Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Red Ventures sells CNET, an early pioneer of online tech coverage, to Ziff Davis, which owns Mashable, PC Mag, Lifehacker, and others, a source says for $100M+ — Ziff Davis is acquiring CNET for more than $100 million. Its chief executive thinks more acquisitions are on the horizon.
Discussion:
Deadline, The Wrap, Variety, Axios, @jeffjarvis, @danackerman, @saschasegan, @photomatt, @dctrjack, Adweek, @film_girl, @rhunwords, @ldignan, @benmullin, @felixsalmon, @rafat, @seangriffey, @rafat, @tsuvik, @tvgrimreaper, @rogerwcheng, @bombur, The Verge and TVNewsCheck, more at Techmeme »
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Internal memo: Axios CEO Jim VandeHei says the company is laying off about 50 employees, or ~10% of the company, due to “changes in the media business” — Jim VandeHei, the company's chief executive, said in an email that the cuts were necessary to adapt to “changes in the media business.”
Discussion:
@katie_robertson, The Wrap, @sophiacai99, @tblysik, @sarafischer, @samueljrob, @loopemma, @daniellealberti, @justinbaragona, @selenesanfelice, @jdawsey1, @sopandeb, @chrisjollyhale, @aulia@threads.net, TVNewsCheck, @ethangach, @ethanscorey, @billygribbin, @benkesslen, @chaykak, @redsteeze, @keitholbermann, @brandyljensen, @chriscillizza, @mikebrice, @katie_robertson and Barrett Media
Lauren Feiner / The Verge:
A US federal judge rules Google has a monopoly in “general search text advertising” and Google's exclusive agreements enabled it to raise prices on that product — A federal judge ruled that Google violated US antitrust law by maintaining a monopoly in the search and advertising markets.
Discussion:
US District Court for the District of Columbia, CNN, The Guardian, MediaPost, CNN, The Media Leader, Bloomberg, Politico, New York Times, MarTech, BIG by Matt Stoller, TechRadar, Android Central, Sportico, Engadget, @statesdj@genomic.social, AV Club, Financial Times, Beyond Search, @digitalsamiam, One Man & His Blog, @jason_kint, @JamesGleick@zirk.us, @jason_kint, @marie_haynes, 9to5Mac, Boing Boing, AdExchanger, Jill Caren on LinkedIn, Ars Technica, PhoneArena, The Information, UPI, @jeff@newsie.social, ScheerPost.com, W Media Research, MediaPost, Reuters, @SomeGadgetGuy@techhub.social, Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, @parismarx@mastodon.online, 9to5Google, BGR, CNBC, @theory@xoxo.zone, TVNewsCheck, Quartz, The Wrap, @webology@mastodon.social, WTOL-TV, Ad Age, @kottke@mastodon.social, New York Post, The Drum, Fox Business, @Nonya_Bidniss@mas.to, TechCrunch, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and News/Media Alliance, more at Techmeme »
Charlie Nash / Mediaite:
Jennifer Jacobs, the Bloomberg News reporter fired for allegedly breaking Russian prisoner swap story embargo, suggests she didn't decide to publish prematurely — Bloomberg News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs shot back at the news outlet on Monday after she was fired …
Discussion:
@jenniferjjacobs, @charlottetklein, The Wrap, Poynter, Media Nation, New York Times, @politicussarah, @arrowofartemis, @shiramstein, @saramorrison, @mctothstl, @genepark, @schreckreports, @scottnover, @bendreyfuss, @mattdpearce, @brianmfloyd, The Guardian, @neontaster, @ericnewcomer, @jim_newell, @justinbaragona, @byajperez, @eisingerj, @moorehn, CNN, @aulia@mementomori.social, @johnmcquaid@threads.net, @johnmcquaid@threads.net, Associated Press, The Desk, New York Post, Fox News, HuffPost and Talking Biz News
Next TV:
Future plans to shut down Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, and NextTV in print and newsletter form on September 30, and replace them with a newsletter — By B+C Staff( Broadcasting & Cable ) published — Charlie Weiss will take on chairman role for B+C Hall of Fame, with Bill McGorry moving into chairman emeritus role
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Desk, Talking Biz News, The Hollywood Reporter and @jbflint
Financial Times:
Sources: WBD looks to avoid breaking up the company by offloading smaller assets, such as selling Polish broadcaster TVN or a stake in WBD's gaming business — Executives fear ‘years of legal challenges’ if they split its TV and movie studio businesses — Warner Bros Discovery's senior management …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @meowzawowza_, Broadband TV News, PlayStation LifeStyle, @annaknicolaou and @tvgrimreaper
Sara Fischer / Axios:
X sues the World Federation of Advertisers, GARM, and GARM members CVS Health, Mars, Orsted, and Unilever over what Linda Yaccarino calls an “illegal boycott” — Members include major tech companies, advertisers, agencies, ad tech firms and advertising coalitions.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fox Corp reports Q4 revenue up 2% YoY to $3.1B, affiliate fee revenue up 5% YoY to $1.9B, ad revenue flat YoY at $1B, and $320M net income, vs. $369M in Q4 2023 — The company said that revenue rose slightly in the quarter thanks to its carriage agreements, but that the election and Super Bowl are setting it up for a big year.
Discussion:
The Desk, Reuters, The Wrap, Sportico, Variety, Next TV, Fox Corporation and WORLD SCREEN
Sara Fischer / Axios:
ProRata, which aims to attribute and share AI chatbot subscription revenue with content owners, raised a $25M Series A and inks deals with major media companies — A handful of major news and music companies have agreed to license their content to ProRata.ai, a generative AI startup that claims …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Gabriel Brotman on LinkedIn, @danprimack and @sarafischer, more at Techmeme »
Tampa Bay Times:
In a letter to staff, Tampa Bay Times CEO Conan Gallaty says the paper needs to reduce payroll by 20% and gives staff until August 16 to accept buyout packages — Layoffs will occur later this month if targeted savings aren't met. — The Tampa Bay Times, beset by many of the same revenue …
Discussion:
Axios, Poynter, @davidfolkenflik and @bgrueskin
Bill Grueskin / Columbia Journalism Review:
Interviews with news executives and editors about running split newsrooms, as the Washington Post builds a “third newsroom” — When split newsrooms work, and when they falter — In 2011, I attended an advertising conference that seemed like a rather workaday affair …
Discussion:
@davidfolkenflik, @bgrueskin and PenguinRandomhouse.com
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Google unveils the $100 Google TV Streamer, with better performance than Chromecast with Google TV, Thread and Matter support, and more, shipping September 24 — Google isn't waiting for its upcoming hardware event to announce the Chromecast's successor. Alongside the new, sleeker Nest Thermostat …
Discussion:
The Streamable, TechCrunch, StreamTV Insider, PhoneArena, The Keyword, 9to5Google, BGR, Tech Advisor, TechRadar, Cord Cutters News, The Keyword, ZDNET, Wired, Next TV, Engadget, Android Central, TechRadar, Forbes, LifeHacker, CNET on YouTube, Digital Trends, Android Faithful, 9to5Google on YouTube and 9to5Google, more at Techmeme »