Paramount shares slump on report Sony is rethinking its offer, C-SPAN taps Sam Feist as its next chief, Jimmy Finkelstein reportedly explores starting a new venture, MAGA Media leaves out key context on Michael Cohen, TikTok creators sue over new law, OpenAI's chief scientist announces exit, Bob Iger woos advertisers, Francis Ford Coppola gets hit with sexual misconduct allegations as the Cannes Film Festival gets underway, Tom Brady expresses regret over the Netflix roast, and so much more. But first, the A1. |
|
|
CNN Photo Illustration/Google |
The A.I. doomsday clock appears ready to strike midnight for publishers.
Google on Tuesday announced that it will infuse its ubiquitous search engine with its powerful artificial intelligence model, Gemini, drawing on the rapidly advancing technology to directly answer user queries at the top of results pages. "Google will do the Googling for you," the company explained. In other words, users will soon no longer have to click on the links displayed in search results to find the information they are seeking. On its surface that might sound convenient, but for news publishers — many of whom are already struggling with steep traffic declines — the revamped search experience will likely cause an even further decrease in audience, potentially starving them of readers and revenue. Why spend time clicking on a link when Google has already scoured the internet and harvested the relevant information with its A.I.? "Google will take care of the legwork," executives said. But a lot of that legwork, of course, comes in the form of human-written articles and expertise published across the internet on blogs and media outlets, all built on a foundation of advertising support. Google's message was heard loud and clear. Within hours of the Mountain View announcement, the news industry began sounding the alarm.
"This will be catastrophic to our traffic, as marketed by Google to further satisfy user queries, leaving even less incentive to click through so that we can monetize our content," Danielle Coffey, the chief executive of the News/Media Alliance, bluntly told me.
Coffey, whose organization represents more than 2,000 news publishers and has taken an aggressive posture toward A.I. developers' use of journalism, added: "The little traffic we get today will be further diminished, and with a dominant search engine that's cementing its market power, we once again have to adhere to their terms. This time with a product that directly competes with our content, using our content to fuel it. This is a perverse twist on 'innovation.'"
The announcement from Google, which newsrooms had expected and expressed worry over in both public and private forums in recent months, is poised to further batter an industry that has been dealt a series of brutal blows — much of it at the hands of Big Tech — over the last several years. It also comes as OpenAI reportedly readies to launch its own A.I.-powered search engine.
Since ChatGPT crashed onto the scene more than a year ago, showcasing the potential power of A.I. for the public and setting off an arms race with Google, Meta and others, publishers have worried greatly about the impact the technology will ultimately have on their businesses. But they have had little time to plan their responses to the transformative technology, given the breakneck pace in which it has developed. Some newsrooms have chosen to cautiously lock arms with the technology giants, striking deals with OpenAI to license their deep archives of content. Others have taken a much different path, with The New York Times most notably filing a scorched Earth lawsuit against the ChatGPT creator.
While publishers once worked hand-in hand with Big Tech companies (remember those days?), their relationships have soured tremendously in recent years. Mark Zuckerberg most publicly turned his back on the news industry, deprioritizing news articles on his platforms and shutting off other initiatives his company once championed. Google has maintained a better relationship with publishers, but also faced sharp criticism. Most recently, it drew scorn after temporarily blocking some California news outlets from search results in response to a bill that would force it to pay publishers.
On Tuesday, likely predicting the panic that its announcement would stir, Google argued that the A.I. changes would actually benefit news companies. Google told me it is showing more links with its AI Overviews feature and that by improving the search product, it will allow the company to send more traffic to web publishers. "We see that the links included in AI Overviews get more clicks than if the page had appeared as a traditional web listing for that query," Google said in its announcement. "As we expand this experience, we'll continue to focus on sending valuable traffic to publishers and creators."
But given Silicon Valley's track record with publishers, it's unlikely that the statement will give them much relief. And already there is skepticism over Google's claims. "Our initial analysis suggests it will significantly reduce search traffic to content creators' websites, directly impacting their ad revenue and, by extension, their livelihoods," Marc McCollum, chief innovation officer at Raptive, which provides services to thousands of only creators and businesses, said in a statement. "This change could put the future of the open internet in danger." |
|
|
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images |
Sony's Second Thoughts: Shares in Paramount Global closed down 5% Tuesday, falling after CNBC's David Faber reported Sony is "rethinking" its $26 billion bid to purchase the media conglomerate with Apollo. "People close to the situation that I've been speaking to of late indicate that the likelihood of a bid at least for the full company seems to be fading a bit," Faber reported, adding that Sony has not yet signed an NDA "that you would typically sign so you can begin real due diligence." Faber said that his report didn't mean "there would not be some sort of bid potentially forthcoming," but he wondered whether it might be restructured. The Sony-Apollo play for the Shari Redstone-controlled company comes as David Ellison's Skydance waits in the wings. Here's Faber's full report. |
|
|
CNN Photo Illustration/Mike Coppola/Getty Images |
C-SPAN's New Chief: It's the end of an era. After nearly 35 years working at CNN, most recently as its Washington bureau chief, Sam Feist will exit the outlet to become the chief executive of C-SPAN, the networks announced Tuesday. "Our democracy needs C-SPAN now more than ever," Feist said in a statement. Feist called the public affairs network "an American treasure" and said that he "could not be more excited to lead this essential institution." Feist, who will exit CNN at the end of June and take over the channel later this summer, will be only the third C-SPAN CEO in its 45-year history, succeeding Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain. CNN's Hadas Gold has more here.
🔎 Zooming in: In announcing Feist's exit to staffers, CNN boss Mark Thompson hailed him as "a CNN institution." Indeed, it's difficult to underscore the profound impact Feist has had on CNN in the more than three decades he has spent within its halls. Since starting as an intern in 1989, Feist has worked in a number of roles, ranging from camera operator to booker to political director to founding executive producer of "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." Along the way, he has mentored hundreds of journalists with his well of knowledge and served as CNN's D.C. ambassador, representing the network like no one else. There are few people who bleed CNN red like Feist. Which is all to say that his colleagues at CNN will very much miss him, but also be cheering him on as he starts his new endeavor at C-SPAN. |
|
|
- Some reporters at The NYT "are circulating a draft of an open letter to Joe Kahn, criticizing the paper's top editor over comments they said were dismissive of young reporters," Max Tani reported. (Semafor)
- Jimmy Finkelstein, who led the doomed startup The Messenger, is planning another project, Justin Baragona reported. Per Baragona, Finkelstein met with potential investors recently. (Daily Beast)
- "Last week, The Washington Post notched another three Pulitzer Prizes. Good for the hometown paper. Not so good for the rest of journalism," Vince Morris argued. (Washington City Paper)
- Latenighter "hopes to buck media trends," David Bauder reported, noting that the small news organization launched "during brutal economic times for media." (AP)
- Mediaite looked back at its more than a decade of events that "attract everybody who is somebody in news," noting that they show "just how drastically the media industry has changed." The look back comes as the Dan Abrams-founded outlet prepares to celebrate its 15-year anniversary with a big bash in Manhattan Wednesday night. The party, Abrams said, "will be packed with the movers and shakers who have graced the pages of Mediaite since its inception in 2009." (Mediaite)
- First in Reliable | The Verge is launching its third paid newsletter. The Notepad, which people can sign up for here Wednesday morning, will be authored by veteran Microsoft reporter Tom Warren and cover the tech company's "era defining bets on A.I.," I'm told.
