Dylan Byers • August 22, 2024

The ABCs of Almin

Almin Karamehmedovic, the newly crowned president of ABC News, is inheriting a circumscribed remit, akin to a glorified executive producer, as his boss, Deb OConnell, keeps control of the business. In that regard, Almin may have been the perfect choice all along.

John Ourand • August 19, 2024

He’s Just Not That Into Venu

Unscrambling the legal quagmire over the service formerly known as Spulu.

John Ourand • August 16, 2024

More Signs of the Cable-pocalypse

Amid the backdrop of historic cable asset write-downs, the flipside of NBC’s staggering Olympics ratings success is that people watched less of the Games on cable. Sound like a familiar story?

Eriq Gardner • August 14, 2024

Zaslav’s Sports Streamer Is on Trial for Its Life

After days of withering scrutiny in court, a judge is seriously considering an injunction against Venu, the joint venture from WBD, Fox, and Disney, over alleged antitrust violations.

John Ourand • August 13, 2024

The Netflix-CBS Arranged Marriage

After being rebuffed by numerous TV networks to produce their hard-won pair of Christmas Day NFL games, Netflix finally found a dance partner in CBS. Of course, there were several key concessions…

John Ourand • August 9, 2024

NBC Prepares for Those NBA Economics

Comcast executives are thrilled about the value that the NBA can offer NBC’s primetime lineup and Peacock’s growth and retention rates. But making the deal profitable will require some strategery at the affiliate and distributor level—and the fun is about to begin.

Dylan Byers • August 8, 2024

The Zaz Squeeze & CBS’s New Hydra

News and notes on a particularly busy August in the industry: David Zaslav’s brutal quarter, CBS News’s uninspiring new management structure, Deb OConnell’s moves at ABC, and Axios’s pivot.

John Ourand • August 6, 2024

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venu

News and notes on the NFL’s CBS deal, Venu’s nine-year tour, and NBA rights with MoffettNathanson’s Michael Nathanson and Robert Fishman.

Dylan Byers • August 2, 2024

A Time to Will

Having survived a multifront newsroom fracas, Will Lewis endured another couple of love taps this week about his ongoing credibility challenges—one from Folkenflik, another from the Times. Now he faces an even thornier question: With the worst presumably behind him, how will he lead The Washington Post into the future?

Eriq Gardner • August 2, 2024

Goodell’s $5 Billion Triumph & Michael Rubin Blowback

A secret arbitration has ordered the NFL union to pay $7.8 million to Fanatics’ rival for breach of contract. Meanwhile, the league has prevailed in a major counteroffensive in the Sunday Ticket case.

John Ourand • August 2, 2024

Lords of the Rings

News and notes and a little dish on NBC’s effective micro-innovations broadcasting this year’s games in France. “It’s a complex piece of work,” Mark Lazarus told me.

Dylan Byers • July 31, 2024

Anchors Away

News and notes on the future of broadcast news amid the O’Donnell pivot and other industry murmurs.

Dylan Byers • July 30, 2024

Norah the Explorer

O’Donnell is leaving her anchor perch at ‘CBS Evening News’ for a Barbara Walters-style interview tentpole role—a more freewheeling gig for her, sure, but also the latest sign of an era that keeps on ending in the network news business.

John Ourand • July 29, 2024

Chronicle of a Comcast-TNT Deathmatch Foretold

A prelude to the epic carriage fee showdown between Comcast and an NBA-less TNT.

Dylan Byers • July 26, 2024

A P.R. Crisis for the Zaz Era

After losing the NBA rights, David Zaslav has sued the league and now brought in Edelman to ensure the situation is both litigious and toxic. Meanwhile, he’s managing it all from the Crillon…