Top News:
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
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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.
Discussion:
@tvgrimreaper and @proggrrl.bsky.social
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
The NYT says 32% of its subscribers do not pay for its news product and subscribe only to either its Games, Cooking, Wirecutter, Audio, or The Athletic products — The number of news-only NYT subscribers dropped 30% year-on-year as the company encouraged them onto “bundled” subs.
Discussion:
@labelbda.bsky.social
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” …
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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:
Adweek, Financial Times, Yahoo Finance, Sherwood News, Broadband TV News and Walt Disney
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, StreamTV Insider, Alphabet Inc, Music Ally, MediaPost, TVNewsCheck, CNBC, Motley Fool, Basem Istanbouli on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, Fortune, Music Business Worldwide, @xpangler, The Register, Neowin, Android Authority, Business Insider, The Desk, The Wrap, Deadline, 9to5Google and Sherwood News, more at Techmeme »
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
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, The Mirror and @thattimwalker.bsky.social
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.
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.
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.
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Business Insider, @jfc2024.bsky.social, @lmoses, Deadline, Media Play News and Streaming Better
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:
Radio Ink, Poynter, @brendan@vermont.masto.host, Reuters, @mattmoses.bsky.social, Mediaite, Current and Baltimore Sun
