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Friday, 5/17/13  
Recent Headlines Media news by sector GO TO: MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS TELEVISION & RADIO INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA ADVERTISING & MARKETING MEDIA COMPANIES MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS News Corp Publishing Spin-Off Names Executive VP Broadcasting & Cable Antoinette Cook Bush has been named EVP and global head of government affairs for the new News Corp., the publishing portion of News Corp. following its bifurcation into two independent companies. She will report to Robert Thomson, CEO of the new News Corp. Tribune Newspapers Said to Lure 40 Possible Suitors Chicago Tribune Seeking to reduce the "noise" over the possible sale of its newspapers, Tribune CEO Peter Liguori has sent an email to employees calling speculation about a transaction premature. "A sale transaction is only one of our possible strategic options, and there are many others." McClatchy Digital Subscription Program Sees Results Sacramento Business The digital subscription initiative that McClatchy rolled out last year is exceeding expectations, CEO Pat Talamantes told shareholders at the company's annual meeting. "The Plus Program is on pace to generate approximately $25 million in new revenues this year." Washington Post Legend Carl Bernstein Is Hacked TheSmokingSun Add Carl Bernstein to the growing list of "Guccifer" victims. The Watergate sleuth's e-mail account was breached by the hacker now being sought by federal investigators in connection with a spree of prior online incursions that have targeted a wide array of public figures. Time Inc Pairs Content Sponsorships with Social Ads Digiday Advertisers are pouring money into social, so publishers are getting creative to offer "social" ads. Time Inc. is including sponsorship messages in social ads that drive users back to the company's content sponsored by a brand. Time bills the effort as an ad unit of its own. Hearst: Seventeen Publisher to Also Run Redbook Adweek Mary Morgan, VP, publisher and chief revenue officer of Hearst's Redbook, is packing up after spending a decade at the women's service title. Replacing her is Seventeen's Jayne Jamison, who is taking on the new title of VP, publishing director of Seventeen and Redbook. Us Weekly, Celebrity Titles Bested by Angelina Jolie Daily News Angelina Jolie, who revealed in a New York Times op-ed that she chose to undergo a double mastectomy, is said to have planned her announcement meticulously. The actress released her story Tuesday, causing In Touch, Life & Style, OK and Us Weekly to miss a big scoop. Wired Joins Conde Siblings with Video Series Debut USA Today Wired the magazine is expanding into Wired the channel. The techno-trend title, launched 20 years ago, has three new series going live on Wired's channel and on YouTube. In recent months, Conde Nast has launched video series connected to Glamour, GQ and Vogue. The New Yorker Launches Anonymous E-Tip Box AllThingsD The New Yorker aims to help journalists, and their sources, cover their tracks by rolling out an electronic tip box the magazine said will give tipsters the ability to cloak their identity. The open-source software behind the box was created by the late web activist Aaron Swartz. Newsweek.com Plans to Introduce Metered Paywall Advertising Age Newsweek shut down its U.S. print edition at the end of the year, surviving as a tablet edition called Newsweek Global and a section of the Daily Beast website. Newsweek.com plans to eventually introduce a metered paywall, in which frequent users will be asked to subscribe. Hearst: Digital Magazine Economics Superior to Print Folio Chris Wilkes, Hearst magazines VP of digital editions: "There's a pretty good climb for a business that's growing in importance for us. It's a new revenue stream, it's a premium revenue stream, we do far less discounting in the digital magazine space, the costs are less." Meredith Buys Shuttered Parenting, Babytalk Brands New York Post Bonnier is closing Parenting and Babytalk, and selling the names and digital brands to Meredith. The move will put roughly 80 people out of work, with the layoffs split between editorial, including editor-in-chief Ana Connery, in Winter Park, Fla., and ad sales in New York. Conde Nast, Vanity Fair Editor in New Contract Talks New York Post Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, who turns 64 in July, is in the midst of negotiating a new contract, kicking the Conde Nast rumor mill into high gear as the company enters a more fiscally conservative era. Insiders have come up with a wish-list of potential replacements. Los Angeles Times: Unions Protest Potential Sale Los Angeles Times About 300 labor union members and other activists staged a demonstration to protest the potential sale of the Los Angeles Times to the politically conservative Koch brothers. Demonstrators marched outside the downtown L.A. headquarters of Oaktree Capital Management. New York Times 'Pleased' with Globe Sale Progress Boston Globe New York Times CEO Mark Thompson said he was "very pleased with the interest" expressed in the company's effort to sell the Boston Globe. In recent weeks, Times investment bank Evercore is said to have held at least six meetings with bidders and potential investors. Murdoch's Sixth Sun Journo Charged in Bribe Probe Bloomberg A News Corp. journalist has become the sixth from its Sun tabloid charged with misconduct in a public office along with a press officer for U.K. tax officials as part of a police-led probe into wrongdoing at the company. Sun political editor Clodagh Hartley is to appear in court May 29. Bloomberg 'Surveillance Culture' Said to Fuel Scandal CNBC While the snooping scandal surprised some Bloomberg employees, the idea that company might have authorized excessive surveillance did not. "The surveillance culture is really comprehensive. They've been doing this to each other for so long that they think it's normal." Associated Press Action Protested by Media Groups Politico More than 50 major media outlets have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice protesting the seizure of two months of Associated Press phone records, calling for the department to "mitigate the damage it caused." The letter also seeks an explanation for the "overreach." Forbes is Launch Partner for Google+ Mobile Service BtoB Google has unveiled Google+ mobile content recommendations, a widget that suggests additional content from a publisher's site to help engage mobile users longer. The recommendation engine also works if the reader is not