Top News:
Fortune:
Disney tried to buy Buzzfeed but talks broke down over price; Buzzfeed sought more than $1B — Disney tried to buy BuzzFeed — The merger conversations happened several months ago, but fell apart over price. — FORTUNE - The Walt Disney Co. was in talks to acquire online content …
Discussion:
Mashable, MediaWire Daily, The Wrap, @ischafer, Business Insider, @sunny_hundal, @rafat, @thestalwart, @pkafka and @notoriousjld
Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:
At Newfronts, New York Times says it has “moved beyond words”, producing 430+ videos a month — At Newfront, Times pitches its refresh on video strategy to buyers — The New York Times has significantly increased its video inventory and distribution channels since hitting …
Discussion:
The New York Observer, @raju, Digiday, @buzzfeedandrew, MediaPost, @mikeisaac, @hunterschwarz and Gothamist
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Chris O'Shea / FishbowlNY:
NY Times Revamps Video Hub — The New York Times has given its video hub — nytimes.com/video — a makeover. The site now features responsive design, a sleeker appearance and easier navigation tools. It's definitely an upgrade from the previous version.
Tim Peterson / AdAge:
Yahoo Unveils Two Half-Hour Series to Compete for TV Ad Dollars — Yahoo wants TV ad dollars, whether they be spent on original programming or augmenting TV spots. — During its Digital Content NewFronts presentation on Monday night, Yahoo presented its plans to siphon some of the $68 billion advertisers …
Discussion:
Lost Remote, Variety, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, TVbytheNumbers, CNET, Pocket-lint and comScore, Inc.
Ed Pilkington / Guardian:
Barrett Brown's lawyer says government chilled free speech with broad charges, later dropped — Barrett Brown lawyer: US tried to ‘kill a fly with a sledgehammer’ — Ahmed Ghappour speaks out after gag order was lifted and says effect of prosecutorial overreach is ‘chilling to free speech’
Discussion:
WhoWhatWhy
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Craig Ferguson to Leave ‘Late Late Show’ in December — Craig Ferguson will step down as host of CBS' “ The Late Late Show” in December when his contract with the network expires after nearly a decade as David Letterman's companion in the 12:35 a.m. slot. — Ferguson's decision comes less …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Wrap, MediaPost, Politico, Mediaite, Hollywood Life, TVbytheNumbers, The Wire and Hollywood Reporter
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
Netflix and Verizon reach interconnection deal to speed up video — Netflix confirms deal that appears to be similar to agreement with Comcast. — Netflix today confirmed that it reached an interconnection agreement with Verizon, similar to the one it recently struck with Comcast.
Discussion:
@waltbtig, Gigaom, TechCrunch, multichannel.com, @pkafka, @pkafka, @chriswelch, @jbrodkin, Engadget, The Verge, Mashable, Re/code and Electronista
Marcy Wheeler / emptywheel:
DOJ Continues Its “Multi-Subject” Investigation of WikiLeaks — As I noted some weeks ago, the judge in EPIC's FOIA for materials on the investigation into supporters of WikiLeaks asked for an update. The government provided that update last night. — It said it still must withhold …
Discussion:
@trevortimm, @ggreenwald, @wikileaks and @birgittaj
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:
Univision CEO: Comcast-Time Warner Cable Deal Could Be Bad for Hispanics — UPDATED: Randy Falco says he hopes for tough regulatory restrictions as part of the deal's approval process as his company predicts it will break even on the soccer World Cup this year.
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Peter Kafka / Re/code:
NBCUniversal research chief Alan Wurtzell says Twitter chatter does not increase TV viewership — NBC Pokes a Hole in Twitter's TV Story — You know how Twitter is supposed to be TV's friend? — Things look a little less congenial today. — That's after a pointed article in the Financial Times …
Discussion:
Financial Times, Gawker, @antderosa, VentureBeat, The Awl, @awolk, @kevinmarks, @davewiner, Business Insider, @jyarow, @mollywood and @learmonth
Jonathan Shieber / TechCrunch:
Wanderful Media Raises $14.5 Million Bringing Newspaper Circulars To Mobile Phones — Circulars (the advertising inserts with coupons from local retailers) are still critical to revenues for local newspapers. In an effort to bring them into the digital age, a consortium …
Discussion:
VentureBeat, Street Fight, Forbes and Wanderful Media
Cindy Royal / Nieman Journalism Lab:
Are journalism schools teaching their students the right skills? — If you are a journalism educator or media professional, I have news for you: We work in tech. — I know: That's not exactly what you signed up for when you entered the profession 20, 10, or even five years ago. But things have changed.
Kate Tummarello / The Hill:
FCC chief to testify on Internet ‘fast lanes’ proposal — Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler will testify in front of the House Commerce Subcommittee on Communications on May 20, the committee announced Monday. — On the list of topics Wheeler will discuss …
Discussion:
TechCrunch and Energy & Commerce Committee
Zachary M. Seward / Quartz:
Quartz tracks changes in Netflix's ‘Long-Term View’ manifesto — The track-changes version of Netflix's vision for the future of TV — Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is candid about his streaming video company's strategy and its place in the future of television.
Discussion:
BGR
Will Leitch / Sports on Earth:
The sports bubble inflated by cable TV will burst soon with tech and viewership changes — WHEN THE BUBBLE BURSTS … NEXT ARTICLE — UNITED THEY FALL?
Discussion:
@suzisteffen, @alexsimon99, @williamfleitch, BGR, @swmckewonowh and New York Times