Top News:

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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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!


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 »


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 »


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


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


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


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.


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


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


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 …


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.