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☆ Paramount Lays Off 15 Percent of U.S. Employees
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Paramount, the parent company of CBS, Nickelodeon and MTV, told its employees on Tuesday it was beginning a series of long-scheduled job cuts that would winnow its staff by roughly 15 percent in the United States. The company’s three co-chief executives said in an internal note that the cuts — which would be “incredibly hard” — were necessitated by shifts in the entertainment industry. The layoffs, which will affect thousands of employees, are the latest in a series of cutbacks by major media players. Discovery, the parent of CNN, TNT and HBO, has slashed its staff routinely in recent years as it pays down billions in debt. Disney laid off more than 100 employees in its TV division last month.

Persons: ”, Brian Robbins, George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy Organizations: Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Showtime, MTV Entertainment Studios, Warner Bros, CNN, TNT, HBO, Disney Locations: United States

☆ CNET Sold to Ziff Davis in Sign of Possible Media Deals to Come
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Shah led a buyout of Ziff Davis, a century-old magazine publisher whose titles chronicled the early tech boom, in 2010. The company was then acquired by J2 Global, which Mr. Shah eventually split into two pieces. One company, Ziff Davis, kept well-known publishing brands like Mashable, and the other kept a fax provider called eFax. But Mr. Shah said that he believed additional deals like the one for CNET would increase its profits. Mr. Shah said he decided to acquire CNET partly because it is well-known industry brand, and its sizable audience will give Ziff Davis greater clout with advertisers looking to reach tech consumers.

Persons: Shah, Ziff Davis, Ziff Davis’s Organizations: J2 Global, Mashable, CNET, CBS, Red Ventures

Mr. Holt’s coverage ran on MSNBC immediately after the shooting on Saturday and he was scheduled to interview Mr. Biden on Monday. The person said staff members were surprised on Monday when MSNBC ran programming from its digital news service, NBC News Now, instead of the main NBC News show, “Today,” which was not pre-empted. A spokesman for MSNBC denied that NBC had made the programming change because of political considerations. In a statement, the network said: “Given the gravity and complexity of this unfolding story, NBC News, NBC News NOW and MSNBC have remained in rolling breaking news coverage since Saturday evening. MSNBC made other programming changes after the shooting on Saturday.

Persons: Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, Kristen Welker, Mr, Biden, ”, Joe ”, Ali Velshi Organizations: NBC, MSNBC, NBC News, NBCUniversal News, Republican Locations: Savannah, Milwaukee

It’s unclear how far along the talks between IAC and National Amusements are. A bid to take control of Paramount would be a coda of sorts for Mr. Diller, 82, who tried to acquire Paramount Pictures in the early ’90s. Mr. Diller was named head of Paramount Pictures in 1974 at the age of 32. After Mr. Redstone outbid him for the company, Mr. Diller set his sights on continuing to build his new media empire, striking a series of audacious deals to expand IAC. “They won,” Mr. Diller said in a statement after losing out to Mr. Redstone.

Persons: Edgar Bronfman Jr, Steven Paul, Diller, Sumner Redstone, Shari, rejuvenating, Michael Eisner, wunderkind Jeffrey Katzenberg, ” Mr, Shari Redstone Organizations: IAC, National, Hollywood, Paramount, Paramount Pictures, Disney, “, Amusements, Skydance, National Amusements

Skydance’s merger talks with Paramount were called off Tuesday after the two sides failed to agree on terms, according to two people with knowledge of the talks, scuttling a deal that has captivated Hollywood for months. Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, wanted Skydance to agree to provide some legal protection for the deal in case investors filed a lawsuit. A committee of Paramount’s board members evaluating the plan also fired a public relations firm that it had been using. One sign of the tension emanating from both sides of the deal was the sheer length of negotiations. The talks — with National Amusements, Paramount and National Amusements again — stretched from late last year until this week, and were also rife with leaks, never a sign of harmonious negotiations.

