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AT&T files trademark applications for “Verge TV”, but The Verge notes its name is trademarked and highlights its existing YouTube channel — Nah, we'll keep it — Last month, AT&T filed several trademark applications for “Verge TV,” which suggests the company may be working …
Discussion:
@reckless, @backlon, @jason_kint, @davezatz, @thedextriarchy, @chillmage, @shiraovide and @declanganley

Axios has acquired Sports Internet, a newsletter run by ex-ESPN staffer and Bleacher Report writer Kendall Baker, and will relaunch it as Axios Sports on Monday — Dearest readers, I'm beyond excited to announce that Sports Internet has been acquired by Axios and will be relaunching as Axios Sports on Monday.
Discussion:
@kenvogel


Los Angeles sues the company behind the Weather Channel app, which is owned by IBM, for slyly using location data for commercial purposes — The Weather Channel app deceptively collected, shared and profited from the location information of millions of American consumers …
Discussion:
Fortune and @dangillmor, more at Techmeme »


In her new book, Jill Abramson says the NYT's publisher drafted a letter “all but apologizing” to the Chinese govt for a Pulitzer-winning story on corruption — In her new book Merchants of Truth, former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson claims that the news outlet's publisher drafted …
Discussion:
Street Fight, @kemc, @billgertz, Newser, @peterdaou and @wxdam
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Former NYT Editor Jill Abramson says Fox News host Howard Kurtz took her new book “totally out of context” and attempted to “Foxify” it
Discussion:
@klerner, American Press Institute, The Guardian, @klerner, @klerner, @daviduberti, Dan Froomkin's White …, @mlcalderone and Hit & Run


NatGeo suspends episodes of Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk amid probe of sexual misconduct allegations; results of probe expected in “the next few weeks” — National Geographic Channel has pulled its long-running Neil deGrasse Tyson chat show “StarTalk” off the air, at least for now …
Discussion:
The Week, @franklinavenue, New York Times, The A.V. Club and The Week


As publications cut back on culture writing or eliminate it entirely, a look at why cultural criticism helps us understand our society better — Cultural criticism is journalism. And in an era when fewer outlets support it, we need more of it, not less — I've been thinking about The Hateful Eight a lot lately.


Podcasts are helping news organizations increase audience engagement, reach a younger demographic, and make a profit — I get emotional watching movies on airplanes. It doesn't matter what the story line is or how many times I've viewed it stoically on terra firma. At 40,000 feet, I submit to tears.
Discussion:
@aliciahannah, @theelsieescobar, @mikiebarb, @libsyn and KTLA


Netflix faced a tough balancing act when Saudi officials claimed an episode of Hasan Minhaj's Patriot Act violated local law — London (CNN Business)What's the price of censoring one episode of a Netflix show in Saudi Arabia? — Though Netflix has not released specifics on the number …
Discussion:
@krudell, @hasanminhaj, The Daily Beast, @davidakaye, @espiegler, @gramatik, @davidakaye, NBC News, @davidakaye, @mazmhussain, @karenattiah, @davidfrum, @akimcampbell, @ase and @arjunsethi81


How The Weekly Standard met its end, amid pressure from parent company execs and subscribers, as some editors plot an attempt to revive it — The Weekly Standard was killed last month, an act that had both a clear culprit and a muddy forensic trail. For twenty-three years …


London-based Synamedia launches Credentials Sharing Insight, which scores users of pay TV and streaming video services on likelihood they're sharing passwords — Still using your ex-roommates cable credentials to watch “Game of Thrones?” That may soon be getting a lot harder …
Discussion:
The A.V. Club


LinkedIn restores Chinese access to the profile of US-based activist Zhou Fengsuo after blocking it a day earlier, says the profile was blocked in error — - Zhou, a student leader during the bloody 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, says he thinks media attention led to the change
Discussion:
@chubailiang, @samuel_wade, @owenschurchill, @zhoufengsuo, @owenschurchill, @zhoufengsuo, @lauriechenwords and @ephs_apcp


Analysts say Spencer Neumann's focus as Netflix CFO will be to convince investors that expensive original content will pay off with subscriptions and profits — Spencer Neumann must convince investors that Netflix's billions of investments in original content will grow subscribers and earnings, analysts say
Discussion:
@snwirth