The Addition

Recently I was asked to be part of the ‘Experiment Week’ that the DTNS crew were running. I enjoyed the conversation I had with Chis Stokel-Walker so much I wanted to bring it to you here at The Addition too. In this special episode of The Addition podcast, originally made for DTNS ‘Experiment Week’ journalist and author Chris Stokel-Walker joins host Charlotte Henry to discuss the TikTok and YouTube - subjects he has literally written the books on. They look at the power these platforms now hold and what might be next for them, including growing scrutiny of TikTok’s connections to the Chinese government.* Original DTNS ‘Experiment Week’ Show* Chris Stokel-Walker’s website* Chris Stokel-Walker on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Around the world, people are feeling the financial pinch, and things might be about to get tougher. While much of the discussion is rightly focused on the impact of a recession on personal and household finances, the media industry is also having to work out how to navigate these choppy waters. Again.Brian Morrisey of The Rebooting has seen many downturns and pivots during his journalism career. He joins host Charlotte Henry to help put in context what is going on now. They also look at how media businesses of all sizes can not just survive but thrive. In a difficult climate, there are opportunities to be creative, essential or both. That’s what creators and publishers need to focus on. Furthermore, the bundle is more likely to appeal to consumers once again as we all consider what services we really need and how much we are willing to pay for them.* The Rebooting* Brian Morrisey on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterThank you to Business Capital Providers for sponsoring the show. Go to bcproviders.com/addition to find out how you can get funded for as much as $250,000 in as little as 72 hours. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Mark Stenberg, senior media reporter at AdWeek, joins host Charlotte Henry to discuss some breaking news - the sale of Axios for $525 million. Founded by some of those behind Politico, the rise of Axios is a modern media success story and, perhaps, a further endorsement of the newsletter-driven publication (woohoo!).Also in this episode, what does the delay to the end of third-party cookies mean for publishers? After yet another change to Google’s timetable, many have just decided to continue with their plans for a cookieless future, focussing on first-party data and technology builds. One such example, reported on by Mark, is Reach, the publisher behind the Mirror and local titles such as the Manchester Evening News. It has partnered with data platform company LiveRamp to better monetize its logged-in users.* Axios agrees to sell to Cox Enterprises for $525 million - Axios* Google Pushes Third-Party Cookie Demise to 2024 - AdWeek* UK Publisher Reach Plc. Partners With LiveRamp to Adopt Its ATS Technology - Adweek* Medialyte - Mark Stenberg’s newsletter * Mark Stenberg on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Facebook is getting out of news. Again. And this time they are not just on a break.The relationship between Facebook and the news has always been a rather fraught one. In this episode of the podcast, long-time journalist, blogger, lecturer and consultant Adam Tinworth discusses with host Charlotte Henry how it took publishers a while to realise they were the junior partner and how they became too reliant on “the big blue site”. This is not the first time Facebook has stepped away from news - it has always been wary of the implications of being considered a publisher. (Although that didn’t stop many publications from pivoting to try and meet what they thought its algorithms wanted. ) However, given Mark Zuckerberg and his rebranded company Meta are now seemingly focused on Web3 and the metaverse, this breakup looks to be permanent.* Facebook’s long, slow breakup with journalism is underway - One Man And His Blog* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Adam Tinworth on TwitterThank you to Business Capital Providers for sponsoring the show. Go to bcproviders.com/addition to find out how you can get funded for as much as $250,000 in as little as 72 hours. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Netflix has lost subscribers for two quarters in a row. Its Q2 results revealed a loss of one million subscribers (it had expected to lose two million). This has clearly shaken the streaming giant and it is looking to make changes. These include the introduction of a cheaper ad-supported tier - something it has long rejected but is now expected to implement next year. There has been a backlash by some against the move.There is nothing wrong with adverts. Far from it. Indeed, along with wonderful paid subscribers, they make this podcast and newsletter possible. Both are greatly appreciated. However, even if it didn’t say so explicitly, Netflix always indicated to users that subscriptions meant you didn’t need to watch adverts and that this provided a better experience. As more services have entered the market, many at more competitive price points, the company has found its position under threat.Has Netflix, and streaming in general, finally hit its peak, or is this just a reasonable recalibration from a company that has led in its field for years? Tom Merritt joins host Charlotte Henry to discuss what the results might mean as well as Tom’s new show “A Word with Tom Merritt” and the value of in-depth conversations.