Disney reported its fiscal fourth quarter ended with over 120 million Disney+ core paid subscribers, up 4.4%% versus the prior quarter. Total DTC revenue from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ rose 13%, with a profit of $321 million, versus a loss of $387 million in the 2023 quarter.

On the Disney earnings call, CEO Bob Iger maintained that the $71 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox assets was a crucial component of Disney’s streaming strategy. “We saw a world where streaming was going to proliferate, and we knew we needed not only more content with but more distribution,” he told journalists. “In addition, people forget it came with control of Hulu, and ultimately ownership of Hulu. That distribution — packaged well, integrated well with Disney+ — has enabled us to achieve the numbers we’ve achieved.”

IAB has released two guides aimed at helping marketers enhance their cross-channel measurement efforts to drive better business outcomes. “Implementing Cross-Channel Measurement for Marketers Playbook” discusses the challenges marketers face in the digital advertising landscape, offering insights on data integration, attribution models, advanced analytics, privacy compliance, and continuous optimization. Key highlights include strategies for aligning marketing efforts across multiple channels, improving ROI, and fostering stronger customer relationships. “Implementing Cross-Channel Measurement for Marketers Playbook” covers establishing clear objectives and KPIs, implementing advanced attribution models and ensuring privacy compliance.

National linear TV ad spend rose 1% to $3.1 billion in September, according to Guideline. The spend for NFL programming saw a year-over-year gain of 32%. For the quarter, broadcast networks rose 24%, cable dipped 6% and national syndication advertising fell 41%.

The Onion won the bidding for the assets of Alex Jones’ InfoWars – but not to continue the conspiracy peddling, obviously. “The Onion’s goal with the acquisition is to end Infowars’ relentless barrage of disinformation for the sake of selling supplements and replace it with The Onion’s relentless barrage of humor for good,” said the satirical news site. Jones’ Free Speech Systems was forced into bankruptcy after a $1.4 billion defamation judgment in favor of the families of the Sandy Hook shooting massacre.

Paramount is demanding a 50% cut in the price for Nielsen’s measurement services, wrote Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao to media agency and advertising executives, an amount that makes it “unsustainable to provide the support and quality that all Nielsen clients rely upon.” Paramount stopped using Nielsen as its main measurement currency at the end of September, citing “substantial price increases.” Not so, wrote Rao: “Contrary to what Paramount has shared, we are not seeking ‘substantial price increases’ in our proposal. We are simply aiming to maintain fair value for the quality of our services — services that are empirically better than at any point in our history.” Paramount is currently using VideoAmp viewership data.

ABC has elected not to renew “Lucky 13” for a second season. While the game show was ABC’s most-watched summer series, launching to 2.7 million viewers, producer Studio 1 pre-funded the show in return for a share of ABC’s advertising and product placement sales, and revenue fell short of projections.

The Television Academy announced its 2025-26 Board of Governors. The list includes 13 newly-elected governors, 15 who were re-elected to serve a second term, and three who are returning to the board after time away. For the second year in a row, the board reflects gender parity, and 47% of its members are from historically marginalized groups, the highest percentage ever.

Publicis Media US has acquired Picture Motion, a social impact and cause marketing agency focused on the independent film industry. “Picture Motion will drive the development of original film and television projects, collaborating with brand clients and entertainment industry partners,” said the agency

Also returning for a fourth season is “Vienna Blood.” The crime drama will air Sundays from January 5-26 on PBS.

“Paradise” launches Tuesday, January 28 on Hulu. The Dan Fogelman (“This Is Us”) drama series follows the investigation of a shocking murder.

Season two of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal Island” launches Tuesday, January 7 at 8p with a two-hour premiere. The reality competition moves to its regular 9p time slot the following week.

Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America Celebrity Edition Heroes vs. Villains” pits reality show stars against each other starting Sunday, January 5 at 8p.

A new season of We TV’s “Love During Lockup” kicks off Friday, December 13 at 8p. The docuseries introduces six people outside of prison and follows them through the early stages of their romance with an inmate (or multiple inmates).

