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Today's Headlines
From across the Web
Time Warner Fights Web Copies of 'Dark Knight'
CNET
Warner Bros. is going after the Web sites that posted pirated copies of the hit new Batman film "The Dark Knight." A spokesman for the Time Warner studio says it is taking action: "We actively search for these sites and services and have them taken down."
Britain Internet Firms Prep Purge on Pirates
Sun
Britain's six biggest Internet providers are agreeing on a plan to tackle piracy in the music and film industries, pledging to send warning letters to users suspected of illegal file-sharing. The plan is being drawn up by the government, Virgin Media, BSkyB and others.
News Corp, NBC File Lawsuit Against Redlasso
New York Observer
NBC Universal, Fox News Network and Fox Television Stations are filing a lawsuit against Redlasso, alleging the Web site is improperly making available video clips of their copyrighted programming. Redlasso allows users to create embeddable clips of video and audio footage.
Comcast Said to Eye Acquisition of DailyCandy
Gawker
Daily Candy, the email newsletter for lady shopaholics, is rumored to be preparing for a sale to Comcast, the U.S. cable systems giant. The price is said to be $75 million, a bit below the $100 million+ controlling shareholder and former AOL second-in-command Bob Pittman is seeking.
Google News Worth $100M, Company VP Says
Fortune
Google VP Marissa Mayer says Google News might not make money on its own, but it drives $100 million worth of search. Google News is free and has no advertisements, but it funnels readers to the main Google search engine, where people do searches that produce ads, she says.
Google Debuts Knol With Help From Conde Nast
CNET
Google's Wikipedia competitor, Knol, is opening to the public, at knol.google.com. So-called knols are articles about specific topics written by experts on that subject. Google is partnering with The New Yorker to allow any author to add a cartoon from the magazine to their knol.
AOL Widget Tech to Boost Social-Network Ads
Associated Press
Time Warner's AOL is integrating technology from its newly acquired Goowy Media to help advertisers pitch their products and services at social-networking sites. Install a photo program to show off pictures of your dog on Facebook, and you might find you're really spreading an ad.
Facebook Unveils More Tools For Outside Apps
Associated Press
Facebook is setting out to broaden the appeal of its outside applications by giving programmers access to tools for translating into 20 different languages. The social network also is trying to make it easier for its users to move their personal profiles and favorite apps to other sites.
MySpace Music Service to Launch in September
Fortune
News Corp. social-networking site MySpace will launch a new music service in September, says CEO Chris DeWolfe. The new offering will enable MySpace members to listen to free streaming music as well as purchase song downloads, ringtones, T-shirts and concert tickets.
XM-Sirius Merger Set to Win FCC Approval
Wall Street Journal
A tentative deal is said to have been reached by a majority of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to OK the merger of satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM. Commissioners have been negotiating with the companies to pay some $20 million in fines for violations.
CBS Radio Launches New Web Video Push
Mediaweek
Moving radio one step closer to a visual medium, CBS Radio is announcing the launch of a new video platform for its radio station Web sites. The new platform gives CBS 140 radio stations the ability to create personalized branded video players to feature station content.
NBC: Obama Makes Olympic-Size $5M Ad Buy
AdAge
Barack Obama's U.S. presidential campaign will spend $5 million on advertisements during NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympic Games. The candidate's spots will appear on both the NBC network and on company cable channels including CNBC, MSNBC and Oxygen.
MTV to Remake Cult Classic Film 'Rocky Horror'
Variety
MTV is doing the time warp on a remake of 1975 cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Lou Adler, exec producer of the original film, is partnering with BermanBraun and Fox Television Studios on the new rendition. The remake may include music not featured in the original.
NBC's Seth Meyers In New Sony Web Series
UPI
"Saturday Night Live" cast member Seth Meyers is directing and starring in "The Line," an original comedy Web series to debut on Sony's Crackle.com. Sony is integrating three real-life film releases from its Columbia Pictures studio into the webisodes.
Clear Channel Says Settles Tribune Lawsuits
Reuters
Clear Channel says it has settled lawsuits against Tribune and several former Clear Channel employees lured away by the newspaper publisher and broadcaster. Clear Channel says Tribune agreed not to further solicit or hire Clear Channel employees under contract.
Tribune Strikes Out Bidder for Chicago Cubs
Tribune / Courant
Tribune is eliminating a preliminary bid for the Chicago Cubs from the group led by Madison Dearborn chief John Canning. The cut is seen as a message that "money matters." Also: Tribune has no plans to sell off other newspapers in 2008 after selling Newsday, says CEO Sam Zell.
NY Times to Accelerate Cost Cutting, Raise Price
Bloomberg
The New York Times says its second-quarter profit declined 5.5%, hit by plunging newspaper advertising sales. CEO Janet Robinson says that the company is accelerating cost-cutting efforts and will raise the weekday newsstand price of the Times by 25 cents to $1.50.
WaPo Exec Joins Guardian For U.S. Expansion
Press Gazette
Guardian News and Media is naming Caroline Little, the former publisher of the Washington Post's digital wing, to help expand its business in America. Little, who resigned after more than 10 years at the Post earlier this year, oversaw Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive.
American Media Eyes Deal to Reorganize Firm
New York Post
National Enquirer publisher American Media is said to be working on a deal to turn over a substantial amount of the company to creditors and strike another blow to its private-equity owners, THL Partners and Evercore Partners. The deal could reduce its debt by around $200 million.
Murdoch 'Girl' News Widget a Download Success
NMA.co.uk
Rupert Murdoch's U.K. tabloid The Sun says that its new downloadable news widget featuring "Page 3" lingerie model Keeley Hazell has had over 10,000 downloads just four days after soft launching. The free widget has Hazell strut across users' desktops offering news updates.
