Media and tech aren’t just intersecting — they’re fully intertwined. And to understand how those worlds work, and what they mean for you, veteran journalist Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers - and gets them to spell it out in plain, BS-free English.
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Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw analyzes the intense bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery involving Netflix and Paramount, a conflict deemed 'the story of the year' for Hollywood. The discussion covers complex regulatory challenges, including the 'Trump wildcard' and Middle Eastern investment concerns, and explores why Hollywood has reacted more strongly against Netflix. Shaw also delves into who needs the deal more, the future of media consolidation, and the transformative, yet fear-inducing, role of AI in the entertainment industry.
I chat with lots of media reporters. Lachlan Cartwright is a different beast: An Aussie who started out working for Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids in London and New York, and then on to the National Enquirer — yes, that National Enquirer — back when it was catching and killing stories on behalf on Donald Trump. Now Cartwright runs Breaker, a must-read New York media gossip newsletter and podcast, and spends his time staking out Sulzberger family barbecues, knocking on doors at 4:45 a.m., and writing ...
This episode delves into Netflix's surprising $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, examining how the deal unfolded despite initial skepticism and rival bids. Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw discusses the complex regulatory landscape, including potential political challenges, and Netflix's strategic motivations for pursuing such a massive content library. The conversation also explores the future integration of HBO and Warner Bros. content, along with the profound implications for the entire streaming and entertainment industry.
Following a significant $1 billion federal funding cut, PBS CEO Paula Kerger details the immediate and long-term strategies for public media, including establishing a bridge fund for vulnerable local stations and adapting programming like NewsHour. The discussion delves into the historical role of public media, its continued relevance in providing trusted information and unique educational content for children, and explores diverse funding models beyond government appropriations. Kerger emphasizes PBS's commitment to free access while also seeking strategic partnerships to ensure its future.
We built the modern media business for the web — for people who visited websites, read articles, and saw ads. What happens when no one does that anymore? That’s been one of the big themes of conversations we’ve been having on Channels with this year — with people who run big and small media properties, and with people who are trying to build media businesses. And that’s why I wanted to talk to Tony Haile. Tony got into digital media years ago, when he was the CEO of Chartbeat - the analytics sit...
Veteran TV executive Kevin Reilly, known for hits like "The Sopranos" and "The Office," discusses the "Golden Age of TV" and its subsequent decline, attributing it to the industry's failure to adapt to streaming and its dismissal of Netflix. He details his new venture, Cartel, an AI company focused on "creative intelligence" for brands, explaining how AI will enhance efficiency in content creation while empowering, not replacing, human creatives. Reilly also offers his insights on the future of traditional media in a consolidating landscape.
Peter Kafka and Alex Sherman delve into the prolonged Disney-YouTube TV carriage dispute, analyzing its unique aspects, the differing leverage of Google and Disney, and its implications for consumers. They then pivot to the intricate battle for Warner Bros. Discovery, examining the Ellisons' motivations, the role of cable channels, financing challenges, and the potential involvement of other bidders like Comcast, Netflix, and Apple, while also considering the broader future of media and high-value sports rights.
CEO Sarah Longwell details The Bulwark's unexpected growth, transitioning from a mission-driven anti-Trump effort to a profitable media company leveraging Substack subscriptions and YouTube video. She also offers insights into the current political media landscape, arguing that Republicans excel at communication by embracing authenticity and omnipresence, contrasting this with Democrats' struggles to connect with voters on core issues. Longwell highlights the power of focus groups in understanding the complex "why" behind voter sentiments.
Would you pay $7 a month to stream CNN? Because CNN CEO Mark Thompson would like you to do that. I know, I know, I’m skeptical, too. But Thompson has been here before: At his last job, as CEO of the New York Times, he helped shepherd that company’s subscription business, which had a gazillion naysayers at the start. And now the Times’ business model is the envy of everyone in journalism. Can he do it again? One big difference is that the Times launched its paywall all the way back in 2011, befor...