Dark comedy “Bookie” is back for season two on Max starting Thursday, December 12. Guest stars this season will include Charlie Sheen, Ray Romano, Zach Braff, and Brad Garrett.

Acorn TV crime drama “The Chelsea Detective” returns with a Christmas special on Monday, December 16 that serves as the first episode of the series’ third season.

“Tribunal Justice,” headed for a season two premiere in early 2025, has been renewed for season three by Prime Video. The court show is produced by Judge Judy Sheindlin.

More than 150 local PBS stations and the PBS Kids Channel will launch ad-free over the coming months as a Prime Video FAST offering. This marks the first time the programming will be available for free on a major streaming service. Additionally, PBS Distribution will offer two new FAST channels, PBS Drama and PBS Documentaries, for a limited time on Prime Video starting November 26. PBSd will also offer a “pop-up” FAST channel featuring a rotating selection of classic PBS shows, starting with “Reading Rainbow.”

Added to the lineup of performers at NBC’s broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, and Billy Porter. The parade starts at 8:30a on November 28

Telemundo will also air the Thanksgiving Day Parade, live and in Spanish. Also on deck is the Rockefeller Center tree lighting in New York, on Wednesday, December 4 at 9p, in the special, “Navidades en Rockefeller Center.”

Feeling “Wicked”? Ahead of the release of the Universal Pictures’ film,” Xfinity has launched a destination for fans that features an interactive timeline of Oz’s history in pop culture, behind-the-scenes content, music and more. The destination is accessible by saying “Wicked” into the voice remote of Xfinity X1, Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV devices.

Holiday special “Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays” airs Friday, December 20 at 10p on CBS. “I am honored and excited to host a show with friends old and new to celebrate the unity and togetherness of the holidays,” said Groban. “It’s especially important because it will spread the importance of adoption and will feature the most incredible kids. I can’t wait for everyone to watch with their families, sing along and hopefully make room in their hearts and homes for a child who needs one.”

Max’s “That Time of Year” spotlights themed curations like “Comfort & Joy,” “Families We’re Thankful For” and “Season of Romance” featuring New Max Original Film “Sweethearts” (November 28) and others. Seasonal Yule logs will also be burning on the platform.

Time is running out—secure your spot at CTV Connect 2025 before prices go up! Join over 500 CTV leaders in New York this March for cutting-edge discussions on audience targeting, AI, measurement, and more. Hosted by AdExchanger, Cynopsis, AdMonsters, and Chief Marketer, this event is where innovation meets opportunity.

Register now to save $200 and ensure your place at the forefront of connected TV!

FIND OUT MORE

On Saturday, November 16, NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Pro League Network will debut str33t LA Run, an inaugural professional 3×3 streetball league and tournament in LA’s Echo Park at 5p. The str33t broadcast will air live on BallIsLife, Stadium and Pro League Network YouTube.

Seven.One Studios International closed European and Australian deals across its scripted slate. Dramas sales include “Vienna Blood,” “Plan B,” “Departure” and “Bosch,” while comedies “Double Parked” and “A Beginner’s Guide to Grief” head to Spain and Australia.

Documentary “You Need This” has been acquired by ZDF Studios’ Off the Fence for worldwide rights across streaming, digital and broadcast platforms, for an anticipated 2025 premiere.

Streaming sports and entertainment network wedotv has partnered with Samsung TV Plus Brazil to launch a new FAST channel dedicated to Venezuelan telenovela “Pele Selvagem.” The new channel, “wedotv amor: Pele Selvagem,” is now available to Samsung TV Plus customers in Portuguese.

Media agency Involved Media announced its expansion with the addition of an office in Madrid, Spain. The Digital Gate, a Madrid-based digital consultancy firm focused on media strategy and buying, is rebranding to Involved Media Spain.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which network was originally named Discovery Wings Channel? American Heroes Channel. Kudos to: Martha Voyer-LW Direct/Irvington, NY; Bill Graff-TeleGraff Media/Miami; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NC; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
On “Clickbait” (2021), who killed Ned? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)