Disney Lands Investment on Big Bet for Future in Streaming
CNBC: Longtime activist investor Daniel Loeb revealed that he opened a new position in Disney during the second quarter based in part on the media giant's decision to enter the streaming market. Loeb said there isn't a close No. 2 rival for Disney in terms of quality...
ViacomCBS Preps Global Streaming Service Rollout in 2021
World Screen: ViacomCBS will launch an SVOD service internationally beginning in early 2021 delivering content from all of its brands. The new platform will begin its rollout delivering exclusive premieres of all-new Showtime series, as well as CBS All Access...
Fox Corp Extends Staffers Working Remotely to End of 2020
Fox News: Rising coronavirus cases have postponed Fox Corp.'s plan for a return to offices this fall, says CEO Lachlan Murdoch. For employees who have been reporting to their offices, "we will soon be introducing additional screenings and processes designed to keep...
AT&T’s WarnerMedia Eyes Pandemic Safety with TV Shows
MediaVillage: As social distancing and self-isolation continue to prove challenging to content providers creating programing, WarnerMedia is tackling the subject head-on with two new shows, "Coastal Elites" and "Selena + Chef," both produced under strict pandemic...
Comcast’s NBC Overhaul Brings Exit of Entertainment Chief
NBC News: Paul Telegdy, the chairman of NBC Entertainment, who has been under an internal investigation for allegations of professional misconduct, will leave the company amid a broader restructuring of the conglomerate's television and streaming...
Sinclair: We’re Making Money from Canceled Sports Events
Bloomberg: Sinclair, the biggest owner of regional sports networks in the US, touted an unusual achievement this week: making money from canceled games. The broadcaster stands to collect more in rebates from team owners for scrubbed events than it will return to its...
ByteDance’s TikTok Hit with Trump Ban of US Transactions
USA Today: President Trump signed an executive order late Thursday to block all US transactions with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance, the latest move by the administration to force the video-sharing app to sever its ties to Beijing. The order is likely to face legal...
Quibi Tests Free Quick-Bite Videos in Australia, New Zealand
Wall Street Journal: Quibi is testing a free version in Australia and New Zealand as the fledgling short-form video streaming service seeks to expand and add subscribers. Quibi, founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg, is one of the best-capitalized entertainment startups in...
Facebook to Let Employees Work from Home Until July 2021
Reuters: Facebook will allow employees to work from home until July 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak and will give them $1,000 for home office needs. The social media giant joins other big technology firms that have taken similar steps...
Twitter to Begin Labeling Accounts of State-Controlled News
BBC News: Twitter says it will no longer "amplify" tweets by state-controlled media organizations, by excluding them from its recommendation systems. The move makes affected accounts less likely to appear in search results, notifications and on a user's...
Gannett to Make Cost Cuts Permanent as Covid Takes a Toll
USA Today: Gannett CEO Michael Reed says temporary cost cuts will be phased out after the third quarter and the company will be "replacing them with permanent cost reductions" due to the slumping economy. Following the merger with GateHouse Media, Gannett continues to...
News Corp’s Streamlining Includes Possible Sale of Storyful
Wall Street Journal: News Corp. has considered strategic alternatives for its Storyful unit, including a possible sale, as part of broader efforts to streamline the company. Dublin-based Storyful helps news organizations track breaking-news events and...
Conde Nast Faces Big Battle in Effort to Leave Headquarters
New York Post: Conde Nast's lease at One World Trade Center runs until 2039. The skyscraper's landlords been stung by coronavirus-related revenue losses and can't afford to give away the store. "They're going to dig in like hell. They gave Conde Nast the moon to move...
Hearst Dodges Politician’s Lawsuit Over Story from Esquire
Law and Crime: A federal judge in Iowa has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) against Hearst and journalist Ryan Lizza. The case revolved around a 2018 article published in Esquire magazine entitled "Milking the...
Conde Nast Names Bon Appétit Boss as Video Staffers Exit
WWD: Did Conde Nast rush to unveil Sonia Chopra as executive editor of Bon Appétit after three journalists of color announced they were leaving following failed contract negotiations? Conde announced that Chopra will lead editorial content across Bon Appétit,...
Mansueto Mag Publishes Prince’s Plea for ‘Digital Remake’
People: Fast Company published an essay by Prince Harry on the pitfalls of social media, calling for a "remake the digital world." Harry urged businesses to move beyond statements disavowing "hate and racism" and to put their ad dollars into action. "This is just the...
Bloomberg Veteran Emerges as Digital Media Entrepreneur
Talking Biz News: "I was able to bootstrap my digital media firm, C-Change Media, on Aug. 9 of 2010, after spending six months preparing for the launch of our first website, Poets & Quants," writes former Businessweek top editor John Byrne. "Four other websites...
Lookout Local Debuts from Analyst to Serve ‘News Deserts’
New York Times: Ken Doctor has helped news industry execs for years as a media analyst. Now he plans to compete against a hedge-fund-owned newspaper with his own news start-up, Lookout Local. Its flagship site, Lookout Santa Cruz, will cover the California county...
Discovery to Launch Streaming Service as Profits Plummet
New York Post: Discovery plans to launch a new, subscription-based streaming service that will focus heavily on non-fiction and unscripted shows, says CEO David Zaslav. The CEO, however, is light on details as to how the service will stand out from a sea of current...
Comcast Shelves Launch of NBC-Sky Global News Channel
Financial Times: Comcast is proposing to shelve ambitious plans for a new international news channel to rival CNN, after the coronavirus blew apart the financial case for uniting its NBC and Sky brands for the first time. The business model "has become...
ViacomCBS to Grow ‘South Park’ Franchise in New Strategy
CNBC: ViacomCBS's newly appointed senior VP of adult animation already has a task: Build out the "South Park" franchise with Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The company's animation strategy is to dust off old brands and make them relevant for a new audience....
Comcast Rolls Out Layoffs Across Operations of NBC News
New York Post: NBC News will lay off a slew of staff as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Just under 3 percent of the workforce at the news division is being axed. Variety: Three E! entertainment news shows — "E! News," "Pop of the Morning" and "In the Room" — have...
AT&T’s WarnerMedia Hires Interns to Boost Cred on TikTok
@jasonkilar: "We hired some awesome interns to raise our TikTok game," says WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, in a tweet posted Wednesday. "Looking forward to more of this kind of storytelling...
Netflix Plans Film of Podcast ’36 Questions’ with Chernin
Deadline: Netflix plans to adapt the podcast "36 Questions" into a feature film. Chernin Entertainment and Automatik are producing in association with Endeavor Content. The film will be a romantic drama set in the music world. "36 Questions" was the first breakout...
Amazon’s Twitch Helps Debut of New Esports TV Network
CNBC: VENN is launching as a new free-to-view TV network with original shows that focus on video games and esports. It hopes to capitalize on the huge swell in demand for gaming and streaming services due to Covid lockdowns. "We have rethought the television business...
Facebook Launches Instagram Reels as Copycat of TikTok
Associated Press: Facebook's Instagram is officially launching its answer to the hit short video app TikTok — Instagram Reels. The new Instagram feature will let users record and edit 15-second videos with audio, and will let users add visual effects. Users will be...
Twitter, Facebook Remove Trump Post of Fox News Video
USA Today: Facebook took down a post from President Trump's personal page of a Fox News interview in which he said that children are "almost immune" from Covid-19. It was the first time Facebook has removed a post by the president. Twitter also took action late...
Apple Music to Introduce Radio Show Featuring Lady Gaga
Pitchfork: Lady Gaga is getting a new radio show on Apple Music. The first episode of Gaga Radio will be this Friday at 2 p.m. ET. The show will continue weekly throughout August. "I'm super thrilled to have this show and this opportunity to play an incredible mix of...
Oprah Gets Slammed on Social Media Over ‘White Privilege’
New York Post: Twitter critics have a billion-dollar bone to pick with Oprah Winfrey. The 66-year-old media mogul has been labeled a hypocritical "fraud" following the latest installment of her Apple TV+ series. "Whiteness gives you an advantage," she said. White...
Publicis Parts with Staffer Following Tweets on Coronavirus
Ad Age: Tom Goodwin, head of futures and insight for Publicis Groupe, is leaving the agency holding company after posting tweets criticizing "the obsession with Covid deaths over all other deaths" as "entirely gruesome." Publicis says the tweets "do not meet the...