Mediagazer: Google launches Veo 3.1 Lite, costing <50% of Veo 3.1 Fast and meant for “high-volume video applications”, and affirms its commitment to video generation tools (Abner Li/9to5Google)

Kendra Barnett / Adweek:

Spotify rolls out interactive carousel ads in the app's Now Playing view and branded playlist takeovers, including some flagship selections like Rap Caviar — The company is branching beyond audio-only formats and into visual and interactive ads … Spotify is rolling out interactive carousel ads, the company announced on Tuesday.

Discussion: Gearóid O'Rourke on LinkedIn and Spotify

Deadline:

Nexstar closed down 13% on Monday after a US judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday evening blocking the company's $6.2B merger with Tegna — Nexstar stock fell 13% Monday, reflecting investor angst over a federal judge's decision temporarily blocking the company's merger with Tegna.

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Wrap, The Contrarian, Reuters, TV Tech, Ars Technica, Variety, NewsBlues.com and UPI

Abner Li / 9to5Google:

Google launches Veo 3.1 Lite, costing <50% of Veo 3.1 Fast and meant for “high-volume video applications”, and affirms its commitment to video generation tools — Following OpenAI's Sora exit last week, Google today said it's committed to offering video generation while announcing Veo 3.1 Lite.

Discussion: The Motley Fool, The Keyword and TechRadar

David Shepardson / Reuters:

Fox, Sinclair, and NAB file FCC comments urging US regulators to address the trend of Big Tech companies buying sports rights, saying it could weaken local TV — Major broadcast station owners said on Monday that U.S. regulators should address the trend of Big Tech companies acquiring …

Discussion: Awful Announcing, Inside Radio, Bloomberg and Reuters

Steve McCaskill / SportsPro:

Report: ITV won't show ads during the World Cup's three-minute hydration breaks despite FIFA giving media partners permission to do so during the 2026 contest — - ITV shares rights to tournament with BBC - Fifa allowing partners to air in-game commercials — Six Nations launch was considered revenue success

Rebecca Bellan / TechCrunch:

Runway launches a $10M fund to invest in early-stage startups building across AI, media, and world simulation and a Builders program offering free API credits — Runway is moving beyond building AI video models and into shaping what gets built on top of them.

Discussion: The Economic Times and TheNeuron

Ana Swanson / New York Times:

A global WTO ban on taxing digital streaming and downloads across national borders expired on March 30; negotiations are set to continue in Geneva this spring — A prohibition on taxing digital downloads expired, after members of the World Trade Organization concluded their annual meeting without an agreement.

Discussion: @berndlange, @berndlange, @davidheniguk, @scottlincicome, @davidheniguk, United States Trade …, Bloomberg, @berndlange, @berndlange, Reuters, @davidheniguk, Financial Times and Politico

Katie Robertson / New York Times:

A US judge dismisses a lawsuit brought by ex-Fox News reporter Jason Donner, who claimed Fox News fired him for challenging the network's January 6 coverage — A reporter who claimed the network had fired him for challenging its coverage failed to prove retaliation and discrimination, a federal judge said.

Discussion: Mediaite, Deadline, CNN, Politico, Associated Press, Raw Story, Scott MacFarlane Reports, WUSA, MS NOW, All Rise News and The Independent

Natalie Korach / Status:

How legacy media outlets like CNN and NYT are borrowing from the creator playbook, experimenting with more casual video formats and platform-specific stories — In recent weeks, CNN has visibly swapped the traditional cable news aesthetic on some of its biggest shows for podcast microphones …

Discussion: @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, Garbage Day and Mediaite

New York Times:

Instagram reaches an agreement with the MPA to cease using the PG-13 trademark in its Teen Accounts marketing, after a C&D letter, and will add a disclaimer — The social media giant, under legal pressure from the Motion Picture Association, has retreated from its use of the movie rating in its marketing.

Discussion: Variety, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters, The Verge and Deadline

Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:

Roku launches a standalone app for Howdy, its $2.99/month ad-free streaming service with ~10K hours of content, in the US; Howdy debuted in August 2025 — Roku announced on Tuesday that it's launching a standalone mobile app for Howdy, its recently-launched ad-free streaming service that costs $2.99 per month.

Discussion: Business Wire, Streaming Better, Cord Cutters News and Media Play News

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Prospect CEO Mark Beard steps down after three years to join Ireland's Business Post as CEO; EIC Alan Rusbridger left in January, replaced by Philip Collins — Mark Beard is stepping down as chief executive of current affairs magazine Prospect after three years. — Beard is leaving to join Ireland's Business Post as CEO.

Discussion: RTÉ