Mediagazer: SNL Kagan: a record high of 812K pay TV subscribers cut the cord in the April-June quarter, versus 625K in the same quarter a year ago (Oriana Schwindt/The Wrap)

1:50 PM ET, August 30, 2016

Top News:

Dylan Byers / CNNMoney:

Anthony Weiner loses his Daily News column, put on indefinite leave from NY1, in wake of new sexting scandal — Multiple news organizations have moved to sever or suspend their ties with Anthony Weiner on Monday after new reports that the former congressman was involved in another sexting scandal.

Julia Boorstin / CNBC:

Source: Twitter expands Amplify Publisher program to individual video creators, giving them 70% of ad revenue, better than YouTube and Facebook's terms — Twitter is trying something new to boost its stagnating user base: Luring content creators to post on Twitter by giving them an easy way to earn money from their videos.

Discussion: The Twitter Blog, Ad Age, VentureBeat, Hollywood Reporter, CNET, VideoInk, Tubefilter, @ltszack, The Next Web, @kantrowitz, Wall Street Journal and @johnnyrapp

Kurt Wagner / Recode:

In a competitive market, Twitter's revenue share deal is designed to appeal to YouTube stars, does not require content exclusives — Twitter's 70/30 revenue split is better than YouTube's deal. — Twitter wants the kind of video creators YouTube has — and the massive audiences that come with them.

Discussion: WWD, TechCrunch, Reuters, Variety, Fortune and GeekWire

Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:

How Donald Trump might transform his campaign into an alt-right news network, with hosts including Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos — It's always wise to have a Plan B. And because Plan A — the Oval Office — is looking less and less likely, Donald Trump surely has something else in mind.

Discussion: Common Dreams, @jysexton, @drewharwell and @sulliview

Gerry Smith / Bloomberg:

Sources: Trump's camp has considered the candidate's options for creating a media business but there's currently no serious effort to establish one — A TV network could struggle to find distribution, advertisers — Glenn Beck's web video service could offer blueprint for Trump

Discussion: Mediaite, TVNewser and @mccormickjohn

Giulia Segreti / Reuters:

During Italy visit, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg insists the social network is not a media company and will not become a content provider — Facebook Inc. will not become a media company, its founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday, telling students the firm would remain a technology platform.

Discussion: The Wrap, Recode, Guardian, FishbowlNY, @dangillmor, @dannagal, @emptywheel, @pedroboucherie, @ivovic, @nathanjurgenson and Reuters

Carrie So / Ad Age:

Facebook Live's mid-roll ads resurrects a 20th century broadcast model in a 21st century social network, ignores changing viewing habits, rise of ad-blockers — Mid-Roll Video Ads Show a Disconnect With Changing Audience Habits — With Facebook announcing mid-roll ads for Facebook Live …

Tanya Dua / Digiday:

Ex-Facebook trending news curator: business side attempted to influence editorial, push towards quotas and producing content stifled newsroom discussion — Barely two days after changes to its Trending Topics section, a fake article about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly began trending on Facebook …

Discussion: Adweek, Business Insider, @daweiner, @cunninghamjeff, @kantrowitz, The Verge, Press Gazette, Variety, TVNewser, VatorNews, Forbes, Boing Boing and MediaFile

Craig Silverman / BuzzFeed:
In featuring fake Megyn Kelly story, Facebook promoted an anonymously registered site, EndingTheFed.com, that republishes dubious posts from the right-wing web

Discussion: New Urban Legends, PCMag Australia and @craigsilverman

Robert Capps / Wired:

President Obama to become first commander-in-chief to edit a magazine when he guest-edits Wired's November issue — WIRED has had some amazing guest editors over the years. J.J. Abrams on magic, mysteries, and puzzles; Bill Gates on solving the world's biggest problems; Christopher Nolan on space …

Discussion: FishbowlNY, FishbowlDC, Broadcasting & Cable, CNNMoney, @wired, @km, @brettlogiurato, @christinawilkie, @tyrangiel, @sdadich, @waterslicer and WhiteHouse.gov

Oriana Schwindt / The Wrap:

SNL Kagan: a record high of 812K pay TV subscribers cut the cord in the April-June quarter, versus 625K in the same quarter a year ago — Another quarter, another not-insignificant loss for the pay-TV market. All told, 812,000 pay TV subscribers cut the cord from April through June of this year, according to research firm SNL Kagan.

Discussion: Fast Company and Business Insider

Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:

At second-biggest news website in Lithuania, 15Min.lt, ad-blocking fell by 74% after implementing strategy that uses journalists to appeal directly to readers — In May, Tomas Balekas dropped a revelation on the crowd gathered at an internet conference in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital city.

Discussion: Journalism News

David Uberti / Columbia Journalism Review:

Reuters unveils a new election simulation tool that's powered by an Ipsos national tracking poll and draws from a sample size of 15K to 17K people — Campaign season is a quadrennial reminder that numbers often drive the most consequential stories. Census surveys are sliced and diced into shareable charts.

Discussion: The Week, @josedeynes and @jray05

Bloomberg:

Sources: Shari Redstone, who has taken control at Viacom, is considering merging with CBS, though CBS hasn't received indication that a deal is imminent — Settled lawsuits free daughter of ailing billionaire to lead — Recombining Viacom with CBS is said to be under consideration

Discussion: Bloomberg, @clay1016, @cgasparino, @gerryfsmith and @business

Brian Steinberg / Variety:

Fox News seeks to move Andrea Tantaros case to arbitration; in legal papers, Fox says the former host “is not a victim; she is an opportunist” — Attorneys for Fox News Channel Monday sought to have a suit filed by a former correspondent, Andrea Tantaros, against the 21st Century …