News from the open internet

AFL audiences aren’t just watching live—they’re scrolling, streaming and replaying. Here’s how second screens are reshaping media buying.

Tharshini Tharma-Asokan

Across the internet

EU vs social media

The EU Commission is working on regulations to reign in TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X and protect children and youth, citing the apps' "addictive design."

Who rules

David Zaslav says HBO Max is “probably” Warner Bros. Discovery’s “most important asset”

Open up

EU officially proposes measures that would force Google to share its search data with third-party search engines. Google said it will fight back. A final decision is expected in July.

EU regulators are looking into whether OpenAI's ChatGPT should face tighter regulations under the bloc's Digital Services Act, like Google Search and Meta's Instagram, as the AI company builds its ads business.

Merger probe

U.K. competition regulators are set to investigate Paramount's takeover of WBD.

Going global

ESPN launches on Disney+ in Europe and some APAC markets, bringing U.S. leagues like the NBA and NHL to global audiences.

Meta Meta

Greece announced it will ban social media for under 15s from next year.

New boss

UK media regulator Ofcom appoints a new chair with deep roots in business, as government weighs social media ban for minors.

Retail storytelling

Britain's Tesco launches "premium" video ad formats across its app and website, claiming a monthly reach of up to 12 million unique visitors.

Building buzz

Beehiiv is getting into podcasts, and plans to expand its ad network to them, according to TechCrunch.

Opinion

Graph showing the share of global streaming revenue for ad tiers in 2025 and 2020.

The Readout

Ad tiers accounted for 28% of global streaming subscription revenue in 2025

Advertising plans helped drive streaming subscription revenue to new heights in 2025, and ad revenue generated another $20 billion, according to Ampere Analysis.