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Category: Media
June 27, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Media

Another Washington Post Journalist Has Been Arrested for Child Porn.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Thomas Pham LeGro, a Pulitzer Prize-winning video journalist with The Washington Post, has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with possession of child pornography.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Thomas Pham LeGro, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the DOJ, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

📍WHEN & WHERE: LeGro was arrested on Thursday, June 26, and appeared in federal court on Friday, June 27, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: The FBI found on LeGro’s work laptop a folder with “11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.”

🎯IMPACT: LeGro is just the latest Washington Post employee to be charged with possession of child pornography. Earlier this year, the newspaper’s anti-Trump cartoonist, Darrin Bell, was also arrested on child porn allegations.

IN FULL

A Pulitzer Prize-winning video journalist with The Washington Post has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with possession of child pornography. Thomas Pham LeGro appeared on Friday in a U.S. District Court after the charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

The Washington Post journalist, who serves as the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper’s Deputy Director of Video, was taken into custody by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on Thursday, June 26, following a raid on his residence. Inside LeGro’s home, the FBI found a work laptop which—upon examination—was discovered to contain a folder with “11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.” Additionally, “agents observed what appeared to be fractured pieces of a hard drive in the hallway outside the room where LeGro’s work laptop was found.”

Notably, LeGro was part of a team of journalists at The Washington Post that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for their coverage of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama, which saw former state Supreme Court Justice and Republican candidate Roy Moore accused of sexually assaulting several women when they were underage. Moore denied the sexual assault allegations, though he acknowledged he may have dated teenagers when he was in his late twenties and early thirties.

This is not the first Washington Post journalist to face allegations of concerning behavior regarding legal minors. Disgraced former WaPo reporter Taylor Lorenz is also accused of inappropriately interacting with teenagers on social media, often featuring them in her stories. In January of this year, the newspaper’s anti-Trump cartoonist, Darrin Bell, was also arrested on child porn allegations. Investigators discovered 134 videos of child sex abuse material (CSAM) on an account Bell is linked to, along with AI-generated child pornography.

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June 26, 2025
Media
War

SecDef Hegseth Turns The Heat Up on Media Outlets in Fiery Pentagon Presser.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. launched strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear processing sites as part of “Operation Midnight Hammer.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing back on claims that they were ineffective, after deep state actors leaked a preliminary report to Natasha Bertrand, a journalist well-known as a conduit for partisans in the intelligence and defense communities to plant anti-Trump narratives in the media.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. military, Defense Secretary Hegseth, President Donald J. Trump, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, and Natasha Bertrand.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The strikes targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in Iran, with their impact discussed during a Pentagon press conference on Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You, and I mean specifically YOU, the press, you cheer against Trump so hard, it’s in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: Iran’s nuclear program has been “severely damaged.”

IN FULL

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the U.S. military’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during a Pentagon press conference on Thursday, describing the operation as a success that “devastated” Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The strikes, part of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” targeted three key nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Hegseth emphasized that the operation avoided targeting Iranian troops or civilians.

Hegseth commended President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, calling the mission “bold” and “brilliant,” while praising the American pilots who flew 36 hours through hostile territory to execute the operation. He criticized media outlets such as The New York Times and CNN for spreading “fake news” via deep state leakers and misrepresenting the mission’s success, which he said undermines the efforts of the pilots involved.

Citing a United Nations nuclear agency, Hegseth noted that the damage to Iran’s nuclear program was described as “enormous.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe also confirmed that the program had been “severely damaged.” Addressing the media directly, Hegseth accused them of bias, stating, “You, and I mean specifically YOU, the press, you cheer against Trump so hard, it’s in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump.”

Notably, the preliminary, low-confidence assessment that the strikes may have only set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by months was leaked to Natasha Bertrand, a promoter of the Russiagate hoax who was previously used by defense and intelligence community partisans to wrongly suggest that Hunter Biden’s “Laptop from Hell” was likely Russian disinformation prior to the 2020 election. Hegseth said the Iran leakers have an “agenda,” and has previously warned there will be a criminal investigation into them.

