Top News:
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
In 2020, NYT hit 7.5M subscribers, added 2.3M digital-only subs, generating $598.3M in revenue, up 30% YoY; ad rev fell 26% YoY to $392.4M; profit hit $250.6M — In its fourth-quarter earnings report, The New York Times Company said 2020 was its biggest year for adding subscribers.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @bgrueskin, @benyt, @jane__bradley, @johntv, @sarafischer, @kerrymflynn, @heidilegg, @rexparker, @carlzimmer, @joshsternberg, @mccanner and @marcatracy
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Daily business newsletter The Hustle, which has 1.5M+ subscribers, is being acquired by sales and marketing software company HubSpot, source says for about $27M — HubSpot, a publicly-traded sales and marketing software company, is acquiring The Hustle, an email newsletter and content company targeted …
Pranav Dixit / BuzzFeed News:
India's IT ministry orders Twitter to block the recently restored accounts of critics and The Caravan magazine, threatens Twitter staff with jail time or fines — India's government has threatened to punish employees at Twitter with fines and jail terms of up to seven years for restoring hundreds …
Discussion:
@caseynewton, @pranavdixit, @pranavdixit, Engadget, @nixxin, @karunanundy, @arty_burton, @pranavdixit, @nicdawes, @aditi_khorana, @davidakaye, @pranavdixit, @arfilaamba, @benyt, @rasmus_kleis, @akumarilife, @pranavdixit, @bborrman, @caseynewton, @nixxin, @lwajert and @accessnow, more at Techmeme »
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Vidya Krishnan / The Atlantic:
The latest attacks on the media in India, part of a pattern of legal cases and intimidation, make clear that freedom of the press is endangered in Modi's India — For the past several years, warnings have been sounded about democracy in India—whether they be about the fate of the country's minorities, its courts, its intellectuals.
Discussion:
@baxiabhishek, @jamescrabtree, @shailja_s, @bhumikatharoor, The India Cable, @adriennelaf, @aaranrpatel, @prashantrao, @nktpnd and New York Times
New York Times:
CNN President Jeff Zucker says he “expect[s] to move on” at the end of 2021, when his contract ends — The executive shaped the look and feel of CNN since coming aboard in 2013. The network hit record ratings in recent months, during which Mr. Zucker had tensions with his newly installed boss.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, TVNewser, CNN, @benyt, @vivian and @brianstelter
The Daily Beast:
Over 150 NYT staffers sent a letter to bosses criticizing the handling of complaints that Donald McNeil Jr. used racist language on a NYT-sponsored trip — More than 150 employees excoriated paper brass for what they said was an insufficient response to allegations that a top reporter made racist comments on a 2019 trip with students.
Discussion:
@lachcartwright, @noahpollak, @lachcartwright, @mattwelch, @askingamy and @maxwelltani
Sara Guaglione / Digiday:
TikTok is paying Group Nine Media's science brand, Seeker, to create videos aimed at Gen Z as part of TikTok's $50M Creative Learning Fund — TikTok is paying Group Nine Media's science brand, Seeker, to create original videos for young people stuck at home, as the platform's Gen Z audience continues to bloom.
Mandy Jenkins / The Compass Experiment:
McClatchy will operate Mahoning Matters and Village Media will take over The Longmont Leader, both launched via the Google-funded Compass Experiment — Mahoning Matters and The Longmont Leader pivoting to further sustainability — When we kicked off The Compass Experiment 18 months ago, we knew our mission was a tough one.
Discussion:
@mjenkins, @jillgeisler, @cweiser, @mjenkins, @meena_thiru, @markmsweetwood, @dkiesow, @emilyroseman1, @jesslhardin, @mjenkins, @owenthomas, @thischrishorne, @juliemmoos and @mjenkins
Kathryn Hopkins / WWD:
Time launches $2.99/month paywall that kicks in after four free articles, starting in US and Canada; Sports Illustrated introduced $5.99/month metered paywall — Time's will start at $2.99, while Sports Illustrated's digital-only subscription is priced at $5.99.
Discussion:
@justin_b_smith
Ofcom:
UK's Ofcom revokes broadcasting license of China Global Television Network because the licensees didn't have editorial control over CGTN's output — Ofcom has today withdrawn the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK, after its investigation concluded that the licence is wrongfully held by Star China Media Limited.
Discussion:
@bbcnewspr, Press Gazette, Reuters, New York Times, Al Jazeera, Broadband TV News, @matt_walsh, @jeyal_rusi, @hkglobalconnect, @martinjemoore and CityAM
Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:
Spotify reports Q4 results: 345M MAUs, up 27% YoY, as paying subscribers grew to 155M, up 24% YoY, topping expectations; revenue was up 17% YoY to €2.17B — But streaming giant offers conservative outlook for the current year as new sign-ups could ebb
Discussion:
Financial Times, Spotify, Spotify, @szymonkopec, @eldsjal, @davidclowery, @paul__armstrong, Forbes, @kerrymflynn, @dylanbyers, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, RAIN News, 9to5Mac and The Verge
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Washington Post:
Sean Hannity's on-air angst reflects the tumult inside Fox News, as it faces a dip in January ratings and renewed scrutiny from the Murdoch family — Since Donald Trump's election loss in November, Sean Hannity seems to have been working through a process, live and on camera …
Brent Lang / Variety:
Streaming services dominated nominations for the 78th Golden Globes: Netflix got a record 42 nominations across film and TV and Amazon Studios got 10 — Streaming services dominated nominations for the 78th Golden Globe Awards, signaling a power shift in Hollywood from traditional movie studios and TV broadcasters to digital upstarts.
Discussion:
Variety, Variety, Observer, The Wrap, Variety, The Wrap, @ashleyksmalls, @artsjournalnews, @zeitchikwapo, The Wrap, @mdrndad, @indiewire, @xpangler, /Film, 9to5Mac, Always Be Watching, MediaPost, The Streamable, Axios, Variety, 9to5Mac, The Wrap, IndieWire, New York Times and Adweek