MediaPost | Around the Net In Media

Kimmel Alleges ABC Was Threatened Into Canceling Talarico Interview

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:04:07 -0400

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel announced Wednesday night that his show would not air an interview he did with James Talarico, the Texas Democrat running for the Senate, WZMG reports. Kimmel charged that President Trump and the FCC “threatened me, threatened our show, threatened our network, ABC, our affiliates, our local stations, based on simple, traditional editorial decisions: guest bookings it would seem they don’t like.” Kimmel’s position. Trump "sort of expects the FCC to increasingly enforce what he thinks sort of right form of broadcasting, the right viewpoints online," said David Inserra, a fellow for free expression and technology with the CATO Institute.

Florida AG Sues Netflix For Allegedly Tracking Kids And Families

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:00:31 -0400

Florida Attorney general James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging that the company tracks children and families despite its claims to be an alternative to “data-hungry tech platforms,” BNO News reports. “Netflix told Florida families they could pay a monthly fee to escape Big Tech surveillance,” Uthmeier says. “That was false. Netflix collected detailed data on children and families, designed its product to keep kids watching, and then commercialized that information to launch the advertising business it promised never to build.”

TikTok Is Most Scraped Website For Second Year

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:46:44 -0400

TikTok is the most-scraped website for the second year, Decodo reports. In addition, ChatGPT and Perplexity have entered the top 10 for the first time. Firms now scrape AI platforms as a primary data sources. "Two years ago, businesses scraped the web to see what people were searching for,” says Vaidotas Juknys, CEO at Decodo. “Now they scrape AI platforms to see what people are being told,”says “The use case for data collection is changing.”

iGaming Marketers See Short Video Feeds As A Valuable Ad Format

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:38:36 -0400

iGaming marketers are thriving with vertical video feeds that require highly personalized content, Fault Magazine writes. For example, Instagram Reels serves short videos based on previous viewing habits and interactive habits. This format works especially well for casino marketers, combining several elements in one package, including reach, video, the creator culture and algorithm discovery. iGaming includes a range of online gambling and betting activities.

OpenAI Will No Longer Take Competitive Ads On ChatGPT

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:30:07 -0400

OpenAI will restrict competitors in generative artificial intelligence firms from promoting their products within ChatGPT in an unannounced policy change, Investing.com reports, sourcing The Information. The shift was revealed when OpenAI notified advertising partners that campaigns for stand-alone image and voice-generation products would no longer be accepted.

Scripps Alters Local Media Structure, 27 Roles Are Cut

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:27:12 -0400

The E.W. Scripps Company is changing its Local Media leadership structure, a move that will result in 27 local market and sales positions being eliminated, TV Technology reports. Local Media will now be organized in 11 regions. Each will be led by a regional general manager tasked with running two to four markets in most regions. These managers will report to The regional general managers will report to Anita Helt and Joe Poss, vice presidents of Local Media, and Lyn Plantinga, senior vice president of Local Media.

AP Will Defy Trump And Use The Name 'Lake Ontario'

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:18:58 -0400

The Associated Press says it will call Lake Ontario by its traditional name, and not the one ordered by President Trump: “Lake America,” Yahoo News reports. "As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are recognizable to broad audiences,” said Patrick Maks, AP spokesperson, in a statement. Trump blocked AP reporters from an executive order signing last year in retaliation for AP’s refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

Thunder Road, Lit Entertainment Founders Launch Media Firm

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:10:54 -0400

Basil Iwanyk, founder of Thunder Road Films, and partner Eria Lee are partnering with Lit Entertainment Group founder Adam Kolbrenner to launch TR/AK, a media company focused on creators and original stories. The new company will also pursue ambitious film and television projects that will reach global audiences. Thunder Road has grossed more than $4.4 billion worldwide with its films, and Lit Entertainment clients boast of writing projects that have generated more than $7 billion.

Seven Allen Media Stations Sign A New Deal With ABC

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:06:49 -0400

Seven Allen Media Group broadcast television stations have signed a new multi-year agreement with ABC Television Network, according to Radio + Television Business Report. “ABC has been an outstanding partner to our seven affiliated stations by delivering phenomenal programming across all genres — including entertainment, news, and highly-coveted premium sports to our viewers,” said Byron Allen, head of Allen Media Group. The stations serve locales ranging from Honolulu to Flint, Michigan.