using Google+. Forbes.com is the launch partner. Atlantic Media to Launch Another Digital-First Brand Adweek Six months after launching digital business site Quartz, Atlantic Media is preparing to roll out its fifth brand and second "digital-first" property. Defense One, a news and information site for the national security community, is scheduled for a launch in mid-summer. Quartz, NYU Students Exploring 'Networked Beats' Pando Daily Can the "crowd" help inform journalists and their coverage? That is the question posed by New York University professor Jay Rosen, who with Quartz's Kevin Delaney and Gideon Lichfield have presented ideas from journalism students regarding "designs for a networked beat." Lucky Magazine Offers 'Eye Candy' in Print Redesign Advertising Age Lucky, once so successful a shopping magazine that it spawned imitators from Vitals to Cargo, is now striving to get its mojo back. Amid rising digital competition and a steep decline in ad pages last year, Conde Nast has invested serious money in redesigning the print product. Vogue's Wintour Sees New Title Land on Mastheads WWD Conde-nologists at 4 Times Square have been wondering when Anna Wintour's name and new title — artistic director — would start appearing on the mastheads of the company’s magazines. It’s June for some, July for others. The disparity is attributed to production schedules. Advertising Age Owner Moving to Building Next Door Crain's New York Crain Communications, publisher of Advertising Age and other titles, will move its New York headquarters one building south, to 685 Third Avenue, next year. Though not as inexpensive as lower Manhattan, Third Avenue is considered one of the most affordable areas of midtown. Denver Post Taps CEO from San Jose Mercury News Denver Business The Denver Post has a new top exec, one plucked from its sister paper in San Jose, Calif., to fill a vacancy created when its CEO stepped aside last month. Mac Tully, publisher of the San Jose Mercury News since 2008, has been named president and CEO of the Denver Post. Murdoch British Sun Tabloid to Erect Online Paywall Reuters Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid the Sun will start charging two pounds ($3) a week for access to its website in a package with highlights of soccer matches, publisher News International announced. The paper becomes the first popular tabloid to charge for online access. Bloomberg LP Terminals to Be Replaced by Twitter? New York Post Goldman Sachs is mulling reducing its reliance on Bloomberg LP's terminals after the "snooping" scandal. Goldman is considering using encrypted Twitter accounts or creating such functions as a secure instant-messaging app. "There's a lot of disruptive technology." Associated Press Decries U.S. Move as 'Intrusion' Associated Press The U.S. Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for the Associated Press in what the news cooperative's top exec, Gary Pruitt, calls a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into how news organizations gather the news. Rodale to Open Online Specialty Store Next Week WWD Rodale will venture into retail on May 20 with its first online specialty store, called Rodale's. Chief Maria Rodale said e-commerce is key to the company's business strategy moving forward. The effort will span women's apparel, specialty foods, toys, beauty and home. Time Inc Talent Drain Continues Ahead of Spinoff Adweek More talent is leaving Time Inc. as the company prepares for its spinoff from parent Time Warner. Connie Anne Phillips has exited fashion/beauty title InStyle, where she was publisher of four years. Résumés are said to be flying amid the uncertainty around the spinoff. Conde Nast Mostly Alone at World Trade Center Site Crain's New York More than 3 million square feet of vacant office space is expected to open in 2014 at 1 World Trade Center and its neighboring tower under construction. No office lease has been made at the site since Conde Nast signed a deal to lease 1.2 million square feet two years ago. Bloomberg Reporters Admit to Terminal Snooping New York Times Bloomberg News reporters were trained to use a function on the company's financial data terminals that allowed them to view subscriber contact info and, in some cases, monitor login activity in order to advance news coverage, according to several former employees. Financial Times Joins Flipboard After iTunes Exit paidContent The Financial Times is now making its content available through Flipboard, the popular reading platform that lets users draw on their social networks to assemble content from a variety of publications or create their own magazine. The partnership will grant full access to FT subscribers. New York Times Eyes Multimedia After 'Snow Fall' Journalism.co.uk For the New York Times, the discussion today is about "how much video and multimedia is part of our future," according to John Branch, the sports reporter behind the paper's award-winning digital feature "Snow Fall." The large-scale project, he added, took six months to produce. HuffPost, Gawker: Who's Making Money on the Web? Fortune The web has given rise to a number of notable digital publishers — Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Gawker, Business Insider and more. But what about earnings? Some like The Awl have been profitable from the outset; others like Vox Media predict they will be in the black soon. Hearst Unpaid Intern Lawsuit Expected to Continue Atlantic Wire A judge has ruled that former unpaid interns at Hearst can't pursue their case as a class action, echoing recent Supreme Court cases. Nonetheless, the disgruntled former coffee-fetchers plan to continue the fight. According to their lawyer: "The case will go forward." Rodale Refugees Tout High-Profile New Projects Fishbowl NY David Zinczenko and Stephen Perrine were fired from their positions at Rodale last November. Their new venture, Galvanized Brands, has secured a book publishing deal with Random House and a collaboration to redo American Media Inc.'s Men's Fitness magazine. Meredith Exec: Data Has Ousted Content as King Audience Development Data has performed a coup and ousted content as king, according to Meredith chief digital officer Liz Schimel. "Our editors look at swarms of audience data, which drives our content creation. We are understanding both our audience sources and their behaviors." Conde Nast Britain to Shut Easy Living Magazine WWD Conde Nast will cease to publish its Easy Living magazine in Britain, citing "challenges at the newsstand." The title, which focuses on fashion, home and lifestyle, and whose readers' average age is 43, was launched in 