Top News:


Financial Times CEO John Ridding plans to step down on July 1 after 19 years, and will take an honorary FT chair title; the FT will now find a replacement — Financial Times CEO John Ridding is stepping down in June after leading the newspaper group for almost 20 years.
Discussion:
Nikkei Asia, Talking Biz News, @pressgazette, Financial Times, @ft and Dominic Ponsford on LinkedIn


Memo: MSNBC hires WABC-TV VP and News Director Scott Matthews to serve as head of newsgathering, and plans to hire 100 journalists as part of its news operation — The network, which recently overhauled its programming lineup, is bringing on Scott Matthews as head of newsgathering. — Just now
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Deadline and @jeremymbarr


Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann says Netflix plans to spend ~$18B in cash on content in 2025, up nearly 11% YoY, and the amount is “not anywhere near a ceiling” — Netflix expects to spend in the neighborhood of $18 billion in cash on content in 2025 — and it sees plenty of runway …
Discussion:
@tylerbishop, @tvgrimreaper, Deadline, The Wrap and Media Play News


ITV reports FY 2024 revenue down 3% YoY to $5.34B, Studios revenue down 6% YoY to $2.63B, digital ad revenue up 15% YoY, and its efficiency program saved $77.5M — The U.K.'s ITV revealed strong profit growth in its full-year results for 2024, despite facing challenges from the U.S. actors …
Discussion:
Variety, Shares Magazine, MorningstarUK, Reuters, The Media Leader, The Hollywood Reporter, ITV Plc, The Standard and Deadline


Gannett posts job listings for an AI sports editor and AI-assisted sports reporter; after flubs in 2023, it paused using LedeAI for high school sports stories — Gannett plans to hire an “AI Sports Editor” and “AI-Assisted Sports Reporter” as America's largest newspaper chain doubles-down on artificial intelligence in its newsrooms.
Discussion:
@danrshafer, @aaronnagler, @andrew_cohen0, @joshua_newman and @michaelsocolow
RELATED:


Netflix plans to host its second live boxing special on July 11 at Madison Square Garden with a rematch of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano — The all-women's boxing card will be held at Madison Square Garden July 11, and will stream live on Netflix. — Netflix is back in business …
Discussion:
The Streamable, Advanced Television, Variety, ESPN, New York Times, Deadline, Bleacher Report, @netflix, @serranosisters, EVOKE, RTÉ and The Verge


All Elite Wrestling and Amazon Prime Video announce a new multi-year agreement to offer AEW's pay-per-view events in the US, Canada, and the UK on Prime Video — The new pay-per-view streaming partnership kicks off this weekend with AEW Revolution, which costs $49.99.


Politico unveils an AI tool that lets Politico Pro subscribers generate detailed policy reports using data from Politico's reporting and analysis — In February, the White House announced plans to cancel $8 million of Politico Pro subscriptions — Political news publisher Politico unveiled …
Discussion:
Politico and Jane Friedman


Sources: LAT's Hector Becerra faced an HR probe in 2022 over alleged “insulting” behavior, including bullying; LAT says it has “been addressed and resolved” — The paper's De Los editor Paloma Esquivel resigned last week, accusing HR of dismissing her complaints against Becerra
Discussion:
@gstarr.bsky.social, @sharonwaxman, @sharonwaxman and @sharonwaxman


How the Financial Times is using online polls to engage readers and grow subscriptions; polls in FT newsletters regularly record engagement rates above 75% — The newspaper has a loyal, well-informed readership keen to share their opinions. Polls in its newsletters record engagement over 75 per cent


Lyric rights licensing company LyricFind sues Musixmatch and its owner TPG Growth, alleging antitrust violations that threaten competition across the industry — LyricFind has lodged an antitrust lawsuit against lyrics provider Musixmatch and its private equity owner TPG Growth.
Discussion:
LyricFind, Bloomberg Law, MLex, @lyricfind, Digital Music News and Music Ally


UK journalist Graham Johnson estimates he cost News UK £500M through his testimony, books, and legal research since his phone hacking conviction in 2014 — Former tabloid reporter Graham Johnson believes he helped cost the publisher of The Sun £500m.


Publicis acquires Lotame, which analyzes people's online behavior across 109 countries, and plans to integrate Lotame into its Epsilon service — Epsilon integration will give Publicis access to 3.8 billion unique customer profiles globally — Publicis Groupe has acquired data company Lotame …
Discussion:
Ad Age, Reuters, MediaPost, Digiday, GlobeNewswire News Room, TipRanks Financial, More About Advertising and The Drum