Hegseth warned Iran that any forceful retaliation would result in a U.S. response “significantly exceeding” the initial strikes. He stressed that while the U.S. does not seek war, it remains ready to act decisively to protect its interests and allies. He also questioned the lack of media focus on the challenges faced by the pilots, asking, “How many stories have been written about how hard it is to, I don’t know, fly a plane for 36 hours? Has MSNBC done that story? Has Fox? Have we done the story, how hard that is?”

President Trump praised Hegseth’s performance at the conference on his Truth Social platform, writing, “One of the greatest, most professional, and most ‘confirming’ News Conferences I have ever seen! The Fake News should fire everyone involved in this Witch Hunt, and apologize to our great warriors, and everyone else!”

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June 26, 2025
Wake Up Right
Media
War

Trump Slams CNN and NYT Reporting on Iran Bombing as Fake News.

President Donald Trump and his team are slamming CNN and The New York Times for reporting that U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities only caused minor delays—not destruction.

The details: CNN and NYT published reports based on anonymous sources inside the Trump administration, which claimed a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment found the bombings only set Iran’s program back “only a few months.”

  • The outlets did caveat that their reports were based on “early findings” and “could change.”
  • The New York Times exposed its bias by framing the story as one that “Upends Victory Lap Trump Was Hoping for.”

The Trump administration responds:

  • President Trump said: “[T]hey’re both, disgusting, disgusting, really horrible groups of people. The pilots did an unbelievable job like nobody’s ever seen. They hit pay dirt.”
  • Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the leak was “flat-out wrong” and came from a “low-level loser.” She added: “Everyone knows what happens when you drop 14 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “This is what a leaker is telling you the intelligence says… They characterize it for you in a way that is absolutely false.”
  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: “Then the instinct of CNN and New York Times is to try to find a way to spin it for their own political reasons.”

Zoom out: It’s worth noting that this leak from the Pentagon went to CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, who also famously reported that the Hunter Biden laptop was “Russian disinformation.”

How about a neutral source? The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said satellite images from Fordow and Natanz facilities revealed more damage than originally thought, including possible chemical contamination from the nuclear material.

How about a source in the region? According to the CIA, citing a “historically reliable” source, the nuclear program was “severely damaged” and “would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.”

The last word goes to goes to Iran itself, whose Foreign Ministry spokesman admitted to Al Jazeera news that “our nuclear installations have been badly damaged” by the U.S. strikes.

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President Donald Trump and his team are slamming CNN and The New York Times for reporting that U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities only caused minor delays—not destruction. show more
June 24, 2025
Media
News

Soros Org Files Lawsuit Against Trump FTC.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Media Matters for America has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), accusing it of conducting a retaliatory investigation allegedly influenced by President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Media Matters for America, the FTC, Elon Musk, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Monday in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a significant free-speech issue, and Media Matters will not back down from this fight.” – Angelo Carusone

🎯IMPACT: Media Matters claims the investigation has disrupted its operations, including layoffs and strained partnerships with advocacy groups.

IN FULL

George Soros-funded activist group Media Matters for America has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), alleging that the agency is conducting a retaliatory investigation influenced by President Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk. The supposed “media watchdog” claims that the FTC is using its authority to “silence and harass” the organization.

In a statement, Angelo Carusone, chairman and president of Media Matters, described the case as a “significant free-speech issue” and vowed not to back down. “If the Trump administration is allowed to use this unlawful investigation to punish legitimate reporting on behalf of a political ally, then there is nothing to stop it from targeting anyone who stands up and exercises their rights,” Carusone claimed.

The FTC has issued Civil Investigative Demand letters, akin to subpoenas, requiring Media Matters and other organizations to provide detailed information about their operations, finances, and communications. Media Matters has asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to halt the investigation, claiming it violates the organization’s First Amendment rights.

The group has also alleged that the investigation, along with pressure from the Trump administration, Republican state attorneys, and Elon Musk, has disrupted its fundraising efforts, resulting in layoffs and strained relationships with other advocacy groups. Media Matters contends that some organizations now fear associating with it due to potential retribution.

The FTC declined to comment on the lawsuit, and Musk’s platform X, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to inquiries. This legal action follows a November 2023 lawsuit by X against Media Matters, in which Musk accused the group of manipulating data to harm the platform’s reputation and chase away major advertisers in a targeted campaign.

Media Matters was founded by David Brock, a longtime ally of Hillary Clinton. Brock also founded the SuperPAC American Bridge 21st Century, which raised $150 million in 2024.