Brad Pitt Threatens News Outlets Over Photos
TheSmokingGun
Actor Brad Pitt is threatening legal action against anyone publishing recent photos taken by paparazzi of his family at their estate in France. Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie reportedly sold the rights to the first photos of their newborn twins to a U.S. publication for $11 million.
Conde Nast Launches Blog for Big-Biz 'Playas'
Portfolio
The Web site of Conde Nast Portfolio magazine is launching a weekly blog called Playas, which will be guest edited by top business execs and celebrities. Among the site's first bloggers: Harvey Weinstein, Christie Heffner, Bob Rice and John Caplan.
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Washington Post Unit Buys Language Company
Bloomberg
The Washington Post's Kaplan education unit is acquiring Pro Linguis, a Zurich-based provider of language studies, to bolster its European operations. Washington Post is countering declining newspaper advertising sales by increasing revenue at Kaplan education, its largest unit.
Tribune to Create U.S. 'Breaking News Centers'
Chicago Tribune
Tribune plans to create "breaking news centers" in U.S. cities where it owns multiple media outlets, combining the company's local newsrooms to pump stories onto the Internet. Also, CEO Sam Zell suggests that "the worst may be over" regarding Tribune layoffs and cutbacks.
NY Times Preps Blog to Rival TheSmokingSun
Romenesko
New York Times metro editor Joe Sexton says a new NYTimes.com blog will have "hard-to-get, but telling documents" -- court records, law enforcement material, city records, financial disclosure forms. "I have long been an admirer of TheSmokingGun Web site," he says.
Modern Luxury Buys Digital Newsletter Juli B
Crain's New York
Modern Luxury Media, the Los Angeles-based publisher of glossy upscale city magazines, is acquiring digital newsletter publisher Juli B. The move will give Modern Luxury a built-in subscriber base for its forthcoming Manhattan magazine, launching in September.
Wenner Breaks Off Sale Talks for Us Weekly
New York Post
Wenner Media boss Jann Wenner is said to be breaking off talks to sell Us Weekly. The celebrity-fascination segment of the magazine business is expected to "plateau or decline." Also, magazine deals are said to be stalling for Entrepreneur and Hamptons Cottages & Gardens.
New Upscale Magazines Cozy Up to Advertisers
New York Observer
Advertiser-friendly glossies for upscale audiences are thriving, note industry observers. Several luxury titles are set to launch this autumn. One editor says: "There's going to be an inevitable erosion of church and state as magazines become the marketing expense for their Web sites."
Portfolio Blog to Feature 'Serious' Journalists
WWD
Portfolio.com's fashion blog, Fashion Inc., is returning. But instead of hiring one writer to cover the beat, the blog will feature a number of guest writers with "serious experience in fashion journalism." Lauren Goldstein Crowe left the blog in March, after her one-year contract expired.
NY Times to Serve Custom Headlines to LinkedIn
Guardian
The New York Times will serve targeted Web stories to business and tech users in a deal with social-networking site LinkedIn. NYTimes.com will serve relevant headlines, with stories selected based on the industry, location, role, company and gender of the user's LinkedIn profile.
U.S. Newspapers Cut Foreign News Coverage
Press Gazette
The drastic cutbacks at American newspapers are beginning to have a noticeable effect: Almost two thirds of all U.S. papers are publishing much less foreign news than they did three years ago, says a new study by the Pew Research Center. Even national news is getting less play.
Dennis Plans to Launch The Week in Australia
Telegraph
Felix Dennis is said to be eyeing assets to add his slate of 50 magazines. The publisher plans to launch an edition of his "most prized" title -- the news digest The Week -- in Australia in October. He later plans to take the "reasonably profitable" magazine to Canada and India.
McGraw-Hill Mulls Bid for Reed Business
Telegraph
BusinessWeek publisher McGraw-Hill and private equity firms Bain and TPG are among two dozen companies that have expressed an interest in acquiring Reed Elsevier's trade magazine division. Reed Business publishes Variety, Broadcasting & Cable and other trade titles.
Tribune Attracts Bidders for Chicago Cubs
Chicago Tribune
Internet billionaire Mark Cuban and Broadway theater owner Rocco Landesman among at least seven groups who submitted opening bids for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field as the deadline passed Friday. Tribune CEO Sam Zell is selling off assets to help pay down debt.
U.S. Newspapers See 'Massacre,' Protests
Press Gazette / Times
In the past two months almost 4,000 jobs have vanished at U.S. newspapers. At the Baltimore Sun, where 100 employees are being laid off, some staffers are taking to the streets in protest. Tribune journalists are launching a protest blog. But editors say they're still "optimistic."
Metro Free Daily Hit by 'Gloomy' Ad Markets
Mad.co.uk
Metro International, Europe's first free daily newspaper and now the largest daily in the world, is posting an 83% drop in quarterly profits which it attributes to "gloomy" advertising markets in Europe and North America. Metro is published in more than 150 major cities in 21 countries.
Chicago Tribune Mulls 'Dramatic Changes'
Crain's Chicago
The new face of the Chicago Tribune is taking shape, as staffers put the finishing touches on a prototype set for a test run in a few weeks. The 161-year-old newspaper will try out some dramatic changes, including devoting its front section to consumer-oriented and entertainment features.
NY Times to Become More Like a Blog
AdAge / Observer
This September, the New York Times's home page will start automatically displaying links to competitors' takes on the news. The newspaper also plans to expand its business coverage online, including news aggregation. Online editor Jon Landman says: "We're giddy over a new, digital war!"
LA Times Contracts Editor for Magazine Redo
WWD
Tribune's Los Angeles Times is preparing a relaunch of its monthly magazine under contracted editor Annie Gilbar. The controversial, upscale-focused glossy will be produced under the oversight of the publisher, not the editorial department. The magazine's name is yet to be determined.
