Top News:
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
The NYT reports adding 350K digital-only subscribers in Q4, and 1.1M+ in 2024, taking its total count to 11.4M+; digital ad revenue rose 9.5% YoY to $117.9M — Adjusted operating profit for the fourth quarter increased 10.7 percent from a year earlier, to $170.5 million, the company said.
Discussion:
The Wrap
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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.
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” …
Discussion:
IndieWire, Reuters, Benzinga, Associated Press, Cord Cutters News, Los Angeles Times, Media Play News, Bloomberg and Deadline
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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:
Financial Times, Broadband TV News and Walt Disney
Isabella Simonetti / Wall Street Journal:
In Q1, Disney+ and Hulu had 178M paid subscribers, up from 177.3M at the end of Q4, and streaming had a $293M profit, up from a $138M loss in Q1 2024 — Entertainment giant tops Wall Street expectations on core metrics; streaming push continues — Streaming gains and a strong box office showing by …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @lmoses, @sherman4949 and The Hollywood Reporter
Sara Fischer / Axios:
PBS-YouGov poll: 65% of Trump voters think PBS is underfunded or adequately funded; 82% of voters value PBS for its children's programming and educational tools — Amid a slew of new efforts by Republicans to revoke funding for public broadcasters, PBS has commissioned a new poll …
Discussion:
Poynter, NPR, Reuters, @mattmoses.bsky.social, Mediaite, Current and Baltimore Sun
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 …
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.
Discussion:
Press Gazette, TVNewsCheck, The Guardian, Variety, The Mirror, Broadband TV News, Daily Mail, Sky News, The Independent, Metro.co.uk, Telegraph, @gavreilly, Guido Fawkes, @scottygb, Press Association, GB News and City A.M.
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Sources: Sonos will release an Android-based streaming box in the coming months, priced between $200 and $400, that combines content from Netflix, Max, and more — After the most tumultuous nine months in Sonos' history, the brand is trying to find its footing again.
Jameel Jaffer / New York Times:
Each legal settlement with Trump by powerful media organizations weakens the freedoms they rely on, damages their credibility, and pressures other outlets — Judge Learned Hand, revered for his eloquent and consequential defense of free speech at the height of World War I, came to fear …
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 …
Bloomberg:
Sources: OpenAI has spent months talking to Hollywood's largest studios about the potential of video generator Sora, but no deals have emerged yet — - Startup has met with Hollywood studios about commercial deals — Studios worry about business implications of new technology
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck
Henry Chandonnet / Fast Company:
An interview with Twitch CEO Dan Clancy on competition with YouTube and Kick, exclusivity contracts, content moderation, Twitch's expansion plans, and more — Clancy talks competition with YouTube, content moderation, and the next phase of streaming. — Business leaders are often reluctant to speak about their competition.
Discussion:
@zachbussey.bsky.social, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter and @simonowens, more at Techmeme »
Christopher Grimes / Financial Times:
Netflix hopes its expansion into live programming boosts its nascent ad business; Bernstein estimates its two NFL games generated up to $180M in US advertising — Streaming group hopes boxing, wrestling and other events can also boost nascent advertising business
