Ads On HBO? Max Looks To Become Much More Than That As It Gains Commercial Traction

Deadline |

After corporate maneuvers, a global pandemic and labor unrest, the wheels of streaming commerce are finally starting to turn for Max. The Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service introduced an ad tier in 2021, when it was known as HBO Max and owned by AT&T’s WarnerMedia, only to re-approach the ad business in earnest in early 2023. About a year into the effort and the rebrand to Max, there are clear signs of traction, with the service due to be center stage Wednesday at the company’s upfront presentation to ad buyers in New York.

Disney Upfront Welcomes Back Bob Iger — And Jimmy Kimmel

Broadcasting+Cable |

The Walt Disney Co.’s upfront presentation went on with a connections theme, and Bob Iger himself appeared onstage moments after it began. Emma Stone introduced Iger, Disney CEO, who said it was his first upfront show appearance since 1994. Among the programming highlights presented were three from Ryan Murphy, a comedy special franchise on Hulu and a peek at Marvel projects.

Scripps Ups Jeff Kiernan To VP, Local News

TVNewsCheck | – Add Comment

In this newly created corporate position, the former GM of KNTV and KMCC Las Vegas will oversee Scripps’ local news content strategy alongside Kate O’Brian, Scripps’ president of news.

BRAND CONNECTIONS

TVN Webinar: News, Sports And Remote Production In 2024

TVNewsCheck | – Add Comment

Technology leaders from NBC Regional Sports Networks, Sinclair, Gray Television, Hearst Television and Fox Television Stations discuss the benefits and challenges of remote production in an IP environment in a TVNewsCheck Working Lunch webinar on July 16 at 1 p.m. ET. Register here.

Broadcasters And Other Media Employers Must Navigate New Overtime Requirements

Comm Law Center | – Add Comment

On April 23, the U.S. Department of Labor published final regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act that ultimately raise the minimum salary necessary to be exempt from federal overtime rules by 65%. These changes affect all businesses subject to the FLSA, but broadcasters and other media employers may particularly feel the impact given that they rarely operate on a 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. schedule. The increase will occur in two steps, with the first going into effect on July 1, 2024, and the second occurring on Jan. 1, 2025.

Exclusives

A Paramount Sale Looms And Political Ads Boom In Quarterly Earnings

Multicast Is Maturing And Studios Are Taking Notice

Newsroom Computer Systems Lurch Into A New Era

A New Documentary Traces The Popularity Of Local TV News To One Man, Al Primo

Are The Broadcast Networks Killing Their Affiliates?

Tackling Local TV News’ Pay Problem, There Are No Easy Answers

AI’s Desperate Hunger For News Training Data Has Publishers Fighting Back. Here’s How.

Noncompetes Are A Distraction From Media’s Real Issues

Broadcasters, J-Schools Must Work More Closely To Solve TV News Recruitment Problem

KSLA’s Cold Case True Crime Docs Resonate With Shreveport Viewers

NEWS ANALYSIS

The Fox News Decline That Wasn’t

Slate |

There’s a growing temptation to believe that the network has waned in power and influence. Don’t give in to it — especially not in 2024.

Billionaire Frank McCourt Organizes Bid To Acquire TikTok In U.S.

The Wall Street Journal |

Billionaire Frank McCourt is organizing a bid to acquire the U.S. business of video-sharing platform TikTok, weeks after the passage of a law that would ban the company unless it separates itself from its Chinese owner.

AI & THE MEDIA

Google Ramps Up AI In Search Functions Amid Race With OpenAI

The Hill |

Google will roll out new artificial intelligence features in search functions and other Google services as the company races with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to stay on the cutting edge of AI technology.

TVN’S MEDIA JOBS

New Jobs Posted To TVNewsCheck

TVNewsCheck/Market Share |

New jobs posted to TVNewsCheck’s Media Job Center include openings for a station vice president and general manager and a lifestyle show producer. Existing jobs include openings for a director of student media, a national operations manager, a digital platform specialist and an account executive.

TVN Webinar: Streaming Revenue Strategies For Local TV

TVNewsCheck | – Add Comment

Streaming sales leaders from Gray Television, E.W. Scripps, Hearst Television, Ticker and Megaphone TV will share the latest developments in technology and strategy for OTT and FAST channels. Learn more about this critically important revenue source for broadcasters in a TVNewsCheck Working Lunch Webinar on May 16. Register here.

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