Mediagazer: YouTube is testing a hub of free, ad-supported streaming channels with select media partners, looking to compete with Roku, Paramount's Pluto TV, and Fox's Tubi (Wall Street Journal)

6:50 PM ET, January 13, 2023

Top News:

[Thread] NBC NewsGuild says it has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against NBC News after it “abruptly and illegally” laid off several union journalists — Yesterday, @NBCNews management abruptly and illegally laid off several union journalists. This is a clear violation of the law and we have filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the company. We will fight until we win a fair contract that protects everyone in our newsroom. https://twitter.com/...

Wall Street Journal:

YouTube is testing a hub of free, ad-supported streaming channels with select media partners, looking to compete with Roku, Paramount's Pluto TV, and Fox's Tubi — Tech company's effort could rival Roku, Fox in fast-growing area of streaming business — Created with sketchtool. — 1x

Discussion: The Verge, The Streamable, @phkeane, Gizmodo, @jasonkilar, The Hollywood Reporter, Engadget, @jtoonkel, @cityofthetown and @cordcuttersnews, more at Techmeme »

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

Sources: Barry Diller's IAC hires an investment firm to explore selling The Daily Beast, which Diller launched in 2008; the sale process is in the early stages — The tech mogul's company has hired Whisper Advisors, an advisory firm, to find potential buyers for the digital publication.

Discussion: @benmullin, @stephaniemlee, New York Post, @noahshachtman, The Hill, @tvgrimreaper, @benmullin, @edmundlee, @sarahnrogers, @nytimesbusiness, @sherman4949 and Observer

Linda Codega / Gizmodo:

Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast reveals details of its revised game license and says charitable use, livestreams, and more will be unaffected — After facing a week of constant backlash online, the Hasbro subsidiary finally breaks their silence. — Alerts

Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:
Over 66,000 people sign a letter objecting to a new planned Dungeons & Dragons game license, which it says would tax some creators at 25% and stifle innovation

Oregonian:

Oregon's Medford Mail Tribune, bought in 2017 from GateHouse Media by Rosebud Media with financing help from Sinclair Broadcast Group, ceases operations — Medford's Mail Tribune, one of Oregon's oldest operating news organizations, said Wednesday it would shut down by the end of the week.

Jack Schickler / CoinDesk:

Bloomberg, FT, NYT, Reuters, CoinDesk, and other outlets ask the judge in Sam Bankman-Fried's case to reveal names of two anonymous backers of his $250M bail — Lawyers for the former CEO of failed crypto exchange FTX requested and were granted anonymity for two parties who backed …

Discussion: Davis, Wright, Tremaine LLP, @jackshafer, Klaris, The New York Times Company, @metalawman, Insider and The Verge

Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:

Memo: News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson says the company must revive its culture with in-office staff attendance and asks managers to “ensure compliance” — News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson sent out the following to staff, including journalists at The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and MarketWatch.com:

Discussion: Fortune, @alisonbrower, @jeffrey_cane, @rafat, Insider and Bloomberg

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: Platformer, @hiddensmallcaps, Press Gazette, The Shortcut, @raywongy, @raehodge, @techledes, Talking Biz News, Boing Boing, Shelly Palmer and Futurism, more at Techmeme »

The Verge:

After criticism, YouTube plans to change a policy announced in November that limits ads or demonetizes a creator's video if they swear in the first 15 seconds — The tirade's timing was deliberate, meant to test the company's updated “approach to profanity” that it announced in November …

Discussion: Engadget, Alex Ansary's Newsletter and Polygon, more at Techmeme »

Natalie Kitroeff / New York Times:

A profile of Denise Maerker, Mexico's most-watched TV news anchor, as she steps down from her on-air role and faces criticism for impartial restrained coverage — As a crucial presidential election approaches, a newswoman's resignation has raised a crucial question: Is her restrained approach also on its way out?

Discussion: @nytimes, @laurabruges and @tmattiacehrw

Jack Neff / Ad Age:

Samba TV divests its ad sales division to programmatic platform MiQ under a multiyear agreement, sidestepping conflicts with its audience measurement business — Samba sells its ad sales division to MiQ as it looks to sidestep conflicts with its measurement efforts

Discussion: The Wrap, Deadline, MediaPost and Samba TV

Morning Brew:

Morning Brew acquires Our Future, a short-form video startup founded in 2020, with 1B views and 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

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TechCrunch:
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