|
|
|
- The Daily Beast hired Martin Pengelly as chief Washington correspondent and D.C. bureau chief. (POLITICO)
- Complex named Aria Hughes editor in chief and Noah Callahan-Bever chief content officer. (Complex)
- The Hill re-hired Jonathan Easley as staff writer and author of "The Evening Report" newsletter. (The Hill)
- Bloomberg News hired Laura Noonan as a senior reporter. (TBN)
- E.W. Scripps named Jeff Kiernan VP of local news. (Scripps)
|
|
|
- More bundling! Comcast revealed a streaming bundle that includes Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+. The trio will be available in a single package, Brian Roberts said, at a "vastly reduced price." (Variety)
- YouTube viewing continues to be "ascendant" as Americans cut the cord, Sarah Krouse and David Marcelis reported. (WSJ)
- What does "cable cowboy" John Malone think about all the people cutting the cord? I'm sure we'll find out when Mark Robichaux releases his follow up biography, which he is said to be working on. (THR)
- While we wait for Malone's thoughts, you can read Richard Rushfield's: "By the laws of business, Hollywood should be doomed for all it's done to itself lately. By the laws of nature, entertainment is eternal, and nothing these fools can do can truly dent that basic human need." (The Ankler)
| |
|
- MLB struck a deal with Roku to allow the service to air the "Sunday Leadoff" games. (ESPN)
- ESPN Films announced its "30 for 30" summer slate. (Variety)
|
|
|
CNN Photo Illustration/Fox News |
Context and Cohen: As Michael Cohen testifies against Donald Trump in the hush-money trial, Fox News and MAGA Media are waging an all-out assault on the former fixer's character. Trump's media allies are working overtime to portray Cohen as a liar and bully. "COHEN'S HISTORY OF LIES EXPOSED," declared a chyron Tuesday night on Laura Ingraham's prime time show. It goes without saying that Cohen, indeed, has a history of lying and was convicted of perjury. No one is going to dispute that — not even Cohen. But Trump's MAGA Media allies are neglecting to inform their audiences of the necessary context: that Cohen lied years ago to protect Trump. That might be a politically inconvenient fact for some of the folks who work at Fox News — but it is crucial when discussing Cohen's record. And failing to do so underscores that many on that channel — and elsewhere in media – are not doing honest work, but instead pushing propaganda on behalf of their Dear Leader. |
|
| - "Fox News and the MAGA Media are lining up their shot at American democracy," Matt Gertz warns, writing that "the bullet is in the chamber." (MMFA)
- "War Room" from prison? The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to start Steve Bannon's four-month prison sentence. (CNN)
- Tucker Carlson interviewed Aaron Rodgers, where the two entertained conspiracy theories about JFK and Jeffrey Epstein, assailed the news media as a source of disinformation, and attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among other things.
- A group of Republican operatives aim to launch a media outlet focused on appealing to GOP members of Congress. (Axios)
- So much for parental rights and personal freedom: Michael Knowles said transgender parents should be imprisoned. (MMFA)
|
|
|
CNN Photo Illustration/J. Scott Applewhite/AP |
Creators Challenge Congress: Eight TikTok creators on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging the divest-or-ban legislation passed by Congress and singed into law by President Joe Biden. The lawsuit, which TikTok is paying the legal fees for, alleged that the law violates the First Amendment. "It bans an entire medium of communication and all the speech communicated through that medium, even though, at the very least, the vast majority of that speech is protected," the lawsuit said. Of course, TikTok is already suing the U.S. on similar free speech grounds. CNBC's Josephine Rozzelle has more. 🔎 Zooming in: NPR's Bobby Allyn surveyed six legal scholars, all of whom said that the U.S. "forcing the closure of TikTok on vague national security grounds would most likely infringe on TikTokkers First Amendment rights." Meanwhile, Nick Frisch and Dan Wang argued in The NYT that "the end of TikTok" would amount to a "propaganda win for Beijing." |
|
|
- Shakeup at OpenAI: Ilya Sutskever, the company co-founder and chief scientist who attempted to force out Sam Altman, only to later express regret, announced he is leaving the company. (NYT)
- Life of the tech titans: Mark Zuckerberg appears to be "celebrating his 40th birthday on what many speculate is his brand-new superyacht," Madeline Berg and Kelsey Vlamis reported. (Business Insider)
- Is Tim Cook out of ideas? Paris Marx made the case as he also pointed out that Apple "desperately needs its Next Big Thing." (Business Insider)
- Meta will shut down its business tool, Workplace, Ina Fried and Megan Morrone reported. (Axios)
- Reddit launched a dedicated AMA tab and introduced new tools for the popular community feature. (TechCrunch)
- Google will make it harder "to find websites that host A.I.-generated deepfake pornography after months of lobbying by victims and advocates of tighter controls," Cecilia D'Anastasio reported. (Bloomberg)
- Joshua Needleman went "behind Snapchat's campaign to position itself as a post-social media app." (Marketing Brew)
|
|
|
CNN Photo Illustration/Jennifer Pottheise/Disney/Getty Images |
