Top News:


Knight Foundation support for Semafor's event with Tucker Carlson is a betrayal of its mission; the event frames media as a game of access and audience-building — By sponsoring a journalism event featuring Tucker Carlson, the philanthropy is mistaking openness for strengthening democracy.
Discussion:
Knight Foundation, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @nandoodles, @mollydeaguiar, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @justinhendrix, @bostonjoan, @froomkin, @daveleeft, @coreypein, @nandoodles, @daveleeft, @joanespositochi, @jon_gluck, @mlsif, Mediaite, @jeffjarvis, @dannagal, @karaswisher, @bostonjoan, @semaforben, @mlsif, @daveleeft, @froomkin and @meredithshiner


Netflix execs say they plan no big programming changes; analysts for two banks say a cheaper ad-supported tier may cannibalize the higher-paying subscriber base — Long Hollywood's leading innovator, the streaming service is staying the course, despite serious challenges to its business and questions about its content.
Discussion:
@richlightshed, @benmullin, @benmullin, @brooksbarnesnyt, @kennethturan and The Streamable
RELATED:


Sources: Group Black, which invests in and develops Black-owned media, is in talks to buy a stake in BDG Media and is exploring an acquisition of Vice Media — Group Black is in talks to buy stake in Bustle parent and has been eyeing a deal for Vice Media — Group Black, a company that aims …
Discussion:
@jbflint, @juwanthewriter and PRWeek


A group of 68 journalists sent a letter to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre seeking more event access and an end to opaque screening of reporters — A group of 66 journalists sent a rare protest letter to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Thursday asking …
Discussion:
@erikwemple, Mediaite, @jeffmordock, @debrajsaunders, @marisa_iati, @esaagar, @scottbix, @alexthomp, @stevennelson10, @froomkin, @mzhemingway, @stevennelson10 and The Daily Wire


News outlets should stop publishing puff pieces about Supreme Court justices written by lawyers with ties to the court; a look back shows their bad predictions — Lisa Blatt, an attorney who has argued more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court, wrote an opinion piece for Politico Magazine …
Discussion:
@bgrueskin, @erikwemple, Boing Boing, @donmoyn, @bgrueskin, @davidminpdx, @taniel, @mollyjongfast, @gadyepstein, @dceiver, @cwarzel, @gadyepstein, @soledadobrien, @xor, @ronhogan, @lschmeiser, @dangillmor, @nberlat, @keitholbermann, @gadyepstein, @rachellarris and Mediaite


Roughly 65 Wired workers threaten to strike on July 12 and July 13, Amazon's Prime Days, seeking more pay and the inclusion of product reviewers in their union — The union representing roughly 65 editorial workers at Wired, the tech publisher owned by Condé Nast …
Discussion:
@wiredunion, @fsp_nwu, @sarafischer, @knibbs, @stevenlevy, @lordravenscraft, @lilyhnewman and Talking Biz News


Universal Music Group acquires Frank Zappa's estate, including his catalog, film archive, publishing rights, name and likeness, and unreleased material — Deal between Zappa Family Trust and UMG includes publishing and the rights to the legendary rocker's name and likeness
Discussion:
Variety, @jackshafer, @ethanwsj, @budhavara, Reuters, Digital Music News, Bloomberg, Billboard and Music Business Worldwide


Julian Assange filed two appeals on Thursday to the UK high court to contest his extradition; the court will decide whether the appeals can be heard — The WikiLeaks founder has appealed his extradition from the U.K., prolonging a yearslong fight against being sent to the U.S. to face spying charges

The New York Times adds free access to The Athletic for all-access digital and home delivery subscribers and plans to implement a more flexible Athletic paywall — Good news for sports fans who subscribe to The New York Times's all-access digital bundle (or get home delivery) …


Amazon secures British rights to 17 Tuesday Champions League soccer games per season from 2024-27; BT Sport retains most live UEFA rights for £305M per season — About Julian Clover — Julian Clover is a Media and Technology journalist based in Cambridge, UK. He works in online and printed media.
Discussion:
Reuters and The Guardian


Refinitiv: the value of M&As in media and entertainment fell to $105.1B in H1 2022 from $215.5B in H1 2021, with the number of deals down from 1,710 to 1,546 — Exit Content Preview — The deal value for global M&A activity in media and entertainment shrunk in half for H1 2022 compared to H2 2021.


Comcast launches its Xfinity Stream app, with live channels, DVR content, and on-demand video, for Apple TV, after making a deal with Apple in October 2021 — Comcast's cable TV joins Apple TV — Comcast's Xfinity Stream app replaced the old Xfinity TV setup in 2017, allowing cable TV subscribers …
Discussion:
The Streamable, @rjcc, Light Reading, MacRumors, Variety, 9to5Mac and AppleInsider