POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE AND $7 BILLION

It’s graduation season, and 39% of us plan to buy a gift for a high school or college graduate. That’s according to the National Retail Federation, which predicts a record $7.2 billion will be spent this year. Half of the respondents intend to give cash, making it the most popular gift. Greeting cards took second place at 38%, and since you need something to put into that greeting card, gift cards came in third with 30%. Four percent intend to spend their money on “other.” It’s a car, isn’t it? Wait, don’t tell me. Okay, tell me. Is it a car?  (NRF: May, 2026)

LIVE SPORTS STILL BIG FOR NETWORKS AND ADVERTISERS

Networks made sports programming a major theme of last week’s upfront presentations… and with good reason. Sports remain a major draw for viewers, and advertisers want to take part in ways that go beyond simple 15- and 30-second spots. They want to stand out from the pack with tactics like pregame and postgame integrations, dynamic ad insertions, and second-screen experiences. Considering what networks pay the leagues for rights fees and the demand from advertisers, sports are sure to be a major area of spending in 2026-27.  (Business Insider: May 13, 2026)

COST-CONSCIOUS VIEWERS FAVOR STREAMING BUNDLES

With so many streaming platforms and monthly premium subscription costs starting to exceed $20, consumers could pay more than they did in the pre-streaming era. Many are looking to mitigate that cost by opting into bundled packages, and a new report from Hub Entertainment Research gives us some details. Their annual “Best Bundle” study shows that half of consumers “strongly agree” that budget is the main factor when buying, up from 41% last year. Even more (44%) appreciate the simplicity of having multiple subscriptions on one bill. Bundles also allow them to sample niche services that they might otherwise have ignored. (Hub Entertainment Research: May 19, 2026)

SCRIPTED SHOWS MAKE A BROADCAST TV COMEBACK

Scripted programming continues to return to broadcast TV, with each network adding one to its schedule for 2026-2027. Across the Big Four (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC), 55 scripted series are slated for the next broadcast year. Media companies are increasingly capitalizing on the synergy between their broadcast and streaming platforms as shows can exist on the former for timely viewing and the latter for longer-tail discovery. This allows series to grow over time, increasing viewership and chances for renewal. The one-two punch of broadcast and streaming also allows shows to reach two distinct audiences; NBC, for instance, has found that Peacock accounts for half of the viewing of some of its shows, and represents a younger demographic. (Hollywood Reporter: May 16, 2026)