Mediagazer: US House antitrust panel questions Comcast and TWC execs, hears from merger critics like Cogent, RFD-TV (Edward Wyatt/New York Times)

6:55 PM ET, May 8, 2014

Top News:

Joshua Green / Businessweek:

Conservative think tank Heritage Foundation launches mobile-first news site Daily Signal aimed at younger audiences on June 3 — Daily Signal: Heritage Foundation News Site Seeks Mainstream Impact — Last year the conservative Heritage Foundation had more influence on the direction …

Kristen Hare / Poynter:
Heritage Foundation's news site doesn't have ad or traffic constraints

Discussion: Wall Street Journal and @kagrox

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

Will Lewis named Dow Jones C.E.O. — Will Lewis' role as C.E.O. of Dow Jones is no longer “interim.” — Parent-company News Corp. announced this afternoon that Lewis has been appointed C.E.O. on a permanent basis. He had been serving as interim C.E.O. since his predecessor, Lex Fenwick, was ousted in January.

Discussion: Media & Entertainment, Bloomberg, Reuters and Variety

Anna Prior / Wall Street Journal:

News Corp reports $2.08B in quarterly revenue, down 5% vs. last year, net income of $48M — News Corp's Revenue Falls Amid Ad Weakness — Publishing Company Also Removes ‘Interim’ from Title of Dow Jones CEO William Lewis — News Corp said revenue fell 5% in its fiscal third quarter …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

The complicated and disputed mission of the Huffington Post, 9 years after launch — The Huffington Post, nine years on — On Friday, March 7, Peter Goodman was writing an email to Arianna Huffington during the last hour of his last day as her employee, when a team of workmen showed …

Discussion: @froomkin, @markhor, @michaelroston, @binarybits, @gideonresnick, @mattbai, @niemanlab, @lmoses, @williamalden, @7im, @erinruberry and The New York Observer

Brian Braiker / Digiday:

Andrew Sullivan on native ads: Journalism has surrendered — Journalist and blog entrepreneur Andrew Sullivan is not one to jump on bandwagons. The outspoken political blogger left the Daily Beast nearly a year and a half ago to launch The Dish, his own subscription-driven news site.

Discussion: @slarkpope, @lindypop, @elongreen, @joshsternberg, @bmorrissey, @colindickey and @raymondsultan

David Gelles / New York Times:

Apple Said to Be in Talks to Buy Beats for $3.2 Billion — Apple is in talks to acquire Beats Electronics for about $3.2 billion, according to a person briefed on the matter. — A deal could be announced next week, but may still fall apart, this person cautioned.

Discussion: Financial Times, AppleInsider, TechCrunch, Gigaom, Forbes, Quartz, Variety and 9to5Mac

William Alden / New York Times:

YouTube Founders to Sell Delicious, a Social Bookmarking Site — The social bookmarking service Delicious has changed hands twice over the last decade, while failing to attract a mainstream audience. — Now it is being sold again. Science Inc., a technology investment and advisory firm run …

Discussion: The Next Web, VentureBeat, @veen, Re/code, @ourielohayon, @seldo, Mashable and @choosenick

Mary Hui / Poynter:

As China's control grows, Hong Kong media freedoms recede — They got him as he stepped out of his car one morning in February. Wielding a meat-cleaver, Lau Chun-to's assailant hacked at his back and legs, then sped away on a motorbike with an accomplice.

Gillian Wong / Associated Press:
China detains veteran journalist for state secrets

Discussion: Amnesty International and Guardian

Alastair Reid / Journalism.co.uk:

BBC to launch daily infographics shared on social media — Online visual journalism and social media are playing an increasing role in how the BBC is looking to experiment digitally — The BBC is to launch daily infographics distributed on social media as part of continued experimentation …

Adam Lashinsky / Fortune:

Reporter offered pre-IPO shares by Arista Networks, considers it another sign of a tech bubble — Yes, we're in a tech bubble. Here's how I know it — When tech startups are willing to offer almost anyone — even a journalist — shares ahead of an I.P.O., a burst isn't terribly far behind.

Discussion: Gawker, @rapoportwsj, @jonrussell, @rachelmetz, @adamlashinsky, @pkafka, @karaswisher, @ryanchittum and Business Insider

Maggie Michael / Associated Press:

Egypt's el-Sissi tells media not to push freedoms — You are here — Home » Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi » Egypt's el-Sissi tells media not to push freedoms — CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's top presidential candidate, the former military chief, warned newspaper editors not to press issues …

Ben Sisario / New York Times:

Muve Music Service Is Said to Be Up for Sale by AT&T — One of the most successful music subscription services in the United States may be up for grabs. — Muve Music, which is connected to Cricket Wireless, a prepaid wireless phone carrier, will be discontinued by AT&T …

Discussion: Gigaom, Light Reading, Billboard and hypebot

Todd Spangler / Variety:

YouTube Global Creator-Development Lead Bing Chen Resigns — Exec's departure for stealth startup comes after appointment of new YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki — Bing Chen, YouTube's global creator development and management lead, is leaving the Google-owned video powerhouse for an unidentified stealth startup.

