Mediagazer: How four alt-weeklies, Cleveland Scene, Seven Days, The Stranger, and The Austin Chronicle, have been surviving the pandemic after it crippled events revenue (Sophia June/The Daily Beast)

4:55 PM ET, March 2, 2021

Top News:

Jacob Lorinc / Toronto Star:

Major Canadian publisher Torstar is launching an online gambling site to fund its journalism, pending government approval — Torstar is entering the online gaming market. The corporation announced Monday it intends to launch an online casino betting brand in 2021 pending approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Discussion: Globe and Mail, The Guardian, @tommytomlinson, CBC News, @wearecanproud, @johnocap, @goldsbie, @thetowncrier, @standingthegaff, @jrhennessy, @gramiq and @harryslaststand

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Elaine Low / Variety:

Disney CEO says the company will let consumer behavior guide its decisions on theatrical windowing and that 50%+ of the Disney+ subscribers don't have kids — Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference on Monday, Walt Disney Company chief exec Bob Chapek said he's …

Discussion: The Wrap, Axios, The Streamable, Ad Age, Reuters, Deseret News, Observer, @great_katzby, Quartz, MediaPost and UPROXX

Kerry Flynn / CNN:

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Paul Farhi / Washington Post:

Fox News allowed host Pete Hegseth and contributor Dan Bongino to address CPAC this week, after it banned its hosts from speaking at partisan events last year — The network's streaming service laid out $250,000 to sponsor CPAC and some of its personalities gave speeches in an unusual arrangement.

Discussion: @rightwingwatch, @thedailybeast, @jmartnyt, @b52malmet, The Daily Beast, Fox News and Mediaite

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Sony says the PlayStation Store will stop offering movie and TV show purchases and rentals on Aug. 31, citing users' preference for video streaming services — As of Aug. 31, 2021, the PlayStation Store will stop offering movie and TV show purchases and rentals.

Discussion: PlayStation.Blog, /Film, ScreenRant, Gizmodo, BetaNews, Fortune, Kotaku, Engadget, @ajci282002, The Verge, CNET, Siliconera and Polygon, more at Techmeme »

Dylan Byers / NBC News:

Fox News says former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany will join the network as a contributor — Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany will officially join Fox News, the network announced Tuesday. — The news, which was announced by Fox News host Harris Faulkner …

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Alex Sherman / CNBC:

Altice USA CEO says cable TV providers shouldn't be held accountable for misinfo on networks like Fox News, and cable TV will die as OTT platforms get better — - Altice USA CEO Dexter Goei questions the future of cable providers providing bundles of video.

Discussion: Forbes, @sherman4949, @mattrosoff, Light Reading, @cnbc, @richlightshed, @sherman4949, @richlightshed and @sherman4949

Tim Ingham / Music Business Worldwide:

Soundcloud to launch “fan-powered royalties” April 1; revenue from listeners' subscriptions or consumed ads is divided among artists they listen to, not pooled — This model sees streaming royalties paid out based on individual subscriber behavior - with a percentage …

Discussion: Variety, SoundCloud press releases, TechCrunch, Engadget and The Verge

Sophia June / The Daily Beast:

How four alt-weeklies, Cleveland Scene, Seven Days, The Stranger, and The Austin Chronicle, have been surviving the pandemic after it crippled events revenue — ‘A WAY FORWARD’ — One year ago, the consensus was that alt-weeklies faced certain extinction amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Discussion: Media Nation and American Press Institute

Lindsey Ellefson / The Wrap:

BBC apologizes and says it fell for a “deliberate hoax” after broadcasting a radio interview with a man claiming to be Sen. Cory Booker last week — The British Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday apologized for a radio interview broadcast last Friday that was presented …

Discussion: Fox News, The Hill, @psawers and @brianstelter

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