Top News:
Erik Hayden / The Hollywood Reporter:
The NYT says it spent $10.8M on costs associated with generative AI litigation in 2024, one of the few outlets that can afford to engage in yearslong litigation — The paper, buoyed by its 11 million-plus paid subscribers, is one of the few news outlets that can afford to engage in yearslong litigation with Big Tech.
Discussion:
Plagiarism Today, @proggrrl.bsky.social and @tvgrimreaper
RELATED:
The New York Times Company:
The NYT reports Q4 revenue up 7.5% YoY to $726.6M, subscription revenue up 16% YoY to $334.9M, and operating profit up 13.6% YoY to $146.6M — NEW YORK, February 5, 2025 - The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) announced today fourth- quarter and full-year 2024 results. Key Highlights
Todd Spangler / Variety:
In Q1, Disney+ lost a net 700,000 customers worldwide while Hulu gained 1.6M, and operating income hit $312M, up from a $224M loss in Q1 2024, driven by Moana 2 — Domestic theme parks operating income hurt by hurricane expenses in fiscal Q1 2025 — Animated blockbuster “Moana 2” …
RELATED:
Sarah Whitten / CNBC:
Disney reports Q1 revenue up 5% YoY to $24.7B, net income up 23% YoY to $2.64B, and entertainment division revenue up 9% YoY to $10.87B — Disney posted fiscal first-quarter earnings Wednesday that beat on the top and bottom lines, but revealed the beginnings of expected streaming subscriber losses at Disney+.
Discussion:
Adweek, Yahoo Finance, WORLD SCREEN, Motley Fool, Financial Times, Sherwood News, Broadband TV News and Walt Disney
Emma Roth / The Verge:
Bob Iger says an ESPN streaming service will have “some form of betting and fantasy and a high degree of customization” at its fall 2025 launch — Disney wants to make ESPN's content as accessible as possible. — Disney wants to make ESPN's content as accessible as possible.
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
FT Policy Director Matt Rogerson tells a UK parliamentary committee that creating “opt-out” copyright exemptions for AI companies would be “a huge mistake” — Preserving copyright protections for news publishers against theft by artificial intelligence companies is …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, CMU, The Mirror, @thattimwalker.bsky.social and The Independent
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
UK news anchor Kay Burley retires from Sky News after 36 years and “over a million minutes of live TV news”; Burley was one of Sky's original presenters in 1989 — Kay Burley, one of the UK's best-known news anchors, is retiring from Sky News after 36 years.
Liam Reilly / CNN:
As Trump and Elon Musk remake the federal government, traffic surges at Government Executive and other small outlets that specialize in the federal workforce — As President Trump and Elon Musk remake the federal government through firings, orders and brute force, small news publishers …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @brianstelter and @brianstelter
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Lara Trump will begin hosting a weekend show on Fox News on Feb. 22; there is no precedent for a sitting president's relative to host a show on a major channel — There is no precedent for a sitting president's relative to host a show on a major television news channel.
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The UK's Reach names Digital Spy EIC Laurence Mozafari as editorial director for youth audience, responsible for growing its Gen Z readers and viewers — The editor-in-chief of Hearst UK entertainment website Digital Spy has left to lead the push to attract a younger audience at Reach.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Alphabet reports YouTube Q4 ad revenue up 14% YoY to $10.47B, vs. $10.23B est., driven by the US election as both political parties almost doubled 2020 spending — YouTube, the internet's biggest streaming video platform, delivered a healthy 13.8% increase in global ad revenue …
Discussion:
Fast Company, Alphabet Inc, StreamTV Insider, Cord Cutters News, MediaPost, Music Ally, CNBC, Fortune, Motley Fool, Music Business Worldwide, Basem Istanbouli on LinkedIn, TVNewsCheck, The Hollywood Reporter, @xpangler, The Register, Neowin, Android Authority, Business Insider, The Desk, The Wrap, Deadline, Sherwood News and 9to5Google, more at Techmeme »
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Sources: Sonos will release an Android-based streaming box in the coming months, priced between $200 and $400, combining Netflix, Max, Disney+, and more content — After the most tumultuous nine months in Sonos' history, the brand is trying to find its footing again.