Harold Evans: Web Should Inspire Newspapers
Independent
The Internet represents an opportunity for newspapers in terms of design, according to Harold Evans, former editor of the U.K. Sunday Times. Newspapers should take cues from the "bang, bang" news hits of the Web. "The New York Times desperately needs to rethink its whole design."
Murdoch Offers News Widget of Lingerie Model
Guardian
Rupert Murdoch's U.K. tabloid The Sun is relaunching its Web site with many new offerings, including a free downloadable news widget featuring model Keeley Hazell. The Page 3 girl delivers "up-to-the-minute news" to users' desktops while dressed in "a stunning range of lingerie."
Conde Nast Preps Internet, Succession Plans
New York Times
Conde Nast execs acknowledge only mild concern about the Internet and succession planning. Chairman Si Newhouse Jr., 80, "has set us up with Chuck Townsend as CEO, Jonathan Newhouse running the international group, and me running the Internet," says Steve Newhouse.
Hearst to Publish 'Electronic' Esquire Cover
New York Times
Esquire will publish an "electronic" cover that will flash "the 21st Century Begins Now," when it appears on newsstands. The title made a six-figure investment to develop a battery small enough to embed in the cover. Sponsor Ford Motor will have an ad using the same technology.
Rodale 'Mobilizes' Men's Health Washboard Abs
MinOnline
Rodale magazine Men's Health is asking readers to take a picture of the Dolce & Gabbana ad in its August issue and e-mail in the image to receive a link to a retail page. According to comScore, sending and receiving photos or video on the phone is the most popular mobile media activity.
Sporting News Rolls Out Digital Sports Daily
Mediaweek
American City Business Journals' Sporting News is launching Sporting News Today, a "daily digital sports newspaper" that will be e-mailed each morning to a list of subscribers. Eventually, the product will feature video ads and even "half page" newspaper-type ads.
Captivate Elevator Network Launches News Site
MediaPost
Captivate Network, which delivers news and information to thousands of digital screens in office building elevators, is expanding its ability with an online news site. Captivate.com will be a site where viewers can learn more about the 15-second stories appearing on elevator screens.
Google CEO: Newspapers Face 'Bleak' Future
Los Angeles Times
Google CEO Eric Schmidt predicts that professional producers of video content will adapt to the Internet and find ways to replace any money lost as consumer habits shift. The outlook for newspapers, on the other hand, is "bleak," he says, and that is "a tragedy."
Variety, Hollywood Reporter Face Blog Boycott
Folio
Movie blog Collider.com and others are accusing Variety and Hollywood Reporter, the leading entertainment industry publications, of taking news from their sites without attribution and are now calling on other bloggers to stop linking to the trades.
Craigslist In New Apartment Swindle Bust
New York Daily News
More than 4,000 people were ripped off nearly $1 million in fees by New York City real-estate broker Innovative Apartments, which posted phony listings on Craigslist. Still, New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo admits: "Craigslist can be a terrific asset for New Yorkers."
Time Inc Gives Away House to Promote Portal
MediaPost
MyHomeIdeas.com, the new home portal launched by Time Inc.'s Southern Progress, is giving away an "Idea House" worth $1 million in Florida. The sweepstakes aims to help publicize the new online destination, which draws on the editorial of Southern Living and Coastal Living.
Gannett Shares Drop; USA Today Ads Plunge
Bloomberg
Shares of Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, dropped to their lowest level since 1985 after reporting second-quarter profit fell 36%, hurt by sliding advertising sales. USA Today's ad sales fell 27% in June, the steepest monthly decline this year.
Murdoch London Tabloid Raises Cover Price
Guardian
The Wall Street Journal isn't the only Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper planning to raise its price. Murdoch's U.K. tabloid The Sun is raising its weekday cover price in London and the southeast by 5 pence to 30 pence. The Sun costs 35 pence on weekdays in most other regions.
Wasserstein Loses Head of Penton Magazines
New York Post
John French, head of trade magazine publisher Penton Media, is stepping down, shortly after the firm was given a negative outlook by Standard & Poor's. Says one observer: "The job of a CEO of a media company these days has the life expectancy of a second lieutenant in Vietnam."
Newsweek President Exits to Digital Space
Folio
Greg Osberg, Newsweek's president and worldwide publisher, is leaving the Washington Post Co. "I have a passion for the digital space," he says. Osberg declines to reveal what his next move will be, but says it will most likely not be in the magazine industry.
Wall St Journal to Cut Jobs, Create News Hub
Portfolio
The Wall Street Journal is purging its New Jersey-based editorial ranks of about 50 positions and consolidating its operations in Manhattan. The Journal aims to create a news hub in New York to produce copy across multiple platforms -- print, online and mobile.
Dow Jones to Close Denver Printing Plant
News & Tech
Dow Jones & Co. plans to close its suburban Denver print site and transfer production of the Wall Street Journal and Barron's to the Denver Newspaper Agency. Dow Jones says it "continues to look for ways to better serve our readers while becoming more cost efficient."
>> MORE
TELEVISION & RADIO
XM-Sirius Deal Gets a 'No' Vote From Copps
MarketWatch
U.S. Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps is voting against the proposed merger of XM and Sirius satellite radio. Copps, a vocal opponent of media consolidation, is the first to vote against the deal. The vote increases pressure on FCC member Deborah Taylor Tate.
CW Loses Top Exec to Major League Baseball
Los Angeles Times
Bill Morningstar, the top sales executive for the limping CW television network, is resigning to take a job with Major League Baseball. The move comes as the 2-year-old joint venture between CBS and Warner Bros. Entertainment struggles to get off the ground.