Persons: Shari Redstone, Skydance Organizations: Paramount, Hollywood, CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Skydance, National Amusements, National

The Daily Beast’s new leaders will do a round of voluntary buyouts intended to cut costs by $1.5 million, in one of their first major moves to try to revitalize the flagging digital tabloid. The new leaders, Joanna Coles and Ben Sherwood, both media veterans, joined the company in April in exchange for an equity stake in the business. Barry Diller’s company, IAC, maintains control of the publication. The Daily Beast’s union told its members in a memo this week that workers would have until June 14 to apply for a buyout, after which the publication would accept applications “in reverse seniority order until they meet their $1.5 million threshold.”Decisions on additional applications beyond that threshold would be up to the company, and there would be “a moratorium” on further layoffs until the end of the year, according to the union’s memo. The cuts are not targeting any particular coverage area.

Persons: Joanna Coles, Ben Sherwood, Barry Diller’s Organizations: IAC, Daily

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management have taken a significant step forward in their effort to court Paramount, three people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Paramount previously shared materials with another suitor, the Hollywood studio Skydance. Early this month, Sony and Apollo sent Paramount a nonbinding expression of interest in acquiring the company for $26 billion. But Sony’s shareholders have fretted over the possible acquisition, given the potential cost of a bid for Paramount and the headwinds facing the subscription streaming business. Sony and Apollo are now contemplating a variety of approaches to acquire the company’s assets, but are backing away from their plan to make an all-cash, $26 billion offer for Paramount, two of the people said.

Organizations: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Paramount, Hollywood, Sony, Apollo, CBS, MTV

☆ Boeing Violated Settlement Over 737 Max Problems, Justice Dept. Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Department of Justice said on Tuesday that Boeing was in violation of a 2021 settlement related to problems with the company’s 737 Max model that led to two deadly plane crashes in 2018 and 2019. In a letter to a federal judge, the department said that Boeing had failed to “design, implement and enforce” an ethics program to prevent and detect violations of U.S. fraud laws in the company’s operations. Creating that program was a condition of Boeing’s settlement, which also carried a $2.5 billion penalty. The determination by the Justice Department opens the door to a potential prosecution of a 2021 criminal charge accusing Boeing of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration, though Boeing can contest Tuesday’s decision. In a statement, Boeing said that the company believed that it had honored the terms of the settlement, adding that it was looking forward to the opportunity to respond.

Organizations: Justice, Boeing, Justice Department, Federal Aviation Administration

☆ Comcast Plans Streaming Bundle With Netflix, Apple TV+
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Discovery said that they would bundle their streaming services, selling users a package that included Disney+, Hulu and Max. For years, the company has offered services like Netflix and Apple TV+ as add-ons to its existing television bundle, acting as a vendor for those companies. Comcast, which has millions of broadband and cable television customers across the United States, has different incentives to bundle streaming services together than many of its competitors do. Many other internet providers have sold bundles that include streaming services. When the short-lived short-form streaming service Quibi launched, T-Mobile offered to bundle its wireless offering with that service.

Persons: Quibi Organizations: Warner Bros, Discovery, Fox, Disney, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Max, Comcast, Netflix, Apple, Verizon, Mobile Locations: Xfinity, United States

Kim Godwin, the president of ABC News, told employees on Sunday night that she was retiring, capping a tumultuous tenure marked by infighting, damaging leaks and a major shake-up of the news division’s leadership ranks. In an email to employees, Ms. Godwin said that she reached her decision to leave after a period of “considerable reflection.” In a separate note to employees, Debra O’Connell, a longtime Disney executive, said she would be overseeing ABC News. “Anyone who’s passionate about what we do knows there’s no other business like it, so this was not an easy or quick decision,” Ms. Godwin said in her note. “I’m certain it’s the right one for me as I look to the future and prioritize what’s most important for me and my family,” she added. Ms. Godwin, the first Black woman to run a broadcast news division, has had a rocky tenure atop ABC News.

Persons: Kim Godwin, Godwin, Debra O’Connell, ” Ms, “ Organizations: ABC News, Disney, ABC

The development throws up a major roadblock for Skydance, a movie studio that has been negotiating a complicated deal to merge with Paramount for months. Many Paramount investors have come out against that deal, saying it would enrich Shari Redstone, the company’s board chair, at the expense of other shareholders. The 30-day period for exclusive talks with a special committee of Paramount’s board expires at the end of Friday. The company could wait for Paramount to re-engage in negotiations, could make a higher bid or could walk away. The company is wary of being used by Paramount to drive up the price for another bidder.

