Top News:
Jen Wieczner / New York Magazine:
An in-depth look at why some BuzzFeed stockholders were unable to sell their shares when the company went public, a situation securities lawyers say is unusual — Some ex-employees, it turns out, were able to trade while others could only watch the shares plummet.
Discussion:
@tomgara, @oliverdarcy, @intelligencer, @caleweissman, @dinfontay, @walthickey, @ericthurm, @loudmouthjulia and @lainnafader
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
Disney CEO Bob Chapek gets a three-year contract extension, through 2025, in a unanimous board decision — Chapek has led Disney since February 2020. — The Walt Disney Co. is sticking with Bob Chapek. — The CEO, who took over from the well-liked Bob Iger just a month …
Discussion:
CNBC, The Wrap, Deadline, @rfaughnder, @megjameslat, IndieWire and @aaroncouch
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Roku adds eight NBC local news channels to the Roku Channel for free, its first local news offering, and plans to add more channels in the coming months — Roku is thinking local: In the streaming platform's first local news programming pact, Roku is adding eight NBC local news channels …
Discussion:
The Streamable, The Wrap, Next TV, Deadline, Media Play News, TVNewsCheck, MediaPost and Cord Cutters News
Newmark J-School:
CUNY's Newmark J-School names Graciela Mochkofsky, who launched its bilingual master's program in 2016, as dean starting on August 1, succeeding Sarah Bartlett — Graciela Mochkofsky, who has distinguished herself as a journalist, author, and academic in two languages on two continents …
Shirley Zhao / Bloomberg:
Netflix plans to grow its investments in Asia Pacific, which has 15% of its 221.6M subscribers and is forecast to be the biggest driver of further expansion — Netflix Inc. is looking to Asia after its shock first-quarter slowdown, seeking to both maintain growth in the one region …
Discussion:
@shirleyzhaoxy and @financialreview, more at Techmeme »
Oscar Gonzalez / CNET:
A look at Twitch and YouTube “debate streamers”, who use logic, humor, and compassion to pull people away from far-right conservatism and conspiracy theories — They are changing minds one stream at a time. — Hunter Avallone makes a living arguing politics with strangers on Twitch and YouTube.
Discussion:
@ogreporter and @ogreporter
Jennifer Maas / Variety:
CAA closes its acquisition of talent agency ICM Partners following the DOJ's approval in a deal valued at $750M, reducing the Big Four agencies to the Big Three — The deal, which Variety has learned is valued at $750 million, giving a pro-forma valuation of $5 billion to the merged agency, was first announced in September 2021.
Discussion:
Billboard, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, Sportico, Deadline, Pollstar News, @jonleebrody, Music Business Worldwide and @variety
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The BBC apologizes and agrees to pay a “significant sum” to a former journalist who raised concerns about how Martin Bashir got his Princess Diana interview — The BBC has apologised and agreed to pay a “significant sum” to a former Panorama journalist who alerted the broadcaster …
Discussion:
Variety, @pressgazette, The Guardian and bbc.co.uk
Anthony Vargas / AdExchanger:
New York-based Veritonic, an audio ad measurement and attribution startup, raised a $7.5M Series A led by Lavrock Ventures, bringing its total funding to $14M — The audio advertising market is heating up, and investors are getting in on the action. — Audio analytics platform Veritonic …
Discussion:
Axios, Inside Radio and Podnews, more at Techmeme »
Michael Malone / Next TV:
Endangered, a documentary chronicling a year in the lives of four journalists in countries where press freedom has been considered a given, premieres today — Film about the challenges facing journalists worldwide premieres June 28 — Endangered, a documentary about the perils facing journalists around …
Discussion:
@localnewsini
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
A24 signs a first-look deal to adapt audiobooks and podcasts from Pushkin Industries, Malcolm Gladwell's audio company, for films and TV — Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell's audio company, Pushkin Industries, is teaming up with the independent entertainment studio A24 to adapt its works for films and TV.
Discussion:
The Verge, @bigmeaninternet, Gawker, @ashleyrcarman, @brandyljensen, @pushkinpods, Variety and Hollywood Reporter
Tim Baysinger / Axios:
Omdia research: the US is expected to lose 16.9M pay TV subscribers between 2021 and 2027, while India loses 3.4M, Brazil 2.3M, Canada 2.2M, and Germany 2M — Exit Content Preview — The United States is expected to lose nearly 17 million pay-TV subscribers between 2021-2027, according to a new report from Omdia.