The FTC investigation into Media Matters comes as another Democratic group, the major fundraising platform ActBlue, is also facing legal scrutiny. The organization is alleged to have had lax donation requirements in the past, which could have allowed fraudulent contributions, such as foreign donations, using prepaid credit cards.

In April, President Trump announced that he would crack down on foreign donations in American elections. Attorney General Pam Bondi is examining whether ActBlue had facilitated “dummy” accounts to allow foreign nationals to donate to them and other Democratic entities.

Image by World Economic Forum/swiss-image.ch/Photo Michele Limina.

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June 24, 2025
Media
Politics

Tucker Carlson Says Murdochs Asked Him to Challenge Trump for GOP Nomination — After Firing Him.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tucker Carlson alleged that the Murdoch family asked him to run against Donald J. Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination—after firing him from Fox News.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Carlson says this occurred in May 2023, following his termination in April 2023, as discussed on his show with guest Clayton Morris in June 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Murdochs really hate Trump. Like, there’s no one who hates Trump more than the Murdochs,” said Carlson.

🎯IMPACT: The revelation adds to ongoing speculation about the Murdoch family’s attitude towards the Trump administration, with the President having heavily criticized Fox News in recent weeks.

IN FULL

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has claimed that the Murdoch family—owners of Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Post—urged him to run against Donald J. Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Carlson made the claim during a conversation with guest Clayton Morris on his show.

“The Murdochs really hate Trump. Like, there’s no one who hates Trump more than the Murdochs,” Carlson told Morris. He went on to allege that in May 2023, just a month after his firing, Lachlan Murdoch directly proposed the idea of him running against Trump for the Republican nomination, with the promise of full backing from their media empire.

“I got fired in April of 2023. In May of 2023, they asked me to run for President against Trump and said they would back me. Obviously, I’m not gonna be running for any office,” Carlson said, adding, “I like Trump!”

Morris pressed for clarification, asking if the suggestion came directly from Lachlan Murdoch. Carlson confirmed, stating, “Yeah, Lachlan Murdoch said, ‘You should run… We’ll back you, the whole thing.’” He continued, “I was still under contract, but they canceled my show. ‘You should run, we support you, you should run.’”

Carlson also suggested that the Murdochs’ motivation was to counter Trump’s presidential campaign, with Morris summarizing, “We want to stop Trump.” Carlson replied, “Yeah, well, he was running.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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June 24, 2025
Media
War

Trump Admin Refutes ‘Scoop’ by ’51 Intelligence Officials’ Reporter on Iran Strikes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Top Trump officials have denied a CNN report claiming U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites failed to destroy core components. Notably, the report was penned by Natasha Bertrand, who was also a key figure in the promotion of the bogus Steele Dossier and the infamous letter from 51 intelligence officials alleging the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Natasha Bertrand, and unnamed CNN sources.

📍WHEN & WHERE: U.S. military strikes occurred last weekend on three Iranian nuclear facilities; CNN report published June 24, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program.” – Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: The conflicting reports on the strikes raise questions about the motivations behind leaked assessments, possibly by deep state factions in favor of more extensive U.S. involvement in a war with Iran.

IN FULL

Top Trump administration officials have denied a CNN report alleging that U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites failed to destroy core components of the country’s nuclear program. The CNN report is supposedly based on an early U.S. intelligence assessment. Notably, its lead author is Natasha Bertrand—a journalist notorious for laundering information for partisan actors within the intelligence and security community, such as an infamous, discredited letter from 51 intelligence officials wrongly suggesting that the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation ahead of the 2020 election.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the CNN report, calling it “flat-out wrong” and attributing the leak to a “low-level loser” in the intelligence community. “The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program,” Leavitt said.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also refuted the claims, stating, “Based on everything we have seen, and I’ve seen it all, our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly.” He added that the impact of the strikes is “buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran.”

CNN’s report claimed the strikes “did not destroy the core components of the country’s nuclear program” and suggested they may have only set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by months. The report cited a supposed early assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which is still ongoing and subject to change as more intelligence becomes available.

In addition to the aforementioned intelligence community efforts to undermine the Hunter Biden laptop story, Bertrand has also pushed the bogus Steele Dossier that spurred the Russiagate investigation into Trump.

