Top News:
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Spotify files an anti-trust complaint against Apple with the European Commission, claiming App Store rules limit choice and stifle competition — Spotify is filing a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, accusing the latter company of anticompetitive behaviour in the way it manages …
Discussion:
Spotify, The Wrap, Variety, Recode, The Verge, @pkafka, @viticci, Hollywood Reporter, @spotifynews, @jamesliamcook, @neilcybart and @m4tt, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple's video service will feature mostly content from partners at launch, with the first slew of its own shows coming later in the year — - IPhone maker is said to push for HBO, Showtime and Starz deals — Magazine bundle, Apple Pay upgrades are also coming this month
Discussion:
VentureBeat, TechCrunch, Fortune, @markgurman, Engadget, MacRumors and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Caroline O'Donovan / BuzzFeed News:
Gimlet Media, the podcasting startup with 83 staff that Spotify acquired for a reported $230M in February, is unionizing with the Writers Guild of America — The 83-person staff of Gimlet Media, a podcasting startup acquired by music streaming service Spotify for $230 million in February …
Mike Farrell / Multichannel News:
Tribune Media's shareholders overwhelmingly approve its acquisition by Nexstar Media Group, a deal that will create the largest TV station group in the US — $6.4B purchase will create country's largest station group — Tribune Media said its shareholders overwhelmingly approved …
Discussion:
Deadline
The Information:
Sources: Vice Media is seeking to raise up to $200M, possibly through a mix of debt and equity, and aims for profitability in the next 12 months — Vice Media is looking to raise a new round of financing of up to $200 million, which the company hopes will give it enough cash to reach its goal …
Discussion:
@cityofthetown, @felixsalmon, @emilybell, @dansinker, @amir, @gadyepstein and @jessicalessin
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
Seven organizations are receiving $750K in funding for projects combining AI and news, including The Seattle Times — How will artificial intelligence change society? How should journalists cover it? And how can AI actually be helpful to newsrooms and reporters?
Discussion:
American Press Institute, AI Initiative, @timhwang, Poynter, @mantzarlis, @degarciaknight, @jeffjarvis, @pilhofer, TechCrunch and Muckrock News
Jeanine Poggi / Ad Age:
NBC Universal, CBS, Disney Media Networks, Discovery, AMC, and others launch Project OAR, a consortium to establish an open standard in addressable advertising — NBCU, Turner, CBS, Disney, among media companies forming yet another industry consortium — Yet another consortium …
Discussion:
Adweek, @digitalshields, Engadget, What's New in Publishing and Broadcasting & Cable
Financial Times:
Sources: News Corp and Axel Springer are expected to bid for the financial news company Acuris, which owns Mergermarket and could be valued at more than £1B — Traditional media companies, including Rupert Murdoch's news business, and the world's largest rating agencies are set to enter …
Discussion:
@bondhack, @sirthomaswynne and Talking Biz News
Lucinda Southern / Digiday:
Hearst UK to double its video team in the coming months to create more original content for YouTube, says its on-site pre-roll revenue grew 1000% in 2018 — Hearst UK is investing more in its video team, nearly doubling the headcount from five to nine over the next few months after seeing viewer and revenue gains in 2018.
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
CBS buys out Lionsgate's 50% ownership of the Pop TV cable channel, formerly the TV Guide Network, gaining full control — CBS has taken full ownership of the Pop TV cable channel after buying out the 50% stake held by Lionsgate. — CBS said it aims to better integrate Pop with the rest …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, @benfritz, Adweek, MediaPost, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap
Media Matters for America:
Media Matters study: nearly one-third of climate change coverage by the networks came from a single episode of Meet the Press on December 30 — For this study, Media Matters examined 2018 news coverage of climate change on broadcast TV networks, counting and analyzing segments devoted …
Discussion:
@blkahn, @mmfa, @weatherprof, @marisakabas, @ericgeller, @ue, @billmckibben, @drjoehanson, @jayrosen_nyu and @bruce_arthur
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Twitter has launched its first ever podcast, “Character Count”, a series about its advertising business with interviews with companies like Dropbox — Twitter today is joining the podcasting arena. This morning, the social network is launching its first-ever podcast series …
Discussion:
Adweek