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:
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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:
Nieman Lab, The Wrap, @katie_robertson, Erin Hulliberger on LinkedIn, @samueljrob, @selenesanfelice, @loopemma, @daniellealberti, @ethangach, @ethanscorey, @billygribbin, @chrisjollyhale, @benkesslen, @aulia@threads.net, @justinbaragona, @chaykak, @redsteeze, @keitholbermann, @sophiacai99, @brandyljensen, @chriscillizza, @tblysik, @mikebrice, @sarafischer, @katie_robertson, @jdawsey1, TVNewsCheck, @sopandeb and Barrett Media
Next TV:
Future plans to end Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, and NextTV in print and as newsletters, replacing them with one newsletter and revamping NextTV.com — 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:
Variety, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, The Desk, Talking Biz News, @michaelsocolow, The Hollywood Reporter and @jbflint
Joe Lucia / Awful Announcing:
Fubo's CEO blasts Venu, the Disney/Fox/WBD sports JV, saying it gives them control of 80% of the premium market and curbs competition, as he seeks an injunction — The new Fubo logo. — Fubo's earnings call was on Tuesday. Unsurprisingly, CEO David Gandler used part of his opening remarks …
Discussion:
The Streamable, Bloomberg Law, Deadline, Sportico and Cord Cutters News
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Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
FuboTV reports Q2 North America revenue up 26% YoY to $383M vs. $368M est., North America paid subscribers up 24% to 1.45M, rest of world revenue up 2% to $8.3M
FuboTV reports Q2 North America revenue up 26% YoY to $383M vs. $368M est., North America paid subscribers up 24% to 1.45M, rest of world revenue up 2% to $8.3M
Discussion:
The Desk, Fubo, The Streamable, Media Play News, Cord Cutters News, Advanced Television, @fubotv_pr and Next TV
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.
Discussion:
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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, The Guardian, CNN, MediaPost, CNN, The Atlantic, MarTech, Stewart Jeffries on LinkedIn, Lou Paskalis on LinkedIn, Quartz, Shelly Palmer, Politico, New York Times, Bloomberg, The Media Leader, TechRadar, Android Central, Engadget, @statesdj@genomic.social, AV Club, Beyond Search, @digitalsamiam, One Man & His Blog, @kubikpixel@chaos.social, @jason_kint, @JamesGleick@zirk.us, @jason_kint, BIG by Matt Stoller, @marie_haynes, Sportico, 9to5Mac, Boing Boing, Financial Times, AdExchanger, Jill Caren on LinkedIn, PhoneArena, Ars Technica, 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, 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, Poynter, The Wrap, @shiramstein, @saramorrison, Media Nation, @genepark, @schreckreports, @scottnover, @bendreyfuss, @mattdpearce, @brianmfloyd, @neontaster, @jim_newell, @justinbaragona, @eisingerj, @mctothstl, @politicussarah, @byajperez, @moorehn, @arrowofartemis, @ericnewcomer, The Guardian, New York Times, @aulia@mementomori.social, CNN, @johnmcquaid@threads.net, @johnmcquaid@threads.net, Associated Press, The Desk, New York Post, Fox News, HuffPost and Talking Biz News
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Amazon Music debuts Maestro, an AI-powered playlist generator, and Topics, which helps users find podcast episodes by topic and is powered by both AI and humans — Amazon Music announced Tuesday the launch of its new AI-powered feature, “Topics,” which allows users to explore podcast episodes …
Discussion:
About Amazon, more at Techmeme »
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, @danprimack, Gabriel Brotman on LinkedIn, @sarafischer and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »
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
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, Sportico, Reuters, Variety, Fox Corporation, The Wrap, Next TV and WORLD SCREEN
Kathryn Lundstrom / Adweek:
Uber says its Advertising annual revenue run-rate passed $1B in Q2, up from $650M+ in Q2 2023; Uber began selling in-app Journey Ads programmatically in June — The company broke out its ad revenue in quarterly earnings today and based the estimate on 2024 results to date
Discussion:
Business Insider, Uber, Freddy Porges on LinkedIn, New York Post, @thetranscript_ and Fast Company, more at Techmeme »