Mediagazer: Netflix and Verizon reach interconnection deal to speed up video (Jon Brodkin/Ars Technica)

8:35 PM ET, April 28, 2014

Top News:

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: The Wrap, Business Insider, @sunny_hundal, @notoriousjld, Mashable, @pkafka, @rafat and @thestalwart

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, MediaPost, @hunterschwarz, @mikeisaac, @raju, Digiday, @buzzfeedandrew and Gothamist

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: Variety, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, Bloomberg, Billboard, TVbytheNumbers, Pocket-lint, CNET and comScore, Inc.

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, multichannel.com, TechCrunch, @chriswelch, @jbrodkin, @pkafka, Mashable, Engadget, The Verge, @pkafka, 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

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: Gawker, VentureBeat, Financial Times, @awolk, @kevinmarks, @antderosa, @mollywood, The Awl, @davewiner, @learmonth, Business Insider and @jyarow

Joshua Benton / Nieman Journalism Lab:

Vox is publishing some of its stories and the interviews behind them in parallel — It's a small thing, but worth noting: For stories that are built around a single interview, Vox is now publishing both the story and the interview transcript in parallel. Take this Thomas Piketty piece by Matt Yglesias …

Discussion: @jbenton, @reckless, @clockwerks, @justinglow, @yurivictor, @scottkellum, @abeaujon and Daring Fireball

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.

Discussion: Adweek and BuzzFeed

Associated Press:
Comcast shedding 3.9M subscribers to ease deal with Charter

Discussion: Broadcasting & Cable, TechCrunch, Gigaom, Associated Press, Seeking Alpha, Advanced Television, Philly.com, Adweek, Variety, Reuters, @tomelko, @underoak, Deadline.com and New York Times

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

New NYT mag editor Jake Silverstein aims to bring newspaper and magazine “closer together” — New blood — When New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson and other members of New York's media establishment come to Austin, Tex., they hit up Torchy's Tacos.

Discussion: Columbia Journalism Review, @alexweprin, @mbradylynch, @capitalnewyork, @hcookaustin, @mlcalderone, @pamelacolloff, @joepompeo, @curtisbeast and MediaWire Daily

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

Noah Rothman / Mediaite:

Vice Reporter Simon Ostrovsky Reveals Brutal Details of Captivity in Ukraine — Simon Ostrovsky, a reporter with Vice who was recently held captive for three days by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, spoke out about his ordeal in an interview with NBC's Savannah Guthrie.

Discussion: TVNewser, Forbes, The Wrap, Globe and Mail and Kirk LaPointe's …

Tanveer Ali / Columbia Journalism Review:

ProPublica plans to make nearly every data set used in reporting available on Data Store — ProPublica plans to grow its ‘Data Store’ — “There's no question that selling data is a rich opportunity for many newsrooms” — In February, ProPublica launched the “Data Store,” …

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Newsmax CEO gave $10k to Cantor — Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy made a five-figure contribution to Rep. Eric Cantor's re-election campaign earlier this year, the latest political donation from the head of an increasingly influential conservative media outlet.