Mediagazer: Disney promotes Kristen Finney to a newly created EVP role overseeing international content curation for Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar, Star, and Star+ (J. Clara Chan/Hollywood Reporter)

12:35 PM ET, July 7, 2022

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Joe Rossignol / MacRumors:

Apple announces Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura to protect journalists and other high-risk users against “highly targeted cyberattacks” — Apple today announced a new Lockdown Mode coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.

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Tom Warren / The Verge:

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Mike Fleming Jr / Deadline:

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New York Times:

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Todd Spangler / Variety:

Sony's PlayStation Store plans to remove access to hundreds of Studiocanal movie titles in August 2022 that customers in Germany and Austria have purchased — Achtung! … At the time, Sony assured customers that they “can still access movie and TV content they have purchased through PlayStation Store …

Discussion: Eurogamer.net

J. Clara Chan / Hollywood Reporter:

Disney promotes Kristen Finney to a newly created EVP role overseeing international content curation for Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar, Star, and Star+ — The executive will manage content strategy in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific and India.

Discussion: Reuters and Deadline

Gene Maddaus / Variety:

Arizona passes a law creating a program offering tax credits for film and TV productions, starting at $75M in 2023 and growing to $125M in 2025 — Arizona has adopted a new tax credit for film and TV production, as the state aims to attract productions that have gone to New Mexico and other states in recent years.

Discussion: Axios, Arizona Mirror, The Wrap, @variety and The Hollywood Reporter

Ken Thomas / Wall Street Journal:

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield, a Biden aide since his time as VP under Barack Obama, plans to leave the administration later this summer — Longtime Biden aide who played a key role in his 2020 campaign to leave post later this summer

Discussion: CNN, Politico, @tducklo, @kthomasdc, @mj_lee, @heatherbarmore, @rflaherty46, @jrpsaki, @kbeds, @andrewjbates46, @jenmolina46, Next TV, PRWeek, The Wrap, The White House, Deadline, The Hill, CBS News, New York Post and Axios

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:

Reddit launches an NFT-based avatar marketplace with 90 profile pictures available for purchase at a fixed price, expanding on support for Ethereum-based NFTs — Reddit is launching a new NFT-based avatar marketplace today that allows you to purchase blockchain-based profile pictures for a fixed rate.

Discussion: Reddit Upvoted, Adweek, Gizmodo, Ethereum World News, The Verge and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Stuart A. Thompson / New York Times:

Analysis: “Democrats cheat” and similar ideas have been raised 5K+ times on radio shows in 2022; radio remains perhaps the most influential medium for the right — Election fraud claims from 2020 are widespread on talk radio, contributing to the belief that the midterm results cannot be trusted.

Discussion: @anelsona, @maradavis, @kira_lerner, @melissajpeltier, @timjgraham, @emilymason1192, @timjhogan, @jillgeisler, @b52malmet, @patrick_hruby, @kaleighrogers, @gpaddymanning, @dankennedy_nu and Wayne Besen

Megha Paul / Tech.eu:

San Jose-based Xperi, which runs TiVo, acquires Oslo-based OTT and hybrid TV solutions service Vewd for $109M in cash and debt, to help with its TiVo+ expansion — The deal will give Xperi an installed European footprint of about 15 million devices and pave the way for an expansion of TiVo+ …

Discussion: Light Reading, Digital TV Europe, Light Reading, Next TV, Radio & Television … and Xperi Holding Corporation

Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:

Comscore names Jon Carpenter as CEO, succeeding Bill Livek, who announced his planned retirement earlier in 2022; Carpenter served as CFO since November 2021 — The executive succeeds Bill Livek, who previously announced his retirement. … Carpenter takes over the role after having served …

Discussion: Ad Age, MediaPost, Digital TV Europe, Adweek, Next TV and TVNewsCheck

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