Persons: Shari, David Ellison Organizations: Paramount, Hollywood, MTV, Nickelodeon, RedBird Capital Partners, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management

Sony Pictures Entertainment and the private equity giant Apollo Global Management have formally expressed interest in acquiring Paramount for roughly $26 billion, according to two people familiar with the matter, a move that adds drama to an already chaotic deal making process. The nonbinding expression of interest, sent in a letter this week, comes as Paramount approaches an agreed-upon Friday deadline for the expiration of an exclusive negotiating period with Skydance, a Hollywood studio run by the tech scion David Ellison. Paramount has been in talks with Skydance for months, discussing a complicated transaction that would involve a merger and an investment from the private equity firm Redbird Capital Partners. The new, joint expression of interest would make Sony a significant majority and controlling shareholder and Apollo a minority shareholder. The proposed all-cash acquisition may appeal to Paramount shareholders who have come out against the Skydance deal over concerns it benefits the company’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, at the expense of others.

Persons: David Ellison, Skydance, Shari Redstone Organizations: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Paramount, Redbird Capital Partners, Sony Locations: Apollo

☆ Republicans Call on NPR’s C.E.O. to Testify About Political Bias
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

NPR declined to comment, but Ms. Maher may have a scheduling conflict. According to an agenda of NPR’s upcoming board of directors meeting, Ms. Maher is scheduled to convene with NPR’s board all day on May 8. Mr. Berliner’s essay has generated vociferous pushback from many employees at NPR, who say that many of his points were factually inaccurate. In one post, from 2018, Ms. Maher called Mr. Trump a “racist”; another from 2020 showed her wearing a hat with the logo of the Biden campaign. NPR has said that Ms. Maher, the former chief executive of Wikimedia, wasn’t working in news at the time she made the posts, and added that she was exercising her First Amendment right to free expression.

Persons: Maher, Uri Berliner, Berliner, Hunter, Tony Cavin, NPR’s, Robert S, Mueller III, hewed, Donald J, Trump, Biden Organizations: NPR, Trump, Wikimedia

Paramount is preparing to announce the departure of its chief executive, Bob Bakish, as soon as next week, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, a sudden development that would come even as company is exploring a merger. Ms. Redstone grew frustrated with what she saw as his inability to get important deals across the finish line, including a sale of the Showtime and BET cable channels, the people said. The company is in talks to merge with Skydance, a media company controlled by the tech scion and Hollywood producer David Ellison. It is also negotiating a lucrative deal to keep channels like Nickelodeon and MTV on the Charter cable system. The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that Paramount’s board was considering replacing Mr. Bakish.

Persons: Bob Bakish, Bakish’s, Shari Redstone, David Ellison, Bakish Organizations: Paramount, Showtime, BET, Nickelodeon, MTV, Street

☆ NPR Editor Who Accused Broadcaster of Liberal Bias Resigns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Uri Berliner, the NPR editor who accused the broadcaster of liberal bias in an online essay last week, prompting criticism from conservatives and recrimination from many of his co-workers, has resigned from the nonprofit. Mr. Berliner said in a social media post on Wednesday that he was resigning because of criticism from the network’s chief executive, Katherine Maher. “I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new C.E.O. whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite in my Free Press essay,” Mr. Berliner wrote. In his brief resignation letter, addressed to Ms. Maher, Mr. Berliner said that he loved NPR, calling it a “great American institution,” adding that he respects “the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism.”

