FIRST ON THE DESK
Fox News Media sees two years of record ad revenue growth, exec says
Political advertising tied to the 2026 midterm elections is expected to further boost revenue, with industry forecasts projecting around $11 billion in total spending.
Bill O’Reilly returns to Fox with new podcast “We’ll Do It Live”
Bill O’Reilly is launching a new interview podcast built around one of the most recognizable — and widely circulated — moments from his television career.
Streaming News
Philo rolls out cheaper TV plan without bundled content
Philo has restored a lower-priced plan that offers access to premium cable networks over streaming without the inclusion of bundled, network-backed streaming apps and content.
Policy & Law
Gracenote sues ChatGPT developer OpenAI for copyright infringement
The case could test whether the structure and organization of proprietary datasets are protected under copyright law.
Radio & Television News
BeckTV to debut BeckFlow broadcast distribution platform
The system aims to reduce manual drafting and keep technical documentation synchronized with evolving broadcast infrastructure.
Sports Desk
Hub: Sports fans still frustrated by broadcast, streaming TV deals
Fragmented media rights deals force viewers to navigate multiple apps and subscriptions to follow a single sport or team.
Advertising & Data
Fox News Media sees two years of record ad revenue growth, exec says
Political advertising tied to the 2026 midterm elections is expected to further boost revenue, with industry forecasts projecting around $11 billion in total spending.
Special Coverage: Media Earnings
Versant brings in $6.7 billion during 2025
Versant executives said 80 percent of its current revenue comes from pay TV providers that distribute its cable networks; MS NOW has seen strong viewership since its rebrand last year.
Special Coverage: NextGen TV
Sinclair’s Harvey Arnold to receive Television Engineering Achievement Award
Sinclair’s SVP of Engineering Harvey Arnold will receive the 2026 Television Engineering Achievement Award.
Europe & UK
TV5 Monde inks deal with Plex to offer three streaming channels
TV5 Monde has signed a distribution agreement with Plex to launch three FAST channels in several territories.
Best of TheDesk.net
Four years in, free streamer Fox Weather evolves into public safety resource
With wide distribution and a commitment to free, live coverage, the channel has become a trusted source before, during and long after climate emergencies.
