MEDIA
Dylan Byers
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September 13, 2024
This Too Shall Zaz
David Zaslav may be trumpeting a face-saving deal with Charter, but the forthcoming face-off with Comcast isn’t going to be any easier.
Eriq Gardner
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September 10, 2024
Netflix on Trial & CNN’s Financial Colonoscopy
Republican-appointed judges are greenlighting a surge of defamation cases against the likes of CNN, Netflix, ABC News, and Media Matters, revealing everything from private communications to the most sensitive internal documents.
Dylan Byers
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September 6, 2024
Mark Thompson Prepares to Show His Hand
A year after Mark Thompson took over, he’s finally on the verge of revealing the first signs, such as they are, of his master plan.
Dylan Byers
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September 4, 2024
Brian’s Song
The backstory on Brian Stelter’s return, and the real drama inside CNN: the potential arrival of former wunderkind Josh Tyrangiel.
Eriq Gardner
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September 3, 2024
The Murdoch Succession Trial Will (or Won’t!) Be Televised
Barricaded doors and records kept secret? Inside the Nevada battle for control of the Fox News empire—and whether the whole drama should be sealed off from public view.
Dylan Byers
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August 30, 2024
The Burbank Campaign
News and notes on the intensifying shadow campaign to succeed Bob Iger at Disney as the fall closes in.
Dylan Byers
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August 28, 2024
CNN’s Debate Whisperers
Dana Bash’s interview with Harris and Walz is CNN’s latest “get” this cycle—from the Trump town hall to the Iowa G.O.P. debate and obviously debategate. It’s largely the handiwork of a relatively anonymous odd couple: Mark Preston and Christie Johnson.
Dylan Byers
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August 23, 2024
On Walden’s Shores
News, notes, and the latest inside conversation among the Toscana crowd about Dana Walden’s odds of succeeding Bob Iger.
Dylan Byers
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August 21, 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.
Dylan Byers
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August 7, 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.
Dylan Byers
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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?
Dylan Byers
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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
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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.
Dylan Byers
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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…
Dylan Byers
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July 24, 2024
The Biden Bump
Somewhat ironically, an election cycle that has been defined by age has benefitted a bunch of legacy media outfits, all of whom are presumably hoping to embrace the lesson of past presidential races: eyeballs are ephemeral, but business models and strategies last a lot longer.
Dylan Byers
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July 19, 2024
Remembrance of R.N.C.s Past
News and notes on the conservative media scene, and its metaphorical resonance, in Milwaukee and beyond.
Dylan Byers
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July 17, 2024
Morning Joe in America
News, notes, and fresh updates on the micro-scandal stemming from the show’s bizarre one-day hiatus amid a generational political crisis.