Top News:
Amy Thomson / Bloomberg:
Endeavor acquires the WWE in a deal that values Vince McMahon's company at $9.3B including debt; Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel will lead the combined $21B+ company — Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. has agreed to buy World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. in a deal that values the company at $9.3 billion including debt.
Discussion:
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Sara Fischer / Axios:
An interview with WWE President Nick Khan on the WWE and UFC pursuing separate linear TV rights negotiations, continuing the WWE's Saudi relationship, and more — WWE and UFC will pursue separate media rights negotiations for linear TV, but there could be an opportunity to pursue a combined streaming deal …
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: Warner Bros. Discovery are close to a deal for a Harry Potter TV series based on the seven books, a cornerstone of HBO's new streaming strategy — Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is close to a deal for a new online TV series based on Harry Potter, the best-selling young adult books …
Discussion:
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Kim Masters / The Hollywood Reporter:
Many current and former Amazon executives, showrunners, and agents say Amazon Studios is confusing and frustrating; one showrunner says Studios has “no vision” — Despite ambitious bets like ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ and the upcoming ‘Citadel,’ insiders complain that there's still …
Discussion:
@kimmasters, Insider, SlashFilm, @sherman4949, @techwontsaveus, @parismarx, @hradzka, @carnage4life, Forbes, The Daily Dot, @bendreyfuss, @kendrawrites, @thesarahkelly, @sepinwall, Gizmodo, @richlightshed, @lucas_shaw, @pkafka, @kaludiasays, @jaxelburgh, Numlock News, @gpingersoll, @azalben, @nreviewed, TVLine and Decider, more at Techmeme »
Remy Tumin / New York Times:
Nielsen: the 2023 NCAA women's basketball tournament final averaged 9.9M viewers, up 103% YoY; ESPN: the game was the most viewed college event ever on ESPN+ — The average 9.9 million viewers for Louisiana State topping Iowa was significantly more than the previous record of 5.7 million …
Discussion:
@espnpr, The Athletic, Axios, The Ankler, The Comeback, @goiowa, Awful Announcing, @rodger, @kimelchlepp, The Ringer, The Comeback, ClutchPoints, @richarddeitsch, @sarahspain, @deadline, @walsha, @richarddeitsch, @richarddeitsch, @corahalll, @richarddeitsch, @frank_seravalli, @billiejeanking, @sportsiren, @janesports, @hannahstormespn, @ktrain_11, @a_g_haubner, Sports Media Watch, Awful Announcing, Deadline, Sportico, Awful Announcing, Barrett Media and Sports Illustrated
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Spotify shuts down its Clubhouse-style audio app Spotify Live, previously called Locker Room, acquired as part of its €57M Betty Labs deal in March 2021 — Spotify is shutting down its live-audio app Spotify Live, but says it will continue experimenting with live features in its main service.
Discussion:
The Verge, Complete Music Update, The Hollywood Reporter, @andysternberg, @glenngabe, @pjbrown_iii, @billboard, Billboard, Engadget, Gizmodo, 9to5Mac and TechCrunch
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
A Meta-commissioned report argues Facebook is not a “must-have” for publishers, saying news links account for less than 3% of posts users see in their feed — News links account for less than 3% of posts people see in their Facebook feeds. — A report commissioned by Meta …
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis, @jamesrbuk, @dkiesow@social.kiesow.net and Nieman Lab
Maya Salam / New York Times:
A profile of Hot Ones, a YouTube show with millions of views from its nearly 300 episodes where stars eat 10 increasingly fiery wings while answering questions — This YouTube talk show's premise is simple: Disarm celebrities with deep-cut questions and scorchingly spicy wings.
Discussion:
@joelleeman, @firstwefeast, @dealbook, @kimseverson, @shwinyo, @maya__salam, @richantoniello and @kerrymflynn
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Bob Iger says Disney isn't looking to license Marvel, Disney, Pixar, or Star Wars content to third parties, but will “on occasion” license other product — Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company has reached a new stage of its evolution in streaming and will consider “on occasion” licensing some titles to third parties.
Discussion:
The Streamable and Miami Herald
Craig Lord / Global News:
Rogers Communications, one of Canada's largest cable providers, closed its ~$15B deal to merge with rival Shaw on Monday, two years after first announcing it — Rogers must fulfill list of conditions in Shaw merger or face stiff financial penalties — Rogers Communications Inc. has closed …
Discussion:
@globalleth, Bloomberg and Reuters
Al Jazeera:
Algerian court sentences prominent journalist Ihsane El Kadi to five years for “foreign financing of his business” and shuts down his two independent outlets — El Kadi has to serve three years of his sentence in prison. His media company has been shuttered and heavily fined.
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
How Netflix, which long thought ad spending doesn't increase viewers, shifted its strategy under new marketing chief Marian Lee to push content that can “pop” — The streaming service long thought spending on ads didn't result in more viewers. That has subtly changed under the marketing chief Marian Lee.
Discussion:
@mediasnarking, @raypride, The Wrap, @snyderqueen_, @thealikarimi, @rachelmercer and @papi_thegreat
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