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June 23, 2025
Media

Trump Strikes Major FTC Deal. Here’s What It Means…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved a $13.5 billion merger between Omnicom and IPG, two major advertising firms, with conditions to prevent viewpoint discrimination and political bias.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Trade Commission, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Omnicom, IPG, and the now-disbanded Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was announced on Monday, during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, where industry leaders were gathered.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This consent agreement will help mitigate the dangers inherent in a consolidated national advertising market.” – FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson

🎯IMPACT: The merger, along with the imposed conditions, aims to curb political bias and collusion in the advertising industry, potentially setting a precedent for other firms.

IN FULL

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a $13.5 billion merger between Omnicom and IPG, two of the world’s largest advertising firms. The decision comes with strict conditions aimed at curbing political bias and preventing future coordination against publishers based on political viewpoints.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced that the firms have agreed to cease all coordination that steers ad dollars away from publishers based on political views. They will also cooperate with the FTC’s investigation into past collusion and submit to compliance reviews. “This consent agreement will help mitigate the dangers inherent in a consolidated national advertising market,” Ferguson said.

“Today, Omnicom and IPG have committed themselves to help stop that sort of coordination in their industry,” Ferguson continues, stating: “This consent agreement will help mitigate the dangers inherent in a consolidated national advertising market.”

The FTC had considered blocking the merger due to evidence of past coordination against conservative news outlets. Ferguson highlighted the role of the now-disbanded Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), which was accused of directing ad dollars away from right-of-center publishers. “GARM was neither the beginning nor the end of harmful and potentially unlawful collusion in this industry,” Ferguson stated, adding: “Numerous other industry groups and private organizations have publicly sought to use the chokepoint of the advertising industry to effect political or ideological goals.”

GARM faced scrutiny after a congressional investigation revealed it had blacklisted conservative outlets, labeling them as “High Risk” or “Conspiracy Theories.” Internal emails showed disdain for freedom of speech advocates and the Constitution.

Under the FTC’s consent decree, Omnicom and IPG will submit annual compliance reports for five years and cooperate fully with investigations into past collusion. The agreement is seen as a significant shift in the advertising industry, which has long relied on coordinated exclusion lists to target disfavored publishers. Whether other major firms like Publicis and WPP will follow suit remains to be seen. The public has 30 days to submit comments on the merger decision to the FTC.

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June 20, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Media

Lake Slashes Biased State-Funded Media by 85%.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Kari Lake implemented President Trump’s executive order on slashing federal bureaucracy by cutting the U.S. Agency for Global Media workforce by 85 percent and exposing financial mismanagement.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kari Lake, President Donald Trump, U.S. Agency for Global Media, Voice of America, SAMHSA, and Congress.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., June 20, 2025

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’m proud to carry out President Trump’s executive order and deliver results that put America First.” – Kari Lake

🎯IMPACT: Over 1,400 jobs were cut, a $250M lease was terminated, and USAGM was stripped to its statutory minimum, saving taxpayers and eliminating unaccountable bureaucracy.

IN FULL

In accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order issued March 14, 2025, titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” Kari Lake has led a sweeping reform of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The agency has eliminated 1,400 positions—an 85 percent reduction in workforce since March—reducing the agency to its statutory minimum required by law.

“Today, we took decisive action to effectuate President Trump’s agenda to shrink the out-of-control federal bureaucracy,” Lake said in a press release. “Reduction in Force Termination Notices were sent to 639 employees at USAGM and Voice of America—part of a long-overdue effort to dismantle a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy.” She added, “For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to bankroll an agency that’s been riddled with dysfunction, bias, and waste. That ends now.”

In March, Lake canceled a $250 million lease for a luxury high-rise on Pennsylvania Avenue—an extravagant space funded by taxpayers under Joe Biden’s government. She is set to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to expose further mismanagement and corruption at the agency.

As of June 20, only 250 employees remain across USAGM, Voice of America, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.

