Mediagazer: Polygon staff, including co-founder and EIC Chris Plante, say the video games publication has laid them off, after Vox Media sold Polygon to publisher Valnet (Ethan Gach/Kotaku)

5:25 PM ET, May 1, 2025

Top News:

Ethan Gach / Kotaku:

Polygon staff, including co-founder and EIC Chris Plante, say the video games publication has laid them off, after Vox Media sold Polygon to publisher Valnet — One of the biggest gaming sites around was just blown up — The video game website Polygon has been sold to click-farm powerhouse Valnet …

Discussion: The Wrap, @samitsarkar.bsky.social, PC Gamer, @zosham, 404 Media, @genepark, @tasharobinson.bsky.social, @jacobkleinman, @gamerswithglasses.bsky.social, @joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org, @gamoid, Comic Book, Axios, Video Games Chronicle, @tcarmody.bsky.social, @echoapsey.bsky.social, @carlivelocci.com, @cecianasta, @eyepatchguy.bsky.social, @mikestrawmedia, @aemccarthy.bsky.social, @agramuglia.bsky.social, @mattbrownep, @jonchristian.net, @loudmouthjulia, @simonowens, @812filmreviews, @tched.com, @papapishu.bsky.social, @kasey__moore, @netopwibby@social.coop, @thatwitchmia.bsky.social, @cliffwade@infosec.exchange, @mattreyn.games, @metaplexmovies, @alicejovanee.bsky.social, @theotherfrost, @legsfrank, @alissawilkinson.bsky.social, @mitchyd.bsky.social, @monagle.bsky.social, @sethrosenthal.bsky.social, @plante.bsky.social, @botherer.bsky.social, @grubb.wtf, @okayy_dan, @petevolk.bsky.social, @parismarx.com, @morrus.bsky.social, @alexnavarro.bsky.social, @davidimel@threads.com, @812filmreviews.com, @cecianasta, @mattcaulder.com, @jacobkleinman, @palmerh.bsky.social, Ars Technica, @jaypeters.net, @mmcwhertor.bsky.social, @danack@threads.com, @pokachee.bsky.social, @jacoboller.bsky.social, @toadsanime, @caseynewton.bsky.social, @ohnorosco, @therisingtithes.bsky.social, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social, @echoapsey, Business Wire, @johnnychugs.bsky.social, @elmayimbe, @haasch_palmer, @mattleone.bsky.social, @coachfinstock.bsky.social, @alexaray.bsky.social, @briamgilbert.bsky.social, @jayasaxena.com, @mtsw.bsky.social, The Verge, petrana @ polygon and a world with more sparrows …, more at Techmeme »

Dylan Byers / Puck:

Sources: Shari Redstone asked CBS CEO if it would be possible to delay sensitive 60 Minutes stories about Trump until after the Skydance deal is closed — Amid Trump's legal torture of CBS, Shari Redstone has played the role of a spineless placater—a desperate seller eager to settle and liquidate her position in the family heirloom.

Discussion: New York Post, TVNewsCheck, Wall Street Journal, @davidfolkenflik, @brianstelter, @avi.zollman.com, @jaspar.bsky.social, @dylanbyers, Mediaite, @mergerson.bsky.social, @karlbode.com, Cord Cutters News, Techdirt, The Washington Free Beacon, Newsmax and Media Play News

Beatrice Verhoeven / The Hollywood Reporter:

The 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that is at the center of the Trump lawsuit gets an Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Edited Interview category — The winners will be announced in two ceremonies on June 25 and June 26. — The National Academy of Television Arts (NATAS) …

Discussion: Billboard, Axios, CNN, @fshakir, @ajaywagner.bsky.social, The Wrap and Deadline

Christopher Palmeri / Bloomberg:

After Trump criticized 60 Minutes for what he said were too many critical stories, 60 Minutes will air a piece on May 4 about his efforts to target law firms — Less than three weeks after President Donald Trump criticized 60 Minutes for what he said were too many critical stories …

Discussion: Deadline and @jonathanfriedman.com

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Roku reports Q1 revenue up 16% YoY to $1.02B vs. $1.01B est., a net loss of $27.4M, compared to $50.9M a year ago, and stops posting streaming household figures — Roku turned in first-quarter 2025 earnings that edged over Wall Street forecasts and announced a $185 million deal to buy Frndly TV …

Discussion: The Desk, The Wrap, Reuters and Roku, more at Techmeme »

Dade Hayes / Deadline:

Roku acquires Frndly TV, a provider of low-cost TV bundles delivered via streaming, for $185M, which includes $75M in performance-based holdbacks — Roku is paying $185 million to acquire Frndly TV, a provider of low-cost TV bundles delivered via streaming.

