THE LATEST ARTICLES
HOLLYWOOD
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January 21, 2022
What’s Brian Roberts Gonna Buy Now?
After missing out on 21st Century Fox and the Zaz-Warner merger, Comcast seemed like a natural acquirer for Activision. But $69 billion of Microsoft’s money later, is there a plan B?
MEDIA
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January 19, 2022
The Real Story Behind the Kotick-Nadella Deal
How a peace offering from Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s gaming chief, led Activision’s Bobby Kotick to a $69 billion deal.
HOLLYWOOD
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January 14, 2022
Is Netflix Eating ESPN’s Lunch?
Some thoughts on whether Netflix is trying to steal ESPN’s playbook, and Axios’ turning point. Plus some other dish.
HOLLYWOOD
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January 12, 2022
The Cable News Afterlife
A number of recent personnel moves in the sharp-elbowed, rapidly declining, and soon-to-be-evolving cable news industry portend the next wave of deals, chaos, and a streaming afterlife.
MEDIA
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January 7, 2022
The Times & Athletic Make It Official
My chat with Times C.E.O. Meredith Kopt-Levien, plus reporting on the latest news at CNN and BenSmithCo.
MEDIA
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January 4, 2022
News on the Ben Smith News
Despite the sudden, and seemingly out-of-nowhere news that Ben Smith was leaving the Times, and that Justin Smith was stepping down as C.E.O. of Bloomberg Media, the Two Smiths had been quietly discussing their new media ambitions, on and off, for years. And it may take a decade to pull off. I chatted with the Smiths on the day of their big reveal.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 29, 2021
The Great Post-Trump Cable News Correction
The inside conversation (and a few burning questions) about CNN’s impending pivot, the trouble at "The View," and the ballad of Suzanne Scott.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 22, 2021
Iger’s Next Act and the Times-Athletic Tango
Deal murmurs, M&A rumblings, the Zaz rumor mill, Iger’s next moves, and other insights into the media in-crowd’s inside conversation.
MEDIA
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December 17, 2021
The Times & The Athletic Are Getting Hot and Heavy
The Athletic has now entered into exclusive talks with The New York Times about a sale. Here’s the logic.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 15, 2021
The Chris Wallace Tea Leaves & Jim vs. Jonah
Is Zucker’s poaching of Chris Wallace a harbinger of CNN+’s centrism and maturity, or a trophy hire to buy time for a new streamer. Or (hint!) both, and then some?