Social net ad spending is expected to rebound next year, says eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson, expanding her previously released projections released in May that forecast a 3 percent drop to $1.1 billion in ‘09. The earlier figures are entirely unchanged and pinned the blame on MySpace’s struggles, which have…

Missed this during my travels—Rupert Murdoch admitting to fault for the way MySpace morphed into an overgrown company in need of a massive trim. The News Corp (NYSE: NWS) chairman and CEO told TheStreet.com he hasn’t given up on global ambitions for the social network: “We’re just getting first things…

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and cofounder of HDNet, offers running commentary on Blog Maverick. This post, which follows an earlier look at Free versus Freely Distributed, is published here with his permission. The problem with companies who have built their business around free is that it is…

A flurry of stories this week bit again at Hulu‘s hoped-for upcoming UK launch, again betting on a September launch. There’s little new here - We learned nine months ago the News Corp/NBC/Disney (NYSE: DIS) US online TV venture wanted to open shop in the UK depending on the outcome…

»  *Amazon* taps its inner *Apple*, but Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) could be the one to stop Kindle’s march cold. Great read. [FastCompany] »  Deconstructing Malcolm Gladwell: “We hate most in others that which we fail to see in ourselves.” Anil, I love you, man. [Anil Dash] »  MySpace and other…

At some media companies, it is business as usual when it comes to exec salaries: —At News Corp (NYSE: NWS). newly appointed COO and president Chase Carey could earn as much as $43.1 million in his first year, in salary and bonuses, according to an SEC filing today, picked up…

*DirecTV* has reached out to Blake Krikorian as a possible successor to Chase Carey as CEO, paidContent has learned. If that doesn’t work out, another option could be joining the DirecTV (NYSE: DTV) board. Carey started his new job as vice chairman, president and COO of News Corp (NYSE: NWS)…

Rupert Murdoch has already said News Corp (NYSE: NWS) intends to charge “handsomely” for its WSJ iPhone and Blackberry apps eventually. How much and when? Still unclear but WSJ.com is surveying iPhone users about their willingness to pay for what is now a completely free product. The idea seems to…

Hulu has kept a tight lid on its ad sales data over the past year, but a new report from Screen Digest suggests that the premium online video site brought in nearly $45 million in ad revenue in 2008. The report looks at the state of the ad-supported online TV…

»  CQ‘s sale to rival Roll Call, part of The Economist Group, seems like a done deal. What will happen after the merger? [Politico] »  Sony’s planning to launch a phone merging the expertise of *Sony* Ericcson and Sony’s PSP group. Finally some common sense from *Sony*. [Nikkei/Reuters] »  Another…

The slasher film series continues at Fox Interactive Media, which laid off another 50-75 people today at its non-MySpace properties as the News Corp (NYSE: NWS). fiscal year draws to a close. Photobucket, which FIM bought for about $250 million in early 2007, was the hardest hit, losing roughly one-third…

Networks like A&E, Scripps, and possibly even *CBS* are ready to test whether the much-hyped TV Everywhere concept will serve as a lucrative business model for online video, but there is news that premium video sites like Hulu and TV.com are finally starting to deliver ad rates that are greater…

Redlasso is proving that a digital media startup can survive (and perhaps even thrive) even after being sued by a group of big media companies. Lawsuits from NBC and Fox shut the online video news clipping service down in mid-2008; Redlasso settled, then sealed a deal with Fox to get…

Updated: DJ has refused to comment on this. Is *Dow Jones*, part of the News Corp (NYSE: NWS) empire, working on a payment system that would sell third party content as well? That seems to be suggestion, according to a story on THR, which quotes Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton…

MySpace’s cuts, announced for the U.S. last week, are spreading as expected. The company will slash its international staff by two thirds, from 450 to 150, and close at least four international offices as part of cuts that affect “all international divisions of the company.” It brings the total jobs…

It’s been in the chase for some time, but now Disney-owned ESPN (NYSE: DIS) has finally got its hands on lucrative English Premier League soccer TV rights for the next four years. The broadcaster has long wanted to extend its footprint in the UK and Europe—and it was handed the…

Jason Nazar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Docstoc.com, the premier online community to find and share professional documents. Before starting Docstoc, he was a partner in a venture consulting firm in Los Angeles where he worked with dozens of startups. I wouldn’t bet against MySpace. They attract over 70…

Philip Anschutz’s Clarity Media Group is buying the conservative opinion magazine The Weekly Standard from News Corp., the LATimes reported. Terms were not disclosed. The magazine was started in 1995 and edited by Bill Kristol and Fred Barnes. While the project was close to News Corp (NYSE: NWS). CEO Rupert…

After the bloodbath at MySpace yesterday, which we’ve confirmed did not include anyone in senior management, speculation about who among the top group will stay is rampant: Kara shakes down some sources and comes up with some names that are staying, and who is leaving: