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Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Media Veterans Launch Industry-First Platform to Unify Independent Linear TV Networks into Single Audience Solution
New York, NY May 23, 2025 --( )-- Media veterans Michael Strober, Todd Gordon and Dan Aversano have teamed together to deliver a practical solution for advertisers seeking targeted audiences on linear TV. Audyns (pronounced 'audience') is an industry-first platform built on simplicity and scale. The new venture unifies independent networks into a single, data-driven solution – helping brands efficiently access quality inventory and broaden their reach. The company's founders have combined their 30+ years of marketplace experience in buying, selling and measuring television to inform the new offering which streamlines the process of planning and buying premium data-driven linear (DDL) inventory. Audyns delivers operational clarity for both buyers and sellers, enabling access to a substantial share of national linear TV through one plan, one post, and one invoice. 'We believe the future of linear TV is audience-first,' said co-founder Michael Strober. 'With Audyns, we saw an opportunity to connect agencies and networks through a curated marketplace of premium independent inventory – offering the data-driven precision and operational simplicity today's advertisers expect.' By aggregating the 30+% of national linear TV impressions from independent network groups, Audyns expands access to valuable viewers often missed by traditional buying methods. Through an exclusive partnership with datafuelX — an industry leader in multi-currency, cross-platform analytics and technology — Audyns will be deploying its advanced forecasting, optimization, and stewardship to power smarter, audience-based linear campaigns across all partner networks. datafuelX powers the platform to move beyond traditional demos to target and deliver on advanced audience segments. Audyns will also partner with OpenAP as the exclusive source of audience onboarding and distribution for campaigns that run across its network of publishers, helping advertisers further scale advanced buys within the premium video ecosystem. 'Audyns is built to bring clarity and coordination to a part of the market that's been under-leveraged,' said Todd Gordon, co-founder of Audyns. 'We're not adding complexity — we're removing it, so that networks can participate in data-driven campaigns without reinventing their infrastructure.' Adapting to a Dynamic Media Landscape As demand intensifies for connected and streaming inventory, traditional linear risks being deprioritized without corresponding innovation. Audyns helps keep linear TV relevant by providing scalable, data-driven access to independent inventory —making planning and buying as seamless and efficient as digital. 'Audyns presents an exciting opportunity for Great American Media to expand our premium, data-driven linear offering while maintaining operational simplicity,' said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media. 'By unifying inventory across independent networks, we're able to reach engaged audiences at scale —without compromising the integrity or efficiency of our brand. It's a smart approach connecting with buyers who prioritize quality content and impact.' 'At Family Entertainment Television and Family Movie Classics, we are excited to partner with Audyns alongside other forward-thinking independent networks to revolutionize how media buyers approach linear television,' said Michael DuPont, EVP Advertising Sales. 'By pooling our collective reach and leveraging data-driven insights, we're creating new opportunities for advertisers to achieve precision targeting at scale while maintaining the premium brand safety and engagement that linear TV delivers. This consortium represents the future of linear television — where independent networks unite to offer enterprise-level advertising solutions with the flexibility and innovation that larger networks often can't match.' 'Audyns is creating real momentum by bringing independent networks together in a way that's smart, strategic, scalable, and actionable. For REELZ, it's another important step in making it easier for advertisers to transact with us—through one unified, data-driven solution that aligns with how buyers want to plan and execute campaigns today. We're excited to be a partner with Audyns and look forward to what we can accomplish together.' – Scott Kohn, EVP Head of Ad Sales, Reelz Key Platform Features · Streamlined Workflow: One plan, one post, one invoice—Audyns manages the entire process from planning to posting and invoicing. · Powered by datafuelX: Exclusive partnership for forecasting, optimization, and cross-network media schedules, ensuring advanced data-driven execution. · Data by Design: Partnered with industry-leading tech and data to deliver platform simplicity. The audyns platform is launching with both Nielsen and Videoamp data to provide linear TV buyers with flexible measurement and currency options; integrated with OpenAP for seamless audience definition and sharing. · Expanded Audience Access: Unlocks untapped, targetable viewers across independent networks, enabling advertisers to connect with valuable audiences often missed by traditional buying methods. · Exceptional