Top News:
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
NYT says it has added 669K new digital subscribers in Q2 and its digital revenue, at $185.5M, exceeded print revenue, at $175.4M, for the first time — The pandemic squeezed advertising for the web as well as print, but subscription growth was the best ever for a quarter.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, The Wrap, Axios, @edmundlee, @sarafischer, AdExchanger, @jodikantor, @jimwaterson, @ericcrawford, @juliehdavis, @marcatracy and @mattzeitlin, more at Techmeme »
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Business Wire:
NYT reports Q2 net income of $23.7M, down 6% YoY, revenue of $403.8M, down 7.5% YoY, with ad revenues down 43.9%, and has a total of 6.5M subscribers — NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) announced today second-quarter 2020 diluted earnings per share …
Discussion:
@gerryfsmith, CNN, @mattietk, @brandonetc, @justin_b_smith, @them_l_g, @andybcampbell, @sarthakgh, @aexm, @mattyglesias, @bgrueskin, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @dicktofel, @thestalwart, @boydhilton, @gerryfsmith and @yousefmunayyer
Robert D. McFadden / New York Times:
Pete Hamill, the celebrated reporter who worked as a columnist and the top editor of The New York Post and The Daily News, and authored many books, dies at 85 — He was, among other things, a celebrated reporter, columnist and the top editor of The New York Post and The Daily News and the author of numerous books.
Discussion:
New York Daily News, @danbarrynyt, The Wrap, The Hill, New York Post, Hollywood Reporter, @joelmsiegel, @edokeefe, @nycspeakercojo, @clauirizarry, @tonymess, Rolling Stone, @devlinbarrett, @cliffordlevy, @nytimesbooks, @sarahhepola, @nytmedia, @craigtimes, @dgisserious, abc7NY and @howardkurtz
CNBC:
Disney reports $11.78B in Q3 revenue vs. $12.37B est., down 42% YoY, says it has 100M+ paid subs for streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ — - Disney reported earnings for its third quarter of 2020 after the bell on Tuesday as it continues to feel the impact of the coronavirus pandemic …
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Julia Alexander / The Verge:
Disney says it plans to launch a general entertainment streaming platform internationally in 2021 under its Star brand, would include content from ABC, FX, more
Disney says it plans to launch a general entertainment streaming platform internationally in 2021 under its Star brand, would include content from ABC, FX, more
Discussion:
IGN, @theericgoldman and @loudmouthjulia
Julia Alexander / The Verge:
Disney's Mulan, originally to be released in March but delayed due to COVID-19, will be released on Disney+ on Sept. 4 as a premium on-demand offering for $30
Disney's Mulan, originally to be released in March but delayed due to COVID-19, will be released on Disney+ on Sept. 4 as a premium on-demand offering for $30
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Streamable, @otherehm, @gerryconway, @reneritchie, @blessedsouthpaw, @alexandraerin, @wonderwaffle93, @eugenedaniels2, @scalzi, @cynical_cj, @jimwaterson, @gameonysus, @constar24, @paultassi, @thekenyeung, @schaffrillas, @curtmega, @briantong, @cynical_cj, @itsandyyybitch, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, Vox, Adweek and The Week
Joan E. Solsman / CNET:
Disney says Disney+ grew to 57.5M subs as of June 27, up from 54.5M three months ago
Disney says Disney+ grew to 57.5M subs as of June 27, up from 54.5M three months ago
Discussion:
Variety, TechCrunch, @sherman4949, Engadget, @vijayshekhar, Awful Announcing and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Sara Fischer / Axios:
TikTok tightens policies against manipulated content, expands fact-checking partnerships, and is working with DHS's Countering Foreign Influence Task Force — TikTok announced new rules for its users on Wednesday to curb misinformation and manipulation ahead of the 2020 election.
Discussion:
@mosseri, Electronic Frontier Foundation, @sonnybunch, @taylorlorenz, @mattnavarra and @sarafischer, more at Techmeme »
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Discovery reports Q2 earnings of $271M, down 71% YoY, on revenue of $2.54B, down 12% YoY; US ad revenues were down 14% and distribution revenues were down 2% — Discovery said it planned to unveil a new direct-to-consumer streaming service even as its said its second-quarter net income fell 71% …
Discussion:
Multichannel News, The Streamable, The Wrap, @xpangler, Hollywood Reporter, @bristei and @thr
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CBS News:
Biden campaign announces what it says is the largest TV ad buy ever by a presidential candidate, with $220M for TV ads in 15 states and $60M for digital ads — Pretty soon it'll be hard to escape Joe Biden on your television. Or your radio. Or your phone.
Discussion:
@rolandsmartin, @jeffjarvis, @danodonnellshow, @michaeljgwin, @tducklo and @davidlarter
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Facebook launches Instagram Reels, its TikTok competitor that lets users create and publish 15-second videos, in 50+ countries, including the US, UK, and Japan — Instagram Reels, the company's significant effort in challenging TikTok on short-form creative content, is launching globally, starting today.
Discussion:
MediaPost, The Verge, Wall Street Journal, MacRumors, Engadget and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Standard Media Index: Q2'2020 US TV ad spend fell 19% YoY and in June it fell 9% YoY to $3.2B, with CNN's ad revenue growing 86% YoY and Fox News' 55% YoY — More people continue to watch TV or other forms of video in the midst of the pandemic, but Madison Avenue is spending fewer dollars to dazzle them.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Radio & Television …, @bristei, @bristei, Multichannel News and The Verge
Los Angeles Times:
Changes at the USAGM undermine the credibility of US worldwide broadcasting by threatening the firewall that has insulated broadcasters from political pressure — Today a global battle of ideas is raging between representative democracy and authoritarianism.
Rick Porter / Hollywood Reporter:
HBO announces a two-part documentary exploring Black representation on TV using archival footage and interviews with actors, writers, and showrunners — ‘Seen & Heard’ will explore the history of representation on TV via archival footage and interviews with actors, writers and showrunners.
Stephanie Sengwe / The Streamable:
Live TV streaming service Philo says it now has 750,000 subscribers, up 300% YoY — It seems Philo has had a great year. The sports-free streaming TV bundle has seen a 300 percent uptick over the course of the past year and is now boasting 750,000 subscribers.