Top News:


Disney says Marvel's Black Widow has earned $60M+ on opening weekend via its Premier Access program, which lets Disney+ subscribers rent the movie for $30 — Opening weekend estimates for Marvel Studios' “Black Widow” took a hit after Saturday grosses were lower than expected …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Garbage Day, MediaPost, New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes, Numlock News, @tomperriello, Observer, /Film, Adweek, @cwarzel, @williammatt22, @littlelostsunny, Hollywood Reporter, @variety, @cctakato, @pandemona, @morganicink, @patrick_spence, @wfederman, @stevendeknight, @shannontindle_1, @awallenstein, @wallstcynic, @ballmatthew, @richlightshed, @pkafka, @mikedeestro, @variety, @filq2001, The Verge, Deadline, Associated Press, The Streamable and ScreenRant, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:


Five bright spots for US journalism: from strong nonprofit reporting on the NRA to ventures like climate-focused Bloomberg Green and texting-based Outlier Media — A look at some of the ventures that have sprung up, fueled by a new sense of mission in American journalism and by the sheer quantities of money available.


How Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, and other Fox News hosts helped elevate vaccine skepticism, once relegated to the fringes, to the conservative mainstream — Months after Rupert Murdoch got a Covid-19 dose, one of his network's stars, Tucker Carlson, called a Biden vaccination proposal “the greatest scandal in my lifetime.”
Discussion:
Vanity Fair, Mediaite, @marmel, @gabbystern, Politico, Between Rock and a Hard Place, Insider, @mollyjongfast, @peterhotez, Vanity Fair, @farnazfassihi, @joyannreid and CNN


Sources: Tucker Carlson is furious with Fox News executives and its PR team for not defending his evidence-free claims that NSA spied on him — (CNN Business)Tucker Carlson is furious with Fox News executives for not vigorously defending him amid his evidence-free claims …
Discussion:
@brianstelter, New York Post, TheBlaze, @oliverdarcy, @brianstelter, @mediaite, Vanity Fair, @brianstelter, @davidyankovich, Insider, @oliverdarcy, Mediaite, The Hill, @pbump and @pbump


Facebook confirms it is delaying a brand safety audit by industry body MRC, after publicly committing to the audit a year ago during an ad boycott — Facebook's brand safety audit is postponed. — The company promised the Media Rating Council, the industry's decades-old measurement verification body …


TikTok opens its first pop-up venue in UK, with influencer sessions explaining content creation and sessions for parents to learn about keeping teenagers safe — Influencers including Kyle Thomas, Ehiz Ufuah and Poppy O'Toole will offer sessions on creating content
Discussion:
@mattnavarra
RELATED:


Disney to raise the subscription fees for ESPN+ in the US to $7/mo. and $70/year, from $6/mo. and $60/year; price for a Disney bundle is unchanged at $14/mo. — Disney will raise the monthly and annual fees for ESPN Plus, one of three different subscription-based streaming services it operates in the U.S. …
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Streamable, Ad Age, CNBC, FierceVideo, @alexweprin, @richlightshed, @keitholbermann, 9to5Mac, @masasoncap and Cord Cutters News


Sources: China to order Tencent Music to give up exclusive rights to music labels, and fine ~$77K for lapses in reporting the acquisitions of two streaming apps — China's antitrust regulator is set to order the music streaming arm of Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) to give up exclusive rights …
Discussion:
Variety, @saketreddy, Music Business Worldwide and musically.com, more at Techmeme »


Editor of Cleveland's The Plain Dealer says its decision to ignore false statements and stunts by politicians is working well, with readers responding favorably — I wrote four months ago about our approach to covering political candidates who make false, irresponsible and potentially dangerous statements …
Discussion:
@rafat


TV Pirveli, an independent station in Georgia, says a cameraman has died after being badly beaten by far-right assailants during an anti-Pride protest — Government accused of ‘culpable passivity’ after dozens of journalists were attacked covering Pride protest
Discussion:
@pavelfischer, New York Post and International Press Institute


DMGT chairman Lord Rothermere is considering an offer to buy about 70% of the newspaper group and take it private, in a deal that values DMGT at £810M — Daily Mail & General Trust chair's family would buy about 70% of group that it does not already own
Discussion:
Reuters, @jimwaterson, @mrjkilcoyne, @janemartinson and @campbellclaret


NYT journalists discuss the tradeoffs in talking about their reporting on networks like CNN, CBS, and MSNBC; around 20 NYT reporters make regular appearances — Appearing on TV news shows lets Times reporters take their work to a wider audience. But the opportunities must be handled with care.


News Media Alliance again criticizes Louis DeJoy's plans to raise periodical postal rates by 8%+ on Aug. 29, saying the move will hurt newspapers and the public — The U.S. Postal Service's plan to raise mailing rates could present one more damaging blow to community newspapers already reeling …