Top News:
CNBC:
Axel Springer agrees to acquire Politico, the remaining 50% share in Politico Europe, and Protocol; sources say the deal is worth around $1B — - German publisher Axel Springer plans to acquire digital media site Politico. — The deal is worth about $1 billion, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Discussion:
New York Times, Adweek, CNN, Variety, The Wrap, @erikwemple, Financial Times, Axel Springer SE, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Talking Biz News, Mediaite, MediaPost, The Hill, Reuters, @sarafischer, @harrispolitico, @kerrymflynn, @erikwemple, @mr_berman, @sherman4949, @danbarker, @jasonabbruzzese, @timothynoah1, Bloomberg, Axios, @stevekovach, @sherman4949, @jamesvgrimaldi, @alex, @mcwm, @rafat, Washingtonian, @morningbrew, @cjr, @benyt, @robinwigg, @tomgara, @anthony, @robinwigg, The Daily Beast, Protocol, @mollyhc, @sherazadesemsar, @rasmus_kleis, @sbg1, @jyarow, @brianstelter and @oliverdarcy
Forbes:
Forbes is going public via SPAC at a valuation of $630M; the transaction is expected to close in late 2021 or early 2022 — ● Combination will enable Forbes to further capitalize on its successful digital transformation, pursue additional growth opportunities and fully recognize …
Discussion:
New York Post, CNBC, Reuters, The Wrap, Talking Biz News, @mike_federle, @jyarow, @pkafka, @iblametom, @kerrymflynn and @kerrymflynn
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Apple launches News Partner Program, which lowers commissions on in-app purchases to 15% for news publishers who participate in Apple News — Apple today is launching a new program that will allow subscription news organizations that participate in the Apple News app and meet certain requirements …
Discussion:
CNBC, Apple, AppleInsider and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Will Oremus / Washington Post:
Researchers say YouTube, which attracts less scrutiny than Facebook or Twitter, is a hard platform to study because video is so difficult to analyze in bulk — While Facebook and Twitter take the brunt of backlashes over misinformation and ‘censorship,’ the Google-owned video giant has often laid low.
Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, Bloomberg, @evelyndouek, @willoremus, @tomgara, @annaedge4, @brianstelter and @noupside, more at Techmeme »
Joan E. Solsman / CNET:
Netflix is testing games in its Android app in Poland, starting with two existing Stranger Things games — Playing on Netflix's mobile app is new, but the games themselves — two pixelated Stranger Things games — have already been available off Netflix for years.
Discussion:
Polygon and ComingSoon.net
Tim Baysinger / The Wrap:
ESPN takes Rachel Nichols off its NBA programming and cancels her show The Jump, after controversy over her comments about now-former colleague Maria Taylor — ESPN is taking Rachel Nichols off its NBA programming, which includes canceling her daytime show “The Jump.”
Discussion:
Sports Business Journal, NPR, Mediaite, Defector, Fox News, Good Morning It's Basketball, @benjstrauss, deadline.com, Newser, @neoavatara, @thr, @newsweek, @dimeuproxx, @sportsguymarv, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Axios, New York Post, Chicago Sun-Times, TMZ.com, Barrett Media, Washington Post, Bangor Daily News, TVNewser, The Hill, New York Daily News, New York Times, TVLine, Awful Announcing, Sportico, Sports Illustrated and Hollywood Reporter
New York Times:
Sources: Facebook has approached experts about forming an advisory body for how it handles global election matters, including political ads and misinformation — The social network has contacted academics to create a group to advise it on thorny election-related decisions, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Discussion:
American Press Institute, @jason_kint, @carlmalamud, @davidakaye, @emilybell, @ancalerts, @blackamazon, @rapplerdotcom, @dispositive, @natematias, @qwongsj, @brainnotonyet, @emilybell, @samthielman, @moonalice, @sachp, @mr_berman, @sheeraf, @emilybell, The Verge and The Morning Missive, more at Techmeme »
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
WarnerMedia is ending distribution of CNN International on UK's Virgin Media, BT, and Freesat; viewers will have to pay £2/month for streaming service CNN Live — A global variant of AT&T WarnerMedia's news channel CNN will no longer be available on British cable television systems starting next month.
Discussion:
Broadband TV News
The Wire:
Yahoo says it is shutting down content operations in India as of Thursday due to the country's new regulations limiting foreign ownership of digital media — New Delhi: Online tech giant Yahoo is shutting down its content operations in India, a decision that the company says is due to changes in regulatory laws in the country.
Discussion:
Hindustan Times and @shakirmir
Esha Sarai / Voice of America:
US lawmakers sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday urging help for about 550 USAGM employees and their relatives who are still trying to leave Afghanistan — U.S. lawmakers pushed President Joe Biden on Wednesday to evacuate hundreds of people affiliated with the U.S. Agency for Global Media …
Discussion:
@w7voa, @benyt and GovExec.com
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Fox Corp. announces an investment in Eluvio, which uses blockchain to distribute video, provide ticketing services, and offer video NFTs, at a $100M valuation — Fox Corp. announced a strategic investment in Eluvio, giving it a minority stake in the startup whose platform is designed …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Hollywood Reporter, @xpangler, Light Reading and Radio & Television …
Josh Eidelson / Bloomberg:
MSNBC newsroom staffers vote for a union, after the network declined voluntary recognition in June; MSNBC's president signals the network won't contest results — - Writers Guild won election among about 300 employees — The Writers Guild has swelled its ranks in recent years