Peter Kafka and Brian Morrissey delve into the transformation of the media industry from mass scale to an age of small, specialized operations. They examine the ongoing challenge of platform dependency on giants like Google and the emerging threat and opportunity presented by AI. The discussion covers how media companies are adapting business models, prioritizing direct audience relationships, and finding optimism in niche markets, alongside the inevitability of industry restructuring.
The AI story is changing fast. A few months ago, it was all promise and inevitability. Now even AI boosters are asking if the numbers make sense. Ed Zitron got there early. He runs a PR firm for a living, which means he’s supposed to help people sell their stories. But he’s become best known for tearing tech’s biggest stories apart. And he’s been pushing at the economics behind the AI boom, via his newsletter and podcast , for some time. We talk about how he built a career out of skepticism, why...
Anna Bateson, CEO of The Guardian, reveals how the 204-year-old nonprofit has successfully transitioned to a reader-supported model, now largely funded by donations rather than advertising. She explains the crucial role of the $1.5 billion Scott Trust in ensuring editorial independence and enabling investigative journalism without billionaire interference. Bateson also details the Guardian's strategy for U.S. expansion, its ethical advertising policies, and how it navigates the evolving digital landscape with AI and platform changes, emphasizing resilience and trust with its global audience.
Vivek Shah, CEO of Ziff Davis, details how his company, unlike many digital publishers, has achieved profitability through strategic acquisitions. He explains their proactive approach to Google's zero-click search and AI overviews, having diversified traffic sources to mitigate dependency. Shah elaborates on why Ziff Davis chose to sue OpenAI—alleging unauthorized content use for training and rebuffed licensing offers—rather than strike a deal, arguing for the necessity of protecting intellectual property and securing compensation for AI model usage, which he sees as a significant future revenue opportunity.
Peter Kafka and James Ponowozik analyze the recent Jimmy Kimmel monologue controversy, examining its implications for late-night television's diminishing traditional viewership and its surprising role as a flashpoint in a First Amendment fight. They discuss Donald Trump's consistent targeting of media figures, his legal strategies against major outlets, and the unique power of celebrity in shaping public perception. The conversation also explores how Kimmel's return fits into the historical context of significant late-night moments and whether this specific dispute has lasting power.
This episode explores Meta's latest smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Display, with tech reporter Alex Heath. They delve into the glasses' functionality, compare them to previous attempts like Google Glass, and discuss their potential for consumer adoption and practical use cases. The conversation also covers Mark Zuckerberg's motivations for investing heavily in wearable tech and AI, his recent political shifts, and Meta's reoriented strategy in the race for superintelligence. Finally, Alex shares insights into his decision to launch his own independent media platform.
John Coogan knows what you’re thinking: the world does not need another tech podcast. And the world does not need another podcast featuring two dudes talking. Yet Coogan and Jordi Hays have started another tech podcast, featuring the two of them talking and… it’s a hit. In the span of a year, TBPN has become the place where tech execs go to chop up the news of the day - first in a daily livestream, and later in clips that circulate around the internet. And Coogan and Hays are carving out a niche...
Patch CEO Warren St. John discusses the company's approach to local news, combining human journalists with AI-generated newsletters. He explains how their
One thing about the internet is that it lets you build really, really fast. A little more than a year ago, Oliver Darcy was an unemployed former CNN media reporter. Today he’s the proprietor of Status, his must-read media newsletter. In our conversation, we spend a little bit of time talking through the mechanics of his two-man operation, and how he thinks about the future. But I wanted to focus our chat and something that’s a little harder to sum up: How Darcy’s reporting and writing fits into ...
Henry Blodget can’t help himself. The Business Insider founder is starting another media business, knowing full well how difficult the industry can be. You can watch him build it in real time: Regenerator on Substack, and Solutions on TikTok , YouTube and everywhere you hear your favorite podcasts. Henry — who hired me to work at Business Insider in 2007, back when it was called Silicon Alley Insider — sat down for a chat about what’s changed in media and the internet over the years, and what ha...