Disney-ABC Names New 'At The Movies' Hosts
Chicago Sun-Times
Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz will replace Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper as co-hosts of the syndicated movie-review show "At the Movies." Lyons is the son of film critic Jeffrey Lyons; Mankiewicz is the grandson of legendary screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz.
CBS 'Rathergate' Set to Become Feature Film
New York Observer
Hollywood insiders are working on a feature film adaptation of "Truth and Duty," the book by former CBS News producer Mary Mapes, in which she defends the controversial "60 Minutes II" story by Dan Rather about President Bush's National Guard service.
TiVo to Create 'New Business Model' for TV
New York Times
TiVo is introducing a "product purchase" feature with Amazon.com. Owners of TiVo video recorders will see links to buy products like CDs, DVDs and books. TiVo plans to begin offering this feature to advertisers with the goal of creating "a future business model for television."
Comcast Pressured to Block Adult Content
Washington Post
New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo is notifying Comcast that the state will take legal action if the company doesn't block access to adult content that features children. Comcast, the No. 2 U.S. Internet service provider, says it will take action.
FCC 'Wardrobe Malfunction' Fine Tossed
USA Today
A U.S. federal appeals court is dismissing a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson's breast-baring "wardrobe malfunction." The Federal Communications Commission "acted arbitrarily."
CBS: Viewing Shows Online Won't Kill TV
Reuters
Watching full-length shows online won't destroy television viewership, according to a study commissioned by CBS. The study of 50,000 people, conducted by Magid Media Labs, finds that 35% of online watchers say they are now more likely to watch CBS on TV after finding shows online.
MTV Buys Pilot From Diller's CollegeHumor
Gawker
MTV is said to be acquiring the pilot for a television show from the creators of Barry Diller's CollegeHumor.com. The deal is believed to be for six episodes, scheduled to air this fall. The show could "add a much-needed dose of humorous frat-boy hijinks" to the Viacom channel.
NBC Plots to Keep Leno From Jumping to Rival
New York Times
NBC says that Jay Leno's last night as host of NBC's "Tonight Show" will be May 29, 2009, with Conan O'Brien taking over on June 1. The network refuses to concede that Leno's departure to a rival network is a fait accompli, saying it continues to "work on ideas" with him.
Meredith, TV Groups Accept Product Placements
New York Times
Local television stations owned by Meredith, Tribune, Fox and Univision are accepting product placements on their morning shows. Meredith's KVVU in Las Vegas displays McDonald's coffee during its a.m. show. Product placement in the newsroom is said to raise "troubling questions."
XM, Sirius Must Merge to Survive, Analysts Say
Washington Post
XM Satellite Radio expects losses of as much as $38 million in the second quarter and will have to refinance debt as it waits for U.S. regulatory approval of its merger with rival Sirius. XM's losses show that both XM and Sirius need the merger for long-term survival, according to analysts.
MTV to Battle YouTube With 'Saturation'
New York Post
Viacom's MTV is now airing clips it exclusively premieres at least a half-dozen times during a single three-hour weekday video block. MTV exec Brian Graden calls the strategy "hyper-saturation," and views the move as a way to get ahead of online outlets like YouTube in influence.
XM-Sirius Merger Hangs on New Conditions
Washington Post
U.S. Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein, who may hold the swing vote in the long-delayed merger of satellite radio rivals XM and Sirius, wants the two companies to agree to cap service prices for six years after their union, among other conditions.
CBS: Katie Couric Exit Rumors Aren't True
Forbes
Reports that CBS News will replace evening news anchor Katie Couric after the U.S. presidential election or the inauguration are not true, says division chief Sean McManus. "I can say, and I have said, that it's not true." Couric adds: "I can't really control what media writers write."
CNBC Grooms Erin Burnett for Stardom
New York Times
Competing with the Internet and the new Fox Business Network, CNBC is trolling for new stars, meticulously managing the ascent of newscaster Erin Burnett. The young journalist's "rapid-fire delivery and laserlike blue eyes" appeal to viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.
NBC's Seigenthaler Leaves For PR Firm
MediaPost
John Seigenthaler, a well-known NBC news anchor and the son of a noted editor of the Nashville Tennessean, is joining a family public-relations firm. Anchor of the NBC weekend nightly news for eight years, he joins Seigenthaler Public Relations as CEO of the New York office.
Leno's NBC Era Expected to End Late May
TV Week / USA Today
NBC on Monday is expected to announce the exact timetable for Jay Leno to hand over the host's chair on "The Tonight Show" to Conan O'Brien. Leno is likely to host his final show in late May or early June. Also: Leno says, "I am definitely done next year -- with NBC."
NBC to Test Fallon's 'Late Night' on the Web
New York Times
NBC will try out incoming "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon in brief, 5- or 10-minute nightly segments on the Internet, starting this autumn, long before the young comedian replaces Conan O'Brien, who will leave the show to take over the "Tonight" show from Jay Leno next year.
Disney-ABC Drops Sun-Times Film Columnist
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper is leaving "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" after eight years, having failed to sign a new contract with Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Disney is said to be mulling an "Entertainment Tonight"-style reinvention of the long-running show.
GE Hears More Calls to Sell Off NBC Universal
BusinessWeek
NBC Universal is a persistent source of irritation for some General Electric investors, with one calling it "a corporate spleen": good for now, but something GE could live without. Analysts are ramping up the sale chatter, though chief Jeff Immelt insists that a sale isn't on the table.
NBC, Weinstein Clash Over 'Project Runway'
Adweek / BusinessWeek
Jeff Zucker and Harvey Weinstein are offering colorful testimony in a New York court hearing, in their dispute over the move of the hit Bravo program "Project Runway" to Lifetime from NBC. Also: The Hollywood buzz surrounding Weinstein Co. is said to be "relentlessly bad."
CBS's Moonves to Testify In Rather Lawsuit
New York Times
CBS boss Les Moonves and former CBS News head Andrew Heyward are agreeing to testify in a lawsuit filed by former anchor Dan Rather, who claims he was "mishandled" when forced off the "CBS Evening News" in 2005. Rather also wants to depose CBS chief Sumner Redstone.
ABC 'Nightline' Future In Doubt from Leno
Hollywood Reporter
With Jay Leno's departure from NBC set to shake up late-night television, ABC's "Nightline" may face another challenge to its survival. If ABC decides to go after Leno, "Nightline" could be the odd show out. ABC News has fought hard for years to keep the coveted 11:35 p.m. time slot.
XM-Sirius Merger May Get Deciding Vote
Associated Press
U.S. Federal Communications commissioner Jonathan Adelstein says he will back the proposed merger between satellite radio rivals XM and Sirius, if the two companies agree to conditions. The deal currently is one vote shy of the majority needed for approval.
Comcast Hires Yahoo Entertainment Exec
Philadelphia Inquirer
Comcast is hiring Yahoo exec Karin Gilford to run its Fancast.com video service and other online entertainment. Experts say they believe that online sites operated by entertainment networks and other media companies will eventually compete with Comcast's core pay-television service.
CNN.com Appoints Disney Exec Senior VP
TV Week
CNN.com is naming Ken Estenson as its senior VP and general manager. Estenson currently is VP of digital media for Disney-ABC Cable Networks. In his new role, Estenson will oversee all CNN.com business. Earlier: CNN's international online video use is up by 250%.
NBCU Eyes BlogHer for Investment, iVillage
CNET
BlogHer, a network of 2,200 women's blogs, is entering a strategic deal with iVillage, the Web conglomerate for women owned by NBC Universal. As part of the deal, NBC Universal's investment arm, Peacock Equity, is investing $5 million in the 3-year-old BlogHer.
MSNBC Names Olbermann Booster President
Kansas City Star
Phil Griffin, a longtime NBC news exec who has worked with Keith Olbermann for more than 25 years and is an outspoken champion of the television personality at MSNBC, is taking over the whole network, NBC News is announcing. Griffin has had MSNBC oversight since 2006.
ABC Exec Makes Public Overture to Leno
Reuters
ABC chief programming exec Steve McPherson says his network would welcome Jay Leno if rival NBC fails to find a new job for the comedian when he retires next year as host of "The Tonight Show." Says McPherson: "I can't believe they are going to let this guy go at the top of his game."
>> MORE
INTERNET & DIGITAL MEDIA
YouTube Said to Near Truce With Hollywood
CNET
Google's YouTube is said to be shedding its reputation as a clearinghouse for pirated content and could soon be home to legally obtained clips from movies and television shows. Google is adopting "a more accommodating approach" to its video-sharing site.
Google Preps Acquisition of Digg for $200M
TechCrunch
Google's on and off negotiations with the social news site Digg are said to be "back on in a big way." The two companies are reportedly close to a deal that will bring Digg under the Google News property. The acquisition price is in the $200 million range, says one source.
MySpace Joins Shared Identity Service OpenID
Reuters
News Corp.'s MySpace Internet social network will join the OpenID alliance to begin letting its users take their online identity to other sites and social networks without having to register again. Users will be able to log onto other sites by using their MySpace accounts.
Diller's IAC Value Diminished by Housing Crisis
Associated Press
Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, preparing to spin off four of its operating units, says it plans to take about $170 million in charges because the housing crisis has diminished the value of its mortgage and real estate businesses, which include LendingTree.com.
GigaOM Buys Mobile Media Blog jkOnTheRun
GigaOM
Giga Omni Media, the company behind the popular tech blog GigaOM, is acquiring jkOnTheRun.com, a blog by James Kendrick and Kevin Tofel that focuses on mobile gadgets, including mobile phones and cloud client computers. jkOnTheRun will be the sixth blog in the GigaOM Network.
Perez Hilton In Lawsuit Over Perezrevenge.com
Los Angeles Times
Celebrity blogger Mario Lavandeira, better known as Perez Hilton, is going to court to protect his moniker. Lavandeira is filing a lawsuit against Infuse LLC and its owners, accusing them cyber-squatting and deceptive trade practices related to their site, Perezrevenge.com.
Glam Hires Google Veteran For Investments
VentureBeat
Glam Media, the Internet media network aimed at women, is hiring Google exec Michael Adair to handles its strategic investments. Adair is the former head of sales and finance for Google North America, responsible in part for the search giant's acquisition of YouTube.
AOL's Ousted CEO Could Lead Yahoo Strategy
Associated Press
Ousted AOL chief Jon Miller is a candidate for one of the two open board seats activist investor Carl Icahn gets in a deal avoiding a battle for control of Yahoo. Miller could even end up running Yahoo if pressures to oust CEO Jerry Yang continue.
Yahoo May Be Broken Up, Sold Off In Pieces
Bloomberg
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang will have to revive the Internet company's profit with a divided board and Carl Icahn as minority leader, analysts say. While Yang keeps his job, disappointing results will make his position "tenuous." Yahoo is likely to be "sold off in pieces."
Google, American Airlines Settle Ad Lawsuit
Associated Press
American Airlines is dropping its lawsuit against Google over the search engine directing some users to advertisements for the airline's competitors. Google compares its policy to magazines that publish a Ford ad on the page opposite from a story about Chevrolets.
Universal Fights Mom Over YouTube Video
vnunet
Pennsylvania mother Stephanie Lenz is filing a court case against the Universal music label over her YouTube video of her infant son dancing to a song by Prince being taken offline. Lenz is fighting Universal's takedown notice in what could be a test case for fair-use music rights.
