Top News:
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
ABC suspends reporter David Wright after reviewing Project Veritas footage in which he criticized Trump coverage and ABC News' promotion of Disney content — ABC News suspended one of its veteran correspondents late Tuesday for unguarded remarks he made in a video by operatives of Project Veritas …
Discussion:
The Wrap, YouTube, TVNewser, Mediaite, Deadline, The Hill, Newser, @willsommer, @froomkin, @froomkin, @stellinitweets, @mattdpearce, Breitbart and @rosiegray
The Walt Disney Co.:
Bob Chapek has been named CEO of The Walt Disney Company, effective immediately; Bob Iger will serve as executive chairman through 2021 — 1 BOB CHAPEK NAMED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY Robert A. Iger Assumes Role of Executive Chairman through 2021 Mr. Iger Will Direct …
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CNBC, Observer, @ballmatthew, Variety, TechCrunch, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, Deadline, CNN, Talking Biz News, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, @richlightshed, @kirkneverdied, Understandably, @panzer, @panzer, @panzer, @ballmatthew, @thr, @panzer, @alexweprin, @thr, @joannastern, @muppetmindset, @wdwtales, @mantia, @janinegibson, @dkthomp, @mgsiegler, @pkafka, @orlparknews, @frankpallotta, @panzer, @pkafka, @anandwrites, @edmundlee, @thekenyeung, The Verge, Washington Post, USA Today, AppleInsider, Associated Press and CNET, more at Techmeme »
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Peter Kafka / Vox:
Bob Iger's timing as he steps down is a head scratcher, but Disney is telling Wall Street and consumers that they shouldn't expect anything to change soon — Bob Iger, left, is stepping down as Disney CEO. The man standing next to him, Bob Chapek, is replacing him. Screenshot via Disney
Discussion:
/Film, New York Times, The Streamable, The Wrap, Ad Age, The Streamable, Fortune, Los Angeles Magazine, BBC, @petersciretta, @felixsalmon, @brooksbarnesnyt, @koblin, @thekeits, @jimmiller, @kevinmdraper, @cnbc, @cnbc, @cnbc, @cnbc, @cnbc, @lucas_shaw, @reckless, @pkafka, @pkafka, CNBC, 5ish from M.G. Siegler and Bloomberg
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
As The Markup launches, a look at its commitment to a scientific approach of amassing evidence, sharing methods, and providing data for other researchers — After a false start, the unconventional team of algorithm investigators is ready to dive deep. “I've heard that we are tying …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Minute Media, which owns The Players' Tribune and The Big Lead, raises $40M for a total of $160M, sources say at a $500M valuation — Minute Media is hoping to expand its business by selling publishing software as a service.
Discussion:
Adweek, Variety, @claytravis and TechCrunch
Chris Willman / Variety:
RIAA: music streaming grew 13% YoY in 2019 to $11.1B, comprising 79% of music revenue, as digital downloads fell to 8% and paid subscriptions rose 25% to $6.8B — A study just released by the RIAA shows bad and worse news for sectors of the recorded music business like physical media sales …
Discussion:
Fast Company, RIAA, TechCrunch, Concurrent Media, AppleInsider and RAIN News
Nathaniel Meyersohn / CNN:
A look at The Costco Connection, a monthly magazine for Costco executive members, whose circulation of 14.3M makes it the fourth biggest magazine in the US — New York (CNN Business)Costco relies on a surprising perk to engage its executive members and keep them hooked on their $120-a-year subscription …
Tim Peterson / Digiday:
Since moving its content team to Amazon Studios, sources say IMDb TV has been in talks to produce original scripted and unscripted shows — This article is part of the Digiday Video Briefing, which features must-reads, confessionals and key market stats. To receive the Digiday Video Briefing, please subscribe.
Jennifer Maas / The Wrap:
AMC Networks posts revenue of $785M, up 1.6% YoY, with operating income of $42M in Q4 thanks to its four streaming services, which have 2M+ subscribers — AMC Networks swung to a loss in the fourth quarter of 2019 due in large part to higher SVOD costs and lower U.S. TV ratings.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and AMC Networks Inc.
Samantha Cole / VICE:
Two programmer-musicians algorithmically generated every 8-note, 12-beat MIDI melody in one octave and openly licensed them to help others in copyright suits — Two programmer-musicians wrote every possible MIDI melody in existence to a hard drive, copyrighted the whole thing …
Discussion:
@macwbishop, @simondlr, @simondlr, @zanderhulme, @xor, @jaykelly26, @xor, @xor and @mewilson46, more at Techmeme »
Joe Mandese / MediaPost:
IAB report: programmatic media buys now account for 85% of all digital ad spending, reaching nearly $79B in the US in 2020 and growing to $90.1B in 2021 — Programmatic media buys now accounts for 85% of all digital ad spending, according to estimates released in a new report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Mel Grau / Poynter:
A look at a nearly two year fight by six women at The Boston Globe to get a more robust parental leave policy for the newspaper — Though they never heard the word “no,” it took nearly two years for these six women to get a more robust parental leave policy for the newspaper.
Discussion:
@nytimescramer, @kgeee, @janellenanos, bookforum.com, Media Nation and Dan Kennedy