Top News:


Facebook will roll out news shows for Facebook Watch from July 16, with the lineup including shows from CNN, Fox News, Quartz, Bloomberg, Univision, ATTN:, Mic — Facebook will launch a slate of video shows on its video platform, Watch, on July 16. — Why it matters: The tech giant …
Discussion:
@juddlegum, Facebook Watch, The Wrap, @lpolgreen, @kevinroose, Engadget and @cwarzel, more at Techmeme »


Writing in the BBC's annual report, the corporation's Chairman David Clementi says British content faces a threat from the “west coast of America” — The U.K. public broadcaster in its annual report says BBC Worldwide, which after the end of the fiscal year was merged with its production arm …
Discussion:
The Guardian
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BBC's annual report reveals that just two of the corporation's top 20 highest paid stars are female, despite efforts to address gender pay gap — Corporation faces criticism as large gender pay gap persists in latest annual report — The BBC is facing a backlash after revealing …


Sources: Sinclair to launch STIRR, a new streaming VOD app, which would include a 24/7 news channel, TV shows, movies, and sports, by year-end — The local TV giant expects to release the streaming app this year, according to sources familiar with the project.
Discussion:
FierceCable and @amy_siskind


Mark Halperin and John Heilemann are in negotiations over material for a follow-up “Game Change” book and TV-mini series, most of which Halperin holds — Until their split last year, Mark Halperin and John Heilemann were the golden boys of American political journalism.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @dankennedy_nu, @grahamdavida and @owillis


UK watchdog gives Facebook a preliminary fine of about $664,000, the maximum allowed, for letting Cambridge Analytica access data about millions of people — Facebook is staring down its first fine for allowing Cambridge Analytica to improperly access data about millions of people …


21st Century Fox Inc. boosts its bid for Sky TV, offering £14 per share and valuing the company at £24.5B, topping Comcast's offer of £22B — - Offer is now 12 percent higher than Comcast's bid for Sky — Sky is part of a wider battle between Comcast and Disney
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Variety, Fortune, Broadcasting & Cable, The Wrap and Reuters


Ex-Vice journalist and Canadian writer Sarah Hagi recounts her experience of being laid off from a large media company — When I need comfort and familiarity, I cycle through five or so different movies I've seen at least a half dozen times each. Nora Ephron's 1998 classic You've Got Mail is a frequent go-to.
Discussion:
@mattdpearce and @nicole_soojung


Netflix launches Smart Downloads feature to automatically retrieve your next episode for offline viewing on Android, will launch on iOS later this year — Netflix is automating downloads of series so you can binge-watch shows off-line without even pressing a button.
Discussion:
VideoNuze Analysis, Netflix Media Center, Media Update, BGR, Business Insider, MacRumors and 9to5Mac


The relationship between The New York Times and Facebook has been fraught, with the Times' CEO Mark Thompson repeatedly attacking the social network — Facebook has been taking fire from all sides lately, but few have been more outspoken and consistent of late than Mark Thompson, CEO of The New York Times.
Discussion:
@bmorrissey and @digiday


Penrose Studios, which makes narrative-based VR content, raises $10M Series A led by TransLink Capital with Marc Benioff, Will.i.am, and others participating — It's been an interesting past few years for the virtual reality industry and while there is still plenty for insiders to pin …
Discussion:
VentureBeat and Variety, more at Techmeme »


At least 270 Syrian journalists and media activists are trapped in rebel-held sections of southwest Syria as Russian-rebel reconciliation deal unfolds — Displaced Syrians along the Syrian border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in July. Photo by Mohamad Yusuf/AFP.
Discussion:
syja.org, Anadolu Ajans Güncel Haberler and Committee to Protect …