Media Week #38/2026

The past week on the media scene was marked by continuous digital innovation, the strengthening role of artificial intelligence across industries, and interesting transformations in traditional television and radio broadcasting. The IBC2026 trade fair played a key role, revealing a number of revolutionary technologies and strategies that are shaping the future of media.

Digital Innovation and AI Change the Rules of the Game

• Streaming Adapts: Streaming services are abandoning the single-subscription model and relying on AI for pricing and customer retention. Evergent introduced micro-payment and automated retention technologies at IBC2026, a necessary response to rising content costs. Read more: Streaming Changes Strategy: AI Introduces Micro-payments and Ends Single Subscription

• Netflix Opens Production: At IBC2026, Netflix opened its Media Production Suite (MPS) production ecosystem to external suppliers to connect creators with cloud tools and enable parallel collaboration previously impossible. Find out more: Netflix Opens Its Production Cloud: Creators Gain Access to AI and Third-Party Tools

• Data Transmission Revolution with Delta Protocol: The Delta Protocol project, introduced at IBC2026, promises a revolution in live sports broadcasting. Instead of pixels, AI sends the meaning of scenes, allowing for extreme personalization and drastically reducing data transmission costs. More information: Delta Protocol Changes Transmission Rules: Instead of Pixels, AI Will Send Scene Meanings

• Warning Against Rapid AI Development: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns of losing control over AI if companies do not slow down its development. Security mechanisms are not keeping pace with technological progress, threatening a loss of human control within the next year. Read the full warning: Slow Down AI Development or We'll Lose Control, Warns Anthropic CEO Amodei

Transformation of Television and Radio Broadcasting

• FAST Channels and Creator Dominance: The creator economy is becoming the dominant force in the Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) sector, where giants like Samsung, Amazon, and Roku compete for archives of popular YouTubers. The era of niche influencers is definitively over. Explore the trend: Creator Dominance on Screens: FAST Channels Become the New Front of the Television Market

Television Bets on Transformation: Richard Lindsay-Davies of DTG emphasized at IBC 2026 that television broadcasting has a unique chance for complete transformation thanks to IP technologies and AI, otherwise it risks being pushed out by technological platforms. Details: IBC 2026: Richard Lindsay-Davies from DTG: Television has a unique chance for complete transformation

Using Transmitters for Datacasting: Television transmitters can now deliver data to cars, schools, and emergency services. Datacasting technology expands the use of terrestrial broadcasting far beyond the television screen. Find out more: Television Transmitters Have Another Talent. They Can Deliver Data to Cars, Schools, and Rescuers

New Transmitter for 5G Broadcasting: Rohde & Schwarz at IBC 2026 unveiled the air-cooled UHF transmitter R&S®TM1, which promises a revolution in operating costs and opens the way for mobile broadcasting via 5G networks. Read more: Rohde & Schwarz at IBC 2026 Unveiled the TM1 Transmitter for 5G Broadcasting and NextGen TV

StarDance Enters a New Era: Czech Television is preparing significant changes for the 14th season of StarDance, including the return of Zdeněk Chlopčík and a new mobile voting application, while Marek Eben and Tereza Kostková are leaving. More on the changes: StarDance Celebrates 20 Years: Chlopčík Returns and the Era of Mandatory SMS Votes Ends and Change at the Helm of StarDance: Marek Eben and Tereza Kostková Leave the Competition

Generation Z Discovers Radio: Research shows Generation Z's strong connection to radio and shared listening, opening up an interesting opportunity for the development of Czech DAB+ and offering stations that appeal to a younger audience. Analysis details: Generation Z is Closer to Radio Than Expected. An Interesting Opportunity Opens for Czech DAB+

Media Industry and Large Projects

• CNN Bets on Truth and AI: CNN is undergoing the biggest technological transformation in its 46-year history. It is relying on AI and new distribution models to maintain news independence and credibility in the age of artificial intelligence. Find out more: CNN Changes Strategy: Truth Becomes the Most Valuable Asset in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

• LA28 and the Biggest Broadcasting Event in History: The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games plan the most extensive television and digital coverage in history, with massive deployment of artificial intelligence and cloud for billions of viewers. Read the details: LA28 Will Be the Biggest Broadcasting Event in History: OBS Relies on Cloud and AI for Billions of Viewers

• Netflix and TV Asahi Prepare Ninja Series: Japanese TV Asahi and Netflix have concluded a groundbreaking agreement for the distribution of a historical action series with ninjas, which uses AI and state-of-the-art visual effects. Details: TV Asahi and Netflix Prepare Spectacular Ninja Series Using Artificial Intelligence

Infrastructure and Cybersecurity

• Prague Gateway DC with Optical Connection: The Prague Gateway DC data center has secured complete optical connection to the Prague CRA backbone network, a crucial step towards full operational readiness. More information: Prague Gateway DC Has Secured Optics: It Will Connect to the Prague CRA Backbone Network

• Google Strengthens Energy Independence: Google has secured massive electricity supplies from Finland's Loviisa nuclear power plant for 20 years, which will support the modernization of nuclear units and the construction of data centers. Find out what it means: Google to Buy Half of Electricity from Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant for the Next 20 Years

• HackerFest to Focus on AI Threats: The HackerFest conference by GOPAS on October 8, 2026, will focus on cybersecurity, including artificial intelligence vulnerabilities and attacks on modern systems. Conference details: GOPAS Invitation to the 14th HackerFest Conference, to be held on October 8 in Prague

What to Watch Next Week

Based on last week's trends, we will focus on:

• Further Development of AI Technologies: How new AI tools will be regulated and implemented, especially in light of warnings about loss of control.
• Market Reaction to Micro-payment Models: How quickly the personalized micro-payment model will spread in streaming and what its impact on users will be.
• Strengthening the Creator Economy: Monitoring how large media companies adapt to the growing influence of independent creators and FAST channels.