2005. The Easy Living website will continue to operate. New York Times Preps Expansion of Video News Beet.TV The New York Times is readying a significant expansion of its video news programming, according to Rick Berke, senior editor and director of video content development. Video, he said, will become "as central" to the Times offering as text on the web and the printed paper. Daily News to Launch Digital Project Amid Layoffs Capital New York The Daily News has laid off around 20 newsroom employees, as part of a restructuring meant to increase the New York paper's digital footprint. The tabloid is creating a new web franchise called Daily News Local, which "will significantly enhance local borough reporting." New York Post Offers Buyouts to Editorial Staffers Capital New York The Daily News isn't the only New York tabloid trimming its headcount. The New York Post is offering voluntary buyouts to newsroom employees, editor-in-chief Col Allan informed the staff in a memo. The paper aims to reduce its headcount by 10% through the buyout packages. Village Voice Top Editors Resign Over Job Cuts New York Times Village Voice editor Will Bourne and deputy editor Jessica Lustig have left the weekly paper after owner Voice Media Group told them to lay off, or drastically reduce the roles of, five employees on the 20-person staff. The editors exited in the middle of closing next week's edition. >> MORE TELEVISION & RADIO CBS Master Showman Moonves on Top of the World USA Today CBS CEO Les Moonves said the television industry faces challenges as the way people watch TV changes. "The biggest challenge is getting used to all the different devices." While CBS remains the No. 1 network, "this wasn't broadcast TV's greatest year in terms of new product." TBS, TNT Cable Channels to Begin Streaming Online Bloomberg Time Warner's TBS and TNT channels will begin streaming their content online 24 hours a day this summer, letting pay-TV subscribers watch the networks using the web or a mobile-device app. The channels are making the move as part of an industry shift toward "TV everywhere." USA Network Draws Battle Line with Twitter, Facebook Wall Street Journal Comcast's USA Network will unveil a rebuilt web and mobile platform that will bring more of the real-time conversation about its shows happening on Twitter, Facebook and other social media onto its own site. The cable network plans to sell ads to run alongside the content. Warner Bros Studio to Realign TV, Digital Operations Dow Jones Warner Bros. said it is realigning its television business and digital operations, as the studio, under new CEO Kevin Tsujihara, seeks to adapt to a shift in the way people seek entertainment. The changes will give new responsibilities to three of the company's top execs. Dish Network Gives Away iPads to New Subscribers Variety Dish Network is giving away free Apple iPad 2 tablets with 16 gigabytes of storage — which carry a retail list price of $400 — to new subscribers who take its Hopper multiroom DVR. "Providing this device ensures new customers can fully experience all the benefits Hopper offers." CBS Eyes Opening in Potential Sony Asset Spinoff Los Angeles Times Investor Daniel Loeb wants Sony to spin off its entertainment assets. CBS might like that, too. CBS has said it would look at any major entertainment assets that become available. A tie-up between CBS and Sony's entertainment assets is seen as a nearly perfect marriage. Viacom Moves Fast to Set Upfront Ad Sales Deals Variety As the broadcast networks make their glitzy presentations to advertisers this week, Viacom has already started writing some upfront business. The owner of MTV and Nickelodeon has notched some deals by offering terms it believes will be more favorable than those of its rivals. ABC to Test Nielsen's Mobile TV Ratings System Bloomberg ABC, responding to the proliferation of smartphones and tablet computers, said it will participate in Nielsen's trial of new technology designed to measure the mobile-TV viewing audience. The test of the Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings system will run through September. Fox Sports to Launch Two National Cable Channels Los Angeles Times Fox Sports will launch not one, but two new national sports cable channels in August. In March, Fox Sports has said it would debut Fox Sports 1 on Aug. 17. But now insiders say Fox Sports 2 will launch around the same time and perhaps even the same day as Fox Sports 1. ESPN Unveils Hackathon Ideas to Engage Audiences LA Biz ESPN plans to introduce a video ad unit called Gamebreak which would highlight sports footage that isn't already on TV or online. The network has also developed Alerts, an interactive addition to breaking news. Both were ideas that grew out of ESPN's hackathon in April. Univision Throws Punches at English-Language Nets Adweek Univision ad sales exec Steve Mandala, who left NBC a year ago, isn't shy about playing up the Spanish-language broadcaster's sweeps victory over the Peacock. At one point during Univision's upfront presentation, an animated broom swept the NBC logo off the screen. Clear Channel Survey Says Radio Remains Popular San Antonio Business Radio is still a popular medium in the digital age, according to a research study commissioned by Clear Channel. Some 94% of 13-17 year olds and 89% of 18-24 year olds say they tune into radio weekly. "This research confirms that radio's reach and appeal remain strong." Nielsen's Slow Shift to the Web Hinders TV Networks Bloomberg Broadcast and cable networks like CBS and Nickelodeon are failing to get paid for surging web audiences because those viewers are almost invisible to Nielsen. The dominant ratings measurement firm has been accused of being slow to count audiences on tablets and smartphones. Hearst Ousted Exec Resurfaces at El Rey Network Hollywood Reporter Scott Sassa, two months after being ousted from Hearst amid a sexting scandal, has landed a new position. Sassa accepted the role of vice chairman at El Rey Network, a new general-entertainment, English-language cable network geared toward young-adult Latinos. CNN Anchor Sambolin Plans Double Mastectomy Associated Press CNN anchor Zoraida Sambolin said she has breast cancer and is getting a double mastectomy. Sambolin, who anchors CNN's "Early Start" morning show, talked about her condition on the show Tuesday while discussing the recent double mastectomy of actress Angelina Jolie. Sirius XM: Huntsman to Help Launch Talk Show Associated Press Former Republican Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a 2012 presidential candidate, is helping launch a new talk show on