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, KHOU-TV, RedState, Associated Press, Bloomberg, The Daily Signal, Awful Announcing, CNBC, NBC News, The Hill, The Wrap, Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, The US Sun, Barron's Online, Deadline, The Athletic, Sports Business Journal, Forbes, Fox News, New York Post, NewsMax.com, @moreperfectunion.bsky.social, MacTech.com, @peark.es, Barrett Media, One America News Network, Insurance Journal, @ericstangel, @senmikelee, @jtoonkel, Front Office Sports, Newser, The Gateway Pundit, 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, Page Six, The Wrap, Variety, @jbflint, The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Skydance Corporation, Mediaweek, CNBC, The Boston Globe, Vanity Fair, MediaPost, New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, Screen, Axios, Sportico, Los Angeles Times, 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.
Ben Thompson / Stratechery:
Q&A with NYT CEO Meredith Kopit Levien on games, The Athletic, bundling, advertising, aggregators, being a “destination site”, AI, the OpenAI lawsuit, and more — This week's Stratechery Interview is with New York Times Company CEO Meredith Kopit Levien.
Discussion:
@thestalwart, @talmonsmith, @max_spero_, @bendreyfuss, @nic_carter, @thestalwart, @bendreyfuss, @thestalwart and @jhweissmann
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.
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.
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, ZeroHedge News, Washington Times, Joe Flint on LinkedIn, Breitbart, UPI, Proactive, CNBC, New York Post, Marissa Green on LinkedIn, Newsweek, BMI, The Daily Wire, Fast Company, Barron's Online, Cord Cutters News, @dannymanus, Business Today, Benzinga, @themeparkdirk, Inc.com, @tvgrimreaper, @benfritz, Quartz, @scottgustin, Inside the Magic, The American Bazaar, Watcher Guru, Media Play News, Variety, Deadline, 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
