Top News:
Noah Kulwin / Recode:
Tronc's latest branding video discusses content funnels and AI, resembles an Adult Swim parody, and draws criticism online for its use of buzzwords — Content funnels. Artificial intelligence. Optimize. — Last month, newspaper chain Tribune Publishing rebranded itself as Tronc …
Steven Perlberg / Wall Street Journal:
New York Times Chief Executive Mark Thompson says paper will launch ad-free option for subscribers in response to the rise of ad-blockers — CEO Mark Thompson says readers can pay more to ditch ads online amid rise in ad-blocking adoption — New York Times Co. Chief Executive Mark Thompson confirmed plans …
Discussion:
Fortune, @gerryfsmith, @rafat, @kurtgessler, @clarajeffery, @yrechtman, @digiphile and Mother Jones
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Tumblr to launch live video on Tuesday with an expanded strategy for real-time content — Twitter has Periscope. Amazon has Twitch. Google has YouTube's live streaming. And Facebook has Facebook Live. Now, Tumblr is getting into live video, too. The company is preparing to launch …
Discussion:
Light Reading, Pocket-lint, PCMag UK, Digital TV Europe, Engadget, The Verge, Fortune, @joshconstine, @taylorlorenz, @gamoid, The Drum, Variety, SlashGear, The Next Web, New York Magazine and SocialTimes
Alan Murray / Fortune:
In interview with Fortune, Philippe Dauman defends his record as Viacom CEO, talks legal battle with Sumner Redstone, says he has lost more than $54M in stock — Philippe Dauman's fate as CEO of Viacom is now in the hands of a Delaware court, which must decide whether 93-year-old Sumner Redstone …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Vanity Fair, @peterlauria3, Broadcasting & Cable, @jasonhirschhorn, @alansmurray, @mikeisaac and Deadline
Peter Kafka / Recode:
Taylor Swift, U2, other artists, sign open letter calling on Congress to rewrite DMCA legislation — An open letter to Congress asks for change to the DMCA, but it's aimed at Google's video site. — The music industry is ratcheting up its fight against YouTube. And Taylor Swift is joining in.
Discussion:
Billboard, @hankgreen, Home Media Magazine, @anildash, TechCrunch, RAIN News, Patently Apple and Fortune
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
BitTorrent considering launching “lean” TV news channel, BitTorrent News, in time for fall election, based on job listing for news director in San Francisco — BitTorrent is considering the launch of a TV news network for its live streaming service in time for the election this fall, Variety has learned.
Discussion:
Fast Company, The Drum, @cauchon, @michellebigred, @jank0, Digital TV Europe, Engadget and The Verge
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Analyst: Netflix price hikes could lead to 480K subs canceling but also generate $520M in additional revenue — A truckload of Netflix subscribers may bail on the streaming service after the No. 1 subscription video service raises prices for long-term customers over the course this year.
Discussion:
Fast Company and The Next Web
Madhumita Murgia / Telegraph:
Spotify says it has 100M+ monthly active users, adding 1.8M monthly, with 30% as paying subscribers — Spotify has confirmed that it has more than 100m monthly active users on its music streaming service today. — Based on its last count, the Swedish company is adding 1.8m users to the service monthly …
Discussion:
SlashGear, INSIDER, MacRumors and Engadget, Thanks:@ravichandrans25
Kelsey Sutton / Politico:
BuzzFeed Motion Pictures emphasizes exclusive rights to full-time staffers' work unless it grants exceptions after two employees were fired — Just over a week after two BuzzFeed Motion Pictures producers were fired for taking small acting roles in a non-Buzzfeed web series …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed, Ad Age, @kelseymsutton, @kelseymsutton, @brosandprose and The Wrap
Joseph Lichterman / Nieman Lab:
Washington Post experiments with limiting access from social by asking for email addresses from non-paying, logged out online readers — Even as it boasts of record traffic, The Washington Post is apparently looking at ways to make it a little more difficult for people to read its journalism for free.
Liana B. Baker / Reuters:
Eldridge Industries, owner of The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, hires bankers to review media holdings — Eldridge Industries, the U.S. owner of TV production company Dick Clark Productions and magazines Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, told Reuters on Friday that it had hired investment banks …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Mashable buys YouTube channel CineFix, with over 1.6M subscribers, from Whalerock Industries — Digital media company Mashable has acquired CineFix, a YouTube channel aimed at movie buffs and filmmakers, from Whalerock Industries. — CineFix, which has over 1.6 million YouTube subscribers …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, Multichannel News and Deadline