Top News:
Jay Peters / The Verge:
Netflix says its expansion into gaming will start with mobile games, which will be included with a subscription at no additional cost — Games will be included at no added cost with a Netflix subscription — Netflix revealed that its initial efforts in gaming will be focused on mobile games …
RELATED:
Jessica Bursztynsky / CNBC:
Netflix reports Q2 revenue of $7.34B vs. $7.32B est., up 19% YoY, global paid net additions of 1.54M vs. 1.19M expected; US and Canada region lost 433K subs QoQ
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, TechCrunch, @rfaughnder, @davidlaz, @sherman4949, @stockmktnewz, @lucas_shaw, @sherman4949 and IndieWire, more at Techmeme »
Lindsey Turrentine / CNET:
CNET, acquired last year by Red Ventures from ViacomCBS, is looking to fill 150 new roles, its biggest expansion since the 1990s — As part of our largest expansion since the 1990s, CNET is adding more than 150 new roles. … CNET, newly a part of Red Ventures, is making moves to reinvent the modern media model.
Discussion:
@qwongsj and @techledes
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: AT&T is in discussions to sell Xandr to Indian ad tech company InMobi; the mismanaged ad unit has annual revenue of ~$300-$380M and losses of $50-$90M — AT&T is in discussions to sell its ad unit to Indian ad tech giant InMobi, sources tell Axios.
Discussion:
@sarafischer, @acfou, @reckless, @alexweprin, @awolk, @aripap, @profcarroll, @loupas, @loudmouthjulia, @catthekin, @digitalshields, @karlbode, Ad Age and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Jessica Toonkel / The Information:
Sources: Vice Media's plan to go public by merging with a SPAC has stalled as it struggles to raise more financing amid questions about Vice's valuation — Vice Media's plan to go public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company has stalled as the company struggles …
Discussion:
@kerrymflynn, @sherman4949 and @lauramandaro
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Substack is funding the launch of podcast network Booksmart, which will start with five podcasts; subscribers will get extra content for $7/month or $70/year — Substack is funding the launch of a new podcast network called Booksmart Studios, executives tell Axios.
Discussion:
@tomgara, @sarafischer, @tnwhiskeywoman, @rfaughnder, axios.com and @nwquah, more at Techmeme »
Todd Spangler / Variety:
WarnerMedia is letting Snapchat users in the US watch pilot episodes of some HBO Max original series, like Gossip Girl and Euphoria, for free — In a new sampling strategy to boost HBO Max signups, WarnerMedia is letting Snapchat users in the U.S. watch select pilots of the streaming service's …
Discussion:
/Film, The A.V. Club, The Verge, Adweek, The Streamable, Hollywood Reporter, FierceVideo, Forbes, TechCrunch and @xpangler, more at Techmeme »
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
Sean Hannity drew praise after urging people to “please take COVID seriously”, but Fox News' broader messaging on vaccines remains contradictory and sows doubt — That effort to sow doubt was on full display Monday night — It was a sentiment that has been heard only rarely …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, ABC News, @pbump, @pbump, Newser and TVNewser
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Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Internal email shows Fox Corp. has implemented its own version of a vaccine passport, allowing staff to self-report the dates their shots were administered
Discussion:
Mediaite, Insider, The Hill, YouTube, Vanity Fair, @oliverdarcy, @ryangrim, Politico, The Week, UPROXX, Raw Story, @sbg1, The Guardian, Deadline, @jessecharleslee, @juliadavisnews, @maxboot, The Daily Beast, @drdenagrayson, @helenkennedy, @schwarz, @aprildryan, @oliverdarcy, @donmoyn, @davidoatkins, @nickfalacci, @ggreeneva, The Wrap, Media Matters for America and Bad News
The Guardian:
A proposed UK secrecy law would increase prison sentences for leakers of state secrets, remove the public interest defense, and possibly put journalists in jail — Home Office plans would remove the public interest defence for whistleblowing, and could put reporters in jail — ere we go again.
Discussion:
Reclaim The Net, @carolecadwalla, @arusbridger, @nancyarts, @dcuthbert, @carolineslocock, Tim's Newsletter and Press Gazette
Erich Schwartzel / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Apple wants to lease a large campus in LA for film and TV production as competition for soundstages heats up — The producer of ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘The Morning Show’ wants to expand its presence in the competitive streaming landscape — Apple Inc. told real-estate developers it wants …
Discussion:
Forbes, 9to5Mac, @mattbelloni, @richlightshed, @pat_garofalo, New York Post and AppleInsider
Wendy Lee / Los Angeles Times:
A look at JTBC, which bought a majority stake in the creative arm of talent agency CAA, one of several forays by South Korean companies into US entertainment — The TV drama “Itaewon Class,” about a young entrepreneur who seeks to avenge his father's death by taking down his rival at a powerful corporation …
Ryan Nguyen / Wall Street Journal:
US states are creating, expanding, or reviving their tax credits and incentives programs for movie and TV production, seeking to replicate Georgia's success — Rebates and tax credits help to lower production costs on rental soundstages and equipment — More than a dozen states …
Discussion:
@ryanjjnguyen
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Ampere: between Q3'20 and the end of March 2021, the proportion of internet-connected people aged 55 to 64 in UK who subscribed to Netflix grew from 38% to 50% — Streaming service to report lowest new subscriber numbers since 2011, with young viewers largely signed up
Discussion:
@jacobdotgov, @kvox, @karengeier, @agewave and Digital TV Europe
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