'Dark Knight' Pirated Copies Available Online
CNET
Pirated copies of the Time Warner film "The Dark Knight" are already turning up on file-sharing sites, within days of the movie's release. Grainy and dark copies of the hit film are available for viewing and downloading on VideoEmbedder.com and other sites.
Google Bests Microsoft as Top Consumer Brand
BBC
Google is the "top consumer brand" in Britain, says a consumer poll by the Superbrands Council. Google moved up two places from last year's poll, pushing Microsoft into second place. Google is "the brand that people value at work and in their personal lives."
Yahoo Names Icahn to Board, Settles Proxy Fight
Reuters
Yahoo is appointing activist investor Carl Icahn and two members of his slate of directors to the company's board, settling a proxy battle ahead of its Aug. 1 annual meeting. Icahn had sought to replace the board with his own nominees, seeking to restart talks with Microsoft.
Time Warner's AOL 'Nightmare' May Get Worse
Bloomberg
Time Warner's struggle to sell AOL is putting more pressure on the media company's stock price as the advertising slowdown spreads to the Internet and the pool of potential buyers shrinks. According to one investor, AOL has "become yesterday's story in the Internet world."
Diller's IAC Eyes Web Investments After Breakup
Bloomberg
Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp is signing agreements to raise almost $2 billion to finance the spinoffs of three divisions, part of a plan to break up the company. The deal will leave $1.3 billion to invest in its Ask.com search engine, acquisitions and emerging Web sites that IAC develops.
Facebook's New Facelift Reflects Rise of Twitter
AP / FT
Facebook is unveiling a redesign to reflect changes in how its members communicate. Users now are apt to exchange just one-sentence, Twitter-style messages. Also: Facebook is filing a lawsuit against Germany's StudiVZ, accusing it of running a "knock-off" site.
MySpace In Talks With Agencies for PR Help
PR Week
News Corp. social network MySpace is said to be in talks with several public-relations agencies. The nature of the work being sought is unclear. Two agencies that MySpace currently works with are Edelman and SparkPR. The review is said to be ongoing for more than a month.
Napster Seen as Takeover Target for Funds
Bloomberg
Napster, the Internet music pioneer whose shares have plunged 95% in six years, is seen as takeover bait for hedge funds zeroing in on a cash hoard exceeding the company's market value. Napster controls half of all U.S. online-music subscriptions and is seen as "dirt cheap."
Bloggers Gather to Plot White House Victory
San Francisco Chronicle
Netroots Nation, a four-day liberal blogapalooza that ended Sunday in Austin, Texas, plans to use its online power to help elect a Democratic president. Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos blog on which the convention originally gathered, declares: "We are the mainstream."
AOL Sale Unlikely In Near-Term, Analyst Says
Pali Research
A sale of AOL in the near future is highly unlikely, due in part to the "near-toxic brand" of the Time Warner Internet company, says Pali Research. Analyst Rich Greenfield forecasts AOL advertising revenues to grow in the "low single digits" in the next few quarters.
Yahoo May Revisit News Corp If AOL Dims
Reuters
Yahoo is unlikely to get into a bidding war over AOL with Microsoft, according to a person with knowledge of the plans. If Microsoft gets in the way, Yahoo could instead renew talks over News Corp.'s Web properties. Yahoo is "keeping in contact" with Rupert Murdoch's media giant.
Google CEO: YouTube Ads to Be 'Holy Grail'
CNET
CEO Eric Schmidt, on a conference call after Google reported disappointing second-quarter earnings, says he expects to hit the mother lode when YouTube finds a way to make money. Monetization "is likely to be very large because of the scope and scale of YouTube."
Google to Buy Russian Ad Firm for $140M
Bloomberg
Google plans to acquire Russian advertising company ZAO Begun for $140 million to tap growth in the country's online ad sales. Begun owner Rambler Media also will use Google's search advertising technology on its Web site. Russia's market of paid advertising is "growing fast."
Internet Ad Spending May Feel Economic Woes
Washington Post
Google's and Microsoft's new earnings reports are short of Wall Street expectations, suggesting that economic troubles may be spreading to Internet advertising spending. Google chief economist Hal Varian says: "We see consumers are being cautious with online spending."
Last.fm Boasts 'Smartest' Ads on the Web
Times
Social music site Last.fm will start showing advertising that can tap into its community features. For example, hotel chains will be able to tap into a Last.fm user's list of favorite artists and display ads for hotels in cities where those artists have upcoming gigs.
Lawmaker: Web Ad Tracking Needs Opt-In Rule
Los Angeles Times
Internet service providers should be prohibited from tracking customers' Web activities to deliver targeted ads without those users' approval, says Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a key U.S. House lawmaker. An opt-in rule should be included in online privacy legislation, he says.
Google CEO: Newspapers Face 'Bleak' Future
Los Angeles Times
Google CEO Eric Schmidt predicts that professional producers of video content will adapt to the Internet and find ways to replace any money lost as consumer habits shift. The outlook for newspapers, on the other hand, is "bleak," he says, and that is "a tragedy."
AOL May Struggle to Reach Microsoft Deal
Bloomberg
Time Warner may struggle to clinch an agreement to sell AOL to Microsoft by Aug. 1, when the software giant's fight to acquire Yahoo comes to a head. Analysts see the likelihood of a deal before the shareholder meeting as "fairly low" since there is "so much to be ironed out."
YouTube In Revenue-Sharing Movie Deal
Reuters
Google's YouTube is partnering with Lions Gate Entertainment to run the studio's film clips on the video-sharing site. Viewers will be allowed to upload scenes of Lions Gate movies, accompanied with ads. The deal is in sharp contrast to Viacom's $1-billion YouTube lawsuit.
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ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Ogilvy Group Names Young as Worldwide CEO
Adweek
WPP Group is confirming that Miles Young will succeed Shelly Lazarus as worldwide CEO of The Ogilvy Group, effective Jan. 1. Young, 53, has been chairman of Ogilvy's Asia-Pacific region since 1995. Lazarus, 60, will remain as worldwide chairman of the group.
Nielsen Tallying Product Placement Ads
Los Angeles Times
Nielsen and other research firms are now employing small armies of people to track product placement advertisements, one of the fastest-growing segments of the ad industry. Nielsen is determined to establish its place in product placement measurement just as it holds sway in TV ratings.
Google CEO: YouTube Ads to Be 'Holy Grail'
CNET
CEO Eric Schmidt, on a conference call after Google reported disappointing second-quarter earnings, says he expects to hit the mother lode when YouTube finds a way to make money. Monetization "is likely to be very large because of the scope and scale of YouTube."
Internet Ad Spending May Feel Economic Woes
Washington Post
Google's and Microsoft's new earnings reports are short of Wall Street expectations, suggesting that economic troubles may be spreading to Internet advertising spending. Google chief economist Hal Varian says: "We see consumers are being cautious with online spending."
Last.fm Boasts 'Smartest' Ads on the Web
Times
Social music site Last.fm will start showing advertising that can tap into its community features. For example, hotel chains will be able to tap into a Last.fm user's list of favorite artists and display ads for hotels in cities where those artists have upcoming gigs.
Lawmaker: Web Ad Tracking Needs Opt-In Rule
Los Angeles Times
Internet service providers should be prohibited from tracking customers' Web activities to deliver targeted ads without those users' approval, says Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a key U.S. House lawmaker. An opt-in rule should be included in online privacy legislation, he says.
General Motors' Cuts to Hit Media Industry
Wall Street Journal
General Motors, one of the largest U.S. advertising spenders, says it is cutting its sales and marketing budget, a move expected to create pains for the media business. GM's ad spending on newspapers and television is down 32% and 11%, respectively, in 2007 from 2006.
P&G Global Marketing Chief to Step Down
Financial Times
Jim Stengel, 53, is stepping down as global marketing officer at consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, the world's largest advertiser. Stengel's early retirement "came as a surprise." P&G says Stengel plans to pursue "a personal passion to promote marketing as a positive force."
YouTube Sees Arrival of Product Placement
Washington Post
Product placement is starting to creep into amateur videos posted on YouTube, as more and more corporate entities turn to user-generated channels looking for attention. Matt Harding's "silly dance" video clip -- a smash hit on YouTube -- is sponsored by Stride gum.
Captivate Elevator Network Launches Blogs
Mediaweek
In a move that could portend a major shift in the programming of out-of-home video networks, Captivate Network is providing content to the desks of its elevator riders through six recently-launched blogs that amplify topics featured on its elevator screens.
Key U.S. Ad Spending Forecast Cut by Half
Financial Times
U.S. advertising spending will grow at roughly half the pace originally forecast this year, according to MAGNA Global, blaming the revision on a slowing economy. The biggest victim will be the newspaper industry, where MAGNA predicts that advertising will fall 8% this year.
YouTube Considers Preroll, Postroll Ads
Wall Street Journal
Google plans to begin accepting "preroll" and "postroll" ads for YouTube, which will run before and after some video clips on the site, a source says. YouTube has long forsworn such ads because consumers don't like them. But advertisers consider them highly effective.
Internet Ad Spending to Overtake Radio, Mags
Bloomberg
Internet advertising spending will surpass radio this year, forecasts Steve King, head of Publicis Groupe's ZenithOptimedia. "Internet has already overtaken cinema and outdoors. In a couple of years it's going to overtake magazines." Also, Publicis is forming a unit to boost Internet sales.
NBC to Release Show-Specific Internet Data
MarketWatch
NBC says it will become the first television network to make online program-specific streaming data available to advertisers. The network hopes the data will help advertisers to more effectively make cross-platform buys encompassing online video as well as broadcast TV.
Ad Execs Fear Moves by Google, Microsoft
IHT
Google and Microsoft are stirring suspicions at advertising agencies. Microsoft paid for 550 people to attend this year's Cannes Lions ad festival. WPP chief Martin Sorrell questions Google's hiring of ad execs, saying it suggests that the search giant plans a move onto agency turf.
FCC to Mull Rules for 'Embedded' TV Ads
Reuters
U.S. regulators are expected to vote to study whether television shows should carry conspicuous notices informing viewers when advertisers paid to have products prominently displayed during programs. "Embedded advertisements" is a concern of both consumer groups and lawmakers.
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MEDIA COMPANIES
News Corp Prez Eyes Online Video, Mobile
Fortune
News Corp. president Peter Chernin, speaking at Fortune magazine's Brainstorm Tech conference, sees big money-making opportunities online in video and mobile. "The place that is most promising is probably in video," he says. Mobile "is by far the most penetrated device on earth."
Viacom CEO: 'Great' Content Is King Online
CNET
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman says that the Internet and mobile media are expanding his company's reach worldwide. Also: Google didn't do anything to stop piracy on YouTube because it helped build a massive audience, Dauman claims. Google must learn the value of "making friends."
Disney Registers Interesting Internet Domains
Jim Hill
Disney is registering a batch of new Internet domain names. They include: DisneyProposals.com, DisneyThink.org, MyDisneyReservations.com, DisneyPartyGame.org, and DisneyFamilyMoons.com. Also: TheDisneyMovieClubSucks.com.
