Top News:
Alyson Shontell / Business Insider:
Sources: Comcast is partnering with digital publishers like Vox, BuzzFeed, Mic, Vice, NBC Sports, and others to launch digital video platform called Watchable — Comcast is about to launch a major video platform called Watchable to rival Facebook and Google
RELATED:
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Sources: Watchable to be available on the web for Comcast subscribers and and non-subscribers, in addition to set-top-boxes, Android and iOS — Comcast Gets Ready to Launch Online Video Service On Its Set-Tops And the Web — Comcast is inching closer towards the launch of its own online video service …
Cora Lewis / BuzzFeed:
BuzzFeed Founder Jonah Peretti: “I Don't Think A Union Is Right” For Staff — At a company meeting on Thursday, BuzzFeed's CEO told staff that unionization “isn't something I think would be great for the company.” — BuzzFeed's founder and CEO Jonah Peretti has told staff …
Discussion:
Politico, Gawker, Wall Street Journal, @perlberg and @mattbuchanan
RELATED:
Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian:
Group that includes Politico reporter Mike Elk releases a statement enumerating labor rights ahead of planned October convention — Group Calls for Rights for Journalists in Digital Newsrooms — Politico reporter Mike Elk is among the organizers of a planned conference on journo rights.
Discussion:
Media Workers Unite, @dmaguz and The Daily Caller
William Branigin / Washington Post:
U.N. human rights experts call for ‘immediate release’ of Post's Jason Rezaian — U.N. human rights experts expressed grave concern Friday about Iran's continued detention of Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and called on authorities in Tehran to release him immediately.
Discussion:
@postbaron, Poynter and @katz
Miranda Ward / mUmBRELLA:
News Corp CEO lashes Google for piracy, zealotry and kleptocracy at Lowy Institute event — News Corp CEO Robert Thomson has accused Google of “piracy, zealotry and kleptocracy”, labelled LinkedIn a “pretender” and described the redistribution of content created by journalists as “unnatural”.
James Bradshaw / Globe and Mail:
Woodbridge, private holding company of Thomson family, takes full ownership of Globe and Mail, buying BCE's remaining 15% stake — Woodbridge buys BCE's 15% stake in The Globe and Mail — The Woodbridge Co. Ltd. has taken full ownership of The Globe and Mail, acquiring the 15 per cent stake …
Discussion:
@curryb and @craigsilverman
Committee to Protect Journalists:
Saudi Arabia to require online media to have commercial registration and office space, while editors-in-chief need college degrees and Saudi citizenship — Saudi Arabia announces more restrictions on online media — The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns new restrictions …
Peter Kafka / Re/code:
Maker Studios' integration with Disney hits a few snags over missed performance targets; CEO Ynon Kreiz other other top execs may leave Disney at end of year — Disney and Maker Studios' Big Deal May Be Smaller Than They Thought — It looks like the honeymoon is over for Disney and Maker Studios.
Discussion:
@pkafka, @pkafka, @cityofthetown, @shaliniwsj, @hunterwalk and @lucas_shaw
Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times:
Mongolia has 3M inhabitants, 138 TV stations, 111 newspapers, 90 magazines, and 72 radio stations — Mongolia is awash in media choices with even a remote yurt hooked up to 60 channels — Deep in a desolate, rocky canyon, about 10 miles from the nearest paved road and even farther from any power line …
Discussion:
@juliemaklat, @latimes and @gbaterdene
Shalini Ramachandran / Wall Street Journal:
Turner Broadcasting acquires majority stake in online video company iStreamPlanet for nearly $200M — Time Warner's Turner Cable Unit Acquires Majority Stake In iStreamPlanet — Time Warner Inc.'s Turner Broadcasting cable unit said it has acquired a majority stake in online video specialist iStreamPlanet …
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, Sports Video Group and Variety
Ruma Paul / Reuters:
Bangladesh says arrests two Islamists over killing of secularist blogger — Bangladesh police said on Thursday they had arrested two members of a banned Islamist group for alleged involvement in the killing of a blogger, the latest attack on critics of religious extremism in the Muslim-majority nation.
Discussion:
Agence France-Presse, New York Times, BBC, Associated Press, Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera America