Top News:
Frank Pallotta / CNN:
AMC and Universal agree to shorten the theatrical window for films to 17 days, or 3 weekends, before Universal can release them onto premium on-demand platforms — New York (CNN Business)Universal and AMC are mending their frayed relationship in a deal that not only reverses the theater chain's ban …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Variety, @markharrisnyc, @bmccandless, @frankpallotta, @owillis, @labuzamovies, @tinch, @loudmouthjulia, @mrbeaks, The Week, @annemariebridy, @aaroncouch, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @ethan_anderton, @hkanji, @rfaughnder, @johngary, @frankpallotta, @fb_bmb, @mattdonnelly, @richlightshed, @lucas_shaw, The Verge, /Film, Forbes and CNBC, more at Techmeme »
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
Ex-Deadspin staff launch digital media company Defector Media, which they will own and operate, led by EIC Tom Ley and open to subscribers for $8 per month — The journalists who took part in a staff rebellion last year are starting Defector Media, a company with a podcast and a website dedicated to sports and culture.
Discussion:
@defectormedia, Poynter, The Wrap, Hell World, @matthunzi, @jpmanga, USA Today, @passionweiss, New York Post, @john_p_carvalho, @jason, @adamconover, @gaberivera, Slate, @xor, @mattsaincome, @cliffordlevy, @cwarzel, @barry, @mikeisaac, @michaeltoole, @davidsirota, @jaycaspiankang, Forbes, @pykea, @brofax, @drewmagary, @lainnafader, @hamiltonnolan, @senari, @tomscocca, @ylichterman, @seandkennedy, @media_evan, @alexmsilverman, @toley88, MediaPost, Mediaite, Awful Announcing, bookforum.com and InsideHook
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify reports Q2 revenue of €1.89B, up 13% YoY, with MAUs up 29% YoY to 299M, premium users up 27% to 138M, and ad-supported MAUs up 31% to 170M — In addition, ad revenue fell 21% — which Spotify blamed on the coronavirus pandemic — but the drop wasn't quite as bad as forecast.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @thr, @markdistef, Business Wire, Spotify and @kerrymflynn, more at Techmeme »
Emily Bell / Columbia Journalism Review:
Some journalists debate the safety and ethics of using TikTok for publishing news, amid concerns about how China could influence their content — This week, Bloomberg reported that members of Joe Biden's presidential campaign were instructed to delete the social media app TikTok from their phones.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, @cjr, @bgrueskin, @latimes, @taylorlorenz, The Wrap, Fox News, Mediaite, Business Insider, New York Post and The Verge
Todd Spangler / Variety:
NHL partners with Twitter and Disney Streaming Services to offer live “look-ins” to some Stanley Cup qualifying and playoff games, showing four minutes per game — Hockey is returning to the ice — and Twitter is getting live “look-ins” for the NHL's Stanley Cup qualifying and playoff games.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Deadline, Cord Cutters News, The Streamable and Adweek
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
WarnerMedia says that 23% of HBO Max users are between 18 and 24 and that Friends is the most watched show on the streaming service — Although not providing any actual data, WarnerMedia yesterday released a few more statements about the performance of its two-month-old HBO Max streaming service …
Discussion:
Multichannel News
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John Koblin / New York Times:
Netflix breaks the record for most Emmy nominations with 160, as the industrywide number of TV series hit a high and submissions rose 15% over last year — Here's what you need to know: — Netflix and “The Mandalorian” show the might of streamers. — Netflix dominated …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Multichannel News, The Wrap, @matthewmercer, What to Watch, @jbflint, @edmundlee, The Week, @deggans, The Hill, The A.V. Club, Forbes, Protocol and Deadline
Erik Hayden / Hollywood Reporter:
Talent agency CAA says it will lay off about 90 agents and execs and furlough about 275 assistants, of whose health plan premiums will still be paid in full — The Century City-based firm had been the last of the major talent agencies to undergo staff cuts.
Discussion:
Deadline, @richlightshed and The Wrap
Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
Tribune Publishing's board has adopted a “poison pill” plan to thwart any potential hostile takeover, after Alden's co-founder Randall Smith joined the board — The Tribune Publishing board adopted a so-called “poison pill” plan Monday to thwart any potential hostile takeover of the company.
Discussion:
@toddlighty, @ctguild and @ckrewson
@kerrymflynn:
Access Intelligence, which owns AdExchanger and others, announces layoffs and furloughs affecting 35 staffers and the folding of Folio into AdMonsters — News: Access Intelligence, which owns several B2B media brands including PRNews, Cablefax and AdExchanger, announced a mix of layoffs and furloughs today. 35 staffers were affected (about 16% of staff). Also, Folio is being folded more into the AdMonster brand
Justin Kroll / Deadline:
Lionsgate and BuzzFeed announce a motion picture partnership for a slate of socially relevant and high-concept feature films, with plans to launch in 2021 — EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate and BuzzFeed are partnering on a new venture to develop, produce and distribute a multi-picture slate …
Discussion:
The Wrap
MediaPost:
Condé Nast's healthcare advertising unit introduces Obsidian, a cookie-less audience tracking tool available through CitizenNet, its marketing service — Conde Nast's unit for healthcare advertising last week touted its new technology to track its digital audience without using cookies …
Judd Legum / Popular Information:
UTM codes show Sarah Palin's Facebook page promotes an obscure right-wing site and ForAmerica's page pushes The Washington Times; Facebook demoted Palin's page — Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican nominee for Vice President, is not the cultural icon she was a decade ago.
Discussion:
@ajmahlsteezy, @juddlegum, @witty_repartee, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @mrsmaris, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, @juddlegum and @juddlegum
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