Top News:
Connie Guglielmo / CNET:
After a report that it is using AI for writing articles, CNET explains its test, changes the byline on AI-written posts, and makes disclosures more prominent — For over two decades, CNET has built our reputation testing new technologies and separating the hype from reality.
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Talking Biz News, Platformer, @techledes, @raywongy, The Shortcut, @raehodge, Shelly Palmer and Futurism, more at Techmeme »
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Sources: Barry Diller's IAC hires an investment bank to explore the sale of The Daily Beast, which Diller launched in 2008; the sale process is in early stages — The tech mogul's company has hired Whisper Advisors, an advisory firm, to find potential buyers for the digital publication.
Discussion:
Observer, The Hill, New York Post, @benmullin, @sarahnrogers, @noahshachtman, @benmullin and @sherman4949
TechCrunch:
Sources: Tokyo-based aggregator website and app SmartNews, valued at $2B in 2021, laid off ~120 people, or 40% of US and China staff, with more coming in Japan — SmartNews, a Tokyo-headquartered news aggregation website and app valued at $2 billion as of 2021, today announced a 40% reduction …
Yuvraj Malik / Reuters:
WWE says it has retained Kirkland & Ellis as its legal adviser for a review of strategic alternatives for the company and The Raine Group as financial adviser — World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE.N) said on Thursday it has retained bankruptcy and restructuring powerhouse Kirkland & Ellis LLP …
Discussion:
corporate.wwe.com, @pkafka, @sherman4949, @chriswelch, @mattbelloni, CNBC, Bloomberg Law, Sportico and Quartz
Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:
Over 54,000 people sign a letter objecting to a new planned Dungeons & Dragons game license, saying it taxes some creators at a 25% rate and stifles innovation — More than 54,000 fans signed an open letter in protest of a new game license — Once a game on the periphery for the nerdiest of nerds …
Discussion:
@paizo, ScreenRant, The Guardian, Reason, @cartostom, @owlcatgames, @startplaying, @dndwithplumbing, @castery4so, @rimmy_downunder, @merricb, @spect_creations, @redclawdraws, @criticalbard, @gamerant, @starryknightrpg, @catieosaurus, @feliciaday, @asilbwrites, The Daily Subset, New Republic, #OpenDND and Peter's Newsletter
Morning Brew:
Morning Brew acquires Our Future, a short-form video startup founded in 2020, with ~1M followers across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube — The rise of short-form video has changed the way people consume content. … Earlier this year, Morning Brew signaled its ambitions …
Discussion:
Press Gazette
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Sources: Warner Bros. Discovery is exploring a sale of its music library that could be valued at more than $1B, as part of its work to whittle down $50B in debt — Catalogue including Batman soundtracks could fetch more than $1bn for media group — Warner Bros Discovery is exploring …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Billboard, Music Business Worldwide, @theericgoldman, @vincevalholla, @mattbelloni and Cord Cutters News
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
TikTok is testing a Talent Manager Portal with a few agencies, letting creators' talent managers oversee, execute, and analyze brand opportunities and campaigns — TikTok is making it easier for brands to work with its “megastar” creators with an update to its Creator Marketplace …
Discussion:
Adweek, @nealschaffer, @mattnavarra, Digital Music News, BGR and Glossy, more at Techmeme »
Jack Neff / Ad Age:
Samba TV divests its ad sales division to programmatic platform MiQ under a multiyear agreement, to sidestep conflicts with its audience measurement business — Samba sells its ad sales division to MiQ as it looks to sidestep conflicts with its measurement efforts
John D. McKinnon / Wall Street Journal:
Google tells SCOTUS in a brief in Gonzalez v. Google that gutting Section 230 “would upend the internet”, leading to widespread censorship by internet companies — Tech giant files brief in YouTube case brought by family of woman killed in Paris terrorist attacks
Discussion:
MediaPost, Shelly Palmer, @danushman, UPI, The Hill, The Information, Gizmodo, CNN, Bloomberg and The Keyword, more at Techmeme »
Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:
Report: Apple's current VP of Apple Music, Oliver Schusser, will have oversight of Apple TV+ as Apple reorganizes Services following Peter Stern's departure — Following the surprise departure of Apple Services VP Peter Stern, Apple is reorganizing the expansive Services division …
Josh Ye / Reuters:
A look at Tencent's short video service WeChat Channels, which founder Pony Ma calls “the hope of the company”, as the tech giant tries to build its own TikTok — On a hot summer's day last year, the 90's boy band Backstreet Boys clambered on to a stage in Pennsylvania and belted …
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