Iger's Personal Pitch: For the first time since 1994, Bob Iger opened Disney's upfront presentation, telling advertisers assembled at New York City's Javits Center that he is "deeply optimistic" about the entertainment giant's future. "To say a lot has changed since 1994 would be an incredible understatement and I'm not just talking about the color of my hair, or my fashion choices," the chief executive joked. In his speech, Iger addressed the "radical changes that have transformed" the media business. But, he stressed, "while the whole business model and the way people consume media are drastically different, what hasn't changed is the fact that success in this industry is really predicated on one thing, and that is telling great stories." Deadline's Dominic Patten has more here. |
|
|
It wasn't just Iger who returned to the Disney upfront stage. After a two-year hiatus, Jimmy Kimmel was back to roast his employer: "Let's hear it for all the talented stars who were forced to come here today because of a clause in their contract their agents didn't bother to read." ( Deadline) - Marvel moves: Disney said "Agatha All Along" will debut on Disney+ on September 18. "Daredevil: Born Again" will follow in March 2025 and "Ironheart" will debut next year as well. (Deadline)
- The next season of "Only Murders in the Building" will hit Hulu on August 27. (THR)
- Speaking of Hulu, the streamer will wade into comedy with a Jim Gaffigan special. (The Wrap)
- And a new Bruce Springsteen documentary will debut on Disney+ and Hulu in October. (Variety)
|
|
|
- At its upfront, Amazon leaned further into sports, announcing a new slate of series and films targeting fans across various leagues. (SBJ)
- The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins were announced as Prime Video's first "Thursday Night Football" matchup. (Reuters)
- Outside the world of sports: Amazon released the trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." (YouTube)
- A streaming version of "Jeopardy," called "Pop Culture Jeopardy," is heading to Prime Video. (Deadline)
- A "Legally Blonde" prequel series is in the works, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon. And a "Road House" sequel is also en route with Jake Gyllenhaal set to return. (THR/Deadline)
- "The Boys" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" have been renewed for new seasons. And Nicolas Cage will star in new "Spider-Man Noir" series. (Variety/Variety/IGN)
|
|
|
CNN Photo Illustration/Derek White/Getty Images |
Coppola Accused in Cannes: As the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival commenced Tuesday, "Megalopolis" director Francis Ford Coppola was accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior while on set. The Guardian's Steve Rose reported via unnamed sources that Coppola "came on to the set and tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras." According to the report, the director "apparently claimed" that he was "trying to get them in the mood" ahead of a nightclub scene. Coppola hasn't directly addressed the report, but executive co-producer Darren Demetre said in a statement that he was "never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behavior" and that he was only aware of the famed director having given "hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and background players." The Guardian's report landed as the "Megalopolis" teaser trailer was released and rumors swirled about potential #MeToo stories throwing the festival into chaos. Variety's Zack Sharf has more here. |
|
|
- Meryl Streep accepted the honorary Palme d'Or award. (Variety)
- Greta Gerwig said the industry has "changed and gotten better" in accepting women: "Every year I cheer because there are more women directors. We're not done yet, but we are certainly moving in the right direction. It's all about the long arc of history." (Guardian)
- The backdrop: The festival is opening amid a #MeToo reckoning in French cinema. (AFP)
- Meanwhile, news that Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof fled his country after a conviction has spurred speculation he may attend the premiere of his "The Seed of The Sacred Fig." (AFP)
- On a much different note, do you ever wonder why trades write stories about the length of standing ovations at Cannes? "It's a simple answer, actually," Matthew Belloni explained. "The Drudge Report often picks up those stories, and when you're in the web traffic game, as the Penske trades still are, you program for Drudge, not for industry readers who laugh at that stuff." (Puck)
|
|
|
- Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the former "Rust" armorer who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Alec Baldwin's fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins, has appealed her conviction. (AP)
- A French court acquitted Roman Polanski of defamation. (BBC)
- Tom Brady said he "wouldn't do [the Netflix roast] again" because of the way "it affected my kids." (Deadline)
- "It really wasn't that big of a deal": Howard Stern said he accepted Jerry Seinfeld's apology over remarks about the radio host being "outflanked" by other comedic hosts. (THR)
- "Supergirl" will fly into theaters on June 26, 2026. (THR)
- Max released the official trailer for the second season of "House of the Dragon." (YouTube)
- Speaking of Max: "Dune: Part Two" will stream on the Warner Bros. Discovery streamer on May 21. (Variety)
- Showtime announced the third season of "Yellowjackets" is in production. (THR)
|
|
|
Thank you for reading! This newsletter was edited by Jon Passantino and produced with the assistance of Liam Reilly. Have feedback? Send us an email. You can follow us on Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn. We will see you back in your inbox tomorrow. |
|
|
| ® © 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
1050 Techwood Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Comments
Post a Comment