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:
@sarafischer, @kerrymflynn, @heidilegg, @rexparker, @carlzimmer, @joshsternberg, @mccanner and @marcatracy
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 …
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 dissidents and The Caravan magazine, or Twitter staff could face fines or jail — 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, @nixxin, Engadget, @karunanundy, @arty_burton, @pranavdixit, @nicdawes, @aditi_khorana, @davidakaye, @pranavdixit, @arfilaamba, @benyt, @rasmus_kleis, @akumarilife, @pranavdixit, @bborrman, @caseynewton, @nixxin, @lwajert and @accessnow, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
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
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
Discussion:
The India Cable, @baxiabhishek, @nktpnd, @jamescrabtree, @shailja_s, @bhumikatharoor, @adriennelaf, @aaranrpatel, @prashantrao and New York Times
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
RELATED:
Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:
Jeff Zucker is remaining at CNN through 2021, says he “wanted to honor the contractual agreement” — CNN attracted its largest audiences in history in 2020 and has been riding high in the ratings since election day. — The news channel finished January as the most-watched network …
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
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
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, The Wrap, @artsjournalnews, @ashleyksmalls, @zeitchikwapo, /Film, @mdrndad, @indiewire, @xpangler, 9to5Mac, Always Be Watching, The Streamable, MediaPost, Axios, Variety, 9to5Mac, The Wrap, IndieWire, New York Times and Adweek
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.
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:
Press Gazette, Reuters, New York Times, Al Jazeera, Broadband TV News, @matt_walsh, @jeyal_rusi, @hkglobalconnect, @martinjemoore and CityAM