of three-part docuseries “The Kimberley: Australia’s Wild West.” |
| RATINGS |
| “American Idol” ranked as the No. 1 entertainment program Monday among Total Viewers (5.34 million), as the Top 7 put their spin on Taylor Swift hits. The show was up 5% versus the week prior.
Friday night’s first-round NBA Playoff Spurs vs. Trail Blazers game on Prime Video captured the largest share of 18-49-year-old viewers of the week, accounting for 58.5% of the audience. Viewers 18-49 represented over 50% of the audience for each of Prime Video’s NBA Playoff games in this week’s rankings.
HBO Max’s “The Pitt” claimed the top spot on Nielsen’s overall streaming chart for the week of March 30 — its first time leading the rankings — with Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum” debuting its fourth season close behind. |
Top 10 Broadcast Networks for the Week of April 27
P2+ AA (000)
CBS: 4.245
NBC: 3.868
ABC 3.196
Fox: 1.461
Univision: 1.066
Telemundo: 0.769
MeTV: 0.568
CW: 0.452
ION: 0.495
Grit: 0.271
Source: Nielsen Big Data + Panel |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Steve Fish and Adam Quinn have been named Vice Presidents of Sales at local TV advertising platform Locality. Fish’s background includes roles at ITN Networks, DirecTV Ad Sales, and most recently Ampersand, while Quinn’s spans ESPN, National Geographic Partners, and most recently Simulmedia.
Allen Media Group has appointed Chris Czarkowski and Keith Freibott as Executive Vice Presidents of Advertising Sales. Most recently, Czarkowski served as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Sales at TelevisaUnivision, while Freibott joins from Warner Bros. Discovery, where he was Director, Advertising Sales and Marketing. |
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This Day in History
1971 — Amtrak began service.
Friday Fun Fact
Babies have more bones than adults.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who guested as car dealer Ashley on “Eastbound & Down” (2009-13)? Will Ferrell. Kudos to: Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Group/NYC; C.J. Bottitta-Big Picture Productions/Apex, NC; Lindsay Waldon-A+E Global Media/NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Sean Menagh-Comcast Advertising/Stamford, CT
Today’s Trivia Question
In “Bosom Buddies” (1980-82), which resident of the all-women hotel where they lived knew their true identities? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone – a limit of four answers per time zone.) |
EXECUTIVE >>
TBS INTERNATIONAL/LOS ANGELES, CA: Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of entertainment and media agreements, with a primary focus on unscripted television, format licensing, and intellectual property distribution. Handle development, production, and co-production agreements, including situations where TBS is designated as the production entity providing production services. More info HERE
PRINT TRAFFICKER AND TECHNICAL COORDINATOR >>
FILM FEST DC/WASHINGTON, DC: Coordinate direct communication between print sources and the festival to ensure the on-time inbound and outbound delivery of all film materials and work with venue staff to deliver and test each film and KDM. Request and collect KDMs for all encrypted DCPs and maintain a spreadsheet that contains all the aspects of the film. Full info HERE
MANAGER, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS >>
TELEVISION ACADEMY/NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA:
Lead the execution of initiatives such as the Peer Circle program and Your Voice Matters, reviewing data to enhance program participation and ensure metrics are achieved; collaborate with the Senior Director of Engagement and Retention and stakeholders across marketing to manage delivery and optimization of the Member Benefits Perks newsletter. Full info HERE
BROADCAST ENGINEER >>
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY/HIGH POINT, NC: Ensure high-quality production environments and provide technical leadership to faculty, staff, and students in live and recorded productions and play a role in supporting the school’s mission to provide industry-standard production experiences for students and will have opportunities to contribute to the development of emerging media technologies. More info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE, MULTI-EPISODE TELEVISION PRODUCING >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: Develope, produce, and manage scripted and unscripted multi-episodic series for linear television and/or streaming. Qualified applicants will be distinguished multi-platform practitioners with a significant body of “boots on the ground” work in the TV and streaming industry. The position will require in-class instruction and on-set exercises. Full info HERE
PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: STUDIO AND/OR FIELD DIRECTING; MULTIPLE CAMERAS >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a significant body of practical work in television directing using multiple cameras for linear television and/or streaming platforms. Familiarity with visual effects and AI-supported tools is considered a plus. This position includes teaching directing of scripted and/or unscripted content using multiple cameras at many levels. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: VERTICAL FILMMAKING/CONTENT CREATOR >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a professional track record in the creation and development of original short-form content aimed at promoting, activating, and motivating young people through social activism, experimentation, entertainment, brand building, and audience engagement across today’s leading content platforms and social media ecosystems. More info HERE