* Netflix Releases Second-Quarter 2022 Financial Results* https://www.tommerritt.com/* Daily Tech News Show* “A Word with Tom Merritt”* Tom Merrit on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Rolling Stone is one of the iconic media brands, covering the crossover of music, culture and politics in a unique way. Just over a year ago, it was announced that there was going to be a UK sister to the US-based publication. The small team behind it was, at the time of recording, preparing its sixth print edition, whilst also producing a regular stream of online stories.One of those in the team that launched the UK magazine is News Editor Nick Reilly. He joins host Charlotte Henry to discuss that launch, creating a UK voice for Rolling Stone, and collaborating with colleagues across the Atlantic. The details of how they decide what works for a UK audience whilst making sure to leverage the power that comes with the Rolling Stone brand are particularly interesting. The work done during Glastonbury, including interviews with artists performing at the festival, is a good example of this.* Rolling Stone UK* Nick Reilly on Twitter* Nick Reilly on Instagram* Charlotte Henry on TwitterThank you to Business Capital Providers for sponsoring the show. Go to bcproviders.com/addition to find out how you can get funded for as much as $250,000 in as little as 72 hours. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Chuck Joiner of MacVoices and host Charlotte Henry continue to reflect on NAB show, with a particular focus on fan-made content and how production companies are looking to build communities around different shows.This is the second part of a two-part conversation with Chuck. The first part, released last week, is still available. Please do share it with those you think might be interested.* NAB Show* Recode Media with Bill Simmon* The Addition Podcast with Esther Kezia Thorpe* MacVoices* MacVoices on YouTube* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on TwitterThank you to Business Capital Providers for sponsoring the show. Go to bcproviders.com/addition to find out how you can get funded for as much as $250,000 in as little as 72 hours. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Like all live events, Covid meant that NAB Show has not been possible in person for a couple of years. However, the annual gathering hosted by US organisation the National Association of Broadcasters was back in Las Vegas in April 2022. Chuck Joiner of MacVoices was there, talking to vendors and other attendees. In this discussion with host Charlotte Henry, he details what he saw on the show floor and what this indicates for the broadcasting industry, including how they are responding to the needs of content creators.This is the first part of a two-part conversation. The second part will be released as next week’s episode. Please subscribe so you don’t miss it and share this with those you think might be interested.* NAB Show* MacVoices* MacVoices on YouTube* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter[Photo via NAB Show] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Talk TV is still there, with expensive sets and well-paid talent. The problem is, nobody is watching. Despite having the vast resources of News UK at its disposal, the channel has not been able to maintain an audience after a decent opening night. A mix of British viewing culture and some practical problems have left the station, at least on linear TV, in the doldrums. Is this also part of a wider disengagement with news content?Jasper Jackson joins host Charlotte Henry to discuss what has gone wrong, whether this was inevitable, and if anything can be done to redeem the situation. * Talk of The Town: New Channel Beats News Rivals* Talk TV's Troubles* People Are Turning Off The News* Jasper Jackson on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Twitter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

There was an awful lot to unpack from WWDC 2022. One thing missing was any reference to Apple TV+, the TV box and app, or tvOS. We did get some further insight into Apple’s interest in sport, though. (This episode was recorded just before Apple announced its decade-long MLS deal - thanks guys!)Hot off the plane from California, the Irish Independent’s Tech Editor Adrian Weckler explains what it was like to be back at Apple Park, the value of in-person events, his takeaways from the announcements, and why it looks like Craig Federighi is being groomed to be the next Apple CEO. Adrian questions Charlotte’s theory that Apple is interested in taking on The Athletic directly. Furthermore, there is a discussion about Apple’s new deal with Nike to produce sports-related content. Is two of the world’s most powerful brands teaming up actually a good thing for consumers?* Apple Making More Moves Into Live Sports * Charlotte discusses WWDC on ‘Magic Rays of Light’* Apple Original Films & Nike Team For Multi Year First Look On Sports Films; Brad Weston’s Makeready & Nike’s Waffle Iron To Produce - Deadline* Adrian Weckler on Twitter* Adrian Weckler at the Irish Independent* Charlotte Henry on TwitterYou can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com