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TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
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Global bought a majority stake in Gary Neville’s YouTube group The Overlap, expanding sports media on digital streaming platforms. (The Guardian)
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Netflix has become the official US home of WWE’s Premium Live Events library including WrestleMania and SummerSlam. (Cageside Seats)
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CES 2026 highlights show cutting-edge AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles and immersive tech on display. (AP)
Audiences
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US Gen Z’s digital media habits are defined by multi-platform video streaming, with YouTube and TikTok dominating their video time and mobile-first behaviors shaping fragmented and participatory viewing patterns. (EMarketer)
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CTV is projected to reach 244M US viewers by 2026, which is around 72% of the population as traditional pay TV continues to decline. (Cinematic Tourism)
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Audience behavior trends for 2026 emphasize more personalized, low-friction experiences where smart interfaces and AI help viewers find content with less effort, reflecting the ongoing shift toward comfort-centric discovery. (Forbes)
Platforms
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TikTok has fully evolved into a shopping-centric platform in the U.S., becoming the No. 3 fastest-growing shopping platform and driving significant e-commerce sales during peak shopping periods. (Business Insider)
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France is advancing a plan to ban social media access for children under 15 starting in 2026, reflecting rising global regulatory pressure on platforms to curb youth exposure to online harms. (Le Monde)
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Reels have evolved into a major revenue driver with Instagram and Facebook Reels surpassing a $50B annual run rate and plans to expand to additional screens in 2026. (The Wall Street Journal)
Content
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Netflix’s January 2026 slate includes a wide array of films and series from James Bond movies to "Bridgerton" Season 4 and WWE docuseries "WWE: Unreal" Season 2. (Newsweek)
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Amazon Prime Video’s January 2026 lineup features originals like "The Night Manager" Season 2, "Steal" with Sophie Turner, and big films such as "The Wrecking Crew." (Decider)
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Netflix revived the iconic competition "Star Search" with A-list judges and a January 20 premiere as part of its early 2026 slate. (The Sun)
Tech &
AI-
Universal Music Group and Nvidia announced a strategic partnership to use advanced AI models to enhance music discovery and creation while protecting artist rights. (Pitchfork)
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Industry forecasts and expert reports show AI trends for 2026 shifting from hype to practical collaboration, with AI agents expected to act increasingly like digital teammates across work and creative environments. (Microsoft News)
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Razer introduced Project AVA at CES 2026, a holographic AI companion in a desktop jar that uses advanced Grok technology for contextual interaction and basic productivity support. (Business Insider)
Location-based
entertainment-
Sloth World, the world’s first immersive sloth attraction, is set to open in Orlando in February 2026, letting visitors explore rainforest-style habitats and see baby sloths being born. (People)
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Sandbox VR will expand virtual reality entertainment with a new location opening January 23 in Houston’s Memorial City, offering social VR experiences like "Stranger Things: Catalyst." (Houston Chronicle)
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Cosm Detroit will open in September 2026 with a massive immersive sports and entertainment dome featuring stadium-style 180-degree LED visuals and tech-driven fan experiences. (Axios)
Travel &
hospitality-
American Airlines announced free high-speed satellite Wi-Fi for AAdvantage loyalty members across most of its fleet, making in-flight connectivity a baseline expectation and loyalty perk. (The Verge)
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Travel trend forecasts for 2026 highlight new airline routes, hotel openings and customizable experiences as key forces shaping where and how people travel this year. (Condé Nast)
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Aer Lingus launched a new direct Dublin-to-Cancun route with fares from €259, broadening Irish access to Caribbean travel this winter season. (The Sun)
Gaming
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January 2026’s release schedule includes a diverse slate of games such as "Code Vein 2", "Animal Crossing" updates, and indie titles across platforms. (Screenrant)
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Valve’s Steam Awards 2025 crowned "Hollow Knight: Silksong" Game of the Year and spotlighted titles like "Hades 2" and "Dispatch" during the Winter Sale period. (PC Gamer)
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Xbox Game Pass added two surprise games for January 2026, continuing its strategy of boosting subscriber engagement with unannounced mid-month drops. (Gamerant)