Sirius XM satellite radio aimed at promoting bipartisan politics. Huntsman will appear on the inaugural "No Labels Radio: A Town Hall with America." Fox, Twitter Team Up for Promotional Partnership Los Angeles Times Fox and Twitter have entered into a partnership to promote the broadcaster's programs and allow advertisers a way to reach TV audiences as they discuss the shows on the social network. Fox said it would use Twitter to distribute clips of upcoming TV shows. ESPN, Twitter Expand Tie-Up to Generate Ad Sales Wall Street Journal ESPN and Twitter are announcing a major expansion of their collaboration to post sports-related videos on the short-messaging service. ESPN plans to show video-highlight clips on Twitter of major sports events. The sports network will sell ads that will run inside the clips. News Corp Shakes Up Fox Schedule with Nine Shows Bloomberg News Corp.'s Fox Broadcasting unveiled nine prime-time programs for the 2013-2014 season, shaking up a schedule that has fallen into second place among key viewers after once dominating the ratings. Five new comedies and four dramas will join the network's lineup. Comcast's NBC Tries to Turn Around Its Turnaround Time Last season was to be turnaround year for NBC. Struggling in prime time, the network was going to move away from niche sitcoms like "Community" and "Parks and Recreation" and aim for comedies with more mass appeal. Now, for 2013–14, NBC hopes to turn around its turnaround. CBS May Lose U.S. Open to Cable After Four Decades SportsBusiness Daily For the first time in more than four decades the U.S. Open tennis tournament semifinals and finals could be moving to a new TV home. ESPN is close to a deal to obtain all rights to the tournament beginning in 2015. CBS has broadcast the tournament since 1968. Dish Network Says New Business Model is Needed The Verge Dish Network said it needs to find a new business model before its old one disappears. "The video business has matured and ultimately will go into decline," said CEO Joe Clayton. If Dish acquires Sprint, however, it could create a network of TV, voice and broadband services. Report: More Young Americans Won't Pay for TV Time A report from digital media analysis firm the Diffusion Group found that 13% of U.S. households who have broadband services don't have pay TV. Those "cord nevers" are mostly millennial. And the number of millennials who have never paid for premium TV is expected to increase. TV Ratings Slide to Pressure Ad Rates at 'Upfronts' Reuters Broadcast networks head into their biggest ad-selling season this week, competing with streaming services and fending off new hits on cable. The increased competition could force ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC to settle for their lowest rate hikes in years during the "upfronts." Warner Bros TV President to Depart in Shake Up Deadline Bruce Rosenblum, president of Warner Bros. Television, the company behind such hits as "The Big Gang Theory," is said to be exiting. CEO Kevin Tsujihara reportedly describes him as "an unnecessary layer of management." Rosenblum is not expected to be replaced. NBC Promotes Fall Season with Contest on Twitter Associated Press NBC is holding a Twitter-based sweepstakes linked to its fall schedule presentation to advertisers — a social-media twist on the annual TV rite occurring this week. One of the prizes is a trip to Los Angeles to attend a final taping of Jay Leno's "Tonight Show." ABC Looks to Live Streaming in Challenge to Aereo GigaOM ABC is taking the fight against Aereo to the New York-based startup's home turf. The network will start streaming its entire programming schedule in real-time to viewers in New York and Philadelphia. ABC's streams, however, will only be available to cable subscribers. NBC Names Meyers to Replace Fallon on 'Late Night' Associated Press Seth Meyers is moving from his "Weekend Update" desk to his own late night show on NBC. The 12-year "Saturday Night Live" cast member will replace Jimmy Fallon at the 12:35 a.m. "Late Night" show next year. Fallon is moving up an hour as Jay Leno's replacement on "Tonight." Telemundo Taps Ryan Seacrest for New Music Series Associated Press Ryan Seacrest will produce a new music series for the Spanish-speaking Telemundo network that will feature two established artists competing against each other for the audience's vote. The format for "Superstar Showdown" has been successful in other countries. ABC: Barbara Walters Announces 2014 Retirement ABC News Barbara Walters has inspired millions with her groundbreaking interviews. But after 37 years with ABC News, the legendary newscaster is announcing on "The View" Monday that she plans to retire from TV journalism in summer 2014. "I am very happy with my decision." NBC to Name ITV's Turness Head of News Division New York Times NBC News is on the verge of naming Deborah Turness, the head of Britain's ITV News, as its next president. Turness would be the first woman president of a network TV news division in the United States, succeeding Steve Capus, who stepped down from the job in February. CNN to Rival Fox News in Three Years, Zucker Says Bloomberg CNN president Jeff Zucker, who has unveiled a new morning show called "New Day" in a bid to revitalize the business, said it may take three years or more before the news network challenges Fox News. "Fox is No. 1, and they're incredibly strong. It's going to take a long time." CBS News' Scott Pelley Bashes Twitter, Facebook Associated Press "CBS Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley has delivered a tongue-lashing to fellow journalists, urging them to worry less about the "vanity" of being first on a story. "We're getting the big stories wrong over and over again." Twitter, Facebook and Reddit are "not journalism." ESPN Eyed in McCain Push to Unbundle Channels New York Post Sen. John McCain singled out ESPN in his bid to give consumers the option to cherry-pick channels rather than pay for a package. "Whether you watch ESPN or not, all cable subscribers are forced to absorb this cost," he said in introducing his a la carte legislation. Dish Network Chief Mulls Sale if Bid for Sprint Fails Reuters Charlie Ergen said he could end up putting the entire satellite TV company up for sale if he lost his battle with Japan's SoftBank to buy Sprint Nextel. The Dish Network chief also said he could take on a bidding partner or sell some non-core assets in a possible bidding war. Fox 'American Idol' to Lose Original Judge Jackson E! Online Even if reports are true that Fox wants to replace all four judges on "American Idol" next season, it doesn't matter to Randy