Mediagazer: Russia designating Meduza as a foreign agent may spell the end of independent journalism in the country; its editor says new restrictions may force it to close (Max Seddon/Financial Times)

6:45 PM ET, April 30, 2021

Top News:

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Chris Welch / The Verge:

Roku has removed YouTube TV from its channel store after Roku and Google failed to come to a distribution agreement; existing users will continue to have access — If you've already got the app, be careful not to delete it — Roku has pulled YouTube TV from its channel store.

Gerry Smith / Bloomberg:

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Julie Reynolds / DFM Workers:
Alden has said it will pay $375M to buy remaining Tribune shares, but its financial issues indicate it may force Tribune to take on debt to finance the purchase

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Amanda Meade / The Guardian:

In Australia, 20+ News Corp regional newspaper sites have been merged with city papers, putting local papers' content behind a paywall on the metro paper's site — Local websites absorbed by the Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail in what it calls ‘world-class, hyperlocal news technology’

Discussion: @mrkrudd, @mrkrudd, @mrkrudd, @mrkrudd, @awelder, @manjusrii, @davispg, @pilhofer, @aushiker and @wheatwatcher

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Jeff Bezos says Prime Video streaming hours are up over 70% YoY, with more than 175M Prime members having streamed TV shows and movies in the past year — Amazon knocked the cover off the ball again in the first quarter of 2021 — and released a new data point: More than 175 million Prime members …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, Quartz, Amazon Inc., IGN India, MediaNama, MediaPost, CNBC, Ad Age, @ukonwaojo, @xpangler, ZDNet, Deadline, IndieWire, The Verge, The Streamable, Fast Company and The Wrap

Megan Graham / CNBC:
Amazon says its “other” unit, comprised mostly of advertising, had Q1 revenue of $6.9B+, up 77% YoY, beating expectations and up from 44% YoY growth in Q1 2020

Discussion: Fast Company, Breitbart, @nolanantonucci and AdExchanger

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Nine ViacomCBS networks, including Comedy Central and MTV, are now available on Hulu + Live TV, four years after Hulu launched the service — Starting Friday (April 30), nine ViacomCBS networks will be available on Hulu + Live TV: Comedy Central, BET, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., VH1, CMT, MTV, TV Land and Paramount Network.

Discussion: The Streamable, The Desk, The Verge, TV Technology, Cord Cutters News, Engadget and Media Play News

Max Seddon / Financial Times:

Russia designating Meduza as a foreign agent may spell the end of independent journalism in the country; its editor says new restrictions may force it to close — Independent news site designated ‘foreign agent’ as Russian government puts pressure on journalists

Discussion: @mccarthyryanj, @stewartmcdonald, @risj_oxford, @meduza_en, @alexey__kovalev, @polinaivanovva, @raju, @maxseddon and @meduza_en

David Pierce / Protocol:

ByteDance announces that its CFO Shouzi Chew will now also become the CEO of TikTok; TikTok's interim CEO Vanessa Pappas will be TikTok's COO — Shouzi Chew, the CFO of ByteDance, got a new job title on Friday: CEO of TikTok. Vanessa Pappas, who's been running the company …

Discussion: TikTok, The Wrap, @jessicalessin, TechCrunch, Variety, Los Angeles Times, @loudmouthjulia, Daily Herald, @pierce, Tubefilter, Bloomberg, Adweek and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Iris Chyi:

Study on COVID-19's impact on 20 US newspapers: digital subscriptions grew 64% between 2019 and Q3'20, print fell 21%, and the median digital sub was $181/year — What happens When Digital Transformation Finally Works — A persistent problem facing U.S. newspapers is users' lukewarm response to their digital offerings.

Discussion: @mikelizun and @dw_grant

Dorany Pineda / Los Angeles Times:

Joshua Wolf Shenk resigns as EIC of The Believer magazine and from Black Mountain Institute posts, saying he made a dumb choice about attire for a Zoom meeting — Joshua Wolf Shenk, author of the books “Lincoln's Melancholy” and “Powers of Two,” has resigned from his positions as editor …

The Intercept:

The Intercept says it stands behind reporter Mara Hvistendahl and her reporting on Oracle's ties with China, and condemns “bullying” by Oracle EVP Ken Glueck — Editor's Note: In response to The Intercept's recent coverage of Oracle, the company's executive vice president …

Discussion: @tracyweber, @marahvistendahl, @bigblackjacobin, @theintercept, @marahvistendahl, @marahvistendahl, @marahvistendahl, @aaschapiro, @marahvistendahl, @craigcalcaterra, @kimzetter, @marahvistendahl, @eisingerj, @mdraznin, @marahvistendahl, @pathedger18 and @a_greenberg

Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:

WWD reporter Kali Hays was let go, sources say because she refused to delete a document where staff discussed newsroom issues, including lack of diversity — Already depressed morale at “fashion bible” WWD hit a new low when a reporter behind a forum letting staffers vent their grievances …

Discussion: @jeremymbarr

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