Persons: Uri Berliner, Berliner, Katherine Maher, “, ” Mr, Ms, Maher, Mr, ” Organizations: NPR

As Paramount, the media company that’s the home of the “Top Gun” franchise and Nickelodeon, was preparing to enter exclusive talks to sell itself to the media company Skydance, another suitor emerged. Apollo Global Management, the investment firm, told Paramount over the weekend that it was interested in acquiring the entire company for more than $26 billion, including the value of Paramount’s debt, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. It had previously submitted an $11 billion offer to acquire just the Paramount movie studio. Paramount decided not to engage with Apollo’s overture, the people said, with one person explaining that doing so could have derailed its advancing negotiations with Skydance, which became exclusive this week. Apollo said in a letter to Paramount that it was interested in buying out all the company’s shareholders in cash, which could be enticing as the board seeks to strike a deal that not only pleases Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount, but also the company’s common shareholders.

Persons: Apollo’s, Apollo, Shari Redstone Organizations: Paramount, Nickelodeon, Apollo Global Management, CBS, Skydance

Paramount, home to one of Hollywood’s most storied movie studios as well as CBS and cable networks like Nickelodeon, has been discussing entering into exclusive talks with the media company Skydance for a potential deal, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions. Apollo Global Management, an investment firm with more than $500 billion under management, has submitted an $11 billion offer to acquire the Paramount movie studio. Byron Allen, whose Entertainment Studios owns the Weather Channel, has also expressed interest in acquiring Paramount. Ms. Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount, began negotiating with Skydance to sell her stake in the company last year. She controls Paramount through National Amusements, a holding company that owns her voting stock in Paramount.

Persons: Shari Redstone, Byron Allen Organizations: Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Apollo Global Management, Entertainment Studios, Weather, Skydance, National

Warner Bros. Discovery said on Monday that two members of its board of directors, Steven Newhouse and Steven Miron, had stepped down after the company learned about an investigation into whether their presence on the board violated antitrust law. Federal law forbids most corporate officers and board members to simultaneously serve on the boards of their competitors. Mr. Newhouse and Mr. Miron are both executives at Advance, a private, family-held business whose holdings include the Condé Nast glossy magazine empire that publishes titles such as Vogue and The New Yorker.

Persons: Discovery, Steven Newhouse, Steven Miron, Newhouse, Miron Organizations: Warner Bros, Advance, Vogue Locations: Yorker

☆ A New Chapter for Sports Illustrated, With Plans to Keep Print
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The owner of Sports Illustrated said it had chosen a new company to publish the magazine, a deal that could settle some of the recent friction at the storied publication and continue the print edition. Authentic Brands Group, which owns the intellectual property rights to Sports Illustrated as well as to celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali, said it had struck a long-term deal to license Sports Illustrated’s publishing rights to Minute Media, a digital-media company focused on sports. Minute Media’s license with Sports Illustrated will stretch for 10 years with an option to extend for up to 30 years total, into the magazine’s centenary. The companies declined to disclose financial terms but said that Authentic Brands Group was taking a stake in Minute Media as part of the deal. The deal is a significant expansion for Minute Media, a New York-based company founded in 2011 whose holdings — which include the sports websites The Players’ Tribune and Fansided — generate more than $400 million in revenue annually.

Persons: Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali Organizations: Sports Illustrated, Authentic Brands, Sports, Minute Media, Authentic, Media, ’ Tribune, Fansided Locations: New York

☆ Former Apple Executive to Lead Sports Streaming Service
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since a trio of media titans announced a new sports-focused streaming service last month, key details of the project have been shrouded in mystery. Discovery — said that it would be led by Pete Distad, a former executive at Apple who had been in charge of distribution of the tech giant’s Apple TV+ streaming service. By selecting Mr. Distad, an executive with a mix of tech and media experience, the companies behind the service signaled that the new service needs a leader who understands the old-school economics of cable television and the promise of the rapidly unfurling streaming business. Before he joined Apple, Mr. Distad helped start Hulu, the last major streaming joint venture. In a statement, Mr. Distad said he was looking forward to pulling together “industry-leading sports content portfolios” from the three companies.

