Twitch, YouTube Gaming and Kick draw sharply different audiences by region
Tubefilter’s Sam Gutelle reports that Streams Charts’ new Audience Geo & Demographics tool shows 28% of Twitch’s audience is U.S.-based versus 15% on Kick and 14% on YouTube Gaming.
Walgreens rebuilds its in-store retail media business
eMarketer’s Rachel Wolff reports that Walgreens is rebuilding its in-store retail media operation after prior efforts stalled, aiming to turn pharmacy foot traffic and shelf space into a steadier ad revenue stream.
IAB lifts 2026 ad spend forecast, warns of 2027 pullback
eMarketer’s Grace Harmon reports that the article’s body did not load with usable verbatim text on ad spend figures, so specific 2026 and 2027 forecast numbers cannot be confirmed from this page.
WARC: AI is turning measurement into a decision system, not a report
WARC’s Future of Measurement 2026 report says marketers are shifting from attribution and proxy metrics toward outcomes-based, AI-driven analysis. It warns of a “two-speed” landscape as digital platforms embed real-time optimization while legacy media still transition to effectiveness-based models.
French TV exports hit ten-year low as European broadcast spend craters
Deadline’s Jesse Whittock reports that French international TV sales fell 21.6% year-on-year to €164.2 million, with co-production investment down 18.7% to €87.7 million, prompting the CNC to convene an emergency symposium.
Kimmel, ABC in renewal talks as late-night ad economics keep sliding
Variety’s Brian Steinberg reports that Jimmy Kimmel and Disney’s ABC are negotiating whether he continues hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live” past the 2026-2027 season.
63% of US internet homes now use generative AI, up from 51%
Advanced Television reports that Parks Associates finds 63 percent of US internet households use AI tools, up from 51 percent in 2025, while paid adoption reached 22 percent.
Paramount sits on $100M Trey Parker-Kendrick Lamar reparations musical
The Ankler’s Alison Brower reports that Paramount has spent $100 million on a Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Kendrick Lamar musical about slavery reparations, but the studio has left it undated. Insiders describe ballooning costs, creative conflicts and long delays on the project.
FilmNation, CAA execs say distributors over-index on streaming risk-mitigation
Deadline’s Stewart Clarke reports that at TIFF: The Market, FilmNation CEO Glen Basner said indie distributors default to selling projects to pay TV and streamers to mitigate risk, which he argued produces movies built for streaming rather than theatrical.
Hallmark and the NFL expand their rom-com franchise to a third team
The Ankler’s Ashley Cullins reports that Hallmark’s third NFL-branded holiday film, set with the Chicago Bears, debuts Oct. 17 after the Chiefs edition drew 3.7 million viewers and the Bills sequel drew 2.3 million, making both among the network’s highest-rated movies.
Audacy signs Smosh, adding YouTube comedy brand to podcast network
Inside Radio reports that Audacy struck a multiyear deal for exclusive sales and distribution rights to Smosh’s podcast lineup, starting October 1. Smosh brings more than 75 million followers and 20 billion YouTube views to Audacy’s push into creator-led video and audio.
Audacy signs exclusive sales, distribution deal with creator brand Smosh
Podnews reports that Audacy became exclusive sales and distribution partner for Smosh’s podcast slate, starting October 1, 2026, covering Smosh Mouth, Smosh Reads Reddit Stories, Assumptions and URL.
Tubi launches first global brand campaign as it surpasses 110 million users
StreamTV Insider’s Daniel Frankel reports that Tubi debuted “Find Any Feeling For Free,” its first global marketing campaign, built with agency Mischief @ No Fixed Address around humorous spots and a “TubiFone” hotline that recommends titles by mood.
Online video narrows the attention gap with linear TV, EMARKETER finds
EMARKETER’s exclusive data shows online video’s attention levels are closing in on linear TV, long considered the gold standard for ad attention.
Dolby adds AI game-tracking and ad flexibility to sports streaming platform
Advanced Television reports that Dolby unveiled updates to its OptiView live sports platform at IBC, including an AI tool that builds a minute-by-minute read of game action and viewer engagement.
ABC, Jimmy Kimmel begin talks on late-night contract renewal
TheWrap’s Tess Patton reports that ABC has opened renewal talks with Jimmy Kimmel, whose show runs through the 2026-27 season under a one-year deal signed after last fall’s suspension. Disney reportedly wants budget cuts on a show said to cost up to $100 million.
Google Cloud exec: agentic AI, not gen-AI clips, is Hollywood’s real cost lever
TheWrap’s Albert Lai reports that a Google Cloud guest column argues studios’ biggest AI payoff isn’t synthetic video but agentic systems that orchestrate fragmented back-office workflows.
Amazon deepens shoppable Prime Video with scene-level product discovery
eMarketer’s Grace Harmon reports that Amazon is expanding shopping features within Prime Video, letting viewers discover and buy products tied to specific scenes as they watch, per EMARKETER.
Stars Collective, LH International form AI content JV with $300M fund target
Peter Luo’s Stars Collective and Dubai-based LH International are launching an AI joint venture to develop, produce and distribute film, TV and digital projects.
Reacher season four tops streaming chart despite softer opening
The Hollywood Reporter’s Rick Porter reports that Prime Video’s Reacher drew 1.5 billion viewing minutes for the week of Aug. 10-16, with 1.19 billion from its new season alone.