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SPORTS
&
MEDIA

Tucker Carlson

The Post-Tucker Sweepstakes

News and notes on the latest grumblings in the media business as the industry descends on Washington for the nerd prom: Tucker’s future, his succession, and a new CNN threat.
Dylan Byers • April 28, 2023
Dylan Byers • April 26, 2023
The Worldwide Leader in Zaz
David Zaslav tells friends that CNN is some 6 percent of his business—and 90 percent of his headaches.
It’s been a year since CNN has been under Zaz rule—a mixed bag of earnest repositioning and depolarization, to be sure, but also rough headlines, rougher ratings, and high-profile departures. Chris Licht’s post-Zuckerification wasn’t going to happen overnight, but how long will it take?
Julia Ioffe • April 26, 2023
“Dear Tucker”: Kremlin TV Pours One Out for Carlson
The Kremlin media is rending its clothes for Carlson.
In the days since he was fired from Fox News, Carlson has been hailed as a hero and a truth-teller in Russian state media—a testament to his utility in Putin’s wartime campaign.
Dylan Byers • April 25, 2023
Black Monday: Inside the Carlson-Lemon Double Shocker
Insights and revelations regarding a stunning and extraordinary day in the media industry. (Jeff Shell, please buy these guys Rivians!)
Eriq Gardner • April 24, 2023
Rupert’s Post-Tucker, Post-Dominion Legal Headache
Gaming the Murdoch family’s Smartmatic settlement—plus, a look into a last ditch CNN legal maneuver.
BuzzFeed C.E.O. Jonah Peretti.
Dylan Byers • April 21, 2023
Jonah and the Whale
BuzzFeed News and the world it made, and didn’t make, and what happened in between.
Dylan Byers & Tina Nguyen • April 19, 2023
The Fox-Trump Curse & The Murdoch Kiss of Death
Deciphering the post-settlement legal murmurs surrounding Fox’s new vulnerabilities, audience leakage, and a potential blood sacrifice.
Fox News host Lou Dobbs told his viewers that the Dominion scandal appeared to be “the endgame to a four-and-a-half yearlong effort to overthrow the president of the United States.”
Dylan Byers • April 14, 2023
The Fox News Fall Guys
Lawyers on both sides of the Dominion v. Fox News case have zeroed in on Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro, and Maria Bartiromo as the epicenter of the network’s financially-driven indulgence of quack election conspiracies. But what if they genuinely believed in them?
On Wednesday, Judge Eric M. Davis sanctioned Fox’s legal team, indicating that he would launch an investigation into whether they had withheld details about Rupert Murdoch’s role as executive chairman of the news channel.
Dylan Byers • April 13, 2023
Rupert’s Headline Risk
As Fox’s Dominion case heads to trial, and Hannity and Tucker et al. face the prospect of testifying before a jury, many Murdoch-watchers are grumbling about why he didn’t settle in the first place.
Former press secretary Sean Spicer is back on the market after his contract negotiations with Newsmax went south.
Tara Palmeri • April 12, 2023
Sean Spicer Joins the Newsmax Exodus
The former White House flack turned television personality is out at Newsmax, alongside three high-level executives, amid a wave of testy contract negotiations. Could he return to the Trump bosom?
Chris Licht, chairman and C.E.O. of CNN.
Dylan Byers • April 7, 2023
Lichtology & Ari’s New Reports
News and notes on the latest in the media trade: a subtle pivot at CNN, more intrigue from Ari Emanuel’s combat deal, and murmurs from D.C.
Endeavor C.E.O. Ari Emanuel (pictured) and president Mark Shapiro’s emotional pitch to WWE leadership led to the deal.
Dylan Byers • April 5, 2023
The Art of Ari’s WWE Deal
Discussing deal points in a suite at Wrestlemania, a secret meeting at Raine, and an emotional pitch in Stamford: How Vince McMahon scored big and Endeavor took the next step in its leverage journey. Plus, some notes on CNN and Chris Licht 2.0.
There is an anxiety in NFL circles that Jeff Bezos has been keeping quiet before decisively pouncing on the Commanders at the last minute.
Theodore Schleifer • April 4, 2023
Gaming the Bezos-NFL Silent Auction
Is Jeff Bezos really sitting out the chance to land the most coveted job in Washington? Or has he found a way to circumvent the public campaign process for the Commanders entirely?
President of ABC News, Kim Godwin
Dylan Byers • March 31, 2023
Do You Believe in Godwin?
Kim Godwin’s latest round of layoffs has re-ignited a furor of religious intensity inside ABC News.
During the tenure of the Times’ C.E.O. Meredith Kopit Levien, the success of the company—and, the uniqueness of its success—has become the media story of our time.
Dylan Byers • March 30, 2023
The Meredith Moat
In an era of unprecedented disruption—new mediacos, new models, highly capitalized competitors, and CNN gyrations—none of the big guns are holding a candle to the Times.
TikTok C.E.O. Shou Chew—prepped by SKDK—withstood a drubbing from lawmakers on Thursday.
Dylan Byers • March 24, 2023
TikTok Schadenfreude, Iger’s Cuts & D.C. Media Games
News and notes on the inside story in the media industry: what Silicon Valley billionaires want Washington regulators to do with TikTok in D.C., how Iger’s cuts are playing in Bristol and Manhattan, and updates from the Washington media carousel.
One possible, momentary beacon of hope in television news’ long slide toward insignificance was Jen Psaki’s maiden voyage on MSNBC.
Dylan Byers • March 22, 2023
Psaki’s Promise, Trump Debate Politics & A CNN Low
News and notes from inside the television news business: Jen Psaki’s promising debut, the politics behind hosting the RNC debates, and a CNN ratings nadir.
kim godwin
Dylan Byers • March 17, 2023
Are You There, Godwin?
ABC News’s latest front in the ego management wars.