Top News:
Lauren Feiner / 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 companies did not disclose a price for the deal, but early reports value it at about $1 billion.
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CNN, Variety, The Wrap, @harrispolitico, Bloomberg, New York Times, @morningbrew, @cjr, @benyt, @robinwigg, @tomgara, @anthony, @robinwigg, @sbg1, @brianstelter, @oliverdarcy and @rasmus_kleis
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Business Wire:
Axel Springer to Acquire POLITICO — Delivers on Axel Springer's growth strategy / Continuing its strategic expansion in the U.S. media market — BERLIN & WASHINGTON—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The publishing group Axel Springer signed an agreement to acquire POLITICO, including the remaining 50 percent share …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Reuters, The Hill, Axios, Protocol, Washingtonian, The Daily Beast, @mollyhc, @jyarow, @sherazadesemsar and Yahoo Finance
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:
CNBC, @jyarow, @pkafka, @iblametom, @kerrymflynn and @kerrymflynn
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 »
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.”
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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.
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Broadband TV News and Advanced Television
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
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.
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 …
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MediaPost, @xpangler, Light Reading, Hollywood Reporter and Radio & Television …
Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian:
Inside WaPo's plans to grow internationally and attract younger readers, as sources say Sally Buzbee's quaint view about objectivity helped her get the top job — The last round of the tryouts took place over four meals this past spring at Jeff Bezos's Washington home.
Discussion:
@abeaujon, @billkole, @ron_fournier, @sorayamcdonald, @kenvogel, @hunterw, @loopemma, @klcpegher, @billkole, @timherrera, @ericmgarcia, @andrewrestuccia, @wesleylowery, @brizzyc, @mrochabrun, @froomkin, @daniellabyck, @ericgeller, @ericfingerhut, @washingtonian, @davejorgenson, @davejorgenson, @justupthepike and @fenitn
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