The most innovative companies in media and news for 2026

The way we consume culture has fractured into millions of pieces and the far corners of the internet. But media companies are finding creative ways to keep capturing market share.For publishing imprint Bloom Books, that means capitalizing on TikTok’s rise by turning #BookTok’s viral hits into paperback bestsellers. For Webtoon, it’s doubling down on a dynamic fast-metabolism format with five-minute-long “episodes” that bring comic books to life. The satiric newspaper The Onion is channeling its best quality—humor—into a new revenue stream by opening its own ad agency, while the New York Times is cranking out vertical video reels meant to be viewed on smartphones. Live sports continue to command audiences, with Beyond Sports offering a unique twist by rendering players as animated cartoon characters in action, in real time. Former YouTube channel turned entertainment company Dude Perfect is chasing the “live” element with a stadium tour, which attempts to land the trick shots and other