Romance fiction is pulling in fresh money and attention, with UK romance novel revenue at £69mn in 2024 and strong support from US readers, while many other book categories face pressure. That shift in demand is now touching listed media and publishing stocks, from traditional book groups to content driven media platforms. Investors are watching how BookTok trends, streaming adaptations such as Netflix’s “Bridgerton”, and the focus on romance as a publishing growth driver might influence share prices and earnings risk. This article breaks down 3 stocks from our Media & Publishing Sector Stocks screener that look most exposed to this news.

PodcastOne (PODC)

Overview: PodcastOne is a Beverly Hills based podcast publisher that distributes shows and vodcasts across platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music, while also producing branded podcasts, merchandise, live events and operating LaunchPadOne, a self publishing and monetization platform for independent creators.

Operations: PodcastOne generates about US$61.7 million of revenue from internet information provider services, all from the United States.

Market Cap: US$106.1 million

Investors looking at how romance content and BookTok are spilling into audio may consider PodcastOne. The company already sells shows into major streaming networks and is ranked among the largest US podcast publishers, which can matter as romance IP increasingly moves between books, podcasts and screen. Recent launches in AI monetization and new show acquisitions aim to squeeze more value out of its existing catalog, but the business is still loss making and auditors have raised going concern concerns, so funding and execution risk is present. The ability of PodcastOne to convert its premium content, advertising reach and AI tools into consistent profits will influence how it participates in this shifting media trend.

PodcastOne sits at the crossroads of BookTok fueled romance IP and AI powered monetization, yet the real story sits inside the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Newsmax (NMAX)

Overview: Newsmax is a Boca Raton based media company that runs a 24/7 news and information TV network alongside streaming channels, a large digital news site, print magazines and newsletters, and sells books and nutraceutical products focused on political, financial, health and lifestyle themes.

Operations: Newsmax generates about US$160.9 million from Broadcasting and US$34.8 million from Digital, with total revenue of roughly US$195.6 million coming from the United States.

Market Cap: US$986.8 million

Investors watching how romance stories and values driven content travel across screens may find Newsmax interesting because it links a cable and streaming news network with a cross selling engine for books, magazines and subscriptions. The company is still loss making. Management points to a connected TV push through Newsmax2 and Newsmax+, higher cable affiliate fees and a growing multi platform audience, which together could improve margins if execution matches expectations. At the same time, the stock trades on a rich P/S multiple, relies heavily on advertising and elections driven news cycles, and carries governance questions after brisk board turnover. How those growth ambitions, risks and the current valuation balance out is where the real opportunity or downside sits for Newsmax.

Newsmax’s push into connected TV and multi platform distribution could be masking a very different story in the numbers. Get the full context in the analysis report for Newsmax

DoubleVerify Holdings (DV)

Overview: DoubleVerify Holdings runs a media effectiveness platform that helps advertisers check whether their digital ads are seen by real people in suitable environments and in the right places. It uses tools such as DV Authentic Ad, DV Authentic Attention, Scibids AI and Rockerbox to measure performance and fine tune campaigns across social media, streaming and the open web.

Operations: DoubleVerify generates about US$764.1 million of revenue from data processing services.

Market Cap: US$1.8 billion

DoubleVerify Holdings gives you a way to tap into growing digital ad spend on social platforms, short form video and streaming where advertisers are paying for trusted measurement, fraud protection and AI driven optimization. The company is leaning into AI tools like Scibids and DV Neura, which clients are already using across TikTok, Meta and YouTube, and it sits at the center of BookTok fueled attention where romance and other content heavy categories vie for ad budgets. The stock screens as deeply discounted against some fair value estimates, and buybacks have been reducing the share count. The catch is its heavy reliance on big platforms and privacy rules, which could change access and pricing in ways you cannot see from headline numbers alone.

DoubleVerify Holdings sits at the intersection of AI driven ad optimisation and content hungry platforms, yet many investors may be missing how those tools reshape revenue quality. Get the full picture in the analyst forecasts for DoubleVerify Holdings

The three stocks in this article are only a starting point. The full Media & Publishing Sector Stocks screener surfaces 19 more Media & Publishing companies with equally compelling stories. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts and narratives that matter to you so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas in this space.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.