AGM Knowledge is our complimentary digest of worldwide marketing tech, data, business, and brand news. We email it every week to thousands of marketing professionals around the globe. If you’d like to join them, click here to subscribe.
Check out the latest posts from AGM Leaders
TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
-
Netflix says it now has 325M+ subscribers globally, underscoring how aggressively streaming leaders are scaling audience and monetization. (Axios)
-
YouTube TV is rolling out a customizable multiview builder, letting viewers choose the specific channels they want to watch at the same time. (Tech Crunch)
-
The 2026 Oscar nominations include several snubs and surprises, with Ariana Grande, George Clooney and Paul Mescal missing from nominees list. (CBS)
Audiences
-
Nielsen reports streaming hit a record 47.5% of total TV viewing in December 2025, reinforcing that streaming is now the default consumption mode for many households. (Nielsen)
-
The “2026 is the new 2016” trend is surging on TikTok and Instagram, showing how nostalgia cycles are driving participatory content formats and engagement. (Forbes)
-
Moviegoing held steady over the MLK weekend, with "Avatar: Fire and Ash" leading the box office again as new releases fought for attention. (AP)
Platforms
-
Spotify will raise prices in the U.S. (including Premium Individual), continuing the industry’s push toward higher ARPU via subscription increases. (CNBC)
-
Instagram is testing a “friends” count display in the profile header, another nudge toward social proof mechanics on the platform. (Business Insider)
-
UK lawmakers are moving to tighten enforcement around under-16 social media access, signaling more aggressive age-verification pressure for platforms. (Trading View)
Content
-
Netflix has cancelled "The Vince Staples Show" after two seasons. (Complex)
-
"Shrinking" Season 3 will premiere on Apple TV+ on January 28, 2026, keeping the comedy pipeline moving early in the year. (Yahoo Entertainment)
-
Amazon MGM and Mattel Studios dropped the first “Masters of the Universe” trailer, revealing Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man and Jared Leto’s Skeletor ahead of the June 5 theatrical release. (Entertainment Weekly)
Tech &
AI-
Apple is reportedly exploring turning Siri into a more ChatGPT-like conversational assistant, underscoring how fast voice UX expectations are shifting. (The Verge)
-
OpenAI is working on consumer hardware devices slated for 2026, signaling a bigger push beyond software-only distribution. (Tech Crunch)
-
Micron warned an “unprecedented” memory chip shortage is being accelerated by AI infrastructure demand and could persist beyond 2026, tightening supply for devices across categories. (Business Standard)
Location-based
entertainment-
Sphere Entertainment announced plans for a 6,000-seat “mini-Sphere” immersive venue at National Harbor (outside D.C.), aiming to replicate the Las Vegas Sphere-style 4D spectacle in a smaller format. (Washington Post)
-
Midland Mall debuted the “Jurassic Explorers” immersive walkthrough (life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, themed scenery and sound), launching as part of a Jurassic Weekend event on January 24–25. (Midland News)
-
A short-term rental home in Clovis has been transformed into a fully themed “Stranger Things” stay, turning the property itself into an immersive, bookable fan experience. (Yahoo Entertainment)
Travel &
hospitality-
United says business travel demand is “amazing” again, as the airline forecasts a strong 2026 lift driven by premium and corporate bookings. (Investopedia)
-
“Skillcations” are emerging as a 2026 travel flex, vacations built around learning a new skill (from cooking to falconry), pushing hotels/resorts to package experiences as the product. (Axios)
-
Foxwoods set an opening date for The Bedford by Martha Stewart (March 13, 2026), expanding the celebrity-chef destination play for resort casinos. (CT Insider)
Gaming
-
Forza Horizon 6 will launch May 19, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and PC (with Premium Edition early access May 15) and is also headed to PS5 later in 2026, signaling continued platform expansion for tentpole Xbox franchises. (The Verge)
-
The Fable reboot is confirmed for fall 2026 on Xbox and PC and will also release on PS5, the first time the franchise launches on PlayStation. (The Verge)
-
Former Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has joined Hasbro’s board of directors as Hasbro pushes deeper into games, including plans to develop an in-house video game title in 2026. (The Verge)
