Top News:


Sources: Amazon and Apple are competing with Warner Bros. and others for rights to the James Bond franchise and are willing to pay as much as the studio — The franchise, and its future, are up for grabs as Agent 007 is being viewed as one of the last untapped brands that could be a game changer.


Peter Rice has been promoted to president of 21st Century Fox, will retain his roles as chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group — Peter Rice has been promoted to president of 21st Century Fox. He'll keep his chairman and CEO titles for Fox Networks Group as well. — Here's the full media release, more to come:
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable and Variety


Sources describe fallout for the new CNN Investigates unit after retracting a Scaramucci story and firing three journalists: scope narrowed, KFILE team moved — Created with much fanfare, CNN's investigative unit was reshaped and its focus narrowed in the wake of a story that led to a retraction and an apology.
Discussion:
@mikiebarb, The Daily Caller, @mlcalderone, @jasonabbruzzese, @buzzfeedben, @yochidreazen, @kelseymsutton and @melbournecoal


E.W. Scripps' online news network Newsy to launch as a cable TV channel, after Scripps buys carriage contracts from RLTV — As traditional TV players keep hunting for new digital inroads, E.W. Scripps' online news network Newsy is going the other way — it's landing a spot on the cable TV dial.
Discussion:
Radio & Television …, Broadcasting & Cable, TVNewser and @jeremymbarr


Spotify hires Disney executive Courtney Holt to lead its efforts in original video and podcast programming — Spotify has lured digital-media veteran Courtney Holt over from Disney to lead its efforts around original video and podcast programming, Variety has learned exclusively.
Discussion:
The Wrap


How media companies including Bustle, New Form Digital, and WeBuyGold are creating episodic series for Instagram Stories — Bustle, New Form Digital and WeBuyGold have started producing original programs for Facebook's other fledgling video service. — At the same time as Facebook …


Podcast network Gimlet Media raises $5M from ad agency WPP, in addition to the $15M round it raised last month, bringing total raised to $27M — Tack this on to the $15 million it raised last month. — Yet another vote of confidence in podcasting — this time from the people who buy ads for a living …
Discussion:
Fast Company, WPP and @mlieber


Roku launches its own channel for users of its streaming players, sticks, and TVs, offers ad-supported content, including movies from studios like Warner Bros. — Roku, a company capitalizing on the cord cutting trend to the tune of a $100 million IPO, is today launching its own channel …
Discussion:
The Official Roku Blog, Adweek, Engadget, Hollywood Reporter, Tubefilter and AdExchanger


The Atlantic launches a paid membership program called Masthead, priced at $10/month or $100/year, offering perks including exclusive content — But not just the diehards — it's also an attempt to forge tighter connections with its growing web audience. “We're trying to create a product that's a supplement, not a replacement.”
Discussion:
Digiday and The Atlantic


Axel Springer's Upday news app now has 13M users, up from 8.5M in February, and now drives 4M visitors a day to nearly 3500 publishers — One key plank in Axel Springer's resistance to the duopoly: Upday, an 18-month-old pan-European news app that comes installed on Samsung phones.


Verizon launches rewards program for customers who agree to share more complete access to personal info, including app usage and browser history — The company offers concert tickets and other rewards in exchange for customers' personal information — A new Verizon Communications Inc. VZ …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, @davezatz, MediaPost, Mashable, Fortune and Axios, more at Techmeme »


YouTube updates iOS app, letting users with 100+ subscribers live stream what's on their iPhone's screen, following Android version — YouTube today is rolling out several features to make itself more appealing to live streamers, including video game streamers, as the battle with rivals …
Discussion:
Adweek, YouTube Creator Blog, Android Police, Tubefilter, BGR, Multichannel News, Polygon, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, Variety, @fullscreennet, @scomo843, @squaredd_, AppAdvice.com and VentureBeat, more at Techmeme »

Tronc acquires outstanding interests of Daily News LP, owner of New York Daily News and NYDailyNews.com — Expands tronc Presence as Provider of Award-Winning Content Across Ten Major U.S. Media Markets — Combined Digital Platform Has Over 80 Million Unique Monthly Visitors
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