AMC Settles Kirkman Contract Case For $120M

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:26:37 -0400

AMC Global Networks has settled a breach of contract lawsuit with "The Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman and franchise producers for $120 million, Deadline reports. The agreement requires AMC to pay the sum in two cash payments, one for $85 million by September 18 and $35 million by January 31, 2027. The case, which was to go to trial in October, was filed in 2022.

Law Firms Say Advertisers Can Recoup Part Of Google Ad Spend

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:23:10 -0400

Law firms are seeking clients who bought Google search or display ads from August 2016 to the present, saying they may be eligible for compensation, HomePros reports. One law firm says advertisers can recover up to 30% of their spend on Google Ads. This follows the filing of two antitrust cases against Google by the U.S. Department of Justice. In one, a judge ruled that Google had illegally monopolized online search and search advertising, and in the other that the tech giant had monopolized certain digital ad technology.

ChatGPT Ad Results Are Not Yet Clear

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:17:26 -0400

Potential advertisers on ChatGPT Ads now have real results to study from firms that have spent money on the platform, Search Engine Journal reports. But six months in, the numbers lack context, and there are no performance benchmarks across advertisers, industries or campaign types. Some advertisers report costs per click of less than $3, but others are faced with $10 or up to $13. Some campaigns have generated qualified leads at a reasonable cost, but others have produced little activity after the first click.

NOTUS Rebrands Itself As 'The Sun'

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:11:27 -0400

NOTUS, the news website, is rebranding itself as “The Sun,” a name that reflects the site’s expansion into local news and sports coverage following cuts at rival The Washington Post, The New York Times reports. The Sun was chosen as the name after a lawsuit several months ago prevented plans to rebrand as “The Star.”

Trump Blasts U.K. Plan For Social Media To Boost Traditional Broadcasters

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:45:38 -0400

The Trump Administration has blasted the’ U.K.’s plan to boost BBC, ITV and other traditional media on digital platforms like YouTube, The Guardian reports. Such a move could “establish a template that authoritarian regimes could invoke to justify more control over online content,” said a statement made via the U.S. Embassy in London. A spokesperson for the U.K.’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport replied: “We welcome engagement and responses to our media green paper. We believe strongly in free expression and fair competition, and any action we take will ensure these are protected.”

Google's Upgrades To AI Max Are A Good Thing, Analysis Says

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:37:46 -0400

Google’s upgrading of some search campaigns to AI Max is good news, The Drum writes in an analysis. The upgrade is occurring “whether the account owner read the email or not,” and there is no opt-out, The Drum says. The shift affects every seacrh campaign still running campaign-level broad match or automatically created assets — the only choice is to switch off those features. But the move makes sense, The Drum adds. Google has added query-level reporting, brand controls and text guidelines. Brands that want to appear in Google’s new AI search formats needs AI Max or Performance Max.

Digital Out-Of-Home Advertising Grows By Double Digits YoY

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:33:23 -0400

Digital out-of-home ad spending will grow by double digits this year to over $30 billion, according to an estimate by PQ Media, Invidis reports. Last year, DOOH grew globally by 12% YoY, marking its fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth. Traditional OOH spending increased by 4.1%. This included static billboards, posters and ambient media. Combined spending rose by 6.8%. Further market development is expected to be driven by improved programmatic buying tools, artificial intelligence and smart technologies.

Proposed Australian Law Would Let Consumers Opt Out Of Algorithms

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:29:33 -0400

Consumers would be able to turn off social media algorithms under legislation proposed in Australia, BBC Reports. Tech firms like Meta, Google and TikTok should face “substantial penalties” if they do not give the option to turn off algorithms,” says Communications Minister Anika Wells, who steered the country’s social media ban for people under 16. Wells adds that the new legislation would ensure “some basic safety protections on an industry that hasn’t had to observe it.”

Maria Bartiromo Out At Fox After Over 12 Years

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:11:20 -0400

Fox TV host Maria Bartiromo abruptly departed the network after serving for more than a dozen years, Fox announced on Thursday, NPR reports. There was no reason provided, but Fox thanked her for her service and wished her "all the best on her next chapter." Bartiromo figured prominently in a defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems that Fox settled for $787 million. Another suit by Smartmatic is ongoing.

Super Bowl Dominates Earned Media Pull, Not Other Events

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:06:27 -0400

Of all earned media generated by 11 brands, 57% was related to the Super Bowl, not to the rest of the schedule, MikeWorldWide found in a study, Sports Business Journal reports. “The NFL is an eight-month platform,” said Bret Werner, a partner in MikeWorldWide. “You could argue it’s a 12-month platform. ... People activate the Super Bowl, and it is the apex, but as we start the NFL season, where’s the program that kicks it off?”

