Global Scans · Media & Entertainment · Weekly Summary

• [New] Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative has spurred investments in entertainment and hospitality infrastructure, including world-class resorts with expansive pool facilities. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The entertainment industry is expected to see a surge in demand, offering opportunities for U.S. companies in media production, sports broadcasting, and live event management. jennifer.stone@trade.gov
• [New] As podcasts become a staple for information and entertainment, Amazon's moves could set new standards for content creators seeking revenue. Coaio Limited
• [New] Film and Episodic Television Content Production and Distribution: The global movie and entertainment market generated a revenue of approximately USD 100,377.6 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 169,684.1 million by 2030. Trefis
• [New] The U.S. AI in Media & Entertainment Market is on track to surge from $9.70 billion in 2025 to $47.95 billion by 2034, growing at a robust CAGR of 19.43% from 2026-2034. Yahoo Finance UK
• [New] Looking ahead to 2036, AI will become integral to all aspects of media and entertainment, enabling faster production, deeper audience insights, and new creative possibilities. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] Between 2026 and 2030, adoption of AI technologies is expected to accelerate rapidly as media companies prioritize cost compression, faster turnaround times, and enhanced audience targeting. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] The content moderation services market is projected to exceed $22 billion by the early 2030s, with AI-driven community monitoring tools expanding rapidly across gaming, media, and social platforms. Tech Policy Press
• [New] The US retail media market is projected to reach $69.33 billion in 2026, growing 17.9% year over year. JetFuel.Agency
• [New] Employment in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations is projected to grow 9% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. Research.com
• [New] CNN is developing an agentic infrastructure as part of a broader roadmap that will see it begin transacting media by the first quarter of 2027. Digiday
• [New] Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing content creation, distribution, and consumption, with the global AI in media and entertainment market expected to grow at a of 24.2%. ReAnIn
• [New] FanDuel Predicts is a $300 million investment commitment from its parent company Flutter Entertainment that indicates the potential opportunity and the threat that prediction markets will be to traditional gaming companies. Iredell Free News
• [New] Ministers hope to raise £5 billion over the next five years from the digital services tax, which imposes a 2% levy on the revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces operating in the UK. HuffPost UK
• [New] Richer media experiences require substantially more power and larger batteries, which is why IDC expects non-display glasses to drive near-term growth while display-equipped devices gain momentum closer to 2027. Next Reality
• [New] In the United States alone, industry forecasts expect online sports-betting handle to exceed $210 billion by 2026, amid further state-level legalization and tighter media integrations. PMG
• [New] The mass adoption of public Large Language Models as a replacement for traditional search is expected to drive a significant increase in PR and earned media budgets by 2027. Vuelio -
• [New] Since 79% of young people get personal finance advice from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, they are primed to expect quick wins and easy money. Fortune
• [New] Most top social media platforms barring X grew their audience year on year Social media users plan to spend most time on Facebook, followed by Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn, with preferences varying across different generations of users. Typeface
• [New] Sectors where user identity is crucial are particularly at risk, with the top-five industries most affected by identity fraud in 2025 and 2026 being dating, online media, financial services, crypto, and professional services. Sumsub
• [New] While copyright and profitability issues remain unresolved, 2026 is anticipated to be the year media companies develop their own survival guide for the age of artificial intelligence. Sada News Agency
• [New] A recent study from the MIT Media Lab warns that excessive reliance on AI-driven solutions may contribute to cognitive atrophy, diminishing students' ability to think independently and critically. Greater Good

Last updated: 04 May 2026