“Don’t stream fascism”: No Kings organizers encourage Spotify boycott is a rallying cry born from a growing dissatisfaction with the platform’s practices, specifically concerning advertising and the perceived ethical implications of these choices. The heart of the issue appears to be Spotify’s decision to host advertisements from agencies like ICE, a move that many find morally reprehensible. This has sparked a wave of account cancellations, fueled by a desire to take a stand against what some perceive as complicity in actions they strongly oppose.
The concerns extend beyond just the presence of ICE ads. There’s a broader feeling that Spotify is out of touch with its users, and that its actions reflect a prioritization of profit over ethical considerations.… Continue reading
Consumers are increasingly boycotting streaming services like Spotify, Peacock, and HBO Max due to the airing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruitment ads. These ads, featuring dehumanizing language about undocumented immigrants, have spurred outrage and prompted many to cancel their subscriptions. While the sentiment is strong, experts are mixed on the effectiveness of this boycott, as the ads appear across multiple platforms, unlike the more focused “cancel Disney” campaign. The wide distribution of these ads makes it difficult to avoid them, potentially weakening the boycott’s impact.
Read More
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced a strategic review, indicating a potential sale of the entire company or parts of it, including Warner Bros. studio. The media giant, owning assets like HBO and CNN, has received unsolicited interest from multiple parties. This decision follows industry trends of consolidation, and the company plans to continue its previously announced split of cable networks from its streaming and studio businesses while exploring sale options. The news led to a surge in WBD’s stock value, while the company manages billions of dollars of debt, and a market value of over $45 billion.
Read More
Comcast announced plans to spin off most of its cable networks, including USA, CNBC, and MSNBC, into a separate publicly traded company. This new entity will be independent, allowing it to adapt to the changing cable landscape while Comcast retains NBC broadcast network, NBC News, Peacock, and Bravo. The spin-off, expected to take approximately one year, is intended to position both companies for growth in a market increasingly dominated by streaming services. This restructuring reflects the declining cable television market and aims to improve investor appeal.
Read More
I can’t believe DirecTV agreed to buy Dish for just $1, although with the assumption of billions of dollars in debt. The fact that private equity will now own both DirecTV and Dish makes me think that both services may not survive for much longer. It’s sad to see how the industry is slowly dying year by year, and how even considering going back to cable seems like a step backward. I miss the simplicity of having everything in one place, like my DVR with the newest recorded shows conveniently listed on top.
Reading about the massive layoffs that are likely to come with this merger/purchase is disheartening.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker