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The departure of ads chief Linda Yaccarino to Twitter has thrown NBCU into chaos. The exit comes on the heels of the departure of NBCU CEO Jeff Shell after sexual harassment allegations. One advertising executive who works closely with NBCUniversal described the situation inside the company as a "Cuban missile crisis." NBCU does have a deep bench of ad executive talent that's highly regarded in the ad industry. Although Yaccarino's departure from NBCUniversal to Twitter was a surprise, she had been close with the company and its billionaire owner.

Elon Musk made a surprise announcement that he'd found Twitter's next CEO. Twitter employees think they may know who Elon Musk has picked to replace himself as CEO of the social media company. Chatter from the media industry points to Linda Yaccarino, head of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal. Yaccarino has told friends in the past that she wanted to be CEO of Twitter, one person familiar with the situation said. The Wall Street Journal reported that Yaccarino is in talks to be Twitter CEO.

☆ Lachlan Murdoch says there's 'no change to our programming strategy' at Fox News in wake of Tucker Carlson's firing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lachlan Murdoch told analysts Tuesday that "programming strategy" at Fox News wouldn't change. Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp. and Rupert Murdoch's son, was involved in Tucker Carlson's firing, Insider reported. Media scion and Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch told analysts on Tuesday that it would be programming as usual in the wake of host Tucker Carlson's abrupt firing from the network. Murdoch, the son of News Corp. mogul Rupert Murdoch, said on the company's earnings call that "there's no change to our programming strategy at Fox News. Representatives for Fox Corp. and Fox News did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment ahead of publication.

☆ Analysts are torn on how Fox News' ratings will be affected after Tucker Carlson's ousting craters the company's stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tucker Carlson's exit from Fox News wiped $962 million from the network's market value on Monday. But analysts are torn about the long-term impact of the host's ouster on Fox Corp stock. But financial analysts are torn about the impact Carlson's departure will have on Fox Corporation's stock — which lost about $962 million in market value on Monday after news broke of the departure. Matthew Tuttle, the CEO and CIO of Tuttle Capital Management, told Bloomberg that Carlson's exit is "definitely going to leave a mark on Fox." But not all analysts shared the gloomy projection for Fox Corp stock in the long term.

☆ NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell exits after an 'inappropriate relationship,' shocking insiders, and Comcast won't rush to replace him as corporate exec Mike Cavanagh steps up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell's exit shocked company insiders and all of Hollywood. NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell's bombshell departure on Sunday night was a surprise to the well-regarded executive and also to his closest colleagues. Deadline reported that Shell's relationship was with CNBC's senior international correspondent, Hadley Gamble, which lasted 11 years but had ended a couple of years ago. "Comcast is as buttoned-up and straight as ever — this is a black eye for Brian Roberts," the Comcast CEO. A second company insider, however, said that Cavanagh is expected to remain in the role for some time.

Not only have marketers been pausing ad spend en masse, YouTube is also battling TikTok for audiences and content creators. Industry insiders credit Mohan with building out the ad products that made YouTube Google's main growth engine for so many years. Tal Chalozin, CTO and cofounder of the adtech company Innovid, said that Mohan's expertise stretches across all of YouTube's ad business, particularly adtech. "He was leading product for the launch of YouTube Premium and YouTube TV, and the growth of YouTube Music," said one former YouTube employee. "It's now Neal and YouTube against TikTok, and that's the existential battle for short-form video monetization and creators," Norman said.

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery signs audience measurement deal with startup Nielsen rival VideoAmp
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Discovery has signed a deal with VideoAmp to measure its audience as an alternative means of data for advertisers, the companies announced Tuesday. Firms like Nielsen and VideoAmp offer audience estimates and data that TV networks and streamers use to sell slots for commercials. The merger between Discovery and Warner Media closed in 2022, amassing a portfolio of TV networks including the Discovery Channel, TLC, TNT, TBS and others. The merged company plans to roll out a revamped streaming platform in the spring, combining its Discovery+ with Warner's HBO Max. "Traditional media measurement has not kept pace with how consumers are engaging with streaming and linear content.

☆ Warren Buffett just bet big on Paramount to win the ad streaming wars — here's what makes its business unique compared to competitors like HBO Max, Disney, and Netflix
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Elizabeth Pham Janowski | Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The maturation of ad-supported streaming services over the last year have become clearer. Discovery, and Netflix, which are charging high rates for streaming ads against so-called premium content. If these companies hope to attract premium CPMs however, they need to get them now. "The only reason, in my opinion, that they can control premium CPMs today is that they're just starting at this," Martin said. She believes the market will force services charging "premium" CPMs to lower these prices over time.

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery is swirling with talk of more layoffs and concerns about integrating streamers HBO Max and Discovery+
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Discovery insiders are bracing for another round of layoffs the week of November 7. This round is expected to hit sales support roles as the company looks for $3B in cost cuts. Some are also speculating that the planned streamer combining Discovery+ with HBO Max will be delayed. A second insider said WBD was closely scrutinizing vendor contracts as it tries to find cost savings wherever possible. Questions are also swirling about the company's new streaming service that will combine Discovery+ with HBO Max.

☆ US TV advertisers will spend close to $20 billion in this year's upfronts
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-25 | by ( Ross Benes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Advertisers will spend $19.90 billion upfront in the 2021-2022 TV season, an increase of 7.6% over the previous cycle. Our upfront TV ad spending forecast includes TV ad spending resulting from the national primetime TV upfronts. In June 2020, we had forecast a 27.1% decrease in that season's upfront TV ad spending. We now estimate just a 3.5% dip, however, as advertisers spend $18.50 billion on upfront commitments with TV networks. When we compare the 2020–2021 season with the cycle two years prior, we see about a $2 billion drop in upfront TV ad spending.

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