CNN vs The New York Times

Cable News Ratings: MS NOW Leads Primetime Demo

On Monday, October 26, 2026, Nielsen ratings (Big Data + Panel) showed Fox News (FNC) leading total primetime viewers with 1.743 million, while MSNBC (MS NOW) topped the Adults 25-54 demo with 141,000. During the week of October 19, FNC averaged 1.747 million total viewers and 140,000 in the demo, remaining most-watched. MS NOW saw double-digit growth in the demo, surpassing CNN for second place, and posted a 30% year-over-year increase in total viewers. CNN averaged 632,000 total viewers that week, up 1%, but had only 516,000 on Monday. Top programs included MS NOW's 'The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell' and FNC's 'The Five'.

• MS NOW led the primetime A25-54 demo on Oct. 26 with 141,000 viewers, and Fox News had the most total viewers (1.743 million).
• During the week of Oct. 19, Fox News averaged 1.747 million total viewers and 140,000 in the demo.
• MS NOW gained 19% in the primetime A25-54 demo week-over-week, surpassing CNN for second place.

CNN International builds for agentic ad market with Q1 launch

Apple's Safari restrictions on identity resolution are accelerating the ad industry's shift toward server-side infrastructure. Companies like ID5 are moving parts of their identity functions server-side to avoid direct browser blocking, while many publishers are rallying behind IAB Tech Lab's Trusted Server Framework. These changes have impacted identity providers such as Audigent, LiveRamp, Permutive, and The Trade Desk, though adoption of iOS 27 remains low. A study found that 83.76% of analyzed websites transmitted an Extended Identifier (EID) in May 2025, with concerns about consent compliance on EU sites. Meanwhile, CNN International is pressing forward with agent-based ad selling, targeting Q1 2027 for its first agent-sold dollars. Stagwell has acquired Freestar, integrating it into its Owned Media division, raising transparency questions. These developments reflect growing platform influence and holding companies' control over ad tech, though concerns persist about durability, potential fingerprinting, and whether these approaches truly address privacy.

• Apple's Safari/WebKit restrictions block network calls for cross-site user identification, affecting ad tech companies such as Audigent, ID5, LiveRamp, Permutive, and The Trade Desk.
• ID5 is preparing to migrate more of its identity infrastructure server-side to avoid direct browser blocking.
• Publishers are rallying behind IAB Tech Lab's Trusted Server Framework, introduced in March 2025.

CNN Redesigns Homepage, Showcases New Video Offerings

CNN has launched a major redesign of its website homepage, effective Wednesday. The new layout features a video carousel at the top to showcase live channels and on-demand content from its DTC subscription service, All Access. The redesign is informed by audience insights gathered since All Access launched a year ago, aiming to enhance the homepage as a central hub for CNN's digital experiences. Key updates include a new 'Developing' section for breaking stories, updated live story packaging, and vertical video formats. The homepage now provides clearer pathways to premium All Access content, making live coverage more prominent and offering more visual and engaging ways to interact with CNN's journalism. The redesign is part of CNN's broader digital transformation focused on building direct relationships with its audience.

• CNN launched a redesigned homepage on Wednesday at 5 a.m. ET.
• The redesign introduces a video carousel showcasing All Access live channels and on-demand content.
• CNNs digital team used audience insights from the All Access subscription service to inform the redesign.

Bluesky Adds iPad Support, Profile Links

Bluesky, the social media platform and alternative to X and Threads, has introduced two major updates in its v1.136 app update. First, iPad users can now access Bluesky in a beta version, fulfilling one of the platform's most requested features. Second, Bluesky has launched profile links, allowing creators to add up to 30-character titled links in their bio, pointing to external websites, newsletters, podcasts, or other social media accounts. The company's Head of Product, Alex Benzer, announced that links to payment platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi will appear as prominent green buttons, supporting creator monetization. This move aligns with Bluesky's broader vision for cross-app creator monetization within the AT Protocol ecosystem. With 41.4 million users as of early 2026, Bluesky differentiates itself through its open and independent structure.

• Bluesky releases iPad support in beta with app update v1.136.
• Bluesky introduces profile links for creators, supporting up to 30-character titles.
• Links to Patreon and Ko-fi will appear as green buttons on profiles to facilitate monetization.

Introducing the Inaugural Wirecutter Hall of Fame Awards

The New York Times announces the inaugural Wirecutter Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing top products and services.

Essay: Minority Report Predicted Generative AI's Hallucinations

In a Medium essay on UX design, Patrick Neeman argues that Steven Spielberg's 2002 film Minority Report is a more accurate forecast of generative AI than of gesture interfaces. He compares the film's precogs to large language models: both produce confident, plausible output rather than retrieving facts, which leads to hallucination. The essay highlights the 'minority report' concept as an early description of hallucination. It also addresses AI's hidden training-data costs, citing Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement and OpenAI's low-paid Kenyan contractors. On AI agents, Neeman notes a PwC survey finding 79% of companies use AI agents, and warns of automation bias. He cites Stanford research showing legal AI tools fabricate law 17–33% of the time. The piece concludes that designers should surface uncertainty and keep humans in the loop.

• ChatGPT crossed 800 million weekly active users within three years of launch, per Sam Altman.
• A federal judge approved Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement with authors in 2026.
• PwC found that 79% of companies already have AI agents in use.