Monday, November 16, 2009
Waiting for Vivendi: Comcast-NBCU Deal Needs a “Oui”
When will Comcast and GE’s NBCU finally unveil their hookup plans? When Vivendi says they can. Which should be sooner than later.
All posts tagged ‘entertainment’
Friday, November 13, 2009
“The Office” Weighs In on Murdoch’s Paywall Plans
Are the folks who put together “The Office” clairvoyant or what? These things are written and shot many weeks in advance, yet last night’s episode contains a perfectly timed reference to the News Corp./Google paywall controversy.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
AOL’s Mass Layoffs Will Cost $200 Million
AOL formally acknowledged that it plans on a round of very large cuts: In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Time Warner unit said it plans on taking up to $200 million in restructuring charges through the first half of 2010. Earlier this week, Kara Swisher reported that AOL’s coming spinoff would be followed by layoffs of up to 1,000 employees.
Who’s Watching What on YouTube? See for Yourself.
If you’re someone who gets paid to market to people who use YouTube, there’s a good chance you already know about TestTube, the site’s suite of experimental services. The rest of us will find interesting novelties, like “Insights for Audience”: A nifty way to find out what people like–or unlike–you are watching.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
YouTube’s Newest Ads: Ones You Don’t Have to Watch
The newest twist in Google’s quest to wring more more money out of YouTube: Ads you don’t have to look at. That’s a refreshing change of pace, no?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Madison Avenue’s Plan B: Data-Driven Jewelry?
The digital disruption wave is crashing down on the ad business. One agency’s response: A line of jewelry “that takes interesting data and transforms it into wearable art.”
Monday, November 9, 2009
Dish’s Tivo Bill: $328 Million and Counting
You think you’re paying too much for cable TV? Check out this nugget, buried in satellite TV provider Dish Networks’ quarterly filing: The company has spent $328 million in its legal battle against Tivo this year, and that bill could keep growing.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Scripps Books Travel Channel in $975 Million Deal
It’s official: Scripps Networks Interactive has won the Travel Channel auction. In a deal that values the channel at $975 million, Scripps will acquire a majority interest in the property while current owner Cox retains a 35 percent stake. News Corp., among others, had been bidding for the channel.
YouTube’s Newest Partner: Will Ferrell
Slowly but surely, YouTube has been able to bump up the number of “premium” content creators willing to hand over some of their stuff to the world’s biggest video site. Here’s yet another one: Funny or Die, the comedy site backed by Will Ferrell, Sequoia and HBO, among others.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
News Corp. Saved by Movies and Cable, Hammered by Broadcast and Print
Rupert Murdoch and company aren’t exactly celebrating, but they did provide a better earnings number than Wall Street expected. They can thank Fox News, and yet another “Ice Age” movie. Not helping the cause: The company’s broadcast TV and newspaper properties. Not very relevant: MySpace, et al.
Why Time Inc. Is Slashing Jobs: The Chart
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes kicked off his quarterly earnings call by explaining why the company is cutting hundreds of jobs in its Time Inc. magazine unit.
But if you’re impatient, you can simply look at this grim chart, which details the publisher’s Q3 performance
Comcast Won’t Talk About NBCU, Will Talk About Internet Video
Comcast couldn’t mollify Wall Street about its pending deal to buy NBC Universal this morning, because it refused to talk about the deal at all. The company did spend time, though, explaining the peril and possibilities that Web video poses for the cable giant.
Netted, a Web-Centric Tipsheet, Tries Squeezing Into Your Inbox
Everyone loves to complain about email. Except for the growing batch of entrepreneurs using it to launch newsletter businesses. Latest example: Netted, a Web-centric recommendation guide from the guys who bring you the Webby Awards.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Beatles on iTunes? Nope. MP3? Yes.
No, you still can’t buy the Beatles on iTunes. But next month, you will finally be able to buy the band’s music–legally–in MP3 form. Provided you’re willing to pay way, way up.
A Slow-Motion Recovery: Viacom Says Things Aren’t Getting Worse
Here’s another quick glimpse of the advertising market, courtesy of Viacom. The cable giant says ad sales are still down, but that the rate of decline is slowing. And in the fall of 2009, that constitutes pretty good news.
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About Peter
Peter Kafka has been covering media and technology since 1997, when he joined the staff of Forbes magazine. Most recently, he has been the managing editor of the tech and media Web site, Silicon Alley Insider. Read more »
Ethics Statement
Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.
