G/O Media Lays Off 14 Employees During ‘Uncertain Times’
Adweek: G/O Media has laid off 14 people — less than 5% of its staff — in a "small restructuring." The decision was made "with the intention to insulate as much as possible the site-specific editorial teams," said Jim Spanfeller, CEO of G/O...
Disney to Furlough Workers as Pandemic Strikes Business
Los Angeles Times: Disney said it would begin to furlough employees "whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time" amid widespread business closures, in the latest sign of the harsh economic fallout from global coronavirus crisis. Be a real Media Star — help support this...
Fox Corp CEO Receives Plea to Stop Virus Misinformation
Forbes: A collective of 74 media experts wrote a letter to Fox execs Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan lambasting Fox News coverage of the coronavirus pandemic: "Viewers of Fox News have been regularly subjected to misinformation." Be a real Media Star — help support...
Comcast’s NBC, Sky Delay Launch of World News Service
Variety: NBC Sky World News, the ambitious news service aimed at English-speaking audiences around the world that was expected to launch this summer, is on hold. NBCUniversal and Sky have decided to delay the launch due to the pandemic. Be a real Media Star — help...
Sony Unveils $100 Million Coronavirus Global Relief Fund
IGN: Sony is launching a $100 million global relief fund to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sony said it is also looking at ways in which it can use its expertise in technology to support the loss of education opportunities around the globe. Be a real...
Google Pledges $6.5 Million to Fight Misinformation Online
CNET: Google said it plans to donate $6.5 million to fighting misinformation online. The funds, which will go to fact-checkers and to nonprofits fighting misinformation, will have a primary focus on responding to the coronavirus crisis. Be a real Media Star — help...
Apple to Join Jobs in $12 Million Fund to Help the Hungry
TechCrunch: Apple has made a donation to a new fundraising campaign, America's Food Fund, along with Laurene Powell Jobs, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Ford Foundation. Together, they’ve contributed $12 million toward the $15 million goal. Be a real Media Star — help...
Disney Former ESPN Chief Recovering After Coronavirus
Sports Business Daily: DAZN boss John Skipper tested positive for Covid-19 on March 16 and spent the past two weeks recovering in his New York apartment. Skipper is said to be on the mend and back at work, albeit remotely from his apartment. Be a real Media Star —...
Fox Corp Taps Facebook Portal for Coronovirus Town Hall
The Verge: Facebook and Fox News hosted a virtual town hall about the coronavirus pandemic using Facebook's Portal video-calling devices. Facebook shipped a Portal Plus device to every audience member so they could attend the town hall. Be a real Media Star — help...
AT&T’s WarnerMedia to Offer Select HBO TV, Films for Free
CNBC: HBO will offer a bunch of TV shows and movies for free beginning Friday. Customers will be able to access them on any HBO Now and HBO Go platforms, which include iPhones, Android devices, smart TVs and streaming boxes. Be a real Media Star — help support this...
Amazon to Stream Canceled SXSW Film Fest Titles for Free
Associated Press: The SXSW Film Festival is moving online after having its 27th edition canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. SXSW announced that it's partnering with Amazon Prime Video to stream as much of its movie line-up as possible. Be a real Media Star — help...
Netflix Leads on Installs, But YouTube Kids Wins in Hours
Reuters: Netflix led rivals YouTube, Amazon Prime and Disney+ with over 59 million installs in the first quarter of 2020, but more time was spent on YouTube’s Kids service as usage boomed following the shutdown of thousands of schools in March. Be a real Media Star —...
Quibi CEO Uncertain as Streamer Plans Launch on Monday
MarketWatch: Quibi, the mobile streaming service that has raised a staggering $1.75 billion, debuts Monday in the most unpredictable of circumstances. “Honestly, we don’t know what to expect,” says CEO Meg Whitman. Be a real Media Star — help support this...
Google to Allow Coronavirus-Related Ads Amid Pushback
Axios: Google will begin to allow some advertisers to run ads across its platforms that address the coronavirus. Democrats have argued that in banning attack ads targeting President Trump, Google was shielding his campaign in a critical election year. Be a real Media...
Snap Reports Boost in Usage, Ad Engagement Amid Crisis
The Drum: With more folks staying in-doors, Snap is getting a well-needed boost in usage from Covid-19, resulting in increased engagement on its ads. Snap has seen a spike in video and voice calling usage, which is up 50% during late March. Be a real Media Star — help...
