Top News:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
AT&T's purchase of Time Warner was a money-losing failure for AT&T but a big win for HBO, whose streaming transition has topped peers FX, Showtime, AMC Networks — AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner was a failure for the phone company, which spent $85 billion to acquire the media conglomerate …
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, @pkafka, @tvmojoe and @jonfriedman
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Brian Stelter / CNN:
Discovery takes control of HBO, CNN, and Warner Bros., forming Warner Bros. Discovery led by CEO David Zaslav and set to begin publicly trading on Monday — New York (CNN Business)Discovery's merger with WarnerMedia took effect on Friday afternoon, creating a streaming media giant led by CEO David Zaslav.
Discussion:
@jasonkilar, @brianstelter, Variety, Ad Age, Variety, Deadline, @donie, @kirbyslastsnack, @cdncapedcrusadr, @oliverdarcy, @brianstelter, @lamarrwilson, @nemalki, Too Much TV Newsletter, Variety and Adweek
Variety:
A look at AT&T's disastrous merger with WarnerMedia, an attempt to compete with big tech companies that cost tens of billions of dollars and thousands of jobs
A look at AT&T's disastrous merger with WarnerMedia, an attempt to compete with big tech companies that cost tens of billions of dollars and thousands of jobs
Discussion:
@davechensky, @mikevanesler, @harrymccracken, @loupas, @film_girl, CNN, New York Times, @digitalshields, @timcarvell, @xpangler, @bristei, @loudmouthjulia, The Ankler, @brentalang, MediaPost and The Streamable
Pranshu Verma / Washington Post:
A look at an international group of 1,300 librarians, historians, teachers, and children using open-source tools and Slack to back up Ukraine's digital archives — In early March, two weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Carrie Pirmann stumbled upon a website dedicated to Ivan Mazepa …
Discussion:
@internetarchive, @jeancase, @jrosenworcel, @aimeerawlins and @jake_bernstein, more at Techmeme »
Washington Post:
Lachlan Murdoch, once seen as an ambivalent heir who kept his politics quiet, parroted Fox News' prime time opinion hosts during a March 29 speech in Sydney — Lachlan Murdoch's first major media moment was also his first public humiliation. — It was 2005, and the oldest son of Rupert Murdoch …
Discussion:
@mettabhavana1, @davidalexander5, @kurtbusiek, @donmoyn, @mattsheffield, @maxboot, @darickr, @chrisfholm, @wajahatali and @mehdirhasan
Gavin Bridge / Variety:
The success of Paramount Network's cable TV hit Yellowstone proves that limiting streaming exposure provides value for cable TV and traditional media companies — Look no further than the stunning success of cable drama “Yellowstone” in 2021 for indication of how the TV industry got streaming wrong.
Discussion:
@variety, @ahszone and The Streamable
PEN America:
US public schools banned 1,145 book titles between July 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022; 98% of the bans departed from guidelines meant to protect students' rights — Book bans in public schools have recurred throughout American history, and have long been an issue of concern to PEN America …
Manori Ravindran / Variety:
Ukraine's top film studio halted production at the war's outbreak to shelter those taking cover, and is now rallying support to help the local industry survive — A vestige from past conflicts, the sealed shelter remained unused next to the company's extensive wardrobe department for years.
Choire Sicha / New York Magazine:
The New York Times' policy is right: Twitter, where anecdotes are mistaken for data, offers feedback on journalists' value but can instill self-censorship — Today, New York Times honcho Dean Baquet ordered a company-wide “reset” in how his staff should think about Twitter.
Discussion:
@asymmetricinfo, @thecannawriter, @morgan_sung, @scheufele, @sarahellison, @angelmendoza___, @annehelen, @kendrawrites, @kendrawrites, @alex_zee, @hhavrilesky, @juddlegum, @niketa, @jdickerson, @eliotwb, @rachelsklar, @nickstatt, @markberman, @anoushasakoui, @genepark, @wagatwe, Columbia Journalism Review, @loudmouthjulia, @taylorlorenz, @thrasherxy, @laurahazardowen, bookforum.com and Supercreator
CNN:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bars Will Smith from attending the Oscars for 10 years, due to his slapping of comedian Chris Rock on stage — Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock …
Discussion:
Variety, Variety, Palm Springs Desert Sun, Insider, @andreasharsono, NME, New York Times, MovieWeb, @malyndahale, @sanasaeed, @mousterpiece, @jason, @fred_delicious, @brennanator, @sholamos1, Hollywood Reporter, @latimes, @mattbelloni, @miafarrow, @prestonmitchum, @taylorespo, @bosscatholic, @kelechnekoff, @bcdreyer, CNBC, @awestruckvox, @theeanxiousgay, @deathntaxesprof, @davidpsamson, @jasonrantz, @farrahsafiakhan, @obrien, @lucas_shaw, @daviddtss, Deadline, The Guardian and Bloomberg
The New York Times Company:
The New York Times adds two reporters to its media desk: Ben Mullin, from The Wall Street Journal, and Jeremy Peters, from The New York Times' politics section — Ben Mullin and Jeremy Peters are joining the media desk. Read more in this note from Ellen Pollock, Pui-Wing Tam, Rich Barbieri and Joe Plambeck.
Discussion:
@nytimespr, @benmullin, @carloslozadawp, @haleighhoffman, @dollydeighton, @digitalshields, @ourand_sbj, @froomkin, @pkafka, @gbrotman and @puiwingtam
Reuters:
YouTube blocks Duma TV, which broadcasts from Russia's lower house of parliament; Russian officials warn that the site could face restrictions in response — YouTube has blocked Duma TV which broadcasts from Russia's lower house of parliament, drawing an angry response from officials …
Discussion:
MediaNama, @maximedwards and @brianstelter, more at Techmeme »
Financial Times:
The Guardian will test a paywall in its news app for a sample of regular users as it explores the best pricing approach; The Guardian's website will remain open — Media group says it is committed to free-access journalism as financial position strengthens
Discussion:
@pressgazette, @newley, @epro, @davidclinchnews and @martinsfp