Pivot

Netflix Breaks a Losing Streak, Zuck Swipes at iMessages, and Guest Ben Smith of Semafor

Oct 21, 2022

In this discussion, Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, shares insights from his extensive journalism experience. He delves into Netflix's recent resurgence and its new ad tier, while strategizing against competitors like Microsoft. The conversation also touches on the media landscape's evolution and the complex dynamics between traditional news outlets and newer platforms. Smith emphasizes the importance of transparency and audience engagement in today's saturated market, providing a fresh perspective on the future of journalism.

01:03:08

Episode guests

Ben Smith

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Problem With the News Is Not Enough Scoops

01:27

Netflix Stock Rises Again

01:19

The Boy Scouts - The $85 Million Gift to the Girl Scouts

01:30

The British People Are Not Scareable

01:21

Intro

4min

Politics and Tech: A Balancing Act

7min

Investment Complexities and Corporate Governance in Tech

5min

Netflix's Resurgence and Potential Microsoft Merger Speculation

4min

Streaming Titans: Microsoft and Netflix's Potential Union

5min

Smartphones and Social Status

7min

Insights Into New Media Launch and Journalistic Dynamics

3min

Navigating the New Media Landscape

15min

Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Entrepreneurship and Connection

3min

10.

Nostalgia and Controversy: Reflections on the Boy Scouts

8min

Netflix beat estimates for Q3 and added two million subscribers. Meta has Super-App dreams for WhatsApp, and Mark Zuckerberg is ready to take on iMessage. Plus, Twitter freezes employees' stock accounts, and an activist investor grabs a significant stake in Salesforce. Friend of Pivot Ben Smith joins Kara and Scott to talk about the state of media, and the launch of his news platform, Semafor.

You can find Ben on Twitter at @semaforben, and Semafor at semafor.com.

You can listen to Kara’s new show, On with Kara Swisher, here.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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