Social-Media Influencers Suffer as Revenue Streams Dry Up
Bloomberg: As social distancing crushes retail, dining and travel — the holy trinity of influencing — top social media profiles that can charge $10,000 or more per post have seen customary revenue streams drop drastically, even to zero. Be a real Media Star — help...
Conde Nast Lifts Paywalls as Covid-19 Keeps People Home
MediaPost: Conde Nast has undertaken a global effort to reach online audiences as the coronavirus pandemic keeps billions of people stuck at home, looking for news and entertainment. The publishing giant's efforts include free access to its websites. Be a real Media...
Hearst Pivots Live Event in Britain to Internet Within Days
What's New in Publishing: Women's Health Live 2020 has been creatively reimagined for the digital space. The UK's biggest health and wellbeing festival will be live-streamed via a new community Facebook page directly to people's living rooms. Be a real Media Star —...
Penske Plots New Sports Business Media Brand Sportico
WWD: Penske Media is branching out into sports. The publisher of WWD, Variety and Rolling Stone is launching Sportico, a digital content platform providing sports industry news, data and live media. Dick Glover has been named CEO of the new venture. Be a real Media...
FiscalNote Lays Off Dozens at DC Publication CQ Roll Call
Adweek: FiscalNote, a Washington, D.C.-based tech firm, has laid off 30 staffers at CQ Roll Call, a news organization that has long been a staple of reporting in the nation's capital. The layoffs came mostly from the editorial department. Be a real Media Star — help...
Survey: Do Print Newspapers, Magazines Spread Covid-19?
Forbes: Some 70% of respondents to a recent study by content experience platform BlueToad have reported concerns about their safety due to reading a physical print magazine, journal or newspaper during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Be a real Media Star — help...
Report: US News Industry Pleads for Relief as Layoffs Grow
AFP: The ailing news industry, struggling during a pandemic-induced economic slump, is pressing for new government relief as media outlets scramble to keep covering the health crisis. News outlets have begun layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts. Be a real Media Star — help...
Apple’s Amazon Deal to Let Users Rent Films on iPhones
CNBC: The Amazon Prime Video app on iPhone and Apple TV now allows users to rent and purchase movies inside the app using a credit card on file with Amazon. It’s a big change. Amazon had previously declined to offer in-app purchases in its iOS apps. Be a real Media...
Google’s YouTube Plans Debut of ‘Shorts’ to Rival TikTok
The Information: YouTube is said to be planning to release a rival to TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing app, by the end of the year. YouTube is currently planning Shorts, its answer to TikTok, as a feature inside its existing mobile app. Be a real Media Star —...
AT&T’s New WarnerMedia CEO Hints of Streaming Future
Variety: By tapping Jason Kilar — the co-founder of Hulu and an Amazon veteran — to be its new CEO, AT&T-owned WarnerMedia is sending a signal that its future will be streamed. In a conversation after the announcement, Kilar says as much. Be a real Media Star —...
Fox Corp Board Mum on News Channel’s Virus Coverage
Hollywood Reporter: Fox News Channel is facing questions about its coverage of the coronavirus, which hosts like Sean Hannity initially downplayed as a cudgel to "bludgeon" President Trump politically. But Fox Corp. board members don't have much to say. Be a real...
Comcast Pledges $500 Million to Help Staffers Amid Crisis
Philadelphia Inquirer: Comcast committed $500 million to support its workers during the coronavirus crisis, and the company's top executives, including CEO Brian Roberts, will donate their salaries to charities supporting Covid-19 relief efforts. Be a real Media Star...
Google, Facebook Offer Weeks of Paid Time Off for Parents
Los Angeles Times: Millions of parents are stuck juggling the twin demands of working a full schedule from home while keeping stir-crazy kids occupied, day after day. But for the ones who work at Facebook and Google, a measure of relief has arrived. Be a real Media...
Verizon’s Former AOL CEO Predicts Devastating Ad Slump
The Information: Former AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, a veteran digital ad executive, predicts the coronavirus will devastate ad spending more severely than either the 2008 financial crisis or the recession that followed Sept. 11. Be a real Media Star — help support this...
Quibi Expands 90-Day Free Trial Ahead of Monday Launch
CNET: Quibi, a star-studded mobile streaming service for short-form video, has pushed back its deadline to qualify for a 90-day free trial. Launching Monday in the US and Canada, Quibi will offer the free trial to anyone who signs up through the end of April. Be a...