Top News:
Michelle Mark / Business Insider:
CBS reportedly has fired a staffer who previously worked for ABC and accessed footage of anchor Amy Robach complaining that ABC killed her Jeffrey Epstein story — NOW WATCH: — The letter F. A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting. The word “in”. A play button in the shape of a television screen.
Discussion:
Yashar's Newsletter, The Wrap, Mediaite, Fox News, Page Six, National Review, Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, @yashar, @sharylattkisson and @becketadams
Bloomberg:
Nielsen to split into two companies, one focused on global media, the other on tracking consumer preferences, after pressure from investor Elliott Management — - Nielsen will split into two: global media and global connect — Company completes strategic review following activist pressure
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, CNBC, Radio & Television …, The Wrap, @baekdal, @nielsen, @cnbc and Axios
Paul Bond / Hollywood Reporter:
Glenn Beck's The Blaze to shut down its cable channel at the end of the year to focus on its radio, SVOD service, podcasts, and website — The media company will continue operating its subscription VOD service, its website, podcasts and radio presence. — The Blaze, a multimedia firm founded …
Discussion:
The Wrap
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
In a wide-ranging interview, Reed Hastings says Netflix's spending on content will grow and defends cutting an episode of Hasan Minhaj's show in Saudi Arabia — Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings tackled a wide array of issues surrounding the streaming giant during a packed 30-minute keynote session …
Discussion:
CNBC, The Wrap, Variety, CNET, MediaPost, Vanity Fair, Engadget, @trengriffin, @trengriffin, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, HuffPost and Mediaite, more at Techmeme »
Alex Pareene / New Republic:
Rude media like Splinter and Deadspin, which lacked deference to power, are dead; we are left with bootlickers who demand civility and don't challenge power — Deadspin and Splinter were only the most recent victims of a culling that began many years ago. — Add to Pocket
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:
Dish adds ~214K Sling TV subscribers in Q3 for a total of 2.686M+ and loses ~66K pay TV subscribers for a total of ~9.49M — Charlie Ergen's company posts its first quarterly net subscriber gain since the fourth quarter of 2017. — Charlie Ergen's Dish Network on Thursday …
Discussion:
The Streamable, MediaPost, Variety, The Wrap and Wall Street Journal
Substack Blog:
Substack introduces a three-month Fellowship for Independent Writers, starting with five writers who will receive a stipend and support with publicity and more — Today, we're proud to announce the start of a program that we hope will become an important part of how Substack supports writers …
Discussion:
@substackinc, @sarahbessey, @alex, @juddlegum, @hamishmckenzie, @eacrunden, @nicole_cliffe, @walthickey, @linzsports, @hamishmckenzie, @lyndseygilpin, @therealbradbabs and @emorwee
SPJ News:
SPJ and 28 other groups pen letter urging Congress to allow federal employees to communicate with the press without having to report contact to authorities — Patricia Gallagher Newberry, SPJ National President, 513-702-4065, pattinewberryspj@gmail.com — Jennifer Royer …
Discussion:
@lwalsh, @pattinewberry, @religionreport, @froomkin, @jayrosen_nyu, @spj_tweets, @briokc and @makejdm
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Discovery Q3: net income rose to $262M from $117M in Q3 2018 on revenue of $2.68B, up 3% YoY; ad pricing increases offset subscriber losses — Discovery Inc. saw third quarter profit rise as revenue from advertising as well as cable and satellite distribution rose even as the company's various TV products lost viewers overall.
Discussion:
Broadcasting & Cable, Ad Age, Reuters and MediaPost
Jon Porter / The Verge:
Streaming service Britbox debuts in the UK, two years after its US launch, for £5.99 a month; it is a joint venture among UK broadcasters including BBC and ITV — It will eventually host content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 — Britbox, the streaming service formed …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, 9to5Mac, Press Centre and Mashable
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
YouTube rolls out a new homepage design with larger thumbnails and features like an “add to queue” option, a desktop version of “Don't recommend channel”, more — YouTube's homepage is getting a makeover. The company announced today an updated …
Discussion:
CNET, @loudmouthjulia, Digital Trends, 9to5Google and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Peter Debruge / Variety:
Motion Picture Academy changes rules for nominating foreign language films to make voting more accessible, including allowing all members to stream contenders — Good news for subtitles lovers: The Academy is radically expanding how nominees are chosen in the Oscars new international feature film race.