Discussion: BING CHEN

ABC News:

Australian journalist covering press freedom deported from Myanmar for lacking visa — Myanmar Deports Australian Journalist — Authorities in Myanmar said Thursday they have deported an Australian video journalist for covering a press freedom rally without a proper visa.

Discussion: The Irrawaddy Magazine

Stuart Elliott / New York Times:

For Online Video Publishers, a New Tack on Luring Ad Dollars — AS a well-received annual presentation of new digital offerings to Madison Avenue ends, publishers are seeking to keep the momentum going by making it easier for marketers and agencies to spend advertising dollars on online video …

Discussion: @iab

J.J. Colao / Forbes:

With 18 pending patents, Aereo's options in the case of a Supreme Court defeat are open — If Aereo Loses In The Supreme Court, Can It Rise Again? — Once voluble and full of irreverent talk, Chet Kanojia barely picks at his plate of cheese during lunch overlooking Dupont Circle in Washington …

Discussion: Lost Remote

Adi Robertson / The Verge:

Another FCC commissioner asks Tom Wheeler to delay net neutrality vote — Not long after FCC Commissioner Jennifer Rosenworcel asked agency chair Tom Wheeler to delay bringing his controversial net neutrality proposal to the table next week, another commissioner has also come out against the plan.

Discussion: Businessweek and Free Press Blog

Katy Bachman / Adweek:
Two FCC Commissioners ask Wheeler to delay net neutrality proposal, but Wheeler doesn't budge

Discussion: FCC.gov, Variety, Media Channel, SocialTimes, @amy_schatz, Kirk LaPointe's …, New York Times, PC Magazine, Bloomberg, Broadcasting & Cable, The Verge and Gigaom

Joseph Checkler / Wall Street Journal:

Judge Says LightSquared Restructuring Plan Unfair to Ergen — Nearly $1 Billion of Charlie Ergen's Claims Will be Subordinated Below Those of Other Creditors — A judge on Thursday said some of Dish Network Corp. Chairman Charlie Ergen's nearly $1 billion in claims in the wireless venture's bankruptcy case …

Discussion: Reuters and Bloomberg

Anthony Crupi / Adweek:

NBCUniversal Strikes Gold With Megawatt Olympics Deal — In a surprise development, the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday announced that NBCUniversal has secured the media rights to the Olympic Games through 2032. — The agreement, which covers broadcast rights across all media platforms …

Discussion: Forbes, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, FishbowlNY, @crupicrupicrupi, Business Insider, Olympics, TVNewser, Mashable and TVSpy

Nat Ives / AdAge:

Time Inc. Will Spin off From Time Warner in 15 Days — Publishing Unit Will Pay Time Warner $800 Million for U.K. Publisher IPC Media — Time Warner has set a date for the spin-off of its Time Inc. publishing unit: May 23. — The date came in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission …

Discussion: Folio, Capital New York, New York Times, Deadline.com and Hollywood Reporter

Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:

Quentin Tarantino Withdraws Lawsuit Against Gawker Over ‘Hateful Eight’ Leak (Exclusive) — The sudden reversal comes a week after the director filed a second complaint against the site. — Quentin Tarantino is sheathing his sword. At least for the moment.

Discussion: Variety, Plagiarism Today and UPROXX

Edward Wyatt / New York Times:

US House antitrust panel questions Comcast and TWC execs, hears from merger critics like Cogent, RFD-TV — Industry Executives Say Cable Merger Would Hinder Choice — WASHINGTON — Executives from Comcast and Time Warner Cable faced vigorous opposition to their proposed merger on Thursday …

Discussion: Broadcasting & Cable, Comcast Voices Blog, TIME, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Reuters and Re/code

Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:

Tribune Publishing takes full ownership of MCT news services — Tribune Publishing has acquired McClatchy Company's 50 percent stake in McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), giving it full ownership of the news and information business, the companies announced Thursday.

Discussion: Poynter

Heather Saul / The Independent:

Saudi Arabia orders 1,000 lashes and ten-year sentence for editor of website that discussed religion — A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced the editor of a website that discussed religion in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes.