Bustle Digital to Eye Acquisitions of Lifestyle Brands
WWD: "We're really going to be building up our health and wellness content across brands," said Bustle Digital Group content boss Emma Rosenblum, "as well as tapping a bit more into food and the culinary world. Our goal is to add more lifestyle brands to the portfolio...
Group Nine Among Digital Media with Urge to Merge
New York Post: Digital-media companies that survived the pandemic are now rushing to join forces as they scramble to battle the tech giants for ad dollars. Enter Group Nine Media, whose websites include Thrillist, TheDodo, NowThis, Seeker and PopSugar, and which is...
Apple Plots Launch of Podcast Subscription Service
The Information: Apple is said to be discussing launching a new subscription service that would charge people to listen to podcasts. Such a service could pose a threat to Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon and other big companies that have in the past couple of years swallowed...
Google, Facebook Pull US Into Fight Over News Pay
France24: The United States has urged Australia to abandon its plan to force Google and Facebook to pay media outlets for their news content, saying there could be "long-lasting negative consequences" for consumers and companies. CNBC: Google has disputed claims from...
Amazon CEO Regains Title as World’s Richest Person
Forbes: Jeff Bezos ended a bumper car week against Elon Musk by once again becoming the world’s richest person, with an estimated net worth of $181.5 billion (despite his fortune falling $1.4 billion on Friday). The two men traded places nearly every day this past...
Netflix Races to Keep Steamy Videos Off Adult Sites
Sun: Netflix is battling to keep racy scenes from the hit drama "Bridgerton" off adult content websites. The streaming service is at war with adult domains after steamy clips appeared featuring actors Brits Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page. The pirated scenes from...
AT&T Nabs New Streaming Subscribers at HBO Max
Broadcasting & Cable: AT&T's HBO Max, which got off to a sputtering start, drew the largest share of new streaming subscribers in the fourth quarter, according to Kantar's Entertainment on Demand Service. Kantar estimates that the number of SVOD subscriptions...
Fox Corp’s Murdoch to Take Role at News Channel
Daily Beast: Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and president Jay Wallace are fighting for their jobs as their boss Rupert Murdoch has swooped in to take a more hands-on role at the network in recent days. New York Times: Why did Fox News insist an agreement with the family...
Lupa’s Murdoch Slams US Media for Misinformation
Financial Times: James Murdoch has castigated the US media for the "toxic politics" threatening American democracy, saying proprietors are as culpable as politicians who "know the truth but choose instead to propagate lies." The remarks by Rupert Murdoch's youngest...
Sinclair Debuts ‘National Desk’ Morning Newscast
Broadcasting & Cable: Sinclair Broadcast Group launched its new weekday morning news show "The National Desk" on Monday. The newscast airs on 68 Sinclair station and streams on Sinclair's Stirr streaming platform. Jan Jeffcoat will anchor "The National Desk,"...
News Corp Names Experience Officer at Dow Jones
Talking Biz News: Daniel Bernard has been named experience officer for Dow Jones. In this newly created role, Daniel will oversee the product, user experience and technology functions across the company's businesses. He and the team will be responsible for shaping the...
New York Times Daily Podcast Host Issues Apology
WWD: The star host of The New York Times podcast "The Daily" is attempting a mea culpa in the wake of some negative press. Michael Barbaro, host of the Times’ most popular podcast, which ranks consistently on lists of the country’s most downloaded and listened to...
Newsday Lays Off Staffers as Ads Drop During Crisis
Talking Biz News: Newsday Media Group is laying off employees as the pandemic accelerates a decline in advertising. The number of staff members being made redundant has not been disclosed. Publisher Debby Krenek said the layoffs will only impact non-newsroom...
Conde Nast Releases Shocking Video of Capitol Riot
USA Today: Chilling video captured by a New Yorker reporter circulating online shows a complicated mix of preparation and spontaneous violence during a riot at the US Capitol. "We decided that the footage in question had unique historical value that the American...
Bauer Magazines Return to Life Under New Owners
Guardian: Less than a year later, not only have Bauer magazines in New Zealand been brought back to life under new ownership, but also new titles have been launched – reflecting a flurry of investment and innovation in media precipitated by the pandemic. "People...
Atlantic Expands Column on Happiness Into Events
Adweek: The Atlantic's "How to Build a Life" column by author Arthur Brooks, launched in April 2020, is going from biweekly to weekly on Jan. 21 after audiences craved more ways to build resilience and happiness. In May, the magazine will host an event based on...
Politico Boosts Ad Rates Amid Revamp of Playbook
Vanity Fair: Playbook's advertising rates have more than doubled over the past year, now commanding $300,000 a week on average. With its influential list of some 300,000 readers, the franchise generated at least $10 million in 2020 and will be an even higher...
Axios Promises to (Mostly) Shun Paywalls, Opinions
Axios: Axios said it aims to broaden its mission to help restore trust in fact-based news with an "audience bill of rights." "Every item will be written or produced to inform, analyze and explain. We will never have an opinion section. We will be transparent about how...
BuzzFeed Former Staffer is Arrested in Capitol Riot
Reuters: Far-right media personality Tim Gionet, who goes by the handle “Baked Alaska,” was arrested on Friday by the FBI in Houston, Texas, and charged with participating in the violent riot on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6. Gionet, 33, launched his career at BuzzFeed in...
Craigslist Fills Airbnb Void for Inauguration Rentals
TMZ: Airbnb is blocking and canceling reservations in the Washington, DC area for Inauguration Day, but supporters and protesters looking for a crash pad have a plan B. They're flocking to Craigslist. The online classifieds site is fast becoming the place to go for...
Apple Plans Streaming Projects on Napoleon, Oprah
Deadline: Apple Studios will produce a new epic film directed by Ridley Scott about Napoleon Bonaparte, with Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. Deadline: Oprah Winfrey is getting the biographical documentary treatment after Apple TV+ ordered a two-parter focusing on...
Google Under Fire for Test Blocking News Websites
Sydney Morning Herald: Google has been intermittently blocking some news sites in Australia from search users. The move comes in the middle of a battle between the Australian government and the tech giants over plans to force Google and Facebook to pay news publishers...
Facebook to Nab YouTube Superstar for New Videos
Forbes: YouTube creator PewDiePie, who has a massive 107 million subscribers, is now coming to Facebook. "It's a huge deal ... he's the biggest YouTube creator." While PewDiePie is coming to Facebook, he's not leaving YouTube. And his videos will continue to make...
Disney Enters New Era with Marvel Streaming Series
CNBC: "WandaVision," Marvel's first scripted series for Disney+, arrives on Friday, kicking off a stacked slate of interconnected superhero content. In total, Marvel has 10 Disney+ shows planned over the next few years. These shows are tied directly into the content...
Comcast’s Universal Says Expect More Movie Delays
Bloomberg: Many of the films slated for theatrical release in the first half of the year will likely be delayed again, according to Universal Filmed Entertainment chairman Donna Langley. And disruptions are likely to continue in some form through at least the...
Fox Corp’s Murdoch Plans a Return to New York City
@benyt: "The UK media newsletter @popbitch reports: 'Now he's had his second dose of the vaccine in the UK, Rupert Murdoch is preparing to make his way to NYC to oversee the difficult post-Trump positioning for Fox News. Should be...
AT&T’s WarnerMedia Faces Complaint on Child Care
New York Post: Turner Sports host Casey Stern claims he was sidelined at work as he dealt with saving his kids from alleged abuse and because he asked for accommodations during the pandemic, a new discrimination charge alleges. Stern has worked for Turner Sports and...
Disney OKs Digital Rights to Departing Host at ESPN
Sportico: As part of his severance from ESPN, Dan Le Batard negotiated for the RSS feed to his podcast. By retaining it, Le Batard was able to maintain his loyal — and sizeable — audience. He has also kept the 23,000-plus reviews that give his podcast a valuable...
Snap Names New Content Head in Battle with TikTok
The Information: Snap has promoted executive Ben Schwerin to be its new senior vice president of content and partnerships, a move that signals the company's ambitions to compete more aggressively with TikTok and to cut more deals with media companies and app...
Gannett CEO Targets 10 Million Digital Subscriptions
USA Today: USA Today owner Gannett is aiming for 10 million paid digital subscriptions within five years, said CEO Mike Reed. The company surpassed the 1 million mark in the third quarter of 2020, marking a 31% increase from the same period in 2019. Online...