Top News:
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
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 …
Discussion:
PC Gamer, Daily Herald, Nerdist, @starfire2258, @jaypeters, 9to5Mac, Polygon, AppleInsider and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
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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, New York Times, The Wrap, TechCrunch, @rfaughnder, @davidlaz, @sherman4949, @stockmktnewz, @lucas_shaw, @sherman4949 and IndieWire, more at Techmeme »
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
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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
Kim Masters / Hollywood Reporter:
Looking back at the tough tactics of Disney's top comms officer, Zenia Mucha, who took an effective scorched-earth approach to PR and plans to retire in 2022 — Bob Iger's top communications officer, retiring after 20 years in the role, was by far the most powerful female player over the years …
Discussion:
@kimmasters, @nekesamumbi, @dawnc331, @hankstuever, @claireatki, @sulliview, @sethabramovitch, @edmundlee and @kheller
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 »
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, @nwquah and axios.com, more at Techmeme »
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.
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, Vox, ABC News, The Atlantic, Newser, @pbump, @pbump and TVNewser
RELATED:
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, YouTube, Politico, @oliverdarcy, @ryangrim, Insider, Vanity Fair, The Week, UPROXX, Raw Story, The Hill, @sbg1, The Guardian, @jessecharleslee, @juliadavisnews, @maxboot, Deadline, @drdenagrayson, @helenkennedy, @schwarz, The Daily Beast, @aprildryan, @oliverdarcy, @donmoyn, @davidoatkins, @nickfalacci, @ggreeneva, The Wrap, Media Matters for America and Bad News
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:
The A.V. Club, /Film, Adweek, The Streamable, Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, TechCrunch, The Verge, @xpangler and FierceVideo, more at Techmeme »
Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:
YouTube debuts Super Thanks, which lets users tip creators for individual uploaded videos rather than livestreams and have their message highlighted in comments — YouTube announced its latest feature, Super Thanks, on Tuesday. This is YouTube's fourth Paid Digital Good …
Discussion:
Adweek, Variety and @adam22, more at Techmeme »
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 …
Discussion:
@rverrier
Michael De Dora / Committee to Protect Journalists:
US news orgs ask Biden and Congress for emergency visas for Afghans who worked with US media, saying they face “grievous harm and death” as troops withdraw — The Committee to Protect Journalists joined a coalition of U.S. news and press freedom organizations in joint letters …
Discussion:
@nytimespr, @rtdna, @hannahbloch, @hannahbloch, @hannahbloch and RTDNA Recent Articles
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