Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Amazon suspends access to Prime Video for customers based in Russia — Amazon has joined the growing number of businesses suspending commercial activities in Russia in the wake of the country's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. — The e-commerce giant said in a statement that it is cutting off access …
Discussion:
About Amazon, TechCrunch, @zdroberts, Media Play News, The Streamable, @biannagolodryga, Engadget, @ercboxoffice, ZDNet, The Verge and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
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Jennifer Maas / Variety:
Jason Kilar announces that WarnerMedia will pause “all new business in Russia” amid Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine
Jason Kilar announces that WarnerMedia will pause “all new business in Russia” amid Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine
Discussion:
@brianstelter and The Streamable
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
Discovery pulls 15 channels in Russia, operated as part of a joint venture with the country's leading TV company National Media Group
Discovery pulls 15 channels in Russia, operated as part of a joint venture with the country's leading TV company National Media Group
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
The New York Times temporarily removes its journalists from Russia in response to the law that effectively renders independent reporting in the country illegal
The New York Times temporarily removes its journalists from Russia in response to the law that effectively renders independent reporting in the country illegal
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, Digiday, @emilybell, @cliffordlevy, @dylanbyers, @cliffordlevy, CNN, American Press Institute, @vabvox, Vox, New York Magazine, Poynter, @stevenleemyers, @abarnardnyt, Talking Biz News, @oliverdarcy, @sbg1, @waschukcanua, @ichbinilya, Nieman Lab, @mschwirtz, @nytimesbusiness, @izatabaro, bbc.co.uk, @sarafischer, @jonathancmunro, @maxboot, @ewong, @cliffordlevy, @grynbaum, @kasparov63, @alexey__kovalev, @cliffordlevy, Variety, Mediaite, Washington Post, Fox News, Freedom of the Press …, Variety, Metro.co.uk, @sulliview, Condé Nast, The Wrap, The Hill, bookforum.com, Reuters and Deadline
On Substack:
Substack launches an iOS app for reading; Android users can join a waitlist — What you read matters — Today, we're launching an iOS app for reading. It's like your email inbox, but better. — For readers, the app brings all your Substack subscriptions together in one venue …
Discussion:
@hamishmckenzie, @bmorrissey, @iroughol, FOREST, @adders, Sub Pub, Isaias's Newsletter, Magical Pursuit, Searching for Political …, Fútbol with Grant Wahl, Alts by Flippa, Aksum Herald, @niubi, The Lee Show, thotfulness, gratitude …, @substackinc, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @jonrussell, Stupid Fresh Mess, Input, @jrothenberg_, @thesteinline, @baekdal, @marshallk, Engadget, TechCrunch, @pierce, TK News, @kendallbaker, @dwr, @annehelen, Mashable, The Verge, @tcarmody, @martinsfp, Android Police, @kantrowitz, CNET, @davebangert, 9to5Mac, Substack Finance, AIPT, Nieman Lab and Liberal Confessions, more at Techmeme »
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Adam Tinworth / One Man & His Blog:
Substack's app lets users pause email delivery to read only in the app, building a moat for Substack that potentially protects it from competitors — Substack has launched a reader app for iOS, turning itself from a newsletter company into a platform one. Publishers — beware.
Discussion:
On Substack, @joshelman, Mental Health Awareness …, We Are Speaking, @baekdal and David Lebovitz Newsletter
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
CEO Bob Chapek says Disney opposes Florida's “Don't Say Gay” bill, pledges $5M to LGBTQ+ rights advocates, and says he'll discuss the bill with FL's governor — The company is also donating $5 million to organizations that support LGTBQ+ rights.
Discussion:
@juddlegum, Variety, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, @aguirreryan, Deadline, @reedgalen, @normornstein, CNN, @travismayfield, Breitbart, @tvietor08, The Mary Sue, @annaforflorida, @aguirreryan, @juddlegum, WFLA-TV, Polygon, @scontorno, The Wrap, Insider, @juddlegum, @juddlegum, New York Post, IndieWire, @aguirreryan, Deadline, @thewrap, The Verge and LGBTQ Nation
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Jessica Toonkel / The Information:
Sources: Disney is considering significantly broadening Disney+ content beyond its strict family focus, including horror and thriller movies and shows — Bob Iger only left the building at Walt Disney Co.'s headquarters at the end of December, and his successor as CEO, Bob Chapek, is already doing things differently.
Discussion:
@jtoonkel, Financial Times, @jessicalessin, The Week, @richlightshed, @amir, Vanity Fair and Popular Information
Mike Ozanian / Forbes:
Sources: the streaming deal between MLB and Apple is worth $85M annually over seven years and NBC Sports' two-year MLB deal is worth $30M annually — Baseball is in the midst of a lockout that is threatening the start of the 2022 season, but that isn't preventing the league from getting richer.
Vox Media:
Vox Media President Pam Wasserstein announces the company's new combined leadership structure following the acquisition of Group Nine — President Pam Wasserstein shared the leadership structure for editorial and studios teams following the acquisition of Group Nine.
Discussion:
@melissabell, @lizkellynelson, @joeposner, @melissabell, @ezraklein, @susanmcp1, @mitrakalita, @voxmedia, @clockwerks, @bankoff, @vivian, @hashtaggriswold and @melissabell
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Jeff Zucker's exit deal with CNN paid him $5M+, which was owed from his 2021 bonus, and he didn't get further severance; he waived his rights to sue — Mr. Zucker, who resigned last month citing his failure to report consensual relationship with colleague, waived rights to sue CNN parent WarnerMedia as part of pact
Discussion:
@johnnydollar01, @benmullin, The Week, @jbflint, @mattbelloni, Newser, @jeremymbarr, Fox News, The Wrap, Page Six, Mediaite, Associated Press and New York Post
Emily Nicolle / Bloomberg:
Two Austrian entrepreneurs acquire the assets of LimeWire, the music sharing service shuttered in 2010, and plan to relaunch it as an NFT marketplace for music — A pair of serial entrepreneurs in Austria has bought the rights to defunct music platform LimeWire with plans to revamp its image …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
TikTok launches music distribution platform SoundOn in the US, the UK, Brazil, and Indonesia, letting artists upload music to TikTok, Resso, Spotify, and more — TikTok has already achieved massive influence in today's music industry, sending songs that find popularity on the app to the top of the Billboard charts.
Discussion:
TikTok, Adweek, Social Media Today, CNET, Protocol, Tubefilter, @marshallk, Variety and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
Two subscribers sue HBO Max claiming the service provides Facebook with lists allowing Facebook to match customers' viewing habits with their Facebook profiles — HBO was hit with a class action lawsuit on Tuesday alleging that it shares subscribers' viewing history with Facebook, in violation of a federal privacy law.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Tech Times, @kurtopsahl, @judyshapiro, @libskrat, @fborgesius, Engadget and @hackermaderas
Michael Paulson / New York Times:
Audible added a theater tab to its app this month as it becomes a big player in the space, releasing 93 audio theater works so far, including 24 in 2021 — A company known for audiobooks is mounting starry live productions — and recording them, too. — Elizabeth Marvel took off her shoes …
Discussion:
@alexnazaryan, @nytmetro, @nkhverma, @audibletheater, @jbouie, @jerryportwood, @audible_com, @michaelpaulson and @don_katz