Axel Springer vs News Corp

Welt to launch Instagram-native livestream for Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elections

German publisher Axel Springer's Welt brand is launching Instagram-native live broadcasts for the state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Hosted by Marlene Barduhn, the format uses Instagram's live infrastructure, with Barduhn moving through the Welt newsroom, including the newsroom CvD, domestic politics desk, and TV studio analysis wall. Two editions are scheduled: one at 6 PM for initial projections and another at 8 PM with current counting status and political analysis. Reporters from Berlin (CDU headquarters) and Schwerin (SPD election party) will be integrated via personal Instagram accounts, and data analyst Marian Grunden will provide real-time analysis. The community is engaged through live questions and a dedicated Q&A block with political editor Maximilian Heimerzheim. Moritz Seyffarth emphasized that this proves journalistic competence can be translated into Instagram's mechanics, ensuring the content is native to the platform, not a repurposing of TV content.

• Welt plans two Instagram-native live election broadcasts on Sunday at 6 PM and 8 PM.
• The format uses Instagram's native live infrastructure, with host Marlene Barduhn moving through the Welt newsroom.
• Reporters in Berlin and Schwerin will be integrated via personal Instagram accounts, covering CDU and SPD election events.

Axel Springer Relaunches Welt am Sonntag, Removes Blue Bar

Axel Springer is relaunching its Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag with a new layout and structure. The most notable change is the removal of the iconic blue bar from the title page, marking the most significant redesign of the paper's title header since 1952. The article is partially behind a paywall, as it indicates that further details on other changes are available in the full text. This redesign reflects Axel Springer's ongoing efforts to modernize its media properties and adapt to contemporary reader preferences.

B&M Publishing Also Takes License for Printed Computer Bild

B&M Publishing, a German publishing house, will take over the editorial production and marketing of the printed edition of Computer Bild starting January 2027. This follows a licensing partnership with Axel Springer, expanding on earlier agreements for Auto Bild Klassik, Auto Bild Reisemobil, and Auto Bild Sportscar. The Computer Bild brand itself, including its digital activities and test and buying advice expertise, will remain part of the Bild group, with a stronger focus on digital products, testing competence, and purchasing advice. B&M Publishing managing directors Stefan Müller and Tobias Franzke see Computer Bild as a growth project and aim to significantly increase its circulation. In Q2 2026, the bi-weekly print edition had a sold circulation of 65,236 copies, down nearly 5% year over year.

• B&M Publishing will produce and market the printed Computer Bild from January 2027.
• The licensing deal is with Axel Springer, extending prior agreements for Auto Bild titles.
• Computer Bild's digital operations and test/buying advice remain with the Bild group.

8-K Financial Filing Analysis for News Corp (2026-09-17)

On September 16, 2026, News Corporation submitted a Form 8-K disclosure detailing ongoing transaction activity under its aggregate $1 billion Class A and Class B common stock repurchase program. In compliance with Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listing rules, News Corp provides continuous daily market disclosures covering open-market share buybacks executed under this authorization. The filing underscores management's ongoing capital allocation strategy to return capital to shareholders, executed opportunistically based on prevailing equity market valuations, trading liquidity, and alternative capital deployment priorities.

• News Corporation reported daily transaction updates under its existing $1 billion aggregate repurchase program targeting Class A and Class B common stock.
• The disclosure satisfies cross-border listing compliance requirements mandated by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
• Execution of share repurchases remains discretionary and contingent upon equity market conditions, share pricing, and alternative capital allocation priorities.

Disney Shuts BabyTV Linear Channel and Streaming Service

Disney is continuing to scale back BabyTV's global footprint: the BabyTV linear channel ceased distribution in Canada on August 7, 2026, following an earlier shutdown in France on September 30, 2025. BabyTV’s standalone streaming service will also shut down at the end of August 2026. BabyTV originated in Israel in December 2003, expanded internationally in 2005, was acquired by News Corp/Fox entities before becoming part of The Walt Disney Company after Disney's 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets. The closures reflect declining linear viewership and Disney’s strategic focus on streaming platforms.

• BabyTV linear channel ceased operations in Canada on August 7, 2026.
• BabyTV previously shut down in France on September 30, 2025.
• BabyTV’s streaming service will shut down at the end of August 2026.

Publishers Cite AI Pressure in Q2 Earnings

Several major publishers — The New York Times, News Corp, USA Today Co. and People Inc. — reported second-quarter earnings showing declines in traffic they attribute primarily to AI. In response, the publishers described a three-part strategy: license content to AI companies where possible, sue or block where licensing isn't feasible, and increase revenue per reader (e.g., subscription or monetization efforts). News Corp CEO Robert Thomson characterized the approach as a "woo and sue" framework. The article analyzes these earnings remarks and the industry-wide implications for publisher monetization and content licensing amid AI-driven distribution changes.

• Traffic is down across the media industry and publishers cited AI as the primary reason.
• The New York Times, News Corp, USA Today Co., and People Inc. reported second-quarter earnings this week that reflected traffic declines.
• Publishers are pursuing a three-part playbook: licensing content to AI companies, suing or blocking where licensing isn't possible, and extracting more revenue from existing readers.