Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Red Ventures sells CNET, an early pioneer of online tech coverage, to Ziff Davis, which owns Mashable, PC Mag, and other brands, a source says for $100M+ — Ziff Davis is acquiring CNET for more than $100 million. Its chief executive thinks more acquisitions are on the horizon.
Discussion:
Variety, Adweek, @photomatt, The Verge, @seangriffey, @rafat, Axios, @felixsalmon, @tsuvik, @rogerwcheng, @rhunwords, @saschasegan, @rafat, @bombur, @jeffjarvis, @film_girl, @tvgrimreaper, @benmullin, @danackerman and TVNewsCheck, more at Techmeme »
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson:
Internal memo: Axios CEO Jim VandeHei says the company is laying off ~50 people as part of “changes to adapt fast to a rapidly changing media landscape” — NEW: Axios is laying off 50 people across the company. CEO @JimVandeHei just sent out this note — which says the layoffs are because of “changes in the media business” [image]
Charlie Nash / Mediaite:
Jennifer Jacobs, the Bloomberg News reporter fired for allegedly breaking Russian prisoner swap story embargo, suggests she didn't decide to publish prematurely — Bloomberg News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs shot back at the news outlet on Monday after she was fired …
Discussion:
@charlottetklein, @jenniferjjacobs, Media Nation, New York Times, @politicussarah, @arrowofartemis, @shiramstein, @saramorrison, @mctothstl, @genepark, @schreckreports, @scottnover, @bendreyfuss, @mattdpearce, @brianmfloyd, @johnmcquaid@threads.net, @aulia@mementomori.social, @johnmcquaid@threads.net, @neontaster, The Desk, @ericnewcomer, @jim_newell, @justinbaragona, @byajperez, @eisingerj, @moorehn, HuffPost and Talking Biz News
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Josh Dickey / The Wrap:
Email: Bloomberg EIC John Micklethwait says the outlet has taken disciplinary action against those involved in breaking the Russia prisoner swap embargo
Email: Bloomberg EIC John Micklethwait says the outlet has taken disciplinary action against those involved in breaking the Russia prisoner swap embargo
Discussion:
CNN, @katie_robertson, @jayrosen_nyu, @deggans, @dan_munz, @parismartineau, @weareyourfek, @taliaotg, @dpd_, Associated Press, @jimlaporta, @dnvolz, @maxwelltani, @warondumb, @bgrueskin, Newser, @benadida, The Hill, Fox News and Deadline
Lauren Feiner / The Verge:
A US federal judge rules Google has a monopoly in “general search text advertising” and Google's exclusive agreements enabled it to raise prices on that product — A federal judge ruled that Google violated US antitrust law by maintaining a monopoly in the search and advertising markets.
Discussion:
CNN, US District Court for the District of Columbia, Politico, New York Times, One Man & His Blog, Android Central, Sportico, 9to5Mac, Ars Technica, Engadget, Boing Boing, TVNewsCheck, Reuters, @jeff@newsie.social, PhoneArena, ScheerPost.com, AV Club, The Information, Financial Times, @digitalsamiam, MediaPost, @jason_kint, AdExchanger, Jill Caren on LinkedIn, @SomeGadgetGuy@techhub.social, W Media Research, @jason_kint, @marie_haynes, UPI, Deadline, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, @parismarx@mastodon.online, MarTech, 9to5Google, BGR, CNBC, @theory@xoxo.zone, Quartz, The Wrap, @webology@mastodon.social, WTOL-TV, Ad Age, @kottke@mastodon.social, New York Post, The Drum, Fox Business, @Nonya_Bidniss@mas.to, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and News/Media Alliance, more at Techmeme »
Kathryn Lundstrom / Adweek:
Uber says its Advertising annual revenue run-rate passed $1B in Q2, up from $650M+ in Q2 2023; Uber began selling in-app Journey Ads programmatically in June — The company broke out its ad revenue in quarterly earnings today and based the estimate on 2024 results to date
Discussion:
Business Insider, Fast Company, Uber and @thetranscript_, more at Techmeme »
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Google unveils the $100 Google TV Streamer, with better performance than Chromecast with Google TV, Thread and Matter support, and more, shipping September 24 — Google isn't waiting for its upcoming hardware event to announce the Chromecast's successor. Alongside the new, sleeker Nest Thermostat …
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fox Corp reports Q4 revenue up 2% YoY to $3.1B, affiliate fee revenue up 5% YoY to $1.9B, ad revenue flat YoY at $1B, and $320M net income, vs. $369M in Q4 2023 — The company said that revenue rose slightly in the quarter thanks to its carriage agreements, but that the election and Super Bowl are setting it up for a big year.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Next TV and Fox Corporation
Andrew Bucholtz / Awful Announcing:
FAST channels NEWSnet and SportsNewsHighlights, owned by Manoj Bhargava's Bridge Media, abruptly shuts down, resulting in the layoffs of 80 employees — Manoj Bhargava at a NewsNet desk. (NewsNet.) — The strangeness around former Sports Illustrated publisher Arena Group and its majority owner …
Financial Times:
Sources: WBD looks to avoid breaking up the company by offloading smaller assets, such as selling Polish broadcaster TVN or a stake in WBD's gaming business — Executives fear ‘years of legal challenges’ if they split its TV and movie studio businesses — Warner Bros Discovery's senior management …
Discussion:
PlayStation LifeStyle, Broadband TV News, @meowzawowza_ and @annaknicolaou
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
FuboTV reports Q2 North America revenue up 26% YoY to $383M vs. $368M est., North America paid subscribers up 24% to 1.45M, rest of world revenue up 2% to $8.3M — The streaming platform trimmed its overall losses on increased subscription and advertising revenue.
Discussion:
Advanced Television, The Streamable, Next TV, @fubotv_pr, FuboTV and Cord Cutters News
Lili Bayer / The Guardian:
Critics say Hungary's new sovereignty protection office, set up to monitor foreign influence, has been targeting independent journalism and watchdog groups — The country's new sovereignty protection office was set up to quieten anti-government voices, critics say
Discussion:
@worstall, @tobyvogel and @roberthm75
Emma Roth / The Verge:
WBD says it has seen a “meaningful lift” in how long viewers watch content on Max after rolling out a new “whole page optimization” system in the US last month — If you've been on Max lately, you might've noticed more personalized rows of content across your entire homepage.
Discussion:
Variety, TechRadar, Broadband TV News, Next TV, @tvgrimreaper, Cord Cutters News and The Streamable