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Comcast Said to Be Close to Gaining NBC Universal (NYT)
General Electric and the cable giant Comcast have moved closer to a deal giving control of NBC Universal to Comcast, and a formal announcement could be made sometime next week, people briefed on the talks said Sunday.
Senators Say White House Agrees To Deal On Media-Shield Bill (WSJ)
The White House has reached a compromise with lawmakers on legislation that would give legal protections to journalists who want to protect their confidential sources, according to Senate sponsors of the bill.
What Could Have Been: BusinessWeek's Grim Non-Bloomberg Scenario (AllThingsDigital/Media Memo)
Here's the worst-case scenario BusinessWeek employees would be facing had they been purchased by private equity firm ZelnickMedia. The short version: Almost everybody gets fired. The longer version of the plan is a chilling one for anybody who draws a paycheck at BusinessWeek. FishbowlNY: BusinessWeek president Keith Fox is stepping down from the magazine but will remain at McGraw-Hill.
Can Newfangled Web Ads Save Journalism? (Vanity Fair)
Matt Pressman: The online-ad business is no longer in its infancy -- more like its adolescence. And like many adolescents, it is going through an experimental phase. The difficulty for advertisers is finding that sweet spot between being annoying and being ignored.
GlobalPost Generating Revenue of $1 Million in First Year (Nieman Lab)
Phil Balboni, chief executive of GlobalPost, said the company is on pace to generate $1 million in revenue this year and expects $3 million in revenue next year, which would reduce their operating loss by 50 percent. The goal is to achieve profitability by 2012.
Leno on Bad Press, Letterman and His Feelings About Leaving 11:35 (B&C)
"If it were offered to me, would I take it? If that's what they wanted to do, sure. That would be fine if they wanted to," said Jay Leno when asked if he would be interested in returning to his old 11:35 slot on NBC.
Texas Tribune Launches Tomorrow (WaPo)
Evan Smith, the longtime editor of Texas Monthly, on Tuesday is launching the Texas Tribune, a nonprofit news site which is designed to fill the gap left by the shrinking number of newspaper reporters at the state capitol in Austin.
Canwest Wins Judge's Approval to Save National Post (Bloomberg)
Canwest Global Communications Corp., the insolvent Canadian media company, won a judge's approval to move the assets of the National Post to its solvent newspaper division, allowing the national newspaper to keep operating.
Business Is a Beat Deflated (NYT)
David Carr: While the business of business may be back, the business of covering it with heroic narratives and upbeat glossy spreads most certainly is not. And probably never will be. There are several technical reasons underlying the collapse -- and that's what it is -- of business journalism. AdAge: Business magazines face harsh reality.
World Series Coverage: Latest Signs of a Dying Industry (MurrayChass.com)
Murray Chass: The World Series offers a startling barometer of how critical the health of the newspaper industry is in this country. Twenty-nine of the 60 newspapers that cover major league teams during the season on the road as well as at home are not at this year's World Series.
Scandal Boosts David Letterman's Ratings (THR)
Several weeks after David Letterman was shaken by an image-rocking scandal, CBS' Late Show With David Letterman has shown little sign of weakening audience support. The sex-and-extortion headlines have possibly even helped the series grow its viewership compared with last year.
Detroit Paper Runs Articles on Advertiser's Cue (WSJ)
A series of articles that appeared in Sunday's Detroit Free Press about Medicare open enrollment probably didn't seem unusual to readers. But the idea for the articles came from health insurer Humana Inc., which bought an ad next to one of the articles, according to executives at the newspaper.
Life After the Pay Wall: Ignorance Ain't Bliss After All (AdAge)
Simon Dumenco: Imagine you are living in a world where news is no longer free...: The cultural divide between the news-haves and the news-have-nots is just depressing. I'm relieved that I still have enough income to be able to afford the now $7,000-per-year New York Times. NYT Public Editor: Times editor Bill Keller says the paper is "within weeks of a decision" on its strategy for paid content.
Magazine Industry Hooked on Pharma? (Mediaweek)
Change is in the wind for the pharmaceutical industry and magazines, as a rash of potential curbs on pharma advertising spotlights one of the medium's most dependable categories. From 2003-2008, drugs and remedies in consumer magazines soared 58 percent to $2.2 billion.
E-Readers May Not Solve Publisher Woes Yet (Reuters via Wired)
Publishers hoping to halt a slide in sales with new electronic reading devices will struggle to get consumers to embrace them until the technology improves, experts say. In some respects, the new devices still compare unfavorably to the tactile experience of the printed page, they say.
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