Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: the DOJ is probing whether the NFL uses anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers; regulators and others have raised concerns about streaming deals — Government officials have raised questions about whether the league is engaging in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers
Discussion:
Reuters, RedState, Awful Announcing, Associated Press, The Hill, Bloomberg, The Wrap, CNBC, NBC News, Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, Barron's Online, The US Sun, The Athletic, Front Office Sports, WTOP News, One America News Network, Sports Business Journal, Forbes, Newser, Fox News, New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, NewsMax.com, @moreperfectunion.bsky.social, MacTech.com, @peark.es, Barrett Media, Insurance Journal, @ericstangel, @senmikelee, @jtoonkel, Newsweek, CBS News and NBCSports.com
Abner Li / 9to5Google:
YouTube launches a Shorts feature to let creators generate photorealistic AI avatars using a “live selfie” recording of their face and voice, powered by Veo — YouTube is now letting users create an AI avatar that looks and sounds like them for use in Shorts. This feature was teased earlier this year.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
AMC Networks rebrands as AMC Global Media, filing new articles of incorporation in Nevada; CEO Kristin Dolan says streaming is its top domestic revenue source — The media company behind ‘The Walking Dead’ and Anne Rice universes is rebranding itself ahead of what it hopes will be its next genre-defining hit, ‘The Audacity.’
Discussion:
The Ankler, Streaming Better, The Wrap, Yeah, Deadline and Media Play News
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Sources: Paramount is unlikely to appoint a direct successor to Jeff Shell after his departure; Shell had few direct reports and did not lead WBD negotiations — Jeff Shell is unlikely to be directly replaced as president of Paramount, numerous insiders and people who do business with the company tell Deadline.
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Page Six, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, @jbflint, Paramount Skydance Corporation, Mediaweek, CNBC, The Boston Globe, Vanity Fair, MediaPost, New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, Screen, Axios, Los Angeles Times, Sportico, Cord Cutters News, New York Post, Sports Business Journal, Adweek, Gamereactor UK, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Barrett Media, NewsMax.com, Media Play News and Deadline
Dan Primack / Axios:
Meta begins removing dozens of Facebook and Instagram ads that trial lawyers placed to reach eligible plaintiffs, after social media addiction trial losses — Meta on Thursday began removing advertisements from attorneys who were seeking clients that claim to have been harmed by social media while under the age of 18.
Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:
Prime Video offers Masters Tournament coverage for the first time, with two hours of live broadcasts Thursday and Friday plus feeds from “Amen Corner” and more — Often called “a tradition unlike any other,” the Masters golf tournament has a non-traditional media partner this year.
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The Daily Beast surpassed 100K subscribers to its site in January and has launched paid offerings on Substack, where it has four newsletters, and YouTube — ‘Highbrow tabloid’ has more than 100,000 paying subscribers plus thousands on Substack and Youtube.
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Disney is planning to eliminate as many as 1,000 positions in the coming weeks, many from the company's recently consolidated marketing department — Entertainment company is planning to eliminate as many as 1,000 positions in the coming weeks — Disney is preparing …
Discussion:
Adweek, Washington Times, Breitbart, The American Bazaar, UPI, Proactive, CNBC, New York Post, Newsweek, BMI, The Daily Wire, Fast Company, Barron's Online, Cord Cutters News, @dannymanus, Business Today, Benzinga, Watcher Guru, @themeparkdirk, Inc.com, @tvgrimreaper, @benfritz, Quartz, @scottgustin, Inside the Magic, Variety, Deadline, Media Play News, Motley Fool, The Wrap, Awful Announcing, Los Angeles Times and The Indian Express
Tom Jones / Poynter:
MS NOW announces financial backing for the Pulitzer Center, and collaborations with The Marshall Project on ICE and States Newsroom to feature state reporting — The network will partner with The Marshall Project, States Newsroom and the Pulitzer Center to power investigative and statehouse coverage
Dominic Preston / The Verge:
Spotify is adding toggles to stop video from playing inside the app for both music and podcasts, rolling out worldwide on all platforms and devices — Controls are rolling out worldwide to stop videos playing alongside music and podcasts. … Spotify is adding new toggles to stop …
Daryna Antoniuk / The Record:
Russian authorities detained a former Radio Free Europe freelancer on treason charges; security services also have searched Novaya Gazeta's newsroom in Moscow — Russian authorities detained a former freelance journalist for Radio Free Europe on treason charges, accusing him of passing information …
Discussion:
Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Novaya Gazeta Europe, Reuters, THE INSIDER and Bloomberg
Sri Muppidi / The Information:
Documents: OpenAI expects ads to generate ~$2.4B in revenue in 2026, ~$11B in 2027, and ~$102B in 2030, or 36% of its total revenue for 2030 — OpenAI's advertising effort is so new that the company is still working out the kinks in it. That hasn't stopped it from setting ambitious aims for the business …
Discussion:
Proactive, Axios, Reuters, John Battelle's Search Blog and Benzinga, more at Techmeme »
