Good Media Morning
to you. Time Inc is expanding its revenue sources with a new home
cleaning product line, Tronc Chairman Michael Ferro is being challenged
and much more in this morning's issue. FORWARD THIS ISSUE
MEDIA BIGS TOP THE LIST FOR UBER COO GIG
Possible targets floated by investors for Uber chief operating officer
include former Disney COO Tom Staggs, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, and Turner
CEO John Martin, said a person familiar with the matter. The three men
declined to comment.
VOGUE'S ANNA WINTOUR WILL SOON HAVE HER HANDS FULL PLANNING A WEDDING
Anna Wintour will soon be planning a wedding. Her daughter Bee Shaffer
is engaged to Francesco Carrozzini, the son of late Vogue Italia
editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, Page Six confirmed Tuesday.
Shaffer, 29, and Carrozzini, 34, first turned heads in October after
she attended a screening of his documentary about his mother, “Franca:
Chaos & Creation.” The event was co-hosted by Wintour, the
editor-in-chief of Vogue.
PINTEREST SAYS IT EXPECTS TO GENERATE OVER $500 MILLION IN REVENUE THIS YEAR
Pinterest may finally be growing into its $11 billion valuation.
Pinterest, which makes all of its money from advertising, is targeting
more than $500 million in revenue in 2017, according to multiple sources
familiar with the company’s plans. Some believe the company could
generate as much as $600 million this year.
25% OF GIZMODO MEDIA GROUP'S REVENUE COMES FROM COMMERCE
Gizmodo Media Group, now operating under Univision, has eight media
brands, with six comprising the former Gawker Media properties left
after that company’s bankruptcy and sale. Raju Narisetti, brought in
from News Corp to run the group, saw strength in its loyal audience —
and diversified business model. Gizmodo expects revenue to be up 30
percent this year, with 25 percent of that coming from commerce
transactions driven by affiliate partnerships.
MAGAZINES GEARED TOWARDS LGBTQ CONSUMERS ARE A MUST HAVE FOR MEDIA COMPANIES
Lifestyle magazines aimed at a gay and lesbian audience continue to
attract attention from mainstream publishers. Davler Media is buying
Metrosource, believed to be among the Top 3 titles nationally aimed at
the LGBT crowd.
ANOTHER MAGAZINE FOR THE HAMPTONS, BUT THATS NOT ALL
Cristina Cuomo is again doing what she does best — starting a new media
business and glossy magazine centered on the monied East End of Long
Island. Her new title, Hamptons Purist, will debut in the crowded luxe
market over the Memorial Day weekend and crank out two more issues — one
around July 4 and the second just before Labor Day.
THE ECONOMIST NAMED 'DIGITAL TEAM OF THE YEAR'
Digital Team of the Year, went to The Economist for the phenomenal year
the brand had in 2016. The brand’s digital team delivered three million
new readers and is now able to move them toward being committed readers
through retargeting.
BILLIONAIRE UPS HIS STAKE IN LA TIMES PUBLISHER TRONC, CHALLENGING CHAIRMAN MICHAEL FERRO
Biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has upped his stake in Los
Angeles Times parent Tronc in a move that could portend an attempt to
take control of the media outlet formerly known as Tribune Publishing.
Soon-Shiong, who earned his fortune developing cancer treatments,
acquired 2 million shares priced at $15 each. He now holds nearly as
much Tronc stock as chairman and controlling owner Michael Ferro
CROOKED MEDIA LOOKS TO COUNTER TRUMP
It’s making so much money from advertising that one of its founders, the
former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett, joked that he didn’t understand
all the whining about how hard it is to make money in media. “It’s
easy,” he said during an interview with the Recode co-founder Kara
Swisher at the South by Southwest festival here last week. “Just start
talking and money rolls in.”
AD AGE INSTALLS NEW EDITOR
Advertising Age has named Brian Braiker its next editor, succeeding Ken
Wheaton, who left at the end of December. Mr. Braiker, who starts in his
new role early next month, had been executive editor at Digiday since
2013.
AFTER ONLY A YEAR, JOE BEL BRUNO DITCHES HOLLYWOOD REPORTER FOR VARIETY
Variety has hired Joe Bel Bruno as Managing Editor to help guide the
continuing global expansion of Hollywood’s top entertainment news
organization across its print, digital, and video platforms. Bel Bruno,
who joins Variety’s Los Angeles headquarters on April 10
from his previous role as news director at the Hollywood Reporter, will
report to Co-Editor-in-Chiefs Claudia Eller and Andrew Wallenstein.
THE FOUNDERS OF MENTAL FLOSS ARE JOINING HOWSTUFFWORKS TO PRODUCE PODCASTS
Last month we shared news that the founders of Mental Floss magazine,
Will Pearson and Mangesh Hattikudur were departing the company. They
have since left and have already landed elsewhere.
VIACOM IS ABOUT TO NAME A NEW CEO FOR PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Jim Gianopulos’s ascent to the top of Paramount Pictures as chairman and CEO appears to be close to being made official by
the studio’s corporate parent, Viacom — putting the flagging studio in
the hands of an industry veteran known for working collegially with
talent, agents and business execs.
MGM COOKS UP DEAL WITH SNAPCHAT TO PRODUCE ORIGINAL CONTENT
MGM Television will be the first major entertainment studio to develop
and produce original series for Snapchat’s Discover platform, the
companies announced. “The team at Snap is thinking about mobile TV
differently than anyone else in this space. They are innovators.”
DISNEY'S FORMER CEO WANTS TO BUY A SOCCER CLUB
Michael Eisner has launched a bid to buy the Portsmouth football club.
The former Disney chief is in negotiations to take ownership of the
League Two club. The 75-year-old is eager to become involved in English
football through his Tornante investment group.
THE FUNNY OR DIE WEBSITE IS CLOSING ITS NEW YORK OFFICES
Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s pioneering Funny or Die website is closing
its New York offices. Staff at the nearly-10-year-old comedy site’s
East Coast operation were informed that they could either relocate to
its Los Angeles offices or be laid off.
TIME INC ENTERS THE HOME CLEANING PRODUCTS INDUSTRY WITH 'REAL SIMPLE'
Real Simple is marketing the line, called Real Simple Clean, to “busy,
time-pressed women.” According to the line’s website, Real Simple Clean
is “smart, safe, and easy,” with “carefully chosen ingredients” to
“reduce risk to families, pets, and the planet.”
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