Top News:


A look at plans for CNN+, scheduled to launch at month's end despite the turmoil at CNN, for $2.99 per month initially; a bundle with HBO Max is planned — The show must go on, even in streaming video. — Employees at CNN are keeping that adage in mind as they prepare to launch a new direct …


Russian-backed RT disappears from UK TV broadcast platforms, due to a ban imposed by the EU which stops companies in Luxembourg and France from offering feeds — Russian-backed news channel RT has disappeared from all broadcast platforms in the UK. — UK access to the TV network …
Discussion:
Reuters, Techdirt, The Guardian, Press Gazette and Digital TV Europe
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Reddit bans links to Russian state media outlets across its entire service for all users worldwide — Reddit isn't done clamping down on misinformation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The social hub has banned links to state-supported Russian media outlets across the entire site, and for all users worldwide.
Discussion:
Reddit Upvoted, The Verge, @drewharwell and @thinking_panda, more at Techmeme »


ITV buys out BBC's share of BritBox UK ahead of the launch of its streaming service; BritBox International will remain a 50/50 joint venture between ITV and BBC — ITVX will integrate BritBox U.K. although the latter best-of-British offering will remain a “separate entity” within the app and require a paid subscription.
Discussion:
The Streamable and Radio Times
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ITV announces ITVX, a new streaming service with ads or ad-free options, replacing its current Hub streaming service; ITV will invest £1.35B on content by 2023
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Drum, Press Centre, Deadline, London Evening Standard, Broadband TV News and Financial Times


Russia's media regulator warns VOA that it will block the outlet's Russian website unless it takes down Ukraine coverage; VOA's director says it won't comply — Today the Russian government warned the Voice of America of its intention to block the VOA Russian language service's news website …
Discussion:
@w7voa, Axios, @a_picazo, @bubbaprog, @w7voa, @w7voa, @davidfolkenflik, @phildstewart, @voadirector, @w7voa, The Hill and Associated Press


Serena Williams calls out The New York Times for running a photo of her sister labeled “Serena Williams” in Wednesday's print edition — Tennis superstar Serena Williams urged The New York Times to “do better” after an article about her new $111 million Serena Ventures ran …
Discussion:
@serenawilliams, The Hill, CBS News, CNN, @nytimesbusiness, @rennaestubbs, New York Post, @rgay, @tressiemcphd, The Cut, @alex_abads, @franklinleonard, Daily Mail, Newser, @rebel19, @alexisohanian, @jelani9, @garrytan, @rembert, @phil_lewis_, Free Press Journal, Fox News and Sports Illustrated


Two days after being taken off the air for spurning Kremlin-approved terms, liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy has been dissolved by its board of directors — Russia's iconic liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) has been wound up after falling afoul of Russia's censorship of coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Discussion:
@cliffordlevy, @antontroian, @sbg1, @orlovakarine and @murphymike
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Journalists from TV Rain, also known as Dozhd, leave Russia after some employees received threats and the country set up a digital roadblock of the news network
Discussion:
@kevinrothrock, Nieman Lab, Mediaite, @juliaioffe, New Yorker, Fox News, @jimrutenberg, @sbg1, Committee to Protect …, @brianstelter, @cliffordlevy and Reuters


An attempt to quantify RT's reach in UK, Germany, and France shows little traction outside social media; RT's Facebook engagement is large in Germany and France — Is RT's international audience real? — That's an important question, as regulators and distributors debate …
Discussion:
@rasmus_kleis, @rasmus_kleis, @rasmus_kleis, @rasmus_kleis, @niemanlab, @mattnavarra, @m_scribe, @rasmus_kleis, @evoterra and @rasmus_kleis


Twitch says it will ban “harmful misinformation superspreaders” that persistently share debunked misinfo, including about vaccines and election fraud — The new policy will target channels that persistently lie about vaccines and election fraud, as well as Russian state-run media.
Discussion:
Engadget, more at Techmeme »


Memo: Vox Media plans to lay off 3% of employees; most of those affected are in “revenue organization, core services, studios,” and at the space website Seeker — Vox Media told employees Thursday it plans to lay off 3% of employees following the completion of its merger with Group Nine Media …
Discussion:
@katie_robertson and Bloomberg


Analysis: Twitch has lost at least six executives alongside 60+ employees during 2022; sources say Twitch is losing touch with its core focus on streamers — Twitch, the popular site where people go to watch other people play video games, has lost at least six top employees since the beginning of the year …
Discussion:
@cecianasta, @cecianasta, @cecianasta and @ascendantnomad, more at Techmeme »


Q&A with Bellingcat's Christo Grozev on the outlet's current goal of documenting war crimes in Ukraine, the impact of digitization on wartime reporting, more — Editor's note: Christo Grozev is an investigative journalist and the executive director of GIJN member Bellingcat …
Discussion:
@gijn


Verizon unveils Plus Play to let customers discover, buy, and manage media, fitness, and lifestyle subscriptions, in partnership with Netflix and others — Verizon, having exited the original content business, is escalating its play as an aggregator of streaming services — including forming a new partnership with Netflix.
Discussion:
The Streamable, The Verge, What's On Disney Plus and AppleInsider