Top News:
Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
HBO delays posting Last Week Tonight With John Oliver segments on YouTube for a few days after episodes premiere, to nudge more people to watch the show on Max — The delay in posting to the video site is intended to nudge more people to watch the show on Max.
Discussion:
@iamjohnoliver, Variety, @tvgrimreaper, @aagave, CarterMatt, 9to5Google, The Desk, The Wrap, @ernie@writing.exchange, Deadline, @tvgrimreaper, TVLine, Cord Cutters News and Decider
Arijit Barman / The Economic Times:
Sources: Zee has re-engaged with Sony in a last-ditch attempt to revive their $10B merger, which had been called off on January 22; ZEEL closed up 7.93% — Zee Entertainment Enterprises has re-engaged with Sony Group Corp in a last-ditch attempt to revive their $10-billion merger.
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The New York Times is recruiting select advertising partners to test its new generative AI ad-targeting tool, which it plans to make widely available in H2 2024 — The New York Times is recruiting partners to test new ad-targeting solutions using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) beginning next quarter, executives told Axios.
Discussion:
The Wrap and @sarafischer
Samantha Chery / Washington Post:
Polk Awards: The New York Times and ProPublica both win three awards, Vice News wins for Television Reporting, Reuters wins for Business Reporting, and more — Now in its 75th year, the George Polk Awards for journalism honors stories from 2023 about wars in Ukraine and the Middle East …
Jacob Pramuk / CNBC:
Walmart agrees to acquire TV maker Vizio for $2.3B, or $11.50/share, to boost its ad business via Vizio's SmartCast OS, which lets users stream content with ads — - Walmart is buying TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion in cash. — The move is a bid to boost the big-box retailer's high-margin ad business.
Discussion:
Variety, Bloomberg, The Wrap, TechCrunch, Walmart Inc., CNN, The Desk, Ad Age, Forbes, CBS News, The Information, New York Post, @lucas_shaw, @rasmus_kleis, @rasmus_kleis, @simondowens@threads.net, @eric_seufert, Media Play News, Search Engine Land, @carnage4life, Broadband TV News, The Verge, NBC 7 San Diego, Axios, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, MarketWatch, @thetranscript_, The Hollywood Reporter, @sarafischer, NBC Bay Area and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
Jack Shafer / Politico:
Q&A with Margot Susca on her new book Hedged, which details how the US chain newspapers including Gannett were purchased and squeezed by PE firms like Alden — A journalism professor blames Wall Street for the newspaper industry's collapse. — The great American newspaper ain't what it used to be.
Eduardo Suárez / Reuters Institute:
Q&A with AG Sulzberger on becoming the NYT publisher, what he misses about being a reporter, the NYT's goal of reaching 15M subscribers by 2025, and more — In this exclusive interview, he discusses his role in shaping the paper and preserving its values
Discussion:
@davidiadeleke, @rasmus_kleis, New York Post, @jeffjarvis, Marcia Parker on LinkedIn, @nancylevine, @juanmabenitez, @risj_oxford, Politico, @aaronhuertas_de@threads.net, @kennethpvogel@threads.net, @rasmus_kleis, National Review, Mediaite, @eduardosuarez, Jeff Jarvis on LinkedIn, @thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io, Fox News and The Hill
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Pinterest plans to release its first streaming show with Tastemade on February 23 for free on Tastemade's channel and apps, featuring QR codes of shoppable Pins — Pinterest is readying the launch of its first-ever streaming show, cooking and lifestyle series “Deliciously Entertaining” …
J. Kim Murphy / Variety:
Apple says Masters of the Air was Apple TV+'s most-watched series launch ever and viewership across the service rose 65% globally vs. the prior seven-day period — Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman produced the streamer's high-flying hit
Discussion:
The Streamable, @tvgrimreaper, @bubbaprog.ilovecitr.us, 9to5Mac and Screen Rant
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:
Q&A with Monty Sarhan, CEO of European streamer SkyShowtime, on adding a cheaper ad-supported tier, not revealing subscriber numbers, cutting spending, and more — The European streaming joint venture of Comcast and Paramount is not cutting back because “the U.S. narrative is not our narrative …
Discussion:
Media Play News
David Satin / The Streamable:
Ampere Analysis: Disney has the biggest library of desirable titles at 148, followed by Paramount Global's 72; Netflix would be Disney's best licensing partner — Disney's catalog contains the highest number of titles that other streamers might find desirable, according to new data from Ampere Analysis.
Discussion:
Broadband TV News, The Desk, The Hollywood Reporter and Media Play News
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fremantle plans to buy Asacha Media after taking an 80% stake in TV group Beach House; both acquisitions combined will cost Fremantle's parent RTL Group €200M+ — The deal, which is still subject to closing conditions, adds eight more production labels to Fremantle's growing portfolio.
Discussion:
Variety, WORLD SCREEN, Fremantle and Deadline
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