Mediagazer: 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 (Amy Thomson/Bloomberg)

7:05 PM ET, April 3, 2023

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, New York Times, Bloomberg, Variety, CNBC, New York Times, @sarafischer, Sportico, Investis Digital, The Week, Endeavor, Fox Business, Sportico, Fox Business, Financial Times, The A.V. Club, @jonalba, The Comeback, @sherman4949, Associated Press, Awful Announcing, @claytravis, Pro Wrestling Torch, @sherman4949, Reuters, @sherman4949, Reuters, @fightoracle, Media Play News, @benmullin, Yahoo Finance, @sherman4949, @alexweprin, Front Office Sports, @abrahamjoseph, Observer, Forbes, @lucas_shaw, The Information, @dennyburkholder, @lanceulanoff, Deadline, @jimpethokoukis, CNBC, Barrett Media, New York Post, New York Post, @brentsobleski, Variety, MediaPost, ClutchPoints, The Wrap, @chrisvannini, Gadgets 360, Wall Street Journal, Popverse Latest, Front Office Sports, New York Daily News, The FADER and IGN

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 …

Discussion: Sportico, Financial Times, Front Office Sports, Los Angeles Times, @brandonthurston, @sarafischer, @aaronbronsteter, The Streamable, @sarafischer, Barrett Media and Pro Wrestling Torch

Drew Harwell / Washington Post:

Twitter removed the verified badge from The New York Times' main account after Elon Musk responded to a meme taunting the outlet's decision not to pay for Blue — The Times and other news organizations say they won't pay for the icon, which is designed to protect against impersonation

Aaron McDade / Yahoo Finance:

In a now-deleted tweet, Elon Musk said Twitter would give verified accounts “a few weeks grace” but take away their checkmarks if “they tell they won't pay now” — - The first day of Twitter's previously announced axing of “legacy” verified checks nearly passed without incident.

Sara Fischer / Axios:
Email: The White House will not pay for Twitter Blue for its staff; the White House and top officials' accounts like POTUS will likely maintain gray checkmarks

Discussion: @kingjames, @nathanchubbard, @sarafischer, The Future, Now and Then, @om, @karaswisher, Variety, Engadget, Fox Business, CNN, Reuters, The Wrap, @nathanchubbard, @govmikehuckabee, @kyleynfl, @jemelehill, @bendreyfuss, @jayzawaski, @glen_mcgregor, @mikeisaac, @robl_l, @mollyjongfast, @bmkibler, @toluogunlesi, @elienyc, @itsborys, @derushaj, @niubi, @saskiapopescu, @clarajeffery, @noclador, @keithedwards, @nathanchubbard, @nathanchubbard, @nathanchubbard, @nathanchubbard, @doctoryasmin, @realrclark25, @estellecostanza, @mariedenee, @sahilkapur, @taylorrooks, @digiphile, @dan_bernstein, @lawrencehurley, @keithedwards, @edzitron, @mattdizwhitlock, @bobcesca_go, @ashleygjovik, @wutangkids, @iamsophianelson, @reichlinmelnick, @fordm, @broderick, @evanmcmurry, @danpfeiffer, @pkafka, @delpercios, @rory_johnston and @rob_sheridan, more at Techmeme »

Thomas E. Patterson / Nieman Lab:

A survey of 253 NPR member stations finds that 60% have 10 or fewer news staff and average just over one hour of locally produced news programming per day — “Local public radio has a staffing problem. Stations have considerable potential but aren't yet in a position to make it happen."

Discussion: @kennedy_school, @dhiott, @stphnfwlr, @johnupton, @stevenwaldman, Journalism.co.uk, @anelsona, @jimallthetime, @lauren_bavis, @niemanfdn, @spj_tweets and @stphnfwlr

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: @dkiesow@social.kiesow.net, @jamesrbuk, @jeffjarvis and Nieman Lab

Wall Street Journal:

A profile of Evan Gershkovich, the 31-year-old WSJ reporter detained by Russia whose parents fled the USSR for the US and who later made Moscow his second home — The Wall Street Journal correspondent, whose parents fled the Soviet Union, made Moscow a second home.

Discussion: New York Times, @facethenation, Insider, @nickkristof, The Atlantic, @wsjpr, The Moscow Times, @felix_light, @nickkristof, @yarotrof, Talking Biz News, New York Post, @chrislhayes, Fox News, @tggrove, @mtthwrose, @williamyang120, @nytimes, @w7voa, @repmiketurner, @katie_robertson, @picardonhealth, @dreamgirls, @_karenhao, @benmullin, CBS News, @vmsalama, Al Jazeera, @biettetimmons, The Comeback, @maxseddon, @lindsayaellis, @paulsonne, CNN, @isabelcoles, @tggrove, @mjluxmoore, @fatmafaizi, @cliffordlevy, @mjluxmoore, @cgrantwsj, @piperk, @antontroian, @stephenkalin, @emilyzfeng, @mollyjongfast, @jrezaian, @mtthwrose, @jrezaian, @cathyarnst, The Guardian, @rohded, @biannagolodryga, @peterbakernyt, @nicktimiraos, @alecmacgillis, @mims, @srussolillo, @davidenrich, @drewhinshaw, @geraldfseib, @reevellp, @jmalsin, @austinramzy, @joewsj, @dinasrinivasan, @mjluxmoore, @georgikantchev, @pjotrsauer, @gtcost, @joshkraushaar, @_silversmith, @wsj, @bychunhan, @alanmillernlp, @mikevorkunov, @elizacollins1, @daiwaka, @aosipovich, @johnwest, @benpershing, @shalini, @nickkristof, @sgurman, The Guardian, @maxseddon, @laobserved, @joelsimonsays, @dabeard, New Yorker, NBC News, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Reuters

Peter White / Deadline:

Vice Media signs a deal with Fox-owned Tubi to make eight documentaries for the ad-supported streamer, starting with The Cult of Elon, set to debut on April 24 — EXCLUSIVE: Vice Media has a new partner in the documentary space. — The youth-media company, which recently saw …

Discussion: The Streamable, The Hollywood Reporter, Broadband TV News, Fox Corporation, Cord Cutters News and Media Play News

Max Tani / Semafor:

A look at the fissures within The Guardian after years of infighting over its trans coverage, as the anti-trans wing is widely viewed internally as ascendant — The wars at The Guardian reached one of their periodic peaks in September of 2021, when the philosopher Judith Butler said in an interview …

Discussion: @maxwelltani, @paulduanefilm, @transscribe, @brokenbottleboy, @semaforben, @rswirling, @ginarush, @bigmeaninternet and @jbenton

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 acquisition 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: Billboard, The Verge, Engadget, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, @glenngabe, 9to5Mac, @andysternberg and @pjbrown_iii, more at Techmeme »

Drew Taylor / The Wrap:

CBS' 60 Minutes faces a backlash for an interview with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, which aired on Sunday evening — The CBS news magazine profiles the congresswoman who questioned whether 9/11 happened and defended the events of Jan. 6 in an upcoming interview

Discussion: Semafor, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, @60minutes, Washington Post, New York Post, Vanity Fair, @iampoliticsgirl, The Daily Beast, @chriscuomo, The Guardian, Variety, @wcruz73, al.com, @stphnfwlr, @sddphoto, @jeffjarvis, @cornellwbrooks, @bradleywhitford, @jbendery, The Daily Dot, @zaleskiluke, @briankarem, Jezebel, Poynter, @joeneguse, @mattgertz, @alexandrachalup, @marcoafrieri, @ynb, @stevepasquale, @owillis, @akjakalope, Decider, The Hill, WGN-TV, @adamkinzinger, @mtgreenee, @mollyjongfast, @fawfulfan, @briannawu, @zigmanfreud, @andrewkimmel, @marston4ca42, @neontaster, @realdeancain, @katiehill4ca, @lindyli, @7veritas4, @elienyc, @sawyerhackett, @vabvox, @kaivanshroff, @anandwrites, @blackamazon, @petestrzok, @david_hemond, @gloriacampos, @professajay, @sifill_, @repriggleman, @victorshi2020, @markjacob16, @bryanbehar, @jemelehill, @thewrap, @davidcorndc, @mehdirhasan, @meidastouch and Decider

Reuters:

The Financial Times acquires a majority stake in Kansas-based medical news publication Endpoints News, which launched in 2014 and has over 163,000 subscribers — UK's Financial Times said on Monday it had acquired a majority stake in medical news publication Endpoints News.

Discussion: Financial Times, Talking Biz News, @markstenberg3, ENDPOINTS NEWS, @armstrongdrew and @armstrongdrew

Archived Page Info:

This is a snapshot of Mediagazer at 7:05 PM ET, April 3, 2023.

View the current page or another snapshot:

Who's Hiring in Media?

Output Producer, CA — AP

China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — Reuters

Senior Assignment Editor, DC — WaPo

Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — Bloomberg

Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — WSJ

Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — Globe & Mail

Local Government Reporter, IA — The Gazette

Research Director, CA — OCBJ

Immigration Enforcement Reporter — Documented

Presque Island Reporter, ME — Bangor Daily News

Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — SFGATE

AI Content Editor, WA — Outlier

Legislative Reporter, TN — Daily Memphian

Editorial Assistant, Remote US — Launch Potato

Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — The Information

Government & Politics Editor, WA — Seattle Times

Business & GA Reporter. VT — VTDigger

Sports Reporter, WA — Everett Herald

Energy Reporter, TX — Houston Chronicle

Senior Reporter, SC — Island Packet

Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — FT

Reporter, WI — Racine County Eye

Political Newsletter Writer, CO — The Lever

Jackson Reporter, MS — Verite

Music Editor, AZ — Phoenix New Times

Breaking News Reporter, NV — Las Vegas Sun

Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — BPC

Reporter II - Technology, Remote — NPR

Editor, Remote US — Daily Kos

City Reporter, WA — Tacoma News Tribune

Executive Editor, OR — Lookout Local

Education & Budget Reporter, CA — Politico

Senior Writer/Editor, FL — Gulfshore Business

Media Editor, Remote — Axios

Add your company here

See Also:

Mediagazer: site main

Mediagazer River: reverse chronological Mediagazer

Mediagazer Mobile: for phones

Mediagazer Leaderboard: Mediagazer's top sources

Subscribe:

Mediagazer RSS feed

Mediagazer on X

Mediagazer on Mastodon

More News:

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Post, a Twitter alternative that pays publishers via microtransactions, launches in public beta and says outlets get an average $25 CPM for a paywalled article

Discussion: The Information and @devonheinen

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Cineworld announces a restructuring agreement with lenders, reducing its debt by ~$4.53B, and expects to emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in H1 2023

Discussion: The Wrap, Media Play News, CNN, Business of Fashion and Variety

Karl Rasmussen / Sports Illustrated:
Nielsen: the NCAA women's basketball tournament semifinals averaged 4.5M viewers on ESPN's platforms, the highest average on record for the Women's Final Four

Associated Press:
The Taliban close Sadai Banowan, Afghanistan's only women-run radio station, for playing music during Ramadan; the station launched in 2013 and has eight staff

Discussion: Fox News, @marielamensch84, @declarationon, @salmma1997, @open_spectrum, @pressfreedom, @behlihyi, @pressfreedom, @news_pug, Newser, Voice of America and Committee to Protect …

Maurice Oniang'o / Reuters Institute:
An interview with Kenyan data journalists Eunice Magwambo, Purity Mukami, and Juliet Atellah on data journalism's impact, training reporters, and key challenges

Discussion: @gijnafrica

Earlier Picks:

Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
Sources: NPR has held multiple, tense all-hands meetings in which impacted employees grilled executives about layoffs and the four canceled seasonal podcasts

Discussion: @global_occupant, @andrewtwalk and @noahcrothman

Perry Michael Simon / AllAccess.com:
Senators Klobuchar and Kennedy reintroduce The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act to let news orgs negotiate pay with tech firms like Meta and Google

Discussion: @ben@werd.social, CLP Blog, Public Knowledge and News/Media Alliance

Tom Hals / Reuters:
The judge in the $1.6B Fox-Dominion case denies Fox's summary judgment motions and partially grants Dominion's motions ahead of the trial scheduled for April 17

New York Times:
After months of keeping some distance, Fox News hosts back Donald Trump, denouncing his indictment as “politically motivated persecution” and a cause for unrest

From Techmeme:

Wall Street Journal:
Gina Raimondo says holding back China in the chips race is a “fool's errand”, and investment, more than export controls, will keep US ahead of Beijing

Paresh Dave / Wired:
Google says it wouldn't force its device makers, browser, and wireless carrier licensees to distribute Gemini to US users for three years, in a proposed remedy

Timothy B. Lee / Ars Technica:
Exploring the scaling challenges of transformer-based LLMs in efficiently processing large amounts of text, as well as potential solutions, such as RAG systems

Sister Sites:

Techmeme
Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web

memeorandum
What US political commentators are discussing online right now

WeSmirch
The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page