Top News:
Tom Friend / Sports Business Journal:
Sources: the NBA is formalizing deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon, which may prompt WBD to sue; ESPN may pay $2.8B annually, NBC $2.6B, and Amazon $1.8B to $2B — NEW YORK — The NBA is formalizing written contracts with Disney, NBC and Amazon this week, with sources calling it the final stage …
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Mediaite, Deadline, Next TV, New York Daily News, The Streamable, New York Post, @dylanbyers, The US Sun, Sports Media Watch, UPROXX and Cord Cutters News
Max Tani / @maxwelltani:
[Thread] In a meeting, Washington Post CEO Will Lewis told staff that the paper lost $77M over the past year, and saw a 50% drop off in audience since 2020 — Washington Post CEO Will Lewis is introing the paper's new “Build It” plan today. In a meeting with staff, he noted that the paper lost $77 million over the past year, and saw a 50% drop off in audience since 2020: “To be direct, we are in a hole, and we have been for some time.”
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, @alttag.bsky.social, @cocktailhag.bsky.social, @natalieweiner.bsky.social, @missingthept.bsky.social, @jonastraxler.bsky.social, @dextrosity.bsky.social, @thatweissguy.bsky.social, @charles.littlegreenfootballs …, @benharris1.bsky.social, @cfaller96.bsky.social, @estarianne.bsky.social, @tomscocca.bsky.social, @hammancheez.bsky.social, @markshatraw.bsky.social, @tomscocca.bsky.social, @tcarmody.bsky.social, @vortexegg.regretfully.online, @wilson__valdez, @macktubs, @maxwelltani, @sarafischer, @852dude.bsky.social, @andrewsshi.bsky.social, @erinannmcc.bsky.social, @maxwelltani, @froomkin, @karlbode.bsky.social, @nslayton.bsky.social, @mcoatney, @maxwelltani, @darrylmason, @socio-steve.bsky.social, @scarylawyerguy, @jaycockburn, @reubenr80027912 and @eleanorofs.bsky.social
Wall Street Journal:
As TV audiences get older, media executives are focusing more on the mass-market reach of TV, and playing down the importance of age for advertisers — With viewers in their 60s, networks aren't pretending to have youth appeal; they're touting the virtues of older audiences
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis, @jbflint and AdExchanger
Sara Guaglione / Digiday:
How sending fewer emails and giving paid subscribers early access to content improved The New Yorker's onsite page views and time spent from newsletter users — The New Yorker has refocused its newsletter strategy in an effort to retain its cohort of 1.2 million paid subscribers and grow …
David Shepardson / Reuters:
US FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposes requiring the disclosure of content generated by AI in political ads on radio and TV, citing the use of deepfakes — U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Wednesday proposed requiring disclosure of content generated …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, CNN, Inside Radio, The Verge, @aram@aoir.social, Dave Gregorio on LinkedIn, FCC, UPI and Deadline, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Sources: Tata Group took full control of subscription TV broadcaster Tata Play after buying Disney's 29.8% stake, valuing Tata Play at about $1B — - Tata Group gains full control of Tata Play after Disney deal — Tata bought out Temasek's stake in platform earlier this year
Chris Kerr / Game Developer:
Rolling Stone launches RS Gaming, a game vertical in partnership with ESL FACEIT Group, which is owned by Saudi state-backed investment fund PIF — Rolling Stone is expanding its coverage of the video game industry with the launch of a dedicated gaming vertical.
Discussion:
Aftermath and Rolling Stone
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Nexstar's NewsNation adds an early evening news block to its weekend schedule, completing its transformation into a 24/7 network — NewsNation is adding an early evening news block to its weekend schedule, completing its transformation into a 24/7 network.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, The Desk, Radio & Television …, Next TV, TVNewsCheck and Cord Cutters News
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
TikTok launches its Symphony AI suite for brands, using generative AI to let marketers write scripts, produce videos, and enhance current assets — TikTok is the latest tech company to incorporate generative AI into its ads business, as the company announced on Tuesday that it's launching a new “TikTok Symphony” AI suite for brands.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Adweek, The Media Leader and Digiday, more at Techmeme »
Alex Ritman / Variety:
UK-based studio Anton raised €100M led by BlackRock-managed funds and accounts to expand its feature film and TV series development and production — Anton, the European production, financing and sales group behind “Greenland,” is set to ramp up its output following a significant injection of funds.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and WORLD SCREEN
Max Tani / Semafor:
Email: WaPo newsletter editor Elana Zak asked writers not to link to a story on Prince Harry's allegations that new CEO Will Lewis helped with hacking coverups — The Scoop — A top Washington Post editor instructed editors Tuesday night not to promote a story about a controversy involving the paper's new CEO Will Lewis.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
SEC filing: Vivek Ramaswamy owns shares and call options worth ~$4M in BuzzFeed, or a 7.7% stake, and seeks a shift in its strategy; BZFD jumps 10%+ — Ramaswamy has acquired just under 8% of BuzzFeed, with plans to push for “a shift in the company's strategy.”
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