Top News:
Matt Donnelly / Variety:
Sources: Netflix suspended three employees, including a trans employee who criticized Dave Chappelle in a viral tweet, for crashing a top executive meeting — Terra Field, a senior software engineer for the streamer based in San Francisco, was among those suspended late last week for attending the …
Discussion:
@rainofterra, The Verge, Variety, New York Post, @adambvary, Fox News, @wcruz73, @zoeschiffer, @grogsgamut, IndieWire, @prestonmaxallen, @rgay, NME, @aaronbergcomedy, @stevesilberman, @lucas_shaw, @daviddtss, @bcmorrow, @kvanaren, TVLine, thereallouistbrunos Newsletter, @theferocity, @iff_or, New York Times, @sallyt, The Week, @mrernestowens, Input, Bloomberg, @eugene_scott, Decider, @lesliemac, Vanity Fair, @lucas_shaw, @franklinleonard, @thatspookyali, The Wrap, @ekp, @adambvary, @kvanaren, @andykhouri, @briannawu, Gizmodo, @glaad, @elivalley, SlashFilm, @lucas_shaw, Rolling Stone, @sorayamcdonald, TMZ.com, @zoewhittall, @imarajones, @histoftech, @chris_notcapn and Insider
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Despite going all in on streaming with Disney+, Disney plans to keep ESPN tied to cable bundles, its biggest revenue driver — - Disney's strategic move into streaming conflicts with ESPN's business, which profits handsomely from linear TV. — ESPN probably won't consider a direct …
Discussion:
@sherman4949, @sherman4949, The Streamable, @sherman4949, @modestproposal1, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, @jasongurwin, @sherman4949, @jasongurwin, @laurensaks, @laurensaks, @laurensaks, @levynews, @tsoh_investing, @jkosner, @awolk, @davidclinchnews, @mediumbuying, @mbgelman, @aagave, @sherman4949 and Front Office Sports
Renée DiResta / The Atlantic:
A look at the rise of “ampliganda”, where the public participates in shaping perception via amplification, as trust shifts away from legacy media to influencers — One Sunday morning in July of last year, a message from an anonymous account appeared on “Bernie or Vest,” …
Ben Smith / New York Times:
A look at a decades-old argument between two journalists who worked at The Boston Globe, and how its core question on the role of objectivity remains relevant — A writer for an alt-weekly called out a Boston Globe editor for his “fealty” to the idea of objectivity in a column that reads as if it were written yesterday.
Discussion:
@revkin, @lyman_brian, @coreyhutchins, @ron_fournier, Media Nation, @dankennedy_nu, @dabeard, @frederickmelo, @lanceulanoff, @tomgara, @nicdawes and @matthaber
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Facebook adds an Audio hub to its app in the US, featuring podcasts, Live Audio Rooms, and short-form audio, and rolls out Live Audio Rooms globally — Facebook is expanding its investment in audio initiatives with the launch of a new “Audio” destination in its mobile app in the U.S. …
Discussion:
Pocket-lint, Adweek, @chrismessina, Engadget, XDA Developers, @alexvoica and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
As No Time to Die nets $300M worldwide, prompting some optimism, the overall box office remains fragile, especially for films that aren't part of big franchises — “No Time to Die” has taken in more than $300 million worldwide. The overall box office remains fragile, however …
Discussion:
@frankpallotta, Variety, New York Post, Chrisicisms, SlashFilm, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Collider, Observer and Vanity Fair
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
A look at efforts at Nexstar, Sinclair, and Scripps to create news programming for a national audience and gain a foothold in the national ad market — Nexstar, Scripps and Sinclair, which have extensive reach across the U.S., are readying efforts to peel off enough viewers to become viable alternatives to national sources.
Discussion:
@alexweprin, @alexweprin and @sarafischer
Matthew Belloni / Puck:
Leaked contract shows Hits magazine offers positive coverage for $150K per year; sources: major talent agencies and labels routinely pay — I'm no Pollyanna when it comes to the trade press. But I've never seen a quid pro quo as explicit as this proposed contract sent to a major talent agency.
Discussion:
Mediaite and @mattbelloni
Ian Austen / New York Times:
Canadian authorities drop charges against a man featured in NYT's “Caliphate” podcast series, after he said in court his tales of fighting for ISIS were made up — In exchange for the admission of the man, Shehroze Chaudhry, Canada dropped criminal charges against him.
Discussion:
@yousefmunayyer, American Press Institute, @lailalalami, @bgrueskin, @andysz, @aaronjmate, @nycsouthpaw, @mazmhussain, @theshineline, @fawfulfan, @lailaalarian and Newser
Ashley Carman / The Verge:
Heavyweight, one of the longest-running Gimlet Media shows, will become a Spotify exclusive next month, two years after Spotify acquired Gimlet — While Patreon is exploring original podcasts — This story is part of a group of stories called — Hello again, welcome to the first week of October.
Discussion:
@mourner, @bassanoclapper, @kerrydupont, @marcoarment, @docpop and @marcoarment
The Information:
Sources: Epic Games is considering launching a scripted video division, with plans including a film based on Fortnite — Epic Games is considering launching an entertainment division focused on scripted video programming, said people familiar with the situation.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Real-time TV ad measurement service iSpot.tv acquires DRMetrix, which specializes in products for DTC and direct-response TV advertisers — Real-time TV ad measurement platform iSpot.tv has acquired DRMetrix, which specializes in products for direct-to-consumer and direct-response TV advertisers.
Discussion:
Link to iSpot.tv, nexttv.com, MediaPost and Adweek