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:
Deadline, Fortune, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, MediaPost, Multichannel News, Breitbart, NME, @markharrisnyc, @mrbeaks, @aaroncouch, @hkanji, @frankpallotta, @fb_bmb, @johngary, @tinch, @mattdonnelly, @bmccandless, @annemariebridy, @loudmouthjulia, @rfaughnder, @frankpallotta, @owillis, @ethan_anderton, @labuzamovies, @loudmouthjulia, @lucas_shaw, @richlightshed, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, The Week, Forbes and CNBC, more at Techmeme »
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:
TechCrunch, Ad Age, The Wrap, VentureBeat, Variety, Fast Company, Business Wire, The Wrap, @markdistef, @thr, 9to5Mac, @kerrymflynn, @lucas_shaw and Spotify, more at Techmeme »
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:
@laura_kramer, @awallenstein and The Wrap
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
Marc Santora / New York Times:
Turkey passes law extending sweeping powers over social media platforms, ordering those with 1M+ DAU to open offices in the country and store user data locally — The legislation extends control over social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Discussion:
@senmarkey, @satariano, @m_clem and @chrchristensen, more at Techmeme »
What's New in Publishing:
Digital Spy, UK's biggest TV and movies website, launches its first digital magazine, available exclusively on Apple News+ in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia — The #1 entertainment website in the UK unveils interactive magazine custom-designed for Apple News+
Discussion:
Digital Spy
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 …
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, Publishers Lunch, @yashar, @mmonticolo, @erinsk8, @danielleweisber, @richlightshed and The Wrap
Eric Tucker / Associated Press:
Sources: Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites by an information agency called InfoRos to spread disinfo about COVID-19 — WASHINGTON (AP) — Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation …
Discussion:
New York Times, Business Insider, @brooklynmarie and @megkinnardap
@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
Discussion:
@pbannist, @tonysilber and @seangriffey
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, Los Angeles Times, @latimes, @bgrueskin, @taylorlorenz, The Wrap, Fox News, Mediaite, Business Insider and New York Post
Olga Kharif / Bloomberg:
At least three streamers banned or suspended from Twitch and Facebook following accusations of sexual harassment have moved to YouTube — When a handful of streamers were recently banned or suspended by the live-streaming platforms Twitch and Facebook following accusations of sexual harassment, their careers didn't end.
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw
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
RELATED:
Editor - The Upshot, NY — 
Economic Policy Reporter, DC — 
Senior Director - Editorial, NY — 
Accountability Reporter, ME — 
Senior Editor, FL — 
Senior Writer - Politics, NY — 
Senior Sydney Correspondent — 
Investigative Reporter, OR — 
Decision Desk Specialist - Elections, PA — 
Publishing Editor, NY — 
Watchdog Reporter, CA — 
News Editor, IN — 
Senior Writer - Politics, TN — 
Editor - CFO Brew, NY — 
Breaking News Reporter, CA — 
Audience Strategist, CO — 
Senior Editor, Remote US — 
Reporter, NY — 
IT Industry Reporter, MA — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Curation Editor, NY — 
Managing Editor, OR — 
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NY — 
Arts & Culture Reporter, WI — 
Breaking News Reporter, Remote — 
Assitant Business Ed., TX — 
Asset-Based Finance Reporter, NY — 
Ellsworth/Acadia Reporter, ME — 
Live Blogger, London — 
Criminal Justice Reporter, LA — 
Editorial & Opinion Page Editor, NV — 
Senior Editor, NY — 
Principal Writer - Investigative & Trust — 
Culture & Travel Reporter, NY — 