SALES MANAGER – AP AD INSIGHTS HUB >>
ADVERTISER PERCEPTIONS/NEW YORK, NY: Drive direct sales of the platform offering, focusing heavily on new client acquisition. Reporting to and working closely with the GM of the Ad Insights Hub, this individual contributor will partner cross-functionally with Sales, Business Intelligence, Operations, and Client Services teams to build awareness and engagement with new clients. Full info HERE
SALES DIRECTOR – OMG
MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
NEW YORK, NY
Deliver and exceed sales revenue targets as well as build, manage and grow a strategic account list with a focus on Omnicom agencies and their clients directly, within the northeast. Ability to navigate holding company structure and negotiate strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (ratecards, preferred programmatic deals, content deals, etc.). More info HERE
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MARKETING >>
ATHLETE TO ATHLETE/SANTA MONICA, CA: Lead the performance marketing team across Meta Ads and new paid digital channels (TikTok, YouTube, Google, etc.) as well as build and execute a roadmap for channel expansion and profitable scale. Develop and run structured testing frameworks. Partner with Creative Strategist on ad briefs, testing priorities, and creative feedback loops. Full info HERE
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER>>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/CHARLOTTE, NC: Oversee daily sales pipeline operations focused on national sponsorships, integrations, and branded content tied to unscripted programming. Manage and coach the Business Development team, drive outbound activity, shape proposals and pricing, and lead CRM strategy, reporting, and optimizations via Salesforce. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER >>
NTD/WASHINGTON, DC: Pitch story ideas and write scripts/segment outlines as well as research guests and interview topics. Book guests and coordinate interviews. Help with logistics and sometimes field production. Support shoots and ensure production runs smoothly. Review footage and work with editors to shape final episodes. Write headlines, teasers, and social posts. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION >>
THE JIM HENSON COMPANY/HOLLYWOOD, CA: Responsible for all HR functions and oversight of administrative and management needs. This strategic role is charged with operating from a customer service driven viewpoint that prioritizes employee satisfaction as well as enforce legally compliant policies, increase efficiency by implementing administrative and record-keeping best practices. Full info HERE
SR. DIRECTOR OF SALES, KSTU & KUPX >>
THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY/SALT LAKE CITY: Leverage our suite of advertising solutions to unlock growth opportunities for local and national businesses. Play a role in driving the station’s revenue goals as well as serving as the home station for Utah’s new NHL team. Collaborate with our production team to create campaigns that connect our clients with their customers in meaningful ways. Full info HERE
DIGITAL MEDIA BUYER >>
FURMAN ROTH ADVERTISING/NY(HYBRID): Plan, launch, and optimize digital marketing campaigns across various paid media channels (including Display, Google products, Paid Social, CTV, and Programmatic, etc.) while managing budgets effectively. Support the execution of media plans across platforms, overseeing targeting, budget allocation, and performance tracking to drive campaign success. Full info HERE
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR; CTV BRAND PARTNERSHIPS – MID WEST/WEST COAST
FUTURE TODAY
REMOTE
Build, maintain and expand a pipeline of sales targets, contacts, and sales opportunities leveraging your relationships with a heavy focus on new business revenue. Build/nurture relationships with the investment, strategy, precision and digital agencies as well as clients. Also maintain an ongoing knowledge of the streaming media landscape. Full info HERE
DIRECTOR, AD MARKETING & SALES >>
THE SHADE ROOM/REMOTE: Develop and execute a revenue growth strategy to drive direct advertising, branded content, and sponsorship sales as well as lead the development of compelling advertising and branded content offerings tailored for TSR’s audience and cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key advertisers, media agencies, and brand partners. Full info HERE
PROFESSIONAL LECTURER OF COMMUNICATION/SPORTS BROADCASTING >>
MARIST UNIVERSITY/ POUGHKEEPSIE, NY: Teach studio and field broadcasting and new media courses in sports media and journalism as well as be able to teach a studio course on producing a newscast and help students live stream a podcast or produce short-form feature content suitable for social media streaming. Also demonstrate through their teaching, professional activity, and service. Full info HERE
SALES LEAD – AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS
UPWAVE
NEW YORK, NY
Build and manage relationships with our agency partners – mostly targeting media buyers and planners – and help them see the value of adding Upwave measurement to The Trade Desk campaigns. You will both leverage your existing network and open new doors to achieve aggressive but achievable sales targets. Full info HERE |
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