Meta has settled a lawsuit brought by Donald Trump after the social media giant suspended him from their and Instagram platforms following the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. As part of the agreement, Meta will pay $25 million, including about $22 million to Trump’s presidential library and the remainder going to legal fees and other plaintiffs who were part of the litigation. A Meta spokesman confirmed the settlement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal. “I write to inform the Court that the ...

consistently beat Wall Street estimates on key fourth quarter numbers but forecasts for the current first quarter disappointed a bit as investors wait to grill CEO Mark Zuckerberg on a range of topics from AI rivals and investments, and new social media moderation policies. Here’s to hoping Wall Streeters on a call shortly will ask about Zuckerberg’s shift towards President Donald Trump, including a reported legal settlement. Meta posted quarterly revenue of $48.39 million, up 21% and beating estimates. Ne ...

Executive Compensation - Disney CEO Bob Iger's total pay package increased to $41 1 million in fiscal 2024, up 30% from $31 6 million in the previous year [1] - Hugh Johnston, Disney's CFO since December 2023, made $24 5 million last year [2] - Horacio Guttierez, Disney's Senior EVP and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, earned $15 8 million, up from $11 6 million in fiscal 2023 [2] Succession Planning - Disney is preparing for CEO succession ahead of Bob Iger's contract expiration on December 31, 2026 [1] - The successor will be selected by early 2026 from a pool of four internal candidates and outsiders [1] Shareholder Meeting - Disney's annual shareholder meeting will be held virtually on March 20 [3] - Last year's meeting saw challenges from activist shareholders, including Nelson Peltz, who raised concerns about film studio dysfunction and excess costs [3] - This year's meeting is expected to be less contentious, with the company urging "no" votes on three shareholder proposals related to climate-related investments, participation in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, and ad spending on platforms with disfavored political and religious viewpoints [4]

As more pay-TV operators embrace slimmer packages, Comcast Xfinity is rolling out Sports & News TV, a $70-a-month offering based on two foundational elements of live programming. The $70 price is available only to customers who also have Xfinity internet service. The package includes more than 50 broadcast and cable news and sports channels as well as NBCUniversal streaming service Peacock, which has ramped up its live sports offerings and integrated elements of MSNBC’s live news coverage. The bundle also ...

Core Insights - Netflix's stock reached an all-time high, nearing $1,000, following a strong earnings report that revealed a record addition of 18.9 million subscribers in Q4, bringing the total to 301.6 million globally [1][2] - The company's strategic moves, including cost-cutting, introducing a lower-priced advertising tier, and implementing paid password sharing, have contributed to its recovery from a previous decline in subscribers [2] - Analysts have raised their price targets for Netflix, with Pivotal Research Group setting it at $1,250, citing opportunities for asset acquisitions and strong average revenue per user (ARPU) [3][4] Financial Performance - Netflix's Q4 earnings exceeded forecasts for both revenue and earnings per share, leading to a significant increase in stock price by over 10% [1] - The company has successfully transitioned from a low point of shares below $180 two and a half years ago to its current high, demonstrating resilience in a competitive streaming market [2] Strategic Outlook - Analysts emphasize the importance of Netflix maintaining its subscriber and ARPU growth, leveraging its size to enhance its competitive position and content quality [4] - Future growth is expected to be driven by initiatives in advertising sales, live content, and video game offerings, which are seen as incremental contributors to sustained growth [5]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos expressed that while live sports on the platform is beneficial, the economics of full season rights for major leagues remain challenging [1][4]. Group 1: Live Sports Strategy - Netflix has established long-term licensing agreements with WWE and has secured two NFL games on Christmas Day, along with a deal for the 2027 and 2031 Women's World Cup [1]. - Sarandos indicated that the attractiveness of full season rights depends on the pricing, as the costs for sports rights have been increasing significantly due to competition from other streaming services like Apple and Amazon [1][2]. Group 2: Audience Engagement - The wrestling content on Netflix garnered approximately 5 million views in its first week, which is about double the audience of Monday Night Raw on traditional television [4]. - There was a 25% increase in non-live viewing the day after live events, particularly from international markets such as the U.K., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Brazil [4]. Group 3: Economic Considerations - Sarandos emphasized the importance of ensuring that the economics of sports deals work for both Netflix and the leagues, acknowledging the difficulty in making full league, full season economics viable [2][4].

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is increasing subscription prices in the U.S. and other regions, leveraging recent subscriber growth to enhance profit margins [1][4]. Pricing Changes - The low-cost advertising tier will rise to $7.99 per month from $6.99, the Standard plan will increase to $17.99 from $15.49, and the Premium plan will go up by $2 to $24.99 [2]. - The additional charge for adding another subscriber to the ad tier remains unchanged at $6.99 [2]. Subscriber Growth - The price adjustments come after Netflix reported a record addition of 19 million subscribers in the fourth quarter ending December 31 [3]. - The advertising tier accounted for 55% of all sign-ups during the quarter, with over 70 million monthly active users reported [5]. Strategic Rationale - The company aims to reinvest in programming and enhance value for members, justifying the price increases [3]. - Historically, while there may be short-term cancellations following price hikes, most subscribers tend to remain, and new sign-ups are more valuable at higher price points [4].

Group 1: Subscriber Growth and Financial Performance - Netflix added nearly 19 million subscribers in Q4 2024, reaching a total of 301.6 million globally, significantly exceeding Wall Street's expectation of 9.8 million [1] - The company reported revenue of $10.247 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $4.27, surpassing the expected revenue of $10.1 billion and EPS of $4.21 [2] - The quarter featured high-impact programming, including the second season of Squid Game and the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing event, contributing to a company record for subscriber growth [3][4] Group 2: Strategic Shift and Market Position - Netflix plans to shift its focus from reporting subscriber numbers to emphasizing revenue, operating margin, and audience engagement metrics [2] - The company maintains that it accounts for no more than 10% of total TV time in its operating markets, indicating potential for future growth despite some plateauing in certain territories [4] - Netflix's subscriber count does not include "extra member" accounts from paid password sharing, suggesting a total audience of 700 million globally [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook - The company acknowledges intense competition from traditional entertainment and big tech, while highlighting its focus on product/market fit without the distractions of declining linear networks [5] - Netflix's stock has surged nearly 80% over the past year, although there are concerns regarding its valuation relative to fundamentals [7] - The results mark the beginning of a series of earnings reports from major tech and media companies, with a spotlight on competitors like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery [6]

Group 1: Netflix Earnings Report - The core question for Netflix's earnings report is not whether subscriber numbers will rise, but how high they can go, with expectations for a significant increase in Q4 driven by high-profile events and series premieres [1][4] - Wall Street analysts predict Netflix will add 8.2 million subscribers in Q4, reaching a total of 290.9 million, with some estimates revised upward to over 11.1 million net adds [4][5] - The company plans to shift its focus from reporting subscriber numbers to revenue, operating margin, and audience engagement metrics [4][5] Group 2: Advertising and Revenue Growth - Analysts believe Netflix's advertising business, established two years ago, will become a primary revenue driver by 2026, with a strong lead in the streaming market [6] - Questions during Netflix's earnings call will likely focus on price hikes, advertising growth, and strategies for live sports, including recent acquisitions of sports broadcasting rights [6] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Disney is adopting a similar streaming strategy, pushing customers towards cheaper, ad-supported options while also addressing password sharing [7] - Disney faces challenges from recent natural disasters impacting its operations, but analysts do not expect significant effects on attendance at Disneyland [8][9] - The failed joint streaming venture Venu Sports, involving Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, has incurred costs exceeding $50 million, adding financial strain to the companies involved [10][11]

Layoffs and Workforce Reduction - Meta plans to lay off approximately 5% of its workforce, which translates to around 3,600 jobs based on the company's total workforce of roughly 72,000 employees [3] - The layoffs are part of a broader performance management strategy, with the company aiming to move out low-performers faster and raise the bar on performance expectations [3] - This follows deeper cuts in recent years, including a 13% reduction in staff at the end of 2022 and the declaration of 2023 as the company's "year of efficiency" [5] Strategic Focus and Challenges - The year ahead is predicted to be "intense" as the company focuses on AI, smart glasses, and its core social media business [1] - Meta is undergoing significant changes, including ending its fact-checking efforts and updating its policy on "hateful conduct," which now grades discussions on immigrants, women, and transgender and nonbinary people on a more nuanced curve [2] Leadership and Governance - Meta recently named UFC head Dana White to its board of directors, signaling a shift in leadership dynamics [2] - The company's moves are seen as efforts to align with political interests, particularly in currying favor with President-elect Donald Trump, whose inauguration Meta's CEO plans to attend [4]