Mediagazer: AMC backs away from unscripted programming, re-shifts focus to scripted (Yvonne Villarreal/Los Angeles Times)

4:05 PM ET, October 13, 2014

Top News:

Leaning Forward, MSNBC Loses Ground to Rival CNN — Rachel Maddow, the biggest star on the MSNBC cable network, just posted her lowest quarterly ratings results ever. — “Morning Joe,” MSNBC's signature morning program, scored its second-lowest quarterly ratings, reaching an average …

Discussion: Mediaite, The Wrap, @aim2misbhv, @erichippeau, Talking Points Memo, TVNewser, @wilkowmajority, @ahmed, @ktumulty, @steveweinstein, @antderosa, @twxcorp, @michaelroston, @stephenreiss, @dkthomp, Inside Cable News, The Daily Caller and New York Magazine

Simon Van Zuylen-Wood / Salon:

“She's not ducking a fight”: How Margaret Sullivan transformed the role of the NYT public editor — As other ombudsmen fade into oblivion, Sullivan is reimagining the relationship between the Times and its readers — When Alessandra Stanley published her now-infamous essay on Shonda Rhimes …

Discussion: The New York Observer, @emilybell, @mathewi, @jayrosen_nyu, @lbennett and @svzwood

David Carr / New York Times:

YouTube's New York production studio set to open in November with a dedicated space for brands — YouTube Takes Manhattan — A few weeks ago, Zayna Aston, a communications executive at Google, met me at the company's offices in Manhattan to show me around YouTube Space New York …

Discussion: @youtubespaceny, SocialTimes, Capital New York, @acoyne and @moth

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Disney's Maker Studios Teams with Disney-Backed Fusion to Produce Block of TV Programming — Maker Studios, the YouTube multichannel network Disney acquired earlier this year, has reached another TV deal that falls under the Mouse House's corporate umbrella.

Discussion: Broadcasting & Cable, Hollywood Reporter and @alexweprin

Todd Spangler / Variety:

BSkyB invests $500K in web-video aggregator Pluto.tv — BSkyB Invests in Internet-Video Startup Pluto.TV — British satcaster takes $500,000 stake in company, whose other backers include UTA's Jeremy Zimmer and Terry Semel — U.K. satcaster BSkyB has invested $500,000 in web-video aggregator Pluto.TV …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, MediaTel, Telecompaper, Pocket-lint, Compare Mobile Phones …, Digital Spy, Gizmodo UK, SEENIT and Life Style Extra

Gary Merson / HD Guru:

Netflix Quietly Raises its 4K Ultra High Definition Subscription Rates — Netflix, the leader in 4K Ultra High Definition streaming services, has raised their rates, while continuing to add more 4K content with the recent additions of The Blacklist and Smurfs 2. — We contacted Netflix today for the details.

Discussion: Multichannel News, Light Reading, Consumerist, Hollywood Reporter and The Verge

Wall Street Journal:

Book publishers are using YouTube to identify potential bestselling authors — From YouTube Stars, Literary Lions — Book Publishers Sweep Video Site for a New Wave of Authors — Publishers seeking the next hit author have a new hunting ground: YouTube.

Discussion: @digitalshields and @keachhagey

Yvonne Villarreal / Los Angeles Times:

AMC backs away from unscripted programming, re-shifts focus to scripted — AMC is undergoing a reality check. — The cable network is dropping most of its unscripted programs to re-shift its focus to maintaining its power in the scripted arena. — The network, in a short time frame …

Lee Hyo-won / Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Korea to Debut Some Films Via Streaming Services — The local premiere of Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler rom-com ‘Blended’ will come on IPTV services — Amid the surge of the South Korean online market for movies in recent years, Warner Brothers Korea will make films without …

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

Twitter, Google, AOL and Vice pitch content in London digital upfronts — Firms mimic US TV industry with showcases aimed at advertisers in a sign of growing significance of UK's digital media — A who's who of senior executives from Silicon Valley giants, including Twitter, Google …

Lisa O'Carroll / Guardian:

Six Sun journalists go on trial over alleged payments to public officials — News editors and reporters variously accused of plotting with police, armed forces, prison officials and staff at Broadmoor — Six former and current journalists from the Sun newspaper are going on trial …

Patrick Wintour / Guardian:

British police's use of Ripa powers to snoop on journalists to be reined in — Change to surveillance law will mean police will require a judge's approval to access journalists' phone records — The UK government will reform the law to prevent the police using surveillance powers …

Discussion: @theconstables, @graphiclunarkid, @mslods, @svaughanbrown, Gigaom and @edent