Media & Entertainment

St. Petersburg – September 13, 2026 -- Amped Fitness named Joel "J.D." Valdez the $10,000 Grand Prize winner of its first Amped Summer Creator Challenge, a three-month contest that drew more than 2,000 creators competing for a $25,000 total prize pool.

Over 100 million views flooded in from thousands of submitted videos

Launched in June as the debut activation of the Amped Creator Program, the challenge invited members to document their personal experiences with the gym brand. Content ranged from transformations and training milestones to friendships and setbacks, collectively racking up more than 100 million views across social media. Amped Fitness distributed the $25,000 prize pool across 12 winners over the course of the summer.

San Diego – September 13, 2026 -- Bonkers Toys has signed a master toy agreement with TikTok creator The Rizzler, real name Christian Savasta, bringing his viral "rizz face" to store shelves nationwide starting Fall 2027.

A 10-year-old's viral expression gets the toy treatment

The line will include collectible plush, figures, and accessories based on the exaggerated squinting-eyes, raised-eyebrow expression that made Savasta an internet sensation. It marks the first time his persona has been turned into an officially licensed toy line.

Bonkers Toys targets major US retailers

Dan Meyer, Head of Brands at Bonkers Toys, said the collection will capture the "rizz face" and the energy that turned The Rizzler into a pop-culture figure. The company plans to launch the products at major retailers across the United States.

Munich – September 13, 2026 -- Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) will broadcast live coverage of the 191st Oktoberfest from September 19 through October 4, 2026, across BR Television, radio, online platforms and the ARD Mediathek streaming service.

The traditional keg-tapping ceremony opens live coverage on September 19

"O'zapft is!" airs live starting at 11:15 a.m. on BR Television, Das Erste and ARD Mediathek, with radio coverage on Bayern 1 and BR24 beginning at noon. Hosts include Susanne Wiesner, Michael Sporer, Dominik Glöbl, Sophie Grund and Andi Christl, with guests Mitsou Jung and Alessandro Capasso.

Mainz – September 12, 2026 -- German public broadcaster ZDF has confirmed a series of last-minute schedule swaps affecting its documentary lineup over the coming weeks, replacing several previously announced titles with different films at the same air times.

Terra X episodes get bumped for other documentaries

On Thursday, September 24, the 7:45 a.m. slot will air "Raubbau auf den Philippinen" (USA, 2024) instead of the planned "Terra X Harald Lesch: Der Wald - Wunderwelt im Wandel," with the rest of the day's schedule continuing as originally planned from 8:15 a.m.

On Friday, September 25, "Terra X: Albrecht Dürer - Superstar" (Germany, 2019) will replace "Terra X: Gustave Eiffel: Der Mann, der den Eiffelturm erfand" at 2:45 a.m., with programming resuming as scheduled from 3:45 a.m.

Munich – September 12, 2026 -- "Love Island VIP" kicks off its new season on September 23, airing every Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI, with episodes available a week earlier on RTL+.

Known reality stars now share the villa with total newcomers

For the first time, the Greek villa mixes established reality personalities with previously unknown singles looking for love on camera. Host Sylvie Meis says the format promises a new dynamic, as viewers watch how experienced reality stars react to first-time daters -- and vice versa.

New York – September 12, 2026 -- A new 10-episode series called "The Hunt for Rolling Treasure" will hold a premiere showcase on Sept. 30 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, featuring six rare American muscle cars valued at up to $1.5 million each.

The show tracks three collectors hunting down rare 1960s and 1970s muscle cars

Co-created by Chris Mazzilli, executive producer of "Downey's Dream Cars" and "The Lost Corvettes," and Larry Hochberg, producer of "Pimp My Ride" and "The Curse of Oak Island," the series is produced by Bungalow Media + Entertainment with Dream Car Restorations. It stars Mazzilli, Dave Weber of Dream Car Restorations, and collector Greg Lotko, who traveled across North America -- including Texas, Las Vegas, Florida, California, Colorado, and Canada -- to locate the vehicles, with exclusive filming access at Mecum Auctions.

Miami – September 12, 2026 -- Real-money gaming app Betr has launched Betr 2.0, a rebrand that unifies five products -- Picks, Predictions, Social Sportsbook, Social Casino, and Arcade -- into a single platform, alongside a new ad campaign reuniting Entourage stars Jeremy Piven and Adrian Grenier.

Betr becomes the first consumer app to integrate Polymarket

The centerpiece of the relaunch is Predictions, a new prediction-markets product built through an integration with Polymarket. Betr says it is the first consumer app to launch this integration, with a phased rollout now underway to eligible users in select states. Initial markets will cover sports, with a full release planned later this football season and additional real-world event markets expected over time.

Los Angeles – September 11, 2026 -- Azuki Labs will release the first chapter of its original manga series AZUKI for free on Azuki.com starting September 17 at 9:00 AM PDT, with new chapters arriving on the third Thursday of every month at no cost to readers.

Former Overwatch art director creates the series

Arnold Tsang, who served as Character Art Director for Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch and helped shape the game's hero roster and lore, wrote and illustrated AZUKI. It marks his first original serialized manga and his first return to comics since working on Udon's Street Fighter series.

Story follows two sisters torn apart by mysterious Gates

The plot centers on Shao, who searches for her missing sister Rei after Rei disappears beyond a set of ancient Gates. The search draws Shao into a conflict threatening both worlds, forcing her to confront buried secrets and difficult choices tied to family and destiny.

Southlake – – September 11, 2026 -- Game Show Studio, an immersive entertainment experience that turns guests into contestants in a Hollywood-style game show, opens its newest location inside Red Door Escape Room at 280 Commerce St., Suite 285, in Southlake, Texas, on September 12.

The grand opening runs all weekend with discounts and giveaways

Starting Saturday, September 12 at 11:00 a.m., the public is invited to tour the venue, try mini-games and enter giveaways. Guests who book events during the celebration weekend get an exclusive discount of $25 per ticket.

Bristol, Tenn. – September 11, 2026 -- Brad Pitt will serve as Grand Marshal for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Bristol Motor Speedway, appearing alongside Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris six days before Pitt's new film opens in theaters.

The Academy Award-winning actor and producer will take part in Bristol's pre-race ceremonies and help give the command to fire engines before the NASCAR Cup Series race begins under the lights at 7:30 p.m. ET. It marks the third race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase, a 500-lap event on Bristol's 0.533-mile concrete oval.