Top News:
Micah Sifry:
The Knight Foundation's support for Semafor's event with Tucker Carlson betrays 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, @mollydeaguiar, @nandoodles, @karlbode, @justinhendrix, @karlbode, @bostonjoan, @froomkin, @daveleeft, @coreypein, @nandoodles, @daveleeft, @joanespositochi, @jon_gluck, @mlsif, Mediaite, @jeffjarvis, @dannagal, @karaswisher, @bostonjoan, @semaforben, @mlsif, @daveleeft, @karlbode, @froomkin, @karlbode and @meredithshiner
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Group Black, which aims to invest in and develop Black-owned media, is in talks to buy a large stake in BDG Media and is exploring acquiring Vice Media — Group Black is in talks to buy stake in Bustle parent and has been eyeing a deal for Vice Media
Discussion:
@jbflint, @juwanthewriter and PRWeek
New York Times:
Netflix executives say they don't plan to change programming; two bank analysts say a cheaper ad-supported tier could cannibalize the higher-paying subscribers — Long Hollywood's leading innovator, the streaming service is staying the course, despite serious challenges to its business and questions about its content.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @benmullin, @richlightshed, @kennethturan, @benmullin, @brooksbarnesnyt and The Streamable
RELATED:
Steven Nelson / New York Post:
A group of 68 journalists writes to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asking to reopen large events to all and end an opaque pre-screening process — 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
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
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, @donmoyn, @bgrueskin, @davidminpdx, @taniel, @mollyjongfast, @gadyepstein, @cwarzel, @gadyepstein, @soledadobrien, @xor, @ronhogan, @nberlat, @keitholbermann, @gadyepstein, @dceiver, @lschmeiser, @dangillmor, @rachellarris, Mediaite and Boing Boing
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
NBCU says Peacock has garnered $1B in upfront revenue, double 2021's, part of a “record-breaking” 2022 upfront; in 2021, NBCU saw $7B+ in upfront commitments — NBCUniversal says 2022 was the “highest grossing upfront since Comcast's acquisition” of the company more than a decade ago.
Discussion:
Ad Age, MediaPost, @digitalshields, @adage and Deadline
Julian Clover / Broadband TV News:
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:
@pompey__, The Guardian, Reuters and Daily Herald
Sara Fischer / Axios:
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:
Press Gazette, @wiredunion, @fsp_nwu, @lilyhnewman, @stevenlevy, @lordravenscraft, @knibbs, @sarafischer and Talking Biz News
Craig Silverman / ProPublica:
Google gave user data to Russian ad company RuTarget, including potentially sensitive info about users in Ukraine, four months after the US sanctioned RuTarget — The internet giant may have provided Sberbank-owned RuTarget with unique mobile phone IDs, IP addresses, location information …
Discussion:
@dlberes, @ericgarland, @craigsilverman, @jason_kint, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman and @craigsilverman, more at Techmeme »
Wall Street Journal:
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
Discussion:
CNET
Daniel Kreps / Rolling Stone:
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
Kerry Flynn / Axios:
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.