Value: Efficient, consolidated buying delivers broader impact for each investment. Audyns is in the process of onboarding agency clients for the upfront 2025/26 marketplace. Its initial set of network partners includes FETV, Great American Media, Reelz, and TelevisaUnivision, with several more to be announced in the coming weeks. As linear TV evolves, Audyns offers a simple, scalable path to valuable audiences across independent networks—helping buyers and sellers unlock opportunities to reach new customers. Media Contact: Stacey Schulman Hi Human Insight 917-514-7147 [email protected] Website: Media Kit Contact Information: Audyns Stacey Schulman 917-514-7147 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Media Veterans Launch Industry-First Platform to Unify Independent Linear TV Networks into Single Audience Solution Press Release Distributed by
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Breakingviews - Berlusconis' German TV raid is worth resisting
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - German 1.7-billion-euro broadcaster ProSiebenSat. 1 Media ( opens new tab has found itself at the centre of an unlikely M&A drama. Its two largest shareholders, Italy's MFE-MediaForEurope ( opens new tab and Czech investment group PPF, seem to be jostling for control of the company – but so far without launching conventional takeover bids that stand a chance of persuading all minority shareholders to sell. It's starting to reflect a broader debate about the right way to modernise Europe's struggling linear TV sector. MFE, the vehicle of Italy's Berlusconi family, made a lowball cash and shares offer for the German broadcaster in March. It now owns just over 30% of the company. ProSieben shares have largely traded above the live value of that bid in recent weeks, according to Breakingviews calculations, suggesting that few investors will tender. That may be the point, from the Berlusconis' perspective, since it's more economical to control a company with a large minority stake rather than owning the whole thing and having to consolidate the debt. PPF, with other European media assets and a 15% holding in ProSieben, is taking a different approach. On Monday it offered, opens new tab 7 euros per share in cash but said it would only end up with a maximum 29.99% stake in the German group, which broadcasts shows including the Teutonic version of "The Masked Singer". That price was 17% higher than ProSieben's Friday closing price and 21% above MFE's live bid value, PPF said, but it's not available to all shareholders by virtue of the bidder's self-imposed ownership cap. The Italian side is now considering raising its offer in response, Reuters reported on Wednesday citing a source close to the matter. Unless either suitor changes tack and makes a knockout bid for the whole company, the stakes are nuanced for other shareholders. It may end up being a question of which pushy investors' favoured strategy carries the day. The Berlusconis seem likely to want closer collaboration with MFE's Italian and Spanish TV properties. A person familiar with PPF's plans, meanwhile, told Breakingviews that it would pursue greater investment in local content and support a digital overhaul, with a focus on modernising the company's streaming offering. The Czech recipe, so far, looks better - not least because there is minimal evidence that MFE's cross-border plan would yield much in the way of cost savings or revenue boosters. PPF's strategy, by contrast, could include the alluring idea of seeking a distribution deal with a U.S. streamer, allowing ProSieben to offer prestigious U.S. shows alongside local fare. France's Canal+ (CAN.L), opens new tab, which has an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD.O), opens new tab Max, offers a template. Admittedly, the average investor in the German group might prefer to be cashed out in full at a meaningful premium through a conventional takeover offer. But for now, that's not on the table. Follow @jenjohn_, opens new tab on X CONTEXT NEWS Czech investment group PPF on May 12 offered to buy shares in ProSiebenSat.1 Media to lift its 15% stake in the German broadcaster to almost 30%. MFE-MediaForEurope, controlled by Italy's Berlusconi family, in March made an offer for all of ProSieben. It currently has slightly more than 30% of the stock. PPF said its 7-euros-per-share bid represented a premium of more than 17% to the target's closing price on May 9 and a 21% premium to MFE's cash-and-share offer. Reuters reported on May 14, citing a source close to the matter, that MFE was considering raising its bid for ProSieben in response to PPF's move. The German group's shares were trading at 7.28 euros as of 0848 GMT on May 14.
Wall Street Journal
08-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Warner Brothers Discovery 1Q Loss Narrows, Sales Decline
Warner Brothers Discovery WBD 1.54%increase; green up pointing triangle recorded a smaller loss in the first quarter but lower sales as weakness in the linear TV business offset gains in the streaming business. The media and entertainment company posted a loss of $453 million, compared with a loss of $966 million in the same quarter a year earlier. The bottom line included $1.6 billion in pre-tax acquisition-related amortizations, step-ups in content fair value and restructuring costs.
