Top News:
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Source: the FBI investigated NYT reporter Elizabeth Williamson after she wrote about Kash Patel's use of FBI staff for his girlfriend's security — The bureau said it is not pursuing a case, but the scrutiny is an example of the Trump administration weighing whether to criminalize routine news gathering.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Poynter, Joe.My.God., New York Sun, @asfleischman, @evanrobertsondc.bsky.social, Raw Story, @dfriedman33, @senschumer, @nytmike, @serendipityinfl.bsky.social, @wessaidwords.bsky.social, The Independent, @scanlon.house.gov, @jamessurowiecki, @aaronblake, @sarahlongwell25, @annmlipton.bsky.social, @samstein, @_williamsonben, @_ericaknight, @housejudiciary, @therickwilson, @juliannemcshane.bsky.social, @davidfolkenflik, @freedomofpress, @cdarwin@c.im, @markszaidesq, GV Wire, @repmgs, @tedlieu, @willatfire, @fritschner, @demsocialistguy.bsky.social, @jamessurowiecki, @_williamsonben, @joelpollak, @aaronterr1, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @jeremymbarr, @markharris.bsky.social, @skinnerpm, @furkangozukara, @nytimes, Charleston Daily Mail, @jimstewartson, @kylegriffin1, @furkangozukara, @markfollman.bsky.social, @marypcbuk.bsky.social, @girlsreallyrule.bsky.social, The Wrap, @joshsternberg.com, @doncochraneyow.bsky.social, Raw Story, @freedom.press, @froomkin.bsky.social, @willsommer.bsky.social, @qjurecic.bsky.social, @newsguy.bsky.social, Political Wire, Mediaite, CNN, New Republic and The Indian Express
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
The FCC launches a review of TV Parental Guidelines, citing concerns that “gender identity issues are being included or promoted in children's programs” — The regulator is seeking public comment to ensure the ratings system is “empowering parents to make informed decisions for their children”
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Comcast: Q1 media revenue, which includes NBCU, rose 61% YoY to $7.28B due to the Olympics and the Super Bowl, and domestic ad revenue rose 135% YoY to $3.45B — What kind of business tightrope are media companies walking in 2026? Comcast generated an extra $2.2 billion due …
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Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:
Comcast reports Peacock's Q1 revenue rose 71% YoY to $2.1B, the quarterly loss rose to $432M from $215M a year prior, and subscribers increased 12% YoY to 46M — Comcast topped Wall Street's revenue and earnings estimates for the first quarter on Thursday, lifted by NBC's sports slate …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Reuters, Bloomberg, Deadline and Barron's Online
Brian Stelter / CNN:
WBD shareholders vote early Thursday on the Paramount deal, likely to be OK'ed; David Ellison will be in DC later for Paramount's event honoring the White House — Paramount's blockbuster acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company, is poised to clear a pivotal hurdle later this week.
Discussion:
Variety, HuffPost, Deadline, Associated Press, @brianstelter.bsky.social and The Hollywood Reporter
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Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:
Filing: the NFL met with the FCC on Friday to defend the league's media rights strategy and said 87% of games are primarily aired for free on broadcast TV — League defends media-rights dealings as federal regulators investigate migration to streaming — As federal regulators scrutinize …
Joanna Stern / The New Things:
Joanna Stern, who has worked at WSJ, ABC, The Verge, and Engadget, launches New Things, her independent tech newsletter and YouTube channel — When I was cleaning out my attic a few weeks ago to make room for my new home video studio, I found a box. — Inside: an iPod with a click wheel.
Discussion:
@mreflow, @krynsky, @joannastern, @ernie.tedium.co, @ernie.tedium.co, @ernie.tedium.co, @manton.org, Pixel Envy and @joannastern@threads.com
On Substack:
Substack adds translation tools, and says ~100K publishers earn on the platform, including ~30K outside the US; European creators earn $90M+/year collectively — Who changed your life today? Who stretched your way of seeing the universe? Who challenged you to think deeper about the culture around you …
Discussion:
Mark Swierszcz on LinkedIn, @jtes, @nbaschez, @hamishmckenzie and @simonowens
Dominic Patten / Deadline:
A NY state judge throws out Sean “Diddy” Combs' defamation suit against NBCUniversal for airing a documentary, Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, in January 2025 — In fact, Empire State Supreme Court judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond didn't just dismiss the action filed on February 25 …
Discussion:
The Blast, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Baller Alert, Rolling Out, Billboard, Forbes and r/Fauxmoi
Michael Schneider / Variety:
Q&A with Katie Couric about her media company, the state of broadcast news, why “both sides” reporting will fail, media companies' “capitulation” to Trump, more — As her independent Katie Couric Media expands, the former “CBS Evening News” and “Today” …
Discussion:
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, HuffPost and Rolling Stone
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Amazon Music partners with Bandsintown to display live concert listings and “buy ticket” buttons on artists' profile pages in its iOS and Android apps — Amazon Music said today that it is partnering with live event listing platform Bandsintown to bring concert listings to its music streaming service.
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Windows Central, Music Business Worldwide, Hypebot and Music Ally
Amy Thomson / Bloomberg:
Filing: Netflix plans a $25B share buyback, adding to a Dec. 2024 program that still has $6.8B for purchases; NFLX is down 13% since its Q1 earnings on April 16 — Netflix Inc. announced plans to buy back $25 billion in stock after the company's shares dropped following a weak financial outlook.