Persons: —, Pete Distad, Distad Organizations: titans, — Fox, Disney, Warner Bros, Apple, Hulu Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Sports Illustrated’s Employees Are Told Print Edition Will Close in May
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Friction between Sports Illustrated’s owner and its operator has led to disarray at the venerable magazine in recent months. But that message runs counter to what Sports Illustrated’s owner, Authentic Brands Group, has said about looking for a way to ensure that the magazine endures in print. Last year, Mr. Bhargava, the founder of the 5-Hour Energy drink company, agreed to buy a major stake in the Arena Group. In January, Authentic Brands terminated its deal with Arena Group after Arena breached its licensing agreement by failing to make a $3.75 million payment. Since then, Authentic Brands has been weighing a deal with new licensees, leading to the current uncertainty.

Persons: Steve Janisse, Manoj Bhargava, Bhargava Organizations: Sports, Employees, Authentic Brands, Brands, Energy, Arena, Group

☆ Vice’s New Owners Prepare to Slash What’s Left of Its Work Force
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Executives at Vice Media are planning to lay off hundreds of more than 900 employees over the next week, eliminating staff from its digital publishing division, according to three people familiar with the matter. Over the past half-decade, Vice has had near annual layoffs and mounting losses, and has filed for bankruptcy, making it the poster child for the battered digital-media industry. When Vice emerged from bankruptcy last year, some observers hoped its new owners — a consortium led by the private-equity firm Fortress Investment Group — would reinvest to return the company to growth. Instead, Fortress has decided to make sweeping cuts, as part of an attempt to stem the endless tide of red ink. The company is planning to inform employees of its new business strategy in the next week.

Organizations: Vice Media, Fortress Investment, Fortress

☆ BuzzFeed Sells Complex, a Pop Culture Start-Up, for $108.6 Million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

BuzzFeed said on Wednesday that it was selling Complex — a media start-up known for its coverage of streetwear and pop culture — at a significant discount from its purchase price. The buyer is Ntwrk, an e-commerce company backed by LiveNation Entertainment and Main Street Advisors, which is paying $108.6 million for the company. It is also paying BuzzFeed $5.7 million to cover severance expenses of Complex employees whom BuzzFeed is laying off, along with other costs. BuzzFeed is not selling First We Feast, the internet brand associated with Complex behind the popular “Hot Ones” interview series about hot wings. Jonah Peretti, BuzzFeed’s co-founder and chief executive, said in a statement that selling Complex was “an important strategic step” for the company.

Persons: BuzzFeed, Jonah Peretti, BuzzFeed’s Organizations: LiveNation Entertainment, Main Street Advisors

☆ Paramount Lays Off Hundreds of Workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Paramount, the owner of TV networks like Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central, is laying off hundreds of employees, cutting costs as it continues its painful transition away from traditional television. About 3 percent of the company’s roughly 24,500 employees will be affected by the layoffs, according to a person familiar with the cuts, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive corporate information. Bob Bakish, Paramount’s chief executive, said in a memo to employees that the cuts were part of a bid to “return the company to earnings growth.”“While I realize these changes are in no way easy, as I said last month, I am confident this is the right decision for our future,” Mr. Bakish wrote. “These adjustments will help enable us to build on our momentum and execute our strategic vision for the year ahead — and I firmly believe we have much to be excited about.”

Persons: Bob Bakish, “, ” Mr, Bakish, —, ” Organizations: Paramount, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy

☆ Rolling Stone’s Top Editor Steps Down
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Wenner told employees in a separate note that Mr. Shachtman would be replaced in the interim by Sean Woods, the magazine’s deputy editor, and Lisa Tozzi, its digital director. The magazine will begin a search for a new top editor in the coming weeks, he said. The former top editor of The Daily Beast, Mr. Shachtman imported the news website’s hard-nosed, investigative sensibility to Rolling Stone. During his tenure, the magazine published investigations into prominent musicians and actors, including Jonathan Majors and Marilyn Manson. After his comments were published, he was ousted from the foundation and condemned by the Black Rock Coalition, a conflagration that Mr. Shachtman had pushed Rolling Stone to cover.

Persons: Wenner, Shachtman, Sean Woods, Lisa Tozzi, he’s, ” Mr, Jonathan Majors, Marilyn Manson, Stone, Jann Wenner, Gus Wenner’s Organizations: The Times, Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Black Rock Coalition

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