Viacom, CBS Chief Redstone to 'Fight Death'
CNBC
At 85, Sumner Redstone is still overseeing the media empire he built over the past 20 years, and he says he has no plans to step down. "I love what I'm doing," he says. "I love Viacom. I love CBS. And so I don't want to die. I have a will to live. I'm gonna fight death as long as I can."
Time Warner Shares Drop Despite 'Dark Knight'
Crain's / WWD
The record $155.3 million opening weekend of "The Dark Knight" will boost Time Warner's chances of meeting its full-year forecast, analysts say. However: Time Warner's stock price fell more than 2% on Monday. "It doesn't help that the company is having trouble selling AOL."
FCC Panel Probes Future of Digital Media
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission met in Pittsburgh on Monday for two sessions, "The Future of Digital Media" and "The Broadband of Tomorrow." One panelist, Web pro Mark Cuban, suggests the greatest opportunities in digital media will lie beyond the Internet.
Time Warner's AOL 'Nightmare' May Get Worse
Bloomberg
Time Warner's struggle to sell AOL is putting more pressure on the media company's stock price as the advertising slowdown spreads to the Internet and the pool of potential buyers shrinks. According to one investor, AOL has "become yesterday's story in the Internet world."
Web No Threat to Old Media, Expert Says
Financial Times
Broadcasters and national newspapers shouldn't to be fooled by "hype" about the Internet, says Patrick Barwise, a media academic at the London Business School. Human behavior guarantees a safe future for television, he argues. The so-called digital revolution is simply "Bollocks 2.0."
Warner to Release 'Motion Comics' Online
Wall Street Journal
Warner Bros. is releasing an online Batman series to tie-in with the film "The Dark Knight," a hybrid of comic books and animation that the studio calls "motion comics." The Web shorts will be distributed via Microsoft's Xbox 360 game consoles and Verizon's V Cast mobile phones.
GE Hears More Calls to Sell Off NBC Universal
BusinessWeek
NBC Universal is a persistent source of irritation for some General Electric investors, with one calling it "a corporate spleen": good for now, but something GE could live without. Analysts are ramping up the sale chatter, though chief Jeff Immelt insists that a sale isn't on the table.
AOL Sale Unlikely In Near-Term, Analyst Says
Pali Research
A sale of AOL in the near future is highly unlikely, due in part to the "near-toxic brand" of the Time Warner Internet company, says Pali Research. Analyst Rich Greenfield forecasts AOL advertising revenues to grow in the "low single digits" in the next few quarters.
News Corp-NBC's Hulu Users Aren't Numerous
TV Week
Only 15% of online Americans have heard of Hulu.com, the News Corp.-NBC online video venture. But those who have used the site like it a lot, suggests a study from Solutions Research Group. The average age of a Hulu user is 32, 10 years younger than the average online American.
Actors: Studios Offer Too Little In New Media
Bloomberg
The Screen Actors Guild says it can't accept studios' proposed labor contract because it doesn't ensure union jurisdiction over new media, signaling an impasse between the two groups. The guild argues that the digital media landscape "has dramatically shifted."
Bertelsmann to Sell Clubs, Focus on Web
Deutsche Welle
Germany's Bertelsmann, Europe's biggest media company, will sell most of its book, CD and DVD clubs, where revenue has been declining, to focus on television and the Internet. The business model of Bertelsmann's Direct Group has suffered with the advent of Internet downloads.
General Motors' Cuts to Hit Media Industry
Wall Street Journal
General Motors, one of the largest U.S. advertising spenders, says it is cutting its sales and marketing budget, a move expected to create pains for the media business. GM's ad spending on newspapers and television is down 32% and 11%, respectively, in 2007 from 2006.
Yahoo Entertainment Exec Heads to Comcast
TechCrunch
Karin Gilford, Yahoo's VP and general manager of entertainment, is said to be resigning from the company to take up a new position with Comcast. Gilford oversees Yahoo music, video, television, movies and other entertainment activities. There is no word yet on her successor.
Viacom Studio Financing Deal Falls Through
Los Angeles Times
Paramount Pictures is ditching efforts to raise up to $450 million in financing with Deutsche Bank to help bankroll its movies. Deutsche sought terms that Paramount found too steep. Investors are said to be less enamored with risking their money on the volatile movie business.
Google, Viacom Reach Deal Over YouTube Data
CNET
YouTube will be allowed to mask important user data from records it must turn over to Viacom, Google says in a statement. "Viacom and the other litigants have backed off their demand for YouTube user viewing histories. We have reached agreement to anonymize the data."
Napster Partners With Disney for Web Radio
Associated Press
Online music retailer Napster is partnering with Walt Disney Records to launch a commercial-free "Best of Disney" radio station for the Web. The collection of songs, aimed at kids and young teens, will come from Disney movies and popular Disney stars such as Hannah Montana.
Media Moguls Give Thumbs Up to Obama
Reuters / Bloomberg
Barack Obama appears to be the favorite White House contender among media moguls, according to an informal vote at the Allen & Co. media confab in Sun Valley, Idaho. Rupert Murdoch says he has been "seduced" by Obama. Also: An Obama presidency "would bode well" for Google.
'Old Media' Execs Advised to Sell Assets
New York Times
Non-digital media businesses are going to be toast, predicts Internet pioneer Marc Andreessen. "If you have old media, you should sell. If you own newspapers, sell. If you own TV stations, sell." Also: Sony boss Howard Stringer says: "Those of us in the old media are less significant."
Time Warner's Parsons Bullish on Media Biz
Bloomberg
Richard Parsons, chairman of Time Warner, says he is "much more bullish" on the media industry than investors. "People will continue to consume more and more of what entertainment companies produce," he insists. Parsons adds that companies can't create value by merely breaking them up.
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