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:
Axios, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Bloomberg, New York Times, New York Times, @sarafischer, Broadband TV News, @business, Sportico, Japan Times, Boing Boing, Insider, @chrisvannini, Investis Digital, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, The Week, @benmullin, @sherman4949, @lanceulanoff, @jimpethokoukis, @alexweprin, Endeavor, Fox Business, Observer, Variety, The A.V. Club, @jonalba, MediaPost, New York Post, Media Play News, The Information, Pro Wrestling Torch, CNBC, @fightoracle, @claytravis, @sherman4949, @abrahamjoseph, @lucas_shaw, @dennyburkholder, @brentsobleski, The FADER, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Forbes, CNBC, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, New York Daily News, Barrett Media, Gadgets 360, Financial Times, Barrett Media, Reuters, Sportico, Fox Business, The Comeback, Awful Announcing, Pro Wrestling Torch, Front Office Sports, Deadline, New York Post, Variety, ClutchPoints, The Wrap, Popverse Latest, IGN and Front Office Sports
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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:
Forbes, Variety, TechCrunch, The Streamable, @filmupdates, Screen Rant, Deadline, Vanity Fair, New York Post, The Week, @theericgoldman, @cameron_kasky, Gadgets 360, IGN, @discussingfilm, @ecmyers, @dancow, @ashleylcarter1, Knight Edge Media, SlashFilm, @brianstelter, The Verge, ClutchPoints, GoldDerby, @popcrave, The Playlist, Decider, Collider, @ewerickson, @theinsneider, @richlightshed, @marklazerus, @abrahamjoseph, The A.V. Club, Insider, TVLine and IndieWire
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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