Oliver Darcy
Media/business reporter; analyzes leadership, ownership, and strategy inside major news and tech companies.
CBS Ratings Plummet: A Complete Catastrophe Exposed
Nellie Bowles mocked our CBS News reporting this week. But there's no other way to describe the network's cratering ratings other than a complete catastrophe. Our response on Power Lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0185sL5Dzy0
David Simon Says Billionaire Owners Lack Capacity to Sustain Journalism
"The Wire" creator David Simon calls out billionaire newspaper owners Jeff Bezos and Patrick Soon-Shiong, telling @get_status that they have "no capacity for sustaining journalism" or finding a way to modernize it and help "it survive.”
Business Insider Subscriber Base Is Shrinking, Not Expanding
Scoop: I obtained Business Insider's internal subscription figures for the last several years—and the data shows that not only is the digital outlet struggling to grow its subscriber base, but that it is actually sliding backwards.
CBS Evening News Hits Record Low Q1 Ratings
Status Scoop: With the first quarter set to wrap at week’s end, Bari Weiss’ relaunched “CBS Evening News” with Tony Dokoupil is on track for its lowest-rated first quarter of the 21st century in both total viewers and the advertiser-coveted...
CNN to Cut Jobs, Shift Toward Digital Future
Scoop: CNN is expected to lay off some staffers this week as network chief Mark Thompson works to push the network away from linear television and into the digital future.
Subscribe to Power Lines Podcast for Weekly Media Insights
If you're not already listening to our weekly media podcast Power Lines, consider checking us out and subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Your support really helps grow the show. Direct link to the show's page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-lines-with-oliver-darcy-and-jon-passantino/id1823949547?i=1000756309336
Access Hollywood’s Axing Highlights Linear TV’s Decline
"Telling your entertainment news program that they’re gone the weekend before the Oscars is very weird," one insider told Status Hollywood correspondent Brian Lowry. Lowry details what the cancellation of "Access Hollywood" says about the state of linear television—and why Trump’s...
Alienating Viewers Drives CBS Evening News Ratings Crash
The "CBS Evening News" dipping below 4 million viewers must be setting off alarm bells inside the network. But when you alienate the audience, loyal viewers will leave. Watch Power Lines on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g4zHWZFi9ec?si=2fbPGf9Rlu5jxiCx
BuzzFeed's Collapse Could Jeopardize HuffPost's Future
What will become of HuffPost, should BuzzFeed go under? @nataliekorach has the reporting in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/buzzfeed-bankruptcy-huffpost-future
MS NOW Chief Teases Major Dayside Schedule Overhaul
Scoop: MS NOW boss Rebecca Kutler is on the precipice of announcing some major dayside programming changes. Details on what is in store for the network in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/ms-now-programming-changes-alicia-menendez-rebecca-kutler
Washington Post Confronts Bezos over Amazon’s ‘Melania’ Documentary Deal
WaPo staffers pressed Jeff Bezos about Amazon picking up the “Melania” documentary at an off the record meeting hosted at the billionaire’s DC residence. All the details from inside the meeting via @nataliekorach in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/jeff-bezos-washington-post-meeting-layoffs-melania
Gayle King's CBS Deal Only One-Year, No 2027 Lock
Scoop: Gayle King's new deal, which CBS News triumphantly announced last week, is only a one-year renewal, I've learned. It does not lock King into the network past 2027.
Senators Warn Tencent-Backed Warner Deal Threatens Security
Scoop: Senators Richard Blumenthal & Elizabeth Warren are raising fresh concerns about David Ellison's expected use of foreign money to finance his takeover of Warners—this time, from China's Tencent. "Designated by the DOD as having ties to the Chinese military, Tencent’s...
Scott MacFarlane Quits CBS, Citing Frustrations with Bari Weiss
Why did CBS News Justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane decide to exit the network? He didn't say in his farewell note to colleagues. But, privately, he had been more candid about his frustrations under Bari Weiss. Details in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/scott-macfarlane-cbs-news-exit-bari-weiss
Ellison Offers Vague Platitudes on Paramount's CNN Future
After nearly a week of being mum about it, David Ellison *finally* commented on CNN's future under Paramount—but he offered little more than empty platitudes and dodged the larger questions that loom over the network. More in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/david-ellison-cnn-cbs-news-future
Josh Elliott Poised to Join CBS Mornings Lineup
Status Scoop: Former “GMA” host Josh Elliott has eyed as a possible new host on “CBS Mornings.” I’m told in the coming weeks, several special guests will be rotating on the show, and Josh will likely be one of those...
Scott Jennings' False Iran Claim Debunked, Sparks Newsroom Drama
Scott Jennings peddled an absurd Trump talking point on Iran to the masses over the weekend. Then the actual journalists at CNN did reporting that undercut the claim. The episode has led to some drama behind the scenes, @get_status has...
CNN Faces Moral Test Under MAGA‑Friendly Leadership
Will anyone at CNN take a principled stand as David Ellison reshapes the network to be more MAGA friendly? Or will everyone just go along with the new direction? Watch the full episode of Power Lines on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nWEG5jUrP2Q?si=H_0XcKiJMFeLe3fe
CNN Staff Panic as Major Media Deal Looms
Suffice to say, the mood inside CNN is not good tonight. “We are doomed," one staffer texted me. “The panic at CNN right now is off the charts,” an insider added. Details in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/cnn-david-ellison-trump-paramount-wbd-netflix-deal
Bari Weiss Offers Big Contracts, Still Can't Lure Talent
Scoop: As Bari Weiss works to recruit high-wattage stars to CBS News, she's dangling lucrative contracts in front of potential hires. They're still turning her down. Details in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/bari-weiss-cbs-news-recruiting-hiring-struggles
Senator Blumenthal Demands FCC Records Over Colbert Censorship Claim
Scoop: Sen. Richard Blumenthal has written a letter to David Ellison demanding answers and records pertaining to Stephen Colbert's claim of FCC censorship. Details in @get_status: https://www.status.news/p/stephen-colbert-blumenthal-letter-david-ellison-fcc
Rebecca Kutler Plans Overhaul of MS NOW Dayside Lineup
Scoop: MS NOW chief Rebecca Kutler is set to make changes to the network's dayside lineup, I'm told. Details in status.news: https://link.status.news/3MSNqnG