Top News:
New York Times:
Sources: Walmart has held talks with Paramount, Disney, and Comcast, as the retailer explores bundling a streaming service into its Walmart+ membership program — The retail giant is exploring bundling a streaming service into its Walmart+ membership program.
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Kara Swisher plans to stop hosting the Code Conference after the 2022 edition to focus on new projects that explore topics beyond tech and reach more people — After 20 years, this year's annual Code Conference from Vox Media will be Kara Swisher's last year hosting and organizing the event, Swisher told Axios.
Discussion:
@taylorlorenz and @sarafischer
Reuters:
AppLovin offers to buy Unity for $58.85 per share, an 18% premium to Unity's Monday closing price, in a $17.54B all-stock deal; AppLovin's stock drops 10%+ — Gaming software company AppLovin Corp (APP.O) on Tuesday made an offer to buy peer Unity Software Inc (U.N) in a $17.54 billion all-stock deal …
Anna Menta / Decider:
Warner Bros. movies are no longer guaranteed to hit HBO Max after 45 days in theaters; source: the company will decide streaming dates on a “case-by-case basis” — After 48 hours of industry rumors, speculation, and panic over HBO Max, a clearer picture is starting to form.
Discussion:
Gamereactor UK, @canadagraphs, Media Play News, @decider, @lancestlaurent, @unclegrambo, The Wrap, Collider, ScreenRant, CBR, The Streamable and @regulartweetsuk
RELATED:
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
Spotify gives its Android app's home screen separate feeds for Music and Podcasts & Shows to better highlight recommendations, will bring the change to iOS soon — Spotify announced today that it's launching a new Home experience that includes separate feeds for “Music” and “Podcasts & Shows.”
Discussion:
Spotify and @alexhern, more at Techmeme »
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The NYT plans to expand its ad business across bundled products, like games and sports, with the help of its new ad executive Mohit Lohia, who comes from Amazon — The New York Times is planning to aggressively expand its advertising business across its bundled products, like games and sports, executives tell Axios.
Discussion:
MediaPost, @stephentotilo, The New York Times Company, @raju and @alex_hardiman
Wall Street Journal:
Despite YouTube suspending hundreds of Kremlin-linked channels, Russia has yet to ban the service, some argue because the Kremlin views it as too big to block — Access to the video site allows Russians access to one of the few sources of independent information about the Ukraine war
Discussion:
@rachaelmyrow, @samschech, @anthony, @mhbergen and Beyond Search
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
The UN raises “grave concerns” with Iran over the treatment of BBC News Persian staff, as Iran claims BBC journalists aimed to “overthrow the Islamic Republic” — In an unprecedented move, the United Nations has formally raised “grave concerns” with Iranian officials …
Discussion:
Variety
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
German public broadcaster RBB's director, Patricia Schlesinger, resigned on Sunday, amid media reports she used public funds to bankroll a luxury lifestyle — Patricia Schlesinger, head of Berlin public broadcaster RBB, resigned Sunday amid media reports she used public funds to bankroll …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sports media startup Overtime, which targets Gen-Z and millennials, has raised a $100M Series D led by Liberty Media, a source says at a $500M+ valuation — Overtime, a sports media company targeting Gen-Z and millennials, has raised $100 million in series D funding, its co-founder and president Zack Weiner told Axios.
Discussion:
@sarafischer, @sarafischer, Sportico, Bloomberg and @epjackson
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Miami-based Column, a public benefit company offering software to streamline placing public notices in newspapers, raised a $30M Series A led by Lux Capital — Column, a public benefit company that provides software to streamline the placement of public notices, has raised a $30 million series …
Discussion:
@lux_capital, @joshua__hone, @anniebishai and @sarafischer, more at Techmeme »
Margaret Moffett / The Assembly:
A look back at the decline of the News & Record newspaper in Greensboro, NC, starting under Landmark ownership and continuing under BH Media and Lee Enterprises — North Carolina's third-largest city, Greensboro, once had a thriving newspaper in the News & Record.
Discussion:
@pottsmark, @jeremy_borden, @lucyaberrier, @kate_sheppard, @john_drescher, @paulfain, @travisfain, @efcone, @jcbringle and @johnrobinson