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, @scrawfish, @scott_tobias, @witneyseibold, @awallenstein, @mjsamps, @davidlsims, @edmundlee, @cinematicbanter, @dkthomp, @frankpallotta and @wsj
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, The Verge and NME
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 »
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:
@knowsmallparts, @deafshowrunner, @thr, @snoodit and @brynsandberg
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
Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:
London Evening Standard CEO Mike Soutar to step down after six months in the role; the paper, which printed 800K copies pre-crisis, is now down to 500K — Evening Standard chief executive Mike Soutar will step down at the end of May after six months in the role, which he is the first to have held.
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, @joelockhart, @carlzimmer, The Guardian, @brooklynmarie, @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
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 …
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