Top News:
Ben Doherty / The Guardian:
In an NYT ad, Australian news site Crikey challenges Lachlan Murdoch to sue it for defamation over an article calling Murdoch a “co-conspirator” to Donald Trump — Crikey.com.au issues challenge in newspaper ads, including in the New York Times, after Murdoch issues legal threat over article
Discussion:
Crikey, NPR, @ginarush, Mediaite, Financial Times, Axios, @ginarush, @davidfolkenflik, @markdistef, Australian Financial Review, @bgrueskin, @ginarush, @markdistef, @crikey_news, @mrmatthewtodd, @cameronwilson, @lizhcks, @jeffjarvis, @markdistef, @mmasnick, @nandoodles, @davidfolkenflik, @crikey_news, @shanebazzi and @crikey_news
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: Hasbro, which acquired Entertainment One in 2019 for ~$4B, is mulling selling its entertainment assets or restructuring to focus on branded content — Good afternoon from Los Angeles. As I mentioned last week, we are upgrading the look and feel of this newsletter, which you can see with the new header this week.
Discussion:
Axios, @lucas_shaw, @tokuchris, @kerrymflynn, @pwrrngr and @lucas_shaw
Jason Guerrasio / Insider:
Movie theater ticket subscription service MoviePass plans to relaunch in beta on September 5 for $10, $20, or $30 per month — - MoviePass will relaunch in beta form on Labor Day. — The only way to use the service is to sign up on a waitlist beginning Thursday.
Discussion:
SlashFilm, Bloomberg, The Wrap, Axios, Variety, Forbes, The A.V. Club, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, Engadget, @marisatomay, Media Play News, Deadline, @ben__tobin, @film_girl and IndieWire
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
YouTube launches a dedicated podcasts homepage in the US, letting users explore popular shows, creators, and recommend content — Earlier this year, reports emerged that YouTube would soon add a dedicated podcasts homepage — a signal the company was getting more serious about its investments …
Discussion:
9to5Google, The Verge, MediaPost, Ars Technica, Tubefilter, Engadget, @grammargirl, @libsyn, @thedanbarrett, @jamescridland and @evoterra
Sara Guaglione / Digiday:
Ad tracking firm AdImpact predicts political ad spending for this year's US midterms will pass $9B, compared to $3.9B in 2018, mostly going to local TV stations — The U.S. midterm elections this November are expected to draw a historic amount of political advertising spend …
Discussion:
@tvgrimreaper, YouGov, @simonowens, @digiday and Simon Owens's Media Newsletter
Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
The California Film Commission grants $93.7M in tax credits for 18 movies, including $37.1M for Netflix, $19.6M for MGM, and $12.6M for Warner Bros. Pictures — The California Film Commission granted the streamer incentives for shooting Zack Snyder's ‘Rebel Moon: Part 2’ and an untitled project in the state.
