Media Roundup: New York Times May Charge for Content, After Adjustment, Super Bowl Top Rated of All Time and More
New York Times considering charging for content -- In a question and answer session with readers, New York Times Editor Bill Keller revealed the company is considering charging for online content. Before September 2007, the paper's TimesSelect service charged readers for access to columnists and archives. Keller hinted that while TimesSelect won't be returning, the paper is considering four options: a subscription model, micropayments, revenue sharing and the non-profit route. [Source: paidContent]
After rating adjustment, Super Bowl top rated of all time -- Nielsen Media Research adjusted yesterday's rating numbers to make Super Bowl XLII the highest rated of all time. The jump in numbers is attributed to a wider sampler size. Nielsen often adjusts ratings numbers in the days after the event, but this jump was particularly large. [Source: Wall Street Journal]
Disney misses earnings -- Disney missed earnings expectations by six cents a share yesterday that send the stock down nearly 10 percent in after market trading. The company saw the biggest losses in the broadcast segment where revenue was down 14 percent from last year. In a revenue call yesterday, CEO Bob Iger revealed a need to adjust the company's DVD business for the digital age. [Source: All Things Digital]
Gannett Stock hits an all-time low -- Gannett, America's largest newspaper publisher, saw its stock hit an all-time low of $4.96 yesterday. It's the first time in 23 years that the company's stock fell below $5. In recent days, two credit agencies warned that they would downgrade Gannett's debt to "junk" status. [Source: Editor & Publisher]
Tribune gets permission to trim severance packages -- The Tribune Co. received permission from a Delaware judge to half their severance package in the next round of layoffs. The ruling came in time to apply to the upcoming layoffs at the Los Angeles Times. Tribune Co. had warned employees that severance packages would be less generous in 2009. [Source: Chicago Tribune]
Time Warner losses $16 billion -- Time Warner announced a dismal forth quarter yesterday lead by a $24.2 billion write-down of AOL. Excluding the write down, Time Warner gained 23 cents a share. The company also announced layoffs. [Source: New York Times]
Pajamas Media shuts down ad network -- Pajamas Media, the right-leaning blog network that made Joe the Plumber a war correspondent, is closing down its advertising network. The company is instead going to focus on its video property, PajamasTV. Pajamas Media includes popular blogs Instapundit and Michelle Malkin. [Source: All Things Digital]