Outage Hits ChatGPT, Other AI Platforms

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:02:53 -0400

Several AI platforms, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini and X's Grok, were hit with an outage on Thursday, PC Magazine reports. ChatGPT’s problems began at around 10:30 a.m. ET, but OpenAI said it was fully operational by 1:25 p.m. SpaceXAI blamed an outage at its Memphis Compute center for the Grok problem, but said all systems had been restored.

Public Broadcasting Cutoff Hurts FEMA's Warning System

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:57:04 -0400

The cutting off of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting last year will have a long-lasting impact because public television stations support FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, The Hollywood Reporter writes. This includes Amber Alerts, severe-weather warnings and evacuation orders to phones.

Omnicom Shares Fall After Loss Of PepsiCo Account

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:58:33 -0400

Omnicom Group saw its shares fall by about 5% in afternoon trade on Wednesday after PepsiCo said it was shifting its $1.7 billion global media account to Publicis Groupe, Seeking Alpha reports. This is serious blow to Omnicom (which has worked with PepsiCo for decades). PepsiCo spent $1.7 billion on global net media in 2025, according to COMvergence.

GOP Media Shop IMGE Acquires Direct Persuasion

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:55:15 -0400

IMGE, a GOP media shop, has acquired Direct Persuasion, a Republican advertising and strategy firm, its first full acquisition, Campaigns & Elections reports. IMGE is part of GP3, an umbrella LLC that was created to bring together a number of Republican-oriented shops covering public affairs, mail, polling and consulting.

'The Saturday Evening Post' Is Halting Its Print Edition

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:51:52 -0400

The Saturday Evening Post’s January issue will be its last in print, The New York Times reports. Joan SerVaas, president and publisher of the Post, announced the turn from print in a letter to the magazine's 50,000 subscribers in the latest issue, blaming it on “rising production costs, declining advertising revenue and shifting reader habits.” The Post will continue to publish new fiction and non-fiction online, and will maintain its archive.

Local Media Consortium Starts Program To Help Publishers Master AI

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:48:06 -0400

The Local Media Consortium (LMC) has launched an initiative to help local media companies implement artificial intelligence strategies, Inside Radio reports. The program is designed to help publishers improve operations and their business performance and long-term sustainability. The AI Accelerator will feature an AI Readiness & Digital Tech Stack Assessment that will be performed by the LMC and Stellis AI.

California Legislators Pass Multiple Bills To Regulate AI, Social Media

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:48:28 -0400

California Democrats have passed more than two dozen bills in the state legislature to control artificial intelligence (AI) and regulate the use of social-media products by minors, NBC News reports. One bill would prohibit the social media companies from providing “addictive features” like autoplaying videos to people under 16 years of age. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom must decide which ones he will sign before the end of the month.

TCL Sues Samsung Over Alleged False Advertising

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:43:19 -0400

Korea-based Samsung has been hit with a false-advertising lawsuit by TCL, a Chinese consumer electronics company, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The suit alleges that Samsung “took a cheap, non-Mini LED model from a recycled product line and peddled it to the public as a 'supreme' Mini LED model at an attractive price point," TCL said. Samsung says it will defend itself vigorously.

Anthropic And Other Tech Firms Emphasize People In Their New Ads

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:38:42 -0400

Tech companies and other types of advertisers are diligently working to include a human element in their ads. For instance, Anthropic launched an ad for Claude earlier this summer. It asked the question, “What if we started to be more human again?” Meta is focusing on people “because while technology will change, our intention behind it never will.” The public is worried about data centers, and the tech industry is using marketing to persuade them.

Podcast Vets Start A Creator Media Company

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:28:56 -0400

Three podcast and audio industry veterans — Andy Goldsmith, Mike Wooller and Craig Eastwood — have launched Everywhere, a new company that plans to sell audiences across podcasts, video, social media and other platforms, Podcast News Daily reports. The company, which is based in London, seeks to serve as the exclusive commercial partner for creators and content publishers. The founders have worked for companies like Acast, Audioboom, the BBC and Adelicious.

GOP Sues To Get Lower Ad Rates

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 23:59:42 -0400

Republican Congressional committees have made an emergency filing with the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure they get lower rates for political advertising, Yahoo News reports. Candidates can get such rates, or the “lowest unit charge,” but it is not clear whether political parties and joint fundraising committees can get them. A ruling that the GOP cannot get lower rates for these entities would favor Democrats.