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)

Am 16. September 2026 reichte die News Corporation ein Formular 8-K ein, das Einzelheiten zu den laufenden Transaktionen im Rahmen ihres Aktienrückkaufprogramms über insgesamt 1 Milliarde US-Dollar für Class A und Class B Common Stock offenlegt. Gemäß den Regularien der Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ist das Unternehmen verpflichtet, tägliche Meldungen über im Rahmen dieses Programms getätigte Rückkäufe zu veröffentlichen. Die Einreichung unterstreicht die fortlaufende Kapitalallokationsstrategie des Managements zur Wertsteigerung für Aktionäre, die opportunistisch in Abhängigkeit von Marktbedingungen, Aktienkursen und alternativen Investitionsmöglichkeiten umgesetzt wird.

• News Corporation meldete tägliche Transaktionsupdates im Rahmen ihres bestehenden 1-Milliarde-Dollar-Aktienrückkaufprogramms für Class A und Class B Common Stock.
• Die Veröffentlichung erfüllt die regulatorischen Cross-Border-Notierungspflichten der Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
• Die Durchführung von Aktienrückkäufen bleibt diskretionär und hängt von Marktbedingungen, Kursniveaus sowie alternativen Kapitalverwendungen ab.

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.