Jackson. "To put the speculation to rest, after 12 years I have decided it is time to leave after this season," said the show's sole remaining original judge. ESPN Mulls Plan to Subsidize Wireless for Viewers Wall Street Journal ESPN is considering a plan to pay wireless carriers for the mobile content used by the sports channel's subscribers. The company would pay a carrier to guarantee that people viewing ESPN mobile content wouldn't have that usage counted toward their monthly data caps. Turner Digital Ad Sales Chief Departs in Shuffle AllThingsD Walker Jacobs, the high-profile sales chief for Turner's digital properties, is out after an organizational chart shuffle. Jacobs, who is best known for pushing Turner and other publishers not to use third-party advertising networks and exchanges, won't be directly replaced. Disney, Netflix in Licensing Deal for Children's TV Dow Jones Netflix has signed a new licensing agreement with Disney that will make it the exclusive U.S. subscription TV service for five popular Disney Junior and Disney XD shows. The deal comes as Netflix faces a raft of competition from online video sites and other services. Fox Dials Back Threat to Leave Airwaves Over Aereo Forbes News Corp. COO Chase Carey sounded more circumspect when asked about that possibility of pulling Fox off the air over Internet TV service Aereo. "You're getting further down the road than I get. The point we're making is the broadcast business needs to be dual-revenue." Outdoor Channel Accepts Higher Bid From Kroenke Bloomberg Outdoor Channel, the owner of a cable channel with hunting and fishing programs, said its board has accepted an increased buyout offer from Stan Kroenke's Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. Kroenke, the owner of the St. Louis Rams, has agreed to pay about $268 million. >> MORE INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA Apple App Gives Hollywood Horror Flick Wide Release Bloomberg Hollywood's latest horror flick, "Haunting Melissa," opens today on the small screen. Hooked Digital Media, distributor of the film, is making the movie available through an app on Apple's tablets and smartphones. Users can download the title one segment at a time. MPAA Unveils Legal Access Site for Movies, TV Shows Los Angeles Times The Motion Picture Association of America has announced the launch of a new site that will serve as a one-stop shop for audiences looking for legal ways to watch movies and TV shows online. The new WheretoWatch.org lists several services, such as Amazon, Netflix and Hulu. Google Unveils Online Game, Photo, Music Features Associated Press Google's sixth annual conference for software developers opened with a chance for the company to showcase its latest services. Announcements included new features for online games and search, a music-streaming service and enhancements to its Google Plus social network. Microsoft, Samsung Developing High-Tech Eyewear New York Post Samsung and Microsoft are getting in the glass game. Both companies are developing their own high-tech eyewear to rival the recently announced but not yet for sale Google Glass. The two powerhouses are expected to show off web-connected glasses within six months. Yahoo Eyes Younger Users in Push to Become 'Cool' Reuters Yahoo plans to ramp up advertising and marketing efforts as it seeks to break its reliance on an "aging demo" and become more relevant to young adults, said CFO Ken Goldman. "Part of it is going to be just visibility again in making ourselves cool, which we got away from." AOL Quietly Sells Trade Media Unit to Web Publisher Forbes AOL has sold its trade media unit, AOL Industry, to Breaking Media, publisher of sites including Dealbreaker and Fashionista. The AOL unit consisted of three sites, AOL Defense, AOL Energy and AOL Government. More closures of unprofitable AOL sites are expected. Hulu Bid Eyed by Time Warner Cable, Cable Partners New York Post Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt has been talking with other cable-TV providers about making a joint bid for Hulu. Cable companies could turn the web-TV hub into an authenticated service, meaning cable subscribers would get it for free. "They want real bids in by May 23." YouTube Forecast to Make $4 Billion from Ads in 2013 Beet.TV YouTube will generate about $4 billion in advertising revenue this year, according to analyst Ian Maude of Enders Analysis. Television's growth is largely driven by older viewers, he added. "We're seeing a divergence between what the under-35s and over-35s are doing." Netflix Shares Rise on 'Arrested Development' Hopes Bloomberg Netflix shares rose to its highest since August 2011 after saying its revival of the cult TV show "Arrested Development" could help second-quarter results. The program, which becomes available starting May 26, "might have an impact” on the company's financial performance. Rovio's 'Angry Birds' Move to Big Screen via Sony Bloomberg "Angry Birds," the video game that became the top-selling mobile-phone app of all time, is coming to the big screen. The animated 3-D film will be distributed by Sony Pictures on July 1, 2016. Sony was among several Hollywood studios seeking the distribution rights. Huffington Post Founder Invests in Travel Site Skift Crain's New York Nine-month-old travel industry site Skift, which aims to be a new kind of business-to-business media company, has raised $1.1 million in seed financing. Though it's a relatively modest sum, it comes from some major players. The investment was led by Lerer Ventures. Gawker Chief Denton to Marry Longtime Boyfriend New York Observer Gawker Media overlord Nick Denton is engaged. Denton proposed to his actor boyfriend, Derrence Washington, over the weekend, and they are planning on a wedding next May in upstate New York. "This is the one event even I wouldn’t gossip about," the website publisher said. Google to Unveil New Subscription Music Services The Verge Google is said to be planning to unveil new subscription music services at the Google I/O conference. The Internet giant reportedly has signed licensing deals with Universal Music and Sony Music for both YouTube and Google Play, setting the stage for such an announcement. YouTube's StyleHaul Network Hauls In $6 Million AllThingsD StyleHaul, the YouTube network dedicated to fashion and shopping, has raised another $6 million, this time via an investment from RTL Group, the European TV and radio conglomerate. An earlier funding round brought in $6.5 million from Bertelsmann and other investors. Netflix Still Eats a Third of the Internet Every Night AllThingssD For the last three years, Netflix