Top News:
The Atlantic:
Four additional men accuse Bryan Singer, director of X-Men and Bohemian Rhapsody, of seducing or raping them as minors — Over the past two decades, Bryan Singer's films—The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, Superman Returns, four of the X-Men movies—have earned more than $3 billion at the box office …
Discussion:
@davidmackau, The Guardian, The Wrap, Deadline, IndieWire, @suspiriana and @misterpatches
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Viacom to acquire Pluto TV, a free, ad-supported streaming service, for $340M in cash; Pluto TV to operate as an independent subsidiary when the deal closes — Viacom announced Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Pluto TV — one of the fastest-growing free, ad-supported TV streaming services in the U.S. — for $340 million in cash.
Robert D. McFadden / New York Times:
Two-time Pulitzer winner Russell Baker, whose Observer column appeared in The New York Times and other papers for 36 years, has died at 93 — Russell Baker, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose whimsical, irreverent “Observer” column appeared in The New York Times and hundreds …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @adamliptak, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, NPR, KTLA, @johnyangtv, NBC News, @ohlistic, @mitchstephensny, @poisonville, @greencomma, @elizabethdrewoh, @jmartnyt, @jamesgleick, Associated Press, @comey, @malexjohnson, @rexhuppke, @maureendowd, @jmeacham, @poisonville, @ellgood, @penguinrandom, @ron_fournier, @typotoo, @peterbakernyt, @harrisondsmith, @palafo, @carol_weston, @maggienyt, @bcappelbaum, @kathyamico, @juliehinds, @retromannyc, @davemontero, @maureendowd, @fitzfox5dc, @aodespair and @jonostrower
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
David Glasser, former COO of The Weinstein Company, is launching 101 Studios, with backing from Ron Burkle, who had tried to buy The Weinstein Company earlier — David Glasser, the former chief operating officer of the Weinstein Co., is launching a $300 million film and TV company …
Discussion:
Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, @variety, Screen, @thr, @brooksbarnesnyt and The Wrap
Anthony D'Alessandro / Deadline:
The Motion Picture Association of America has added Netflix as a member, the first internet-based service to be added — UPDATED with Netflix officially joining: It's official, Netflix is a member of the MPAA. The Washington, DC-based organization just dropped the following release:
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, MPAA, @gitagovinda, @tiffanycli, @lucas_shaw, @pameladaym, Engadget, TechCrunch and Politico, more at Techmeme »
Alex Hern / The Guardian:
Consumer finance journalist Martin Lewis drops his lawsuit against Facebook over scam ads, after the company agrees to donate £3M to set up an anti-scam project — Consumer finance journalist drops action as firm agrees to give £3m to anti-scam project
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Business Insider, BBC, mirror, The Irish News and MoneySavingExpert
Elaine Low / Variety:
WarnerMedia debuts an incubator to “combine emerging technologies with content” starting with an NBA partnership and an initial focus on AR, VR, mixed reality — WarnerMedia is launching an incubator meant to “combine emerging technologies with content from across its operating units …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Broadcasting & Cable and @jesseredniss
John Wagner / Washington Post:
On Twitter, Trump says he told Sarah Sanders “not to bother” with press briefings, citing his belief that the press covers her “rudely and inaccurately” — President Trump said Tuesday that he directed White House press secretary Sarah Sanders “not to bother” …
Discussion:
CNN, @realdonaldtrump, @whca, Variety, @kaitlancollins, @jayrosen_nyu, @cebergstrom, @jbview, New York Times, @brianstelter, The Hill, Mediaite, TheBlaze, Deadline, Newser and Splinter
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:
Condé Nast will put all its titles behind paywalls by the end of the year, after success with metered paywalls for The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Wired — Magazine publisher expects subscription revenue to increase significantly — Magazine publisher Condé Nast said it would put …
Anthony D'Alessandro / Deadline:
AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas decline to play Roma in their best picture showcases; Cinemark is said to have made the same choice — EXCLUSIVE: AMC Theatres is sticking to its guns, and will only play those Oscar best picture nominees who had a traditional theatrical release and respected the 90-day cinema window.
Discussion:
CinemaBlend, The Playlist, /Film, IndieWire and New York Times
RELATED:
Kristopher Tapley / Variety:
Female directors were completely shut out of the Oscar's directors category this year, despite having a wealth of worthy contenders from which to pick
Female directors were completely shut out of the Oscar's directors category this year, despite having a wealth of worthy contenders from which to pick
Discussion:
@colorofchange, @christiansbale, @lizgarbus, @winter, @tolkienxweisz, @ovotaylla, @had_oscar_buzz, /Film, The Wrap and Variety
Beatrice Verhoeven / The Wrap:
Endeavor Content hires Tim Robinson, formerly COO of production company Avalon, for its newly created COO role — Endeavor Content has hired Tim Robinson as its new COO, in which he will assist in the company's domestic and international growth strategy, Endeavor announced Tuesday.
Discussion:
Variety
Olga Mitina / INMA:
With LeadHax, a digital marketing tool that creates ad campaigns for real estate agents, the Bay Area News Group has built a scalable digital revenue strategy — I was at a digital marketing event recently, and a presenter opened by saying, “You do not go online today. You live online.”