Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
At a tech and media conference, Bob Iger says Disney is working to catch up with Netflix's tech capability and downplays the effects of activist investors — CEO says Nelson Peltz's activist investor proxy fight ‘designed to distract us’; reveals studio has ‘killed a few’ movie projects
Discussion:
Broadband TV News, Media Play News, Business Insider, @xpangler, Gizmodo, Next TV, The Wrap, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and TVBEurope
Cormac Pearson / The Independent:
More than 100 MPs back an amendment to the UK's Digital Markets Bill requiring parliament's approval before UK news outlets can be bought by foreign governments — The amendment would require parliament's approval before UK news media organisations could be purchased by a foreign government
Discussion:
@tinastowell, @robertjenrick and @pressgazette
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Tidal plans to combine its HiFi and HiFi Plus plans into a single $10.99/month “Tidal” plan, below HiFi Plus' $19.99/month; students will still pay $4.99/month — Tidal seems to have decided that there just aren't enough people willing to pay upward of $20 per month for the highest-possible audio fidelity.
Discussion:
Music Business Worldwide, Engadget, TIDAL and Billboard
Emma Roth / The Verge:
A US judge upheld parts of a National Music Publishers' Association's copyright lawsuit against X and dismissed the claim that X engaged in direct infringement — The music labels suing Twitter — now X — for copyright infringement can move forward with parts of their lawsuit.
Discussion:
CNN, Billboard, Reuters and US District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, more at Techmeme »
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
The UK announces an extended indie movie tax credit for films that have budgets between £1M and £15M, along with business rates relief for big studios — The UK government is to introduce an extended indie movie tax credit for films that have budgets between £1M and £15M …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell plans to spend “tens of millions” of pounds to find the next global hit like Bluey; BBC Studio raised its debt facility to £600M — Commercial arm of broadcaster will ‘really go out to the market’ to develop new shows
Discussion:
Deadline and @danielthomasldn
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
EY report: the Indian media and entertainment industry grew 8% YoY to $27.9B in 2023; TV shrank 2% YoY to $8.3B due to advertising declining by 6.5% YoY — The Indian media and entertainment industry grew 8% in 2023 to reach a value of $27.9 billion, according to the annual EY report released during …
Discussion:
Business Standard and Financialexpress
Apple:
Apple adds transcripts to Apple Podcasts, which let listeners read and search the text of the episode, available in English, French, Spanish, and German — Transcripts offer full-text display for each episode, making podcasts more accessible and immersive than ever before
Emma Roth / The Verge:
In response to the EU's ruling, Spotify submits an app update for the EU to provide pricing info within its iOS app and link users to its subscription options — Spotify isn't going to launch the in-app purchases it previously planned for the European Union, at least right now.
Discussion:
Engadget, The Sun, TechCrunch, AppleInsider, Marcus James B. on LinkedIn, 9to5Mac, The Apple Post, CMU, Total Telecom, MediaNama, The Information, Fast Company and Wired, more at Techmeme »
Mia Sato / The Verge:
TikTok moves its Creativity Program, now rebranded as the Creator Rewards Program, out of beta, and requires videos to be longer than a minute to be monetized — A year ago, TikTok introduced a new way for creators on the platform to make money: make longer videos.
Discussion:
Engadget, Tubefilter, TikTok and Fox Business, more at Techmeme »
Amy Maclean / Cablefax:
C-SPAN is searching for a new CEO as co-CEOs Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain step down this year; VP of Finance Matt Deprey will replace Kennedy as CFO — C-SPAN has started searching for a new CEO with longtime co-CEOs Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain stepping down this year, Cablefax has learned and confirmed.
Discussion:
The Desk, @cspansusan, Amy Maclean on LinkedIn, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter
Ben Glickman / Wall Street Journal:
Ad company Entravision says Meta plans to wind down its authorized sales partner program and end its relationships with all ASPs, including Entravision, by July — ASPs are extensions of Meta's sales teams that have local presences in various countries — Meta Platforms plans to wind …
Discussion:
Inside Radio, Radio Ink, RADIO ONLINE and Radio & Television …