Top News:
Thom Geier / The Wrap:
Universal says Trolls World Tour on-demand release has netted ~5M downloads; source: it's made $77M in revenue from the 80% it retains from digital rental fees — Universal's gamble to bypass a theatrical release for “Trolls World Tour” and release it on demand instead appears to have paid off — big time.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Deadline, The Streamable, Observer, @wsj, @mjsamps, @davidlsims, @edmundlee, @cinematicbanter, @dkthomp and @frankpallotta
Jem Aswad / Variety:
Facebook plans to add the ability for Pages to charge for access to livestreamed events, but details like a cut percentage and the launch date are lacking — Facebook plans to allow users to charge for livestreams, which will provide a way for musicians and other creators to monetize …
Discussion:
About Facebook, @marcsettle, NME and MediaNama
Abby Ohlheiser / MIT Technology Review:
A look at the ways medical professionals are using TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to combat COVID-19 misinformation and the challenges they face as influencers — When President Donald Trump suggested during a press conference that doctors should look into treating covid-19 patients with an …
Discussion:
@firstdraftnews, @alvie_barr, @noupside, @dukesci_soc and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Joe Concha / The Hill:
Report: more than four out of five newspapers in the US did not qualify for Paycheck Protection Program loans because of how their companies are structured — More than four out of five newspapers in the U.S. are not eligible for the government's Paycheck Protection Program …
Hollywood Reporter:
Sources: Hollywood studios and unions, including Disney, Warner Bros., and DGA, are developing new industry protocols to protect against COVID-19 on set — Studios and guilds are debating a phased approach that includes pretesting for antibodies, quarantining sets and airline-style packaged meals …
Discussion:
@thr, @snoodit, @brynsandberg, @knowsmallparts and @deafshowrunner
Washington Post:
Stanford Internet Observatory researchers say Facebook and YouTube should not allow political ads from state-controlled media outlets — Vanessa Molter is a graduate research assistant at the Stanford Internet Observatory. Renée DiResta is the research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory.
Discussion:
@benthompson, @jsrailton, @alexstamos and @fsistanford, more at Techmeme »
Gavin Edwards / New York Times:
Six newspaper cartoonists share the different ways they are addressing the pandemic and its societal impact — Daily newspaper cartoonists have finally caught up with the coronavirus. — As the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the world, many in the United States self-quarantined …
Discussion:
@mrgavinedwards
The Daily Beast:
Fox News cuts ties with Diamond & Silk, who've contributed original content to Fox Nation since 2018, after they pushed conspiracy theories about the pandemic — The MAGA superstars lost their Fox gig after pushing absolutely wild conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion:
The Hill, Newser, TVNewser, Deadline, Politico, The Guardian, @brooklynmarie, @joelockhart, @carlzimmer, @travis_view, CNN, @realcliffholmes, @mollyjongfast, @donmoyn, @natemcdermott, @cianaf, @slpng_giants, @helenkennedy, @parkermolloy, @willsommer, @mattklewis, @svdate, @lollardfish, @justinbaragona, @bruce_arthur, @sykescharlie, @green_footballs, @kylegriffin1, @marlownyc, @mattgertz, Gizmodo, Raw Story, Hollywood Reporter, Breitbart, The Week, The Wrap, Variety, Mediaite and Boing Boing
Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:
Virtual concerts firm Wave announces a concert series starting April 30, to be streamed on all major platforms, and partnerships with Warner Music, Roc Nation — Virtual concerts firm Wave is announcing “One Wave,” a series of virtual concerts with John Legend, Galantis, Tinashe, and others.
Discussion:
Variety, Rolling Stone and CNET
Casey Newton / The Verge:
YouTube adds fact-check info boxes to some searches, above the search results, in the US, after launching in Brazil and India last year — The program launched in Brazil and India last year — YouTube will begin adding informational panels containing information from its network …
Discussion:
YouTube Blog, TechCrunch and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
Federal judge dismisses most of WGA's claims in its lawsuit against major talent agencies, including the claim that packaging fees amount to illegal kickbacks — A federal judge on Monday dismissed most of the Writers Guild of America's lawsuit against the major talent agencies …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, @thr, Deadline and The Wrap
Tim Peterson / Digiday:
Publishers are becoming worried that ad tech companies could default on payments, creating a ripple effect, as the global ad market weakens during the pandemic — Publishers are wary of the domino effect on their programmatic advertising businesses if ad tech firms default on their payments.
Discussion:
@larakiara and AdExchanger