Mediagazer: Aereo plans additional cities soon; original programming to come (Dylan Tweney/VentureBeat)

7:15 AM ET, May 31, 2013

Top News:

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Eric Holder to media: I get it — Attorney General Eric Holder expressed concern on Thursday about how the Department of Justice has handled recent media investigations at an off-the-record meeting with leading representatives of the press, according to those who were present.

Discussion: NY Daily News and New York Magazine

Charlie Savage / New York Times:

Holder May Rein In Prosecutors On Leaks — WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., under fire over investigative tactics in leak cases, has opened internal discussions over tightening rules on when prosecutors may seek phone logs and other information that could identify reporters' sources …

Ron Fournier / NationalJournal.com:
7 Reasons Why the Media Shouldn't Keep Eric Holder's Secrets

Discussion: FishbowlNY and The Huffington Post

RT:
US media execs rebuff Holder's closed-door wiretap scandal meeting

Discussion: Mediaite, Business Insider, @dylanbyers, @princeeditor, @rubinreport, @mweinger, @mlcalderone, Los Angeles Times, @nycjim, TVNewser, Politico, Associated Press and Poynter

Alex Ben Block / Hollywood Reporter:

Hollywood YouTube Channels Hit With Hidden Cost — A 2010 law requiring closed captioning on all TV programming that airs online means an unexpected outlay of big bucks: Says producer Roger Corman, “We have no choice.” — A version of this story first appeared in the June 7 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

Sarah Lyall / New York Times:

BBC Faces New Allegations of Sexual Abuse — LONDON — Since the case involving the television personality Jimmy Savile came to light in October, the British Broadcasting Corporation has received 152 new allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by 81 current and former employees, the broadcaster said Thursday.

Discussion: Metro.co.uk, Daily Express, Daily Express, The Independent, Hollywood Reporter, London News, The Drum, presstv.ir and Telegraph

Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:

Chicago Sun-Times lays off its photo staff — The Chicago Sun-Times has laid off its entire photography staff, and plans to use freelance photographers going forward, the newspaper said. About 20 full-times staffers received the news Thursday morning, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Andrew Beaujon / Poynter:

Spin lets its editor-in-chief go — Spin has parted ways with Editor-in-Chief Caryn Ganz. Jeff Leeds, the editorial boss of parent company SpinMedia, gave the news to staffers in a meeting Wednesday night in Spin's New York office. — Reached by phone, Ganz confirmed her departure …

Discussion: @chrisdeville, @jaysonrodriguez, @katieaprincess, @mehpatrol, @evanryt and FishbowlNY

Jasper Jackson / The Media Briefing:

Smart marketing or a waste of time? #Guardiancoffee and five more media brand extensions — The Guardian's Coffee shop offically launches later today but it's already creating a storm on Twitter, couldn't be much more fitting with the liberal newspaper group's brand ethos.

Discussion: VICE, Eater National, @fleetstreetfox and The Commentator

PressGazette:

Google now believed to be world's biggest media owner with revenue of $37.9bn — Google is now the world's largest media owner, according to ZenithOptimedia's Top Thirty Global Media Owners report. — It estimates that in 2012 Google accounted for 65 per cent of all internet searches across …

Matt Brian / The Verge:

Wikipedia introduces ‘Nearby’ for mobile, suggests articles based on location — Wikipedia appears to have taken a leaf out of Foursquare's book with its new Nearby feature. The new mobile page is designed to capture your location and deliver articles that help you learn more about your neighborhood …

Discussion: theEword, Pulse 2.0, The Mobile Indian, Ars Technica, Mashable, Street Fight, WebProNews and The Next Web

Laura Hazard Owen / paidContent:

Free is not the magic number: New trends in ebook pricing — Ebook pricing strategies are changing fast as the market evolves and retailers and publishers amass more data. Here are some new tips. — Ebook pricing strategies are changing rapidly as the digital market grows.

Dylan Tweney / VentureBeat:

Aereo plans additional cities soon; original programming to come — Updated 2:40pm with reaction from Disney/ABC. — RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. — Aereo is not just a service for watching TV remotely — it's a tool for cracking open the closed networks of TV distribution.

Discussion: CNET and The Next Web

Janko Roettgers / paidContent:

Netflix wants to spend up to 15 percent of its content cash on originals — Netflix wants to triple its original content spend within the next few years, according to its Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos. — Netflix wants to spend up to 15 percent of its entire licensing budget …

Discussion: The Wrap

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

Netflix boss: BBC is holding back UK children's shows — Ted Sarandos says corporation restricts UK licensing for up to five years, forcing streaming service to buy US shows instead — Ted Sarandos, Netflix's content chief, has accused the BBC of stifling the potential of homegrown children's shows …

Discussion: Variety, Home Media Magazine, Guardian and Hollywood Reporter