The media industry has been waiting for ESPN to cut the cord for a decade. Now it’s finally happening: This week the sports TV giant will let you start streaming — without a cable TV subscription — for $30 a month. Why now? ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro is quite frank about it: Along with his boss — Disney CEO Bob Iger — he wanted to make as much money from the cable TV business as he could before it dwindled away. And even now, Pitaro says he hopes the new service brings in customers who don’t have ca...
Peter Kafka and New York Times reporter Mike Isaac dive into the current state of artificial intelligence, exploring the rapid advancements in AI models and the challenges of evaluating their real-world impact. They discuss the fierce competition for top AI talent, highlighted by astronomical salaries and "acqui-hires," and the financial realities of AI startups burning massive cash. The conversation also touches on the shifting landscape of US tech policy under the Trump administration and its implications for AI development and industry giants.
The last time I talked to Jesse David Fox about the comedy boom it was… March 5, 2020. Since then, some things have changed. But in other ways it’s just the same: comedy - or at least, some kinds of comedy - seems almost custom-built for our current technological and cultural moment, and it’s easier than ever to get this stuff on your devices whenever you want. Or whenever the algorithm thinks you want it. Fox is a great person to talk to about this stuff: he covers comedy very, very seriously o...
This episode delves into the ongoing erosion of the traditional pay TV business, a decade after its decline was first acknowledged. Rich Greenfield analyzes the strategies of major players like Paramount under new ownership, ESPN's standalone streaming launch, and Fox's unique approach with Fox One. The discussion also covers the challenges of selling ailing cable networks and the impact of antitrust concerns and political factors on potential media mergers, emphasizing the industry's struggle to find a sustainable path forward in the streaming era.
This episode explores Donald Trump's congressional plan to defund public TV and radio, detailing the significant impact on local stations and the historical context of federal funding for public media. It also delves into Trump's extraordinary libel lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, analyzing the motivations behind the suit and the complex, transactional relationship between the two powerful figures.
This episode explores the storied history of Condé Nast, detailing its peak influence in the 1980s and 90s as a dominant cultural arbiter. Reporter Michael Grynbaum discusses how the company, under Cy Newhouse, fostered an era of celebrity editors and lavish spending, funded by lucrative advertising and a family fortune. The conversation also delves into Condé Nast's struggle to adapt to the internet and its surprising, accidental success with the Reddit investment, before examining the future prospects of its iconic magazine titles amidst evolving media landscapes and cultural attitudes.
Media reporter Max Tani discusses the New York Times' controversial story on Zoran Mamdani's college application, exploring the paper's internal divisions and external criticism. He reflects on his career path to Semafor, working with Ben Smith, and the economics of modern media. The conversation delves into the fragmented media landscape, the 'fragmentation election,' how news is consumed ambiently, and the lessons learned from covering the Trump presidency.
Peter Kafka talks with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker about the show's evolution, its perception as tech dystopia, and whether technology or human nature is the real problem. They discuss the shift in Season 6's focus, how political figures challenge satire, and delve into the implications of AI on creative industries, including how it was explored in episodes like "Joan is Awful" and "Be Right Back". Brooker shares his perspective as a tech enthusiast and a worrier.
What's the best way to describe what Emily Sundberg does? Substacker? Influencer? Journalist? Brand-builder? Let's go with "yes". And she does a much better job of describing herself in our conversation, where we talk about how she went from being a laid-off marketer at Meta to a one-woman business with a devoted following and a revenue line that’s up and to the right. A very quick primer for those of you haven't heard of Sundberg and her Feed Me newsletter - she’s building a very interesting pu...
Peter Kafka talks with Apple analyst and blogger John Gruber about the fallout from Gruber's critical post on Apple's delayed AI features. They delve into Apple's AI strategy, the company's relationship with developers and the App Store, the challenges facing the Vision Pro, and the business of running an independent tech blog in the era of Substack.
Hosts Peter Kafka, Ben Smith, and Brian Morrissey discuss the state of legacy media, exploring potential areas of optimism amid industry challenges. They examine how established companies are adapting, focusing on talent deals, the enduring value of brands, digital adaptation strategies, and the impact of AI. The conversation touches on various models, from licensing talent to managing decline, and the future of large publishers like Condé Nast and The New York Times.
