Top News:
Bloomberg:
Sources: Verizon plans to start selling a live online TV package with dozens of channels this summer, separate from go90 — Verizon Communications Inc. has been securing streaming rights from television network owners in preparation for the nationwide launch of a live online TV service, according to people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
MacRumors, Engadget, Multichannel News and @techinsider, more at Techmeme »
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Nathan McAlone / Business Insider:
How Verizon stumbled when Go90 launched in 2015, spending $200M+ on programming but falling short with discovery, and how it rebuilt with Vessel's tech team — The anticipation was palpable inside Verizon in the weeks leading up to the big launch. — The forthcoming video service …
Discussion:
@stevetweedie, @mathewi, @ampressman, @ctoolesaysstuff and The TV Answer Man!
Brian Barrett / Wired:
Pornhub, with its 75M daily visitors, and its sister site, YouPorn, will enable HTTPS by default on April 4 for all users — As the internet continues to limp toward better security, sites have increasingly embraced HTTPS encryption. You've seen it around, including here on WIRED …
Discussion:
The New York Observer, The Verge, The Drum and VentureBeat, more at Techmeme »
Nate Rau / The Tennessean:
RIAA report: streaming music in 2016 grew 68% YoY to bring in 51% of total revenues in music market, as total retail sales hit $7.7B, up 11.4% YoY — The U.S. music industry, which was beguiled two decades ago when online music service Napster invaded college campuses …
Discussion:
Medium, VentureBeat, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, @mathewi, Bloomberg, CNET, Financial Times, Variety, Billboard.com Music News and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Elizabeth Spiers / Washington Post:
How Jared Kushner's tenure as owner of The New York Observer could predict his success leading the newly-created Office of American Innovation — How the New York Observer could predict the fate of the Office of American Innovation. — On my first day of work as the editor in chief …
Discussion:
Vanity Fair, Adweek, Gizmodo, @danprimack, @wpjenna, @orrchris, @thecitywanderer, @dlind, @mikemadden, @lainnafader, @m_delamerced, @dandrezner, @postoutlook, bookforum.com and Fortune
Gabriel Sherman / New York Magazine:
Sources: next week, a grand jury in Manhattan will hear new testimony in a federal investigation of Fox News that had been led by Preet Bharara — In the months after former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes resigned last summer, it appeared that the sexual-harassment scandal that brought down the powerful Fox chief would be short-lived.
Discussion:
@mlcalderone, @gabrielsherman, @gabrielsherman and Washington Post
David Pierce / Wired:
After almost a year of broadcasting, business news startup Cheddar gets up to 1M live views per day across all platfroms including Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo — As a dozen members of the production team at Cheddar, a startup internet TV company, settle into their cramped control room …
Discussion:
@jonsteinberg, @pierce, @matt_levine, @trengriffin, @pardesoteric and @daveyalba, Thanks:@petergorenstein
Catherine V. Moore / Columbia Journalism Review:
West Virginia governor Jim Justice's proposal to cut $4.6M from public TV threatens existence of WVPB, the only source of news that reaches all 55 counties — A topographic map of West Virginia from 1888. The state maintains 27 transmitters in order to reach every wrinkle between its hills.
Gerry Smith / Bloomberg:
BuzzFeed is expanding to Germany and Mexico as it prepares to cover national elections in both countries — Outlet will focus on covering elections, feminism, gay rights — BuzzFeed Germany to be led by founder of non-profit newsroom — BuzzFeed News is expanding into Mexico and Germany …
Discussion:
@jimwaterson, @gerryfsmith, @gerryfsmith, @miriamelder and @katz
Mike Shields / Wall Street Journal:
Mic rolls out nine new content brands focusing on women's issues, social justice, and more; the company will hire about 35 employees as part of the expansion — Millennial-focused web publisher launches channels focused on social justice issues, technology and President Trump
Discussion:
@digitalshields, @jacobdhorowitz, @anthonyblsmith, @stevekovach, @s_m_i, @skidder, @evepeyser, @tomgara, @petersterne, @kerrylauerman, @srabil and @brandyljensen
Jessica Davies / Digiday:
The Independent is launching a five-person team dedicated to debunking fake news, with a heavy focus on politics — The Independent is launching its own team dedicated specifically to debunking fake news in its various guises. — The ESI Media-owned publisher, which went digital …
Anthony Ha / TechCrunch:
Nuzzel starts including sponsored links in its email newsletter, selling it as an alternative to press release distribution services like PRNewswire — For the first time, news aggregator Nuzzel will include advertising. — That doesn't mean you're going to see banner ads popping up all over the startup's app and website.