has accounted for a third of the Internet traffic zipping into North American homes every night. The company "is streaming more video than ever." Web video rivals Amazon, HBO and Hulu all say they are seeing significant growth as well. AOL's New Series Presents 'Candid' Nicole Richie Associated Press Telepictures has teamed up with AOL to create the web series "#CandidlyNicole," with Nicole Richie, inspired by the performer's Twitter account. Each weekly video is about five minutes. "This will be a developmental tool for me to build my brand," Richie said. Apple Worked to Fix E-Book Prices, U.S. Filing Says Bloomberg Apple engaged in a horizontal price-fixing scheme with major publishers to violate antitrust laws by working "to strip retailers of pricing authority," the U.S. Justice Department said in a court filing. The department's antitrust division filed papers for a trial to begin June 3. Google CEO Page Says He Has Vocal Cord Paralysis CNNMoney When Google CEO Larry Page stopped talking at events last summer, some company watchers feared the worst. But Page has revealed that he is perfectly healthy, and his raspy voice is due to vocal cord paralysis. His doctors speculate it is virus-based nerve damage from a cold. Apple CEO Cook Coffee Auction Closes at $610,000 CNET After 86 bids, the coffee meeting with Apple's CEO has sold for $610,000. The "power meeting" was part of a campaign by auction site CharityBuzz to raise money for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. The auction is tied for CharityBuzz's highest grossing. Netflix Shares Up Amid Transformation Into Network MarketWatch So far this year, Netflix shares are up nearly 148%, closing at $229.38 on Monday. Its original content is attracting new subscribers and more shows are in the works. "We are really turning Netflix into a network instead of being a broad distributor," said a spokesman. Aereo Says Atlanta is Next for Streaming TV Service CNET Aereo is on a roll, with plans to bring its streaming TV service to Atlanta. The launch is scheduled for June 17, the company has announced. The capital of Georgia will be the third city to get the Aereo service, following New York and, from Wednesday of this week, Boston. Twitter Valued at Nearly $10 Billion by Shareholder Telegraph Twitter has been valued by shareholder GSV Capital at almost $10 billion, higher than a previous estimate. GSV has revealed that it owns more than 1.9 million shares in Twitter amid continued speculation that the micro-blogging site could stage an initial public offering next year. LinkedIn Has Global Ambitions for Social Network Associated Press LinkedIn's top execs aim to establish the website as an integral part of the global economy. "We would have a digital profile for every company in the world," said CEO Jeff Weiner, "and a professional profile for every one of the 3.3 billion people in the [worldwide] workforce." Google, Apple Help Build $6 Billion Wearable Market Bloomberg As Apple and Samsung develop smart watches and Google prepares to roll out web-enabled eyewear, software developers are springing up to lend a hand and reap the profits. The wearable-computer market may swell to $6 billion by 2016, according to IMS Research. BuzzFeed, Twitter Named Among Media Disruptors CNBC Aereo, BuzzFeed, Spotify, Tumblr and Twitter are the companies shaking things up most in the media sector, according to CNBC's new "Disruptor 50" list. The roundup was made from nominations by venture capitalists, industry analysts, startup investors and beat reporters. Twitter CEO Quits UK Director Role Post TweetDeck Sky News Dick Costolo has resigned as director of Twitter's U.K. arm, two days after British regulators dissolved the company's other firm, TweetDeck, for repeated failure to file its accounts. The California-based micro-blogging giant controls its U.K. firm through an Irish subsidiary. YouTube's New Subscriptions Don't Include Stars AllThingsD YouTube has finally rolled out its paid subscription service. But the world's biggest video site went out of its way to downplay the launch, describing it is as the first stage of an experiment. The initial list of channels includes few mainstream brands, shows or YouTube-native stars. Google, Facebook Eye Messaging App WhatsApp Los Angeles Times Start-up mobile messaging apps have surged, displacing traditional SMS texts. Silicon Valley titans now want in on the action. Both Facebook and Google have reportedly approached WhatsApp about a possible buyout. But WhatsApp said it plans to remain independent. EBay Preps New Home Page Inspired by Pinterest Crain's New York EBay's New York office is working on making shopping on the site more like hanging out on Pinterest — turning a property once known for auctions of attic junk into an eye-pleasing stream of merchandise "curated" according to user preferences. "It's Amazon meets Pinterest." Thrillist Guy Selling to Dudes Overseas via Mobiles AllThingsD Ben Lerer used to make money by telling dudes where to spend their money, via his Thrillist e-mail startup. Then he got dudes to spend money, via his JackThreads e-commerce site. Now Lerer has figured out a new line extension: Selling stuff to dudes overseas, via phone. Netflix Aims to Become Next HBO - or Time Warner Businessweek Netflix is striving to become an entertainment power on par with HBO — if not HBO owner Time Warner, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek cover story about the company and CEO Reed Hastings. "Netflix's goal is to become HBO before HBO can become Netflix." YouTube Unveils Paid Subscriptions for Channels CNNMoney YouTube is launching a pilot program in which users can pay to subscribe to channels like Ultimate Fighting Championship and Sesame Street. Subscription fees start at 99 cents per month, and viewers can test out a channel for free as part of a 14-day trial. Google Abandons Plan to Introduce Credit Card AllThingsD Google will update its Wallet product at its I/O developer conference next week, but will not include the physical credit card that the company had considered launching at the event. The card was part of Google’s larger strategic goal to know more about consumer purchases. Disney Trademark Sparks Outcry on Social Media Associated Press Disney's effort to trademark "Dia de los Muertos," the name of the traditional "Day of the Dead" holiday, for an upcoming film sparked anger on social media, expressed largely by Latinos. Disney later dropped the trademark request, saying the film's name would change. Amazon Developing Smartphone with 3-D Screen Wall Street Journal Amazon is expanding beyond its range of Kindle devices as it aims to compete more directly with Google and Apple. The e-commerce giant has recently been developing a wide-ranging lineup of gadgets, including two smartphones and an audio-only streaming device. 'Pinterest Stress' Afflicts Many Moms, Survey Says NBC Today In a survey of 7,000 U.S. mothers, 42% said they sometimes suffer from "Pinterest stress" – the worry that they're not crafty or creative enough. Pinterest "tricks you into thinking that everyone is baking their own bread." The social media service is "a site of unrealized dreams." Twitter: We're Not Entering the News Business PBS MediaShift Twitter recently posted a job for a "head of news and journalism partnerships." However, the social media site has no ambitions to become a news operation, said exec Mark Luckie. "We're not writing stories. We're simply providing a platform for other people to do so." AOL Names Stivers Editor Amid Content Push New York Observer Cyndi Stivers is leaving her position as editor in chief of Columbia Journalism Review to become editor in chief of AOL.com. In her new role, Stivers will be in charge of editorial and programming across the AOL homepage, all associated apps and syndicated feeds. >> MORE ADVERTISING & MARKETING Nielsen's Slow Shift to the Web Hinders TV Networks Bloomberg Broadcast and cable networks like CBS and Nickelodeon are failing to get paid for surging web audiences because those viewers are almost invisible to Nielsen. The dominant ratings measurement firm has been accused of being slow to count audiences on tablets and smartphones. TV Ad Sales Threatened by Fragmented Audience New York Post The rapid rise of time-shifted viewing — driven by DVRs, video-on-demand options and mobile devices — has decimated TV ratings in the first quarter and threatens to drag down the annual ad-sales season. Total primetime commercial ratings fell 8% across the board. Nielsen Gets Digital to Track Online TV Viewers Wall Street Journal Nielsen is testing a tool to measure online viewing of TV shows. TV networks are expected to use the tool to track viewership of programs on their own websites. The new technology is hoped to become the standard to measure viewing on sites like Hulu, YouTube, Yahoo and AOL. ZenithOptimedia: Online Video, Social Ads to Grow Financial Times Global advertising markets will grow 3.9% in 2013, according to the latest benchmark analysis from ZenithOptimedia. Internet advertising will remain the fastest-growing medium this year, propelled by rapid rises in online video and social media ads, the media buying agency said. WPP Chief Eyes Tech Deals Amid Media Change Beet.TV WPP is eyeing investments and acquisitions in technologies that power media buying, according to CEO Martin Sorrell. "We're not just 'Mad Men,' we're maths men as well," he said. "We're starting to get involved with the chief information officers and chief technology officers." Report: TV Regarded as Most Effective Ad Medium World Screen Television accounted for 62.8% of the total global advertising dollars taken in for 2012, according to Nielsen's quarterly Global AdView Pulse report. TV was again dominant, while spending on newspapers and magazines took a hit. Display Internet ads showed growth. Study: Public is Tired of 'Bad Ads' on the Internet BtoB A large number of U.S. Internet users are fed up with "irrelevant" ads and will ignore a company completely as a result, according to a study by marketing analytics firm InsightOne. Some 88% of U.S. Internet users said they have been "flooded" with online ad spam. Advertisers Embracing 'Brand Publishing' Trend Washington Post Dozens of companies, including Boeing, General Electric, Pepsi, American Express and Verizon Wireless, are becoming their own publishers, creating and distributing "content" — articles, videos, photos — that would be right at home in a traditional newspaper or magazine. Report: Digital Ad Revenue Climbs to $36 Billion Reuters Digital advertising revenue in the United States increased 15% to $36.6 billion hitting a record, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Advertisers turned mostly to search ads, the format that dominated almost half of total spending representing 46.3% at $16.9 billion. TV Ad Market Outlook Muted by Lower Ratings Wall Street Journal Broadcast-TV ratings have dropped sharply this season. And that, combined with the weak economy and competition from other media, augurs badly for the spring ad-sales market. Some analysts predict broadcast networks' take will be steady to slightly lower. WPP, Ford Apologize for Ads Showing Bondage CNBC Ford Motor and WPP, its advertising agency, have apologized for ads in India depicting women in bondage. One of the ads features scantily clad women gagged, bound and crammed into the back of the Ford Figo. The ads "should never have been created," said WPP. Advertisers Launching Branded Online Magazines ClickZ More and more marketers and ad agencies are launching their own online publications to directly compete with traditional magazines. Degree deodorant's The Adrenalist website offers content on the "coolest adventures, extreme sports, speed, gear and gadgets." Nielsen: Cord-Cutters Are 'Zero TV' Households LA Biz Nielsen is working hard to track the cord-cutters. The TV ratings service is calling them "zero TV" households, but it's a bit of a misnomer. While most of these households do own a TV, the set is not connected to a cable or satellite service but to the Internet. >> MORE MEDIA COMPANIES CBS Master Showman Moonves on Top of the World USA Today CBS CEO Les Moonves said the television industry faces challenges as the way people watch TV changes. "The biggest challenge is getting used to all the different devices." While CBS remains the No. 1 network, "this wasn't broadcast TV's greatest year in terms of new product." MGM Stake Bought by Activist Investor Daniel Loeb Hollywood Reporter Activist investor Daniel Loeb, who last weekend sent Sony a letter urging a spinoff of its entertainment assets, has another Hollywood target — Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Loeb apparently has been acquiring shares on the private market in the closely held movie and TV company. Time Warner's 'Gatsby' Opens Cannes Film Festival Reuters The Cannes film festival opens Wednesday with Baz Luhrmann's lavish period drama "The Great Gatsby." Leonardo DiCaprio and co-star Carey Mulligan will walk the red carpet on the French Riviera to promote the Warner Bros.-backed adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel. News Corp: James Murdoch Sells $25 Million in Shares Bloomberg James Murdoch, deputy chief operating officer of News Corp. and son of chief Rupert Murdoch, has sold $25.1 million of nonvoting shares in the company, capitalizing on a 65% gain in the stock over the past year. The sale comes ahead of a proposed News Corp. split-up. Sony Entertainment Asset Spinoff Seen as Inevitable Billboard The idea of spinning out Sony's entertainment assets isn't a new one. It's been in the air at 550 Madison Avenue for several years. Despite CEO Kazuo Hirai's protestations, some sort of spinout is "inevitable," according to a former Sony senior management veteran. Sony Entertainment Spinoff Sought by Investor Loeb New York Times Daniel Loeb has proposed that Sony spin off part of its entertainment arm, which includes one of Hollywood's biggest film studios and one of the world's largest music labels. Loeb, known for shaking up Yahoo, has become a major Sony shareholder through his hedge fund. News Corp Shakes Up Fox Schedule with Nine Shows Bloomberg News Corp.'s Fox Broadcasting unveiled nine prime-time programs for the 2013-2014 season, shaking up a schedule that has fallen into second place among key viewers after once dominating the ratings. Five new comedies and four dramas will join the network's lineup. Comcast's NBC Tries to Turn Around Its Turnaround Time Last season was to be turnaround year for NBC. Struggling in prime time, the network was going to move away from niche sitcoms like "Community" and "Parks and Recreation" and aim for comedies with more mass appeal. Now, for 2013–14, NBC hopes to turn around its turnaround. CBS May Lose U.S. Open to Cable After Four Decades SportsBusiness Daily For the first time in more than four decades the U.S. Open tennis tournament semifinals and finals could be moving to a new TV home. ESPN is close to a deal to obtain all rights to the tournament beginning in 2015. CBS has broadcast the tournament since 1968. Time Warner's HBO Go Sees Engineer Jump to Netflix AllThingsD Rob Caruso, an engineer with HBO who had been working on the Time Warner cable channel's HBO Go service, has left the company to take a job at Netflix. The two video subscription services are both very interested in figuring out the best way to deliver TV-quality video online. Big Media: Report Names Industry's Top Paid Execs Deadline Media CEOs don't run their companies by themselves. A tally of the best paid media chairs, COOs, CFOs, general counsels and other execs with standout compensation includes CBS/Viacom's Sumner Redstone, Comcast's Stephen Burke and News Corp.'s Roger Ailes. News Corp's Murdoch to Purchase Bel Air Vineyard Hollywood Reporter Rupert Murdoch is looking to pick up a new property. "About to celebrate buying beautiful small vineyard right in LA. Great wine, Moraga, owned by great Angelino Tom Jones. Time cover, 1961!" tweeted the News Corp. chief. Moraga is a 13-acre vineyard located in Bel Air. William Morris Preps Meet-Up to Rival Sun Valley New York Post Calling all moguls: Can't make Sun Valley this year? William Morris's Ari Emanuel has a new hot ticket — an alternative venue for pressing the flesh and cooking up deals. The Hollywood talent agency has been working with Google's Eric Schmidt to put together the conference. News Corp Unveils Corporate Logo Ahead of Split Associated Press News Corp. is unveiling a new corporate logo that emphasizes its focus on Hollywood as it prepares to spin off its newspaper division. In an animated video accompanying the logo, two Hollywood-style spotlights sweep the sky before coming to rest amid futuristic sounds. Disney Preps ABC App Seeking Online Video Ads Bloomberg Disney's ABC network, staking a claim to growth in online video ads, will brief advertisers next week on a service providing live shows on mobile phones and tablets. Watch ABC, a first-of-its-kind app from a broadcaster, will stream live and archived shows to pay-TV subscribers. Time Warner Looks West for Possible Office Move Wall Street Journal Time Warner is said to be leaning toward moving its headquarters to the Hudson Yards, a fledgling office district on Manhattan's far West Side. A decision is expected in June. The media giant is also mulling a sale of its Columbus Circle headquarters, which could fetch $1 billion. News Corp Profit Nearly Triples Despite Publishing Dow Jones News Corp.'s profit nearly tripled in the quarter ended March 31, boosted in part by better results from its cable networks. The publishing unit, to be spun off as a separate company, posted sharply lower operating income. A shareholder vote on the separation is scheduled for June 11. Viacom Says Cablevision Lawsuit Should Be Tossed Reuters Viacom said a lawsuit by Cablevision accusing it of forcing cable providers and subscribers to buy channels they don't want should be thrown out. The company contended that Cablevision should not be allowed to take a legal position it had recently opposed in a similar case. Bloomberg Accused of 'Eavesdropping' on Bank New York Post Irked Goldman Sachs brass are said to have confronted Bloomberg LP over concerns reporters at the business news service have been using the company's terminals to keep tabs on employees of the Wall Street bank. The matter raises serious concerns for the firm. Liberty Media Sees Cable TV Consolidation Coming Denver Business Did Liberty Media invest in Charter to recreate a cable TV deal-making machine like Liberty chief John Malone once ran at TCI? That's not Liberty's plan for Charter, but Liberty CEO Greg Maffei isn't ruling it out. He sees another wave of mergers coming in the cable TV industry. Comcast Annual Meeting Could See MSNBC Protest Hollywood Reporter A tea-party group has invited 60,000 activists to Philadelphia to express displeasure with the left-leaning MSNBC directly to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts when he meets investors on May 15. Since some demonstrators are also shareholders, they plan to take their act inside. Disney Boosted by ESPN as ABC Remains Weak CNBC With its stock trading at an all-time high, Disney has delivered growth across each of its five divisions. CEO Bob Iger called it "a great quarter." Disney's media networks business continues to be the company's most profitable — ESPN remains the biggest growth driver. Media's Future Eyed by New York Times, BuzzFeed I Want Media Henry Blodget, Jonah Peretti and Mark Thompson will be among the participants in "The Future of Media: 2013," a panel discussion to be held by I Want Media. The free-admission Internet Week New York forum aims to explore some of the key issues reshaping traditional media. >> MORE |
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