Alex Weprin

Enthusiast. Senior Editor @THR writing about business, finance, TV, media, sports, and other stuff. Previously: @MediaPost, @POLITICO @TVNewser, @BCBeat

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

To unpack: In 2015 the average adult spent more than 4 hours a day watching TV, way more time than any other form of media, per Nielsen. Facebook thought it could take a big chunk by adjusting the algo. Publishers got burned but lesson can’t be that people don’t like video.

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

They were wrong to pivot because Facebook told them to, but video has always been the medium of choice for news, and well, everything. It's just that TV used to own it, now the floodgates are actually open.

[Max Tani @maxwelltani]

in retrospect, publishers weren't wrong in pivoting to video, they were just too early

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

New: Federal approval in hand, Murdoch’s Lupa Systems has closed the deal. “We look forward to providing the magazine, podcast network, and Vox with the resources and partnership they need to do their best work yet,” Murdoch says.

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

New: The FTC has approved James Murdoch's purchase of NY Mag and the Vox podcast network, according to an HSR early termination notice.

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

Not to be that guy, but I'm pretty sure the NYPD is shutting streets down because they know thousands (tens of thousands?) of people are going to swarm MSG this weekend. It's not, like, a personal favor to Taylor and Travis.

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

👀 at the names going on the record here.

[Jessica Toonkel @jtoonkel]

A Cable Scion’s Hardest Deal Yet: Breaking Up His Family’s Company. My latest on a Comcast’s Brian Roberts https://t.co/pXDvOHiFYQ

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

Trump said this morning that “I never speak to any of the people that run the money, but they’re at big institutions, and they invest in whatever they invest." More: https://t.co/Aghi71x6fh

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

New from me: President Trump earned millions of dollars from Hollywood last year, including $10.7M for Melania, a receivable from Amazon MGM Studios worth as much as $500,000, and residuals from appearances on shows like Sex & The City and The View (!)

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

The President also owns hundreds of millions of dollars in stocks and bonds, including of every major media company. Notably, the filing suggests that he planned to tender some of his Warner Bros Discovery shares amid Paramount's battle with Netflix for WBD last year.

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

New: In an intriguing footnote, given ABC's current battle with the FCC, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch cited FCC Chair Brendan Carr's threat last year involving Jimmy Kimmel as an example of apparent agency overreach. https://t.co/qe3afA97CM

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

This would suggest that it’s not actually about protecting Hollywood jobs and more about politics and optics.

[Dylan Byers @DylanByers]

Big one here from @MattBelloni:

California A.G. Rob Bonta wants Paramount to sell CNN. ... Sources close to Bonta say a divestiture of the news network would be the best way for Democrats to feel not terrible about the deal.

https://t.co/Ht7Hsujst5

@PuckNews

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

Big changes are coming to MS NOW's weekend lineup: "The Weekend: Primetime" will have its last episode this week, more video podcasts and partnerships coming instead. Alex Witt, a nearly 30-year veteran, will leave later this year. https://t.co/loOApWyaG6

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

There's a whole generation of writers who opine or report on tech who are doing what they do because of Om. I can't believe he's gone.

[M.G. Siegler @mgsiegler]

Complete loss of words. Rest in peace, @om https://t.co/PbelGIbt4f

[rat king 🐀 @MikeIsaac]

News: Meta is currently building a prediction markets app to rival Polymarket and Kalshi, according to sources

the app, currently called "Arena," will be a standalone offering and was ordered up by Mark Zuckerberg

w/ @yaffebellany

https://t.co/IobogS4xkV

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

@editorialiste Ouch

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

I cannot emphasize enough how big a deal this is. My bet: In 5 years Instagram will have a higher position on the Nielsen Gauge than at least a few major media companies.

[The Hollywood Reporter @THR]

It’s Not TV. It’s Instagram: App Is Testing Longform, Episodic Storytelling on TV https://t.co/JcZABsl2qN

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

Inbox: ESPN legend Linda Cohn will retire at the end of the month. The longest-tenured anchor in SportsCenter history.

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

In between bouts inside the UFC octagon, President Trump received a steady stream of media and tech moguls, from Jim Dolan to Mark Zuckerberg. Here’s that you didn’t see on TV. https://t.co/hOtKsSB05x

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

The Ellisons are selling movie theaters, even as they try to buy another movie studio.

[The Hollywood Reporter @THR]

Ellisons Sell Redstone Family's Movie Theaters In $30 Million Deal https://t.co/NKS7bd1QS5

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

"Game shows are typically subject to varying standards intended to promote impartiality and fair competition. Other competitions may allow departure from such standards to enhance their entertainment value," the CFTF writes. More: https://t.co/PDymou9zEi

[Alex Weprin @alexweprin]

NEW: The Trump administration wants to know if it should regulate prediction market bets on reality shows like Survivor. In a notice today, the CFTC asks: "Should game shows, reality show competitions, pageants and similar events be considered to be ‘gaming’?”