Top News:
Jody Godoy / Reuters:
The FTC approves Omnicom's $13.5B acquisition of rival Interpublic on the condition that the new company does not boycott platforms over political content — Omnicom's (OMC.N) $13.5 billion acquisition of rival Interpublic (IPG.N) can move forward on the condition that the new company does …
Discussion:
Federal Trade Commission, New York Times, MediaPost, The Wrap, Business Insider, The Verge, @wendyndavis, MarketWatch, @sarafischer, @afergusonftc, Variety, @matthewstoller, Axios, Reuters, Adweek, @xpangler, @leehepner, @allumbokhari, Radio & Television …, @benremaly, Reclaim The Net, @laurenshirsch, @ftc, @afergusonftc, @leehepner, The Hollywood Reporter, campaignlive.co.uk and Global Competition Review, more at Techmeme »
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Najat Kantouar / Wall Street Journal:
Axel Springer wants to double its value by 2030 through AI, long-term relationships with readers, and reducing reliance on search engines and social media — The company intends to reduce its reliance on search engines and social media — Axel Springer said it plans to double …
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis.bsky.social and Reuters
Melissa Korn / Wall Street Journal:
News Corp extends CEO Robert Thomson's contract through June 2030, as it faces AI headwinds; Thomson joined in 2013 and his previous deal ran through June 2027 — Thomson has pursued digital growth and focused the company on core areas of news, book publishing and digital real estate
Sahil Patel / The Information:
Sources: Google reduces its Google TV and Android TV budget by 10% and cuts Android TV and Google TV's ~300 employees by up to 25%, as it focuses on YouTube — Google has cut its smart TV budget and trimmed its team—marking the most concrete signs yet of the company's waning interest competing …
Matt Smith / Press Gazette:
Politics Joe puts its video podcasts behind a Patreon paywall, citing YouTube's revenue model limitations, and has 400+ subscribers five days after launch — Five days after launch brand attracts 400 paying subscribers on Patreon. — Politics Joe has put its video podcasts behind a paywall …
Meera Pattni / Semafor:
Semafor appoints Andrew Friedman as General Manager and Head of Public Affairs; he joins Semafor from Google, where he served on the US Elections team — Semafor today announced the appointment of Andrew Friedman as General Manager and Head of Public Affairs, as the global news platform accelerates …
Discussion:
@davelee.me
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Will Payne, The Sun's director of digital (editorial), is leaving after almost 11 years to become deputy editor-in-chief of News Corp's New York Post Group — Will Payne, The Sun's director of digital (editorial), is leaving after almost 11 years to join fellow News Corp title the New York Post.
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
The UK reveals its long-awaited Creative Industries Sector Plan, including asking the CMA and Ofcom to review how broadcaster consolidation can benefit viewers — The UK government wants to make it easier for legacy broadcasters to consolidate and partner up.
Discussion:
The Media Leader, Broadband TV News, Marketing Week, Design Week, Prolific North, GOV.UK, Kidscreen, IQ Magazine, Televisual, C21Media, The Ivors Academy, Royal Shakespeare Company, UK Government, TVBEurope, TVNewsCheck, Billboard, Digital Music News, Telegraph, CampaignUK and Realscreen
Matt Grobar / Deadline:
Punchup Live, a ticketing and analytics platform for stand-up comedians, raised a $2.3M seed led by Social Leverage, and plans to expand into more live events — Led by Social Leverage, the round saw participation from all major existing investors including Hustlefund and Evil Twin Capital.
Discussion:
Danny Frenkel on LinkedIn
Pamela McClintock / The Hollywood Reporter:
AMC Theatres, facing financial pressure, reverses course and joins its rivals in adding regular ads to its pre-movie lineup, in a worrying trend for studios — Industry leader AMC Theatres is reversing course and joining its rivals on July 1 in adding regular ads to its pre-movie lineup in a worrisome trend for studios.
Discussion:
@kennysmith.bsky.social and @stinasdemons.com
Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney names Jilly Pearce as head of unscripted programming for ABC and Hulu; Pearce was previously the president of Objective Media Group America — The executive was most recently president of Objective Media Group America. — Disney is filling a key executive post in its unscripted division.
Discussion:
Deadline
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Filing: CBS calls Trump's 60 Minutes lawsuit against the network “meritless” and an attempt to “evade bedrock First Amendment principles” — As settlement talks continue between the legal teams of Paramount Global and Donald Trump, CBS once again characterized …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, @tdogmedia.bsky.social and TVNewsCheck
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