Good Morning Media!

Research evidence excerpt

Good Morning Media!

Equity Research

Industry Update — May 20, 2026

Media

Our Call Steven Cahall

Good Morning Media! is our daily take on the relevant newsflow affecting the Media & Equity Analyst | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Steven.Cahall@wellsfargo.com | 212-214-8240

Cable sectors.

Omar Mejias

Equity Analyst | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Badge of honor. SPOT is rolling out “Verified by Spotify” badges for podcasts to Omar.Mejias@wellsfargo.com | 787-370-9353

authenticate creators and help users navigate a surge in AI-generated content. Badges

will appear on show pages and in search, with eligibility tied to sustained engagement

and authentic listenership. SPOT will also remove podcasts that impersonate creators via

AI voice cloning, with rollout expected to begin immediately, but will take SPOT several

months to get through all its ~7mm titles. (Sources: Engadget)

All about creators. Roku is doubling down on creator content w/ a new hub that

aggregates programming from top digital creators alongside partner content, making

discovery easier across apps. The launch incl. new FAST channels and expanded licensing

deals, as Roku looks to capture rising viewer demand and advertiser interest while pulling

creator audiences onto its platform. Content will incl. channels from: Prof G Podcast,

iShowSpeed, Jesser, and Stokes Twins along with others. (Sources: THR)

Video podcast train. HBO Max is adding podcasts across Europe, bringing audio and

video companion content into the app around major franchises. The push starts with

Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast, followed by GOT titles tied to House of the Dragon

and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The move deepens fandom between major releases