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Brian Stelter challenges viewers to hold CNN accountable, and local newspapers and digital outlets too, as he signs off from the final Reliable Sources show — Brian Stelter signed off from CNN on Sunday with the final edition of Reliable Sources, telling viewers that “CNN must remain strong …
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @jayrosen_nyu, @brianstelter, @rachjuramirez, @dansewell, @brianstelter, Vanity Fair, The Guardian, @ryp__, The Wrap, @kerrymflynn, @film_girl, @jessebrown, @cnn, @davidgura, @jimsciutto, @vermontgmg, @williams_paige, @sarasidnercnn, @barry_yeoman, @claireatki, @biannagolodryga, @williams_paige, @townhallcom, @juddapatow, @zaleskiluke, @bob_mondello, @poppyharlowcnn, @tomfitton, @jaketapper, @deggans, @joeconchatv, @jamesfallows, @loudmouthjulia, TVLine, The Hill, RedState, Mediaite, Mediaite and The Wrap
RELATED:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
An interview with John Malone on the WBD deal, Brian Stelter's exit, the streaming wars, and how cable networks should allow some “wacko” programming
Discussion:
Vox, The Daily Beast, @benmullin, @theanthonydavis, AllYourScreens.com, @edmundlee, The Desk, The Diff, @rstephens, @jayrosen_nyu, @keitholbermann, Mediaite and New York Post
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
In her final WaPo column, Margaret Sullivan says “reality-based press” must deal with threats to democracy and stop repeating politicians' words without context — Before signing off, Margaret Sullivan offers advice to her fellow journalists on how to cover a perilous election
Discussion:
@oneunderscore__, The Hill, @sulliview, American Press Institute, The Bulletin, @stengel, @mattgertz, @moorehn, @donnerkay, @buddjenn, @nprmelissablock, @melaniesill, @johnlorinc, @katepickert, @twladygrey, @kbandersen, @kevinmaddendc, @normornstein, @nickbryantny, @claireatki, @waltmossberg, @jamesfallows, @sulliview, @gilmcgowan, @fisheri, @jayrosen_nyu, @sdkstl, @azi, @krisgoldsmith85, @janice4iowa and Fox News
David Robb / Deadline:
SAG-AFTRA approves a new deal with AMPTP that limits TV actors' exclusivity terms, including giving series regulars a 3-month window to work on other shows — SAG-AFTRA's national board voted overwhelmingly today to approve a new agreement with the AMPTP that will sharply limit exclusivity terms …
Discussion:
Variety, @variety, @stardustbluepr, @marcjacobsonpc, @flatfootgaston, The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter
Todd Spangler / Variety:
HBO Max removes about 200 older episodes of the kids' show Sesame Street; as of now, 456 episodes remain, with only 29 of those from the earliest seasons — Bought to you by the letters G-O-N-E: The content purge at HBO Max continues as the streaming platform has pulled about 200 older episodes of classic kids' show “Sesame Street.”
Discussion:
Owen Dennis's Infinite Train …, The Streamable, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, @adamconover, ToughPigs, @ajpennyfarthing, @juwanthewriter, MediaPost, @samuelaadams, SlashFilm, Gizmodo, @brooke, Breitbart, Forbes, ScreenRant, MarketWatch, @nomadj1s, @celiahodent, New York Times, The Week, @joshruben, @stevendeknight, @caroljsroth, Washington Post, @richardlnewby, @waltmossberg, @xpangler, @xpangler, @ynb, @pearlsnapped, @theninaparker, @reneepaquette, @justin_ware, @internetarchive, @eriqgardner, @kaludiasays, @ashleyesqueda, @notjessewalker, @jkylemann, @louisathelast, @franklinleonard, CNBC, The A.V. Club, ToughPigs, The Verge, Looper, Engadget, The Wrap, TVLine and Decider
RELATED:
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fox Nation will debut its first original film, The Shell Collector, on September 1 and plans three more projects, all “targeting the female Fox News fan” — The Fox News streaming service is debuting its first original film, ‘The Shell Collector,’ in September, and has 3 more projects in the works.
Discussion:
The A.V. Club
Max Tani / Politico:
WaPo media reporter Paul Farhi was suspended for five days in March, as management said he jeopardized a colleague's safety; his union is challenging the action — The Washington Post quietly suspended one of its longest serving reporters, Paul Farhi, this past spring …
Discussion:
The Desk, Washingtonian, @dankennedy_nu, @froomkin, @protecttruth_, @abeaujon, @abeaujon, @mattdpearce, @mikeisaac, @joshsternberg, @the_sy_guy, @the_sy_guy, @levinejonathan, @abeaujon, @feliciasonmez, @feliciasonmez, @bgrueskin, @bgrueskin, @tonyajoriley, @anthonymacuk, @feliciasonmez, @mattdpearce, @zeyiyang, @ericcortellessa, @abeaujon, @abeaujon, @jamieson, @runasand, @samstein, @joshsternberg and @maxwelltani
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