Discussion: TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, The Streamable, The Desk, TV Tech, Media Play News, Cord Cutters News and The Hollywood Reporter

Aisha Counts / Bloomberg:

LinkedIn will share ad revenue with creators for the first time, starting with 30 B2B creators, and says users now watch 36% more video content than a year ago — - Networking site to share ad sales with 30 content creators — LinkedIn users watch 36% more video content than a year ago

Discussion: Business Insider, Tubefilter, LinkedIn, Daniel Roth on LinkedIn, @simonowens, @katienotopoulos@threads.com, Ad Age and Mashable, more at Techmeme »

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Apple reports Q2 revenue from Services, which includes the App Store, Apple TV+, and Apple Music, up 12% YoY to $26.65B, a new record but below $26.7B est. — The company overall topped Wall Street estimates for the quarter as investors awaited word on how President Trump's tariffs might hurt its business.

Discussion: Business Wire, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Peacock plans to debut on May 19 four new original series developed by digital creators who participated in an NBCUniversal accelerator program — The creators, who were all part of an NBCUniversal accelerator program, will launch ‘The Warehouse Phase,’ ‘The Kouncil,’ ‘Older Hotter Wiser,’ and ‘People Like Me’ on Peacock May 19.

Discussion: TechCrunch

Mark Stenberg / Adweek:

WaPo plans to overhaul its events business, moving away from virtual events to 30 to 40 in-person experiences, including 10 major franchise-style gatherings — The new approach will focus on franchisable gatherings catering to business audiences — The Washington Post is overhauling …

Discussion: @washpostcomms and @markstenberg3

David Bauder / Associated Press:
WaPo has banned its media writers from reporting stories about the paper and reportedly lost ~325K subscribers after the Harris non-endorsement

Discussion: John Taylor on LinkedIn, Bonnie Rothman on LinkedIn, Jacob Bogage on LinkedIn, @teddyamen.bsky.social, @danlamothe.bsky.social, @eldavidmontgomery.bsky.social, @dbauder.bsky.social and @pressgazette.co.uk

Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:

Amazon reports Q1 ad revenue up 18% YoY to $13.92B, vs. $13.74B est., and subscription services revenue up 9% YoY to $11.72B — Amazon reported a 19% increase in online ad revenue in the first quarter, beating analyst estimates. — Ad sales climbed to $13.92 billion …

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety, Quartz, Forbes and Sherwood News, more at Techmeme »

Thomson Reuters:

Thomson Reuters reports Reuters News Q1 revenue down 7% YoY to $196M and adjusted EBITDA down 34% YoY to $39M — TORONTO, May 1, 2025 - Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025: — Good revenue momentum continued in the first quarter

Discussion: Benzinga, Globe and Mail, Reuters and Talking Biz News

Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:

Reddit reports Q1 revenue up 61% YoY to $392M, vs. $370M est., global daily active uniques up 31% to 108.1M, Q2 guidance above est.; RDDT jumps 15%+ after hours — Reddit reported first-quarter earnings Thursday that beat Wall Street expectations on sales and guidance.

Discussion: Investor's Business Daily, Reuters and Sherwood News, more at Techmeme »

Washington Post:

Filing: Smartmatic says Fox News' “pivot” to amplify 2020 election fraud claims came after backlash from Trump and supporters for calling Arizona for Biden — In a new legal filing, the election technology company says backlash from Trump and supporters spurred false accusations …

Discussion: The Wrap, @farhip, Law & Crime, @patrickdmarley, Daily Kos, @scottnover.bsky.social, Raw Story, The Desk, Los Angeles Times, New York Post and Washington Examiner

Joanna Partridge / The Guardian:

The UK's Standard reported a loss of £19.6M in the year to 29 September 2024, the period before it became a weekly; it has lost £125M over the past eight years — Following a rebrand and move to digital-first the total losses over eight years rise to nearly £125m

Discussion: Press Gazette and @pressgazette

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:

BBC Studios and the Agatha Christie estate partner to launch a writing course on education streaming service BBC Maestro, using AI to recreate Christie's voice — Actress Vivien Keene and the technology will bring the iconic mystery author to life in the result of a partnership between BBC Studios and the Christie estate.

Discussion: The Guardian, Deadline, Engadget, BBC Maestro, BBC, The Times, The Independent, Mirror, @marygillis.bsky.social, SlashFilm and The Verge

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