“The agency now operates near the statutory minimum; lean and focused. This is a clear example of responsible government—cutting waste, restoring accountability, and delivering on the promise to put American taxpayers first,” Lake said. She concluded by affirming her commitment to working with Congress and the State Department to modernize U.S. messaging abroad in alignment with President Trump’s America First foreign policy.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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June 19, 2025
Media
War

Trump Blasts WSJ Over Iran Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had authorized a strike on Iran but was awaiting potential negotiations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the WSJ, and unnamed sources cited in the report.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The denial was issued on Thursday via Trump’s Truth Social platform.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The denial adds uncertainty to U.S. involvement in the Israeli conflict with Iran, as the administration’s plans remain unclear.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has denied reporting from the Wall Street Journal asserting that he had already authorized a strike on Iran but was waiting to see if Tehran would negotiate. “The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on June 19.

The WSJ reported that Trump had told aides of his plans, citing “people familiar with the deliberations.” The President has remained coy with the public over his plans to enter the ongoing Israeli conflict with Iran. President Trump stated on June 18 that Iran had reached out to the United States regarding a possible ceasefire, but hinted they may have left it too late.

The Netanyahu government launched a preemptive attack on the country’s nuclear facilities and senior officials last week, and both sides have exchanged missile and air strikes every day over the past week. According to some sources, Israel is now running low on certain kinds of ballistic missile interceptors, which could lead to U.S. participation in the conflict. Thus far, the U.S. has officially limited its operations to helping shoot down Iranian missiles launched at Israel.

Israel, meanwhile, has suggested it may escalate the conflict and eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after a 50-missile barrage on June 19 that saw a major Israeli hospital struck.

“A dictator like Khamenei, who heads a country like Iran and has made the destruction of the State of Israel his declared goal, cannot be allowed to continue… without question this man should no longer continue to exist,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

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June 18, 2025
Media

Streaming Overtakes Traditional TV.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Streaming has surpassed the combined share of broadcast and cable TV viewing for the first time, according to Nielsen’s latest report.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nielsen, streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix, and more traditional media companies like Disney and NBCUniversal.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The milestone was recorded in May 2023, as documented in Nielsen’s The Gauge monthly report.

💬KEY QUOTE: “While many have expected this milestone to occur sooner, sporting events, news, and new season content have kept broadcast and cable surprisingly resilient.” – Brian Fuhrer, Nielsen SVP.

🎯IMPACT: Streaming platforms now lead TV viewership, reshaping the media landscape and forcing traditional companies to adapt to consumer preferences.

IN FULL

For the first time, streaming has outpaced the combined share of broadcast and cable TV viewing, according to Nielsen’s The Gauge monthly report. Streaming accounted for 44.8 percent of total TV viewership in May 2023, while broadcast and cable combined for 44.2 percent. This marks the largest share for streaming to date.

Nielsen’s data shows that since the start of its monthly reports four years ago, streaming has grown by 71 percent, while broadcast and cable viewing have dropped by 21 percent and 39 percent, respectively. “While many have expected this milestone to occur sooner, sporting events, news, and new season content have kept broadcast and cable surprisingly resilient,” Nielen’s Senior Vice President Brian Fuhrer noted.

Fuhrer goes on to explain that streaming’s rise has been driven by free ad-supported streaming TV offerings (FAST channels), YouTube’s exponential audience growth, and shifts by legacy media companies to cater to streaming-focused audiences.

In May 2021, only five streaming platforms surpassed one percent of total TV viewing. As of the most recent report, that number has more than doubled to 11 platforms, including FAST channels like Pluto TV, Roku Channel, and Tubi. Combined, these free services accounted for 5.7 percent of total TV viewing, surpassing any individual broadcast network. YouTube, excluding YouTube TV, has also seen immense growth, representing 12.5 percent of all TV viewing in May and marking its fourth consecutive monthly increase.

Traditional media companies have increasingly embraced streaming, with platforms like Hulu, Paramount+, and Peacock complementing linear TV. For instance, Super Bowl LIX aired on both Fox and Tubi, and the 2024 Olympics will be available on NBC and the broadcaster’s Peacock streaming platform. In addition to its Disney+ streaming platform, Disney has also used YouTube to enhance engagement with its characters and content.

Nielsen noted that Netflix remains the leader among paid subscription services, with a 27 percent increase in viewing over the past four years. While the milestone of streaming surpassing broadcast and cable may not occur every month, particularly during football season, Nielsen predicts streaming will eventually dominate TV viewership permanently.

Image by Corey Wagehoft.

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