Mediagazer: The New York Times Company acquires Audm, the subscription-based audio app that offers listeners longform articles read by actors and celebrities (The New York Times Company)

Top News:

Sources: some of Lachlan Murdoch's allies say he lacks the skills and political savvy to do his job, after he stood by while Fox News hosts downplayed COVID-19 — The 48-year-old Lachlan Murdoch stood by as Fox News hosts played down the danger of the deadly coronavirus to their viewers.

Hillel Italie / Associated Press:

Woody Allen's memoir was released by Arcade Publishing; Allen alleges Hachette vowed to publish it despite him “being a toxic pariah and menace to society” — NEW YORK (AP) — Woody Allen's memoir, dropped by its original publisher after widespread criticism, has found a new home, The Associated Press has learned.

Discussion: The Wrap, The Wrap, Publishers Weekly, Variety, NME, The Week, Vanity Fair, The Playlist, Jezebel, IndieWire, @mousterpiece and Bookseller News

Todd Spangler / Variety:

VidCon cancels its US edition, scheduled to run from June 17-20, due to the pandemic, and says it is looking to stage the event sometime in the fall — Bowing the inevitable, VidCon's flagship U.S. edition in June has been canceled because of the coronavirus crisis.

Discussion: @vidcon, @jennmcallister, @xpangler and @laurenzside

The New York Times Company:

The New York Times Company acquires Audm, the subscription-based audio app that offers listeners longform articles read by actors and celebrities — The New York Times Company has acquired Audm, the subscription-based audio app that offers listeners the world's best longform journalism …

Discussion: RAIN News, TechCrunch, @film_girl, @mikiebarb, @nwquah, @kerrymflynn and @awilkinson, more at Techmeme »

Júlio Lubianco / Knight Center for Journalism …:

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked rare collaboration between rival newspapers, which are now publishing identical covers in six Latin American countries — The worldwide crisis of the new coronavirus pandemic is spreading a rare wave of collaboration between competing media outlets in Latin America.

Discussion: @rosental

Jeremy Fuster / The Wrap:

Oprah Winfrey launches a free, weekly talk show on Apple TV+ called Oprah Talks COVID-19, with the first episode featuring Idris Elba — Oprah Winfrey announced this weekend that she will be starting a new talk show series called “Oprah Talks COVID-19,” which will be available for free on Apple TV+ without a required subscription.

Discussion: Engadget, Multichannel News, ABC News, @oprah, @oprah, NPR and IndieWire

Dani Deahl / The Verge:

SoundCloud partners with Twitch to let SoundCloud creators fast-track new Twitch accounts to Affiliate status, unlocking Twitch's monetization tools — SoundCloud artists can apply for Twitch Affiliate status — SoundCloud has teamed up with Twitch to help indie musicians who are feeling …

Discussion: RAIN News, SoundCloud Blog and HYPEBEAST

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Amazon opens up free streaming access to more than 40 children's shows, including its original series, to all customers worldwide with an Amazon account — With millions of kids cooped up at home, Amazon is opening up free streaming access to more than 40 children's shows — including its original series — to all customers worldwide.

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, The Streamable, @oliverdarcy, @manori_r and @brianstelter

Todd Spangler / Variety:

FuboTV will become a wholly owned subsidiary of FaceBank, creating a combined company called FuboTV Inc, led by current FuboTV CEO David Gandler — Over-the-top TV provider FuboTV is getting a lifeline, in the form of a proposed merger with virtual entertainment company FaceBank Group.

Discussion: MediaPost, Broadcasting & Cable, The Streamable, @xpangler and @xpangler

Melynda Fuller / MediaPost:

Time offers Time for Kids to children at home for free amid school closures, the first time it's been available outside classrooms in its 25 years of publishing — Time is offering its child-focused spinoff Time for Kids to students, families and teachers at home for free amid the COVID-19 outbreak and school closures.

Discussion: @keithgrossman

Donie O'Sullivan / CNN:

The websites of CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNBC showed ads in the last two weeks for face masks alongside news coverage of COVID-19 — New York (CNN Business)Some of the country's biggest news organizations are showing ads for face masks on their websites.

Discussion: @chelseaclinton, @moonalice, @slpng_giants, @tonyromm, @donie, @donie and Business Insider, more at Techmeme »

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:

Facebook says it will temporarily reduce streaming rates for videos on its platform and on Instagram in Europe — BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Facebook will downgrade video streaming quality on its platform and on Instagram in Europe, the latest U.S. tech giant to respond to an EU call …

Discussion: CNET, MediaPost, The Streamable, Bloomberg, @mattnavarra, CNBC and TechCrunch

Manish Singh / TechCrunch:

Disney says it has paused the rollout of Disney+ in India, which was set to launch March 29 alongside the now-delayed Indian Premier League cricket season — Disney said on Friday that it is postponing the launch of its eponymous streaming service in India, one of the largest entertainment markets …

Discussion: /Film, Variety, Business Standard, Tech2, Livemint, The Next Web, Forbes, Reuters, Deccan Herald, Deadline and Hollywood Reporter

Bruce Haring / Deadline:
Disney says it will reduce bandwidth use by at least 25% in EU markets where it is launching Disney+ on Mar. 24 and will delay its French launch until Apr. 7

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, Engadget, Variety, @discussingfilm, Daily Mail, The Wrap, Android Central, Engadget, The Playlist, Cord Cutters News, The Streamable, Variety and Hollywood Reporter