Top News:
Ben Strauss / Washington Post:
The New York Times' newsroom union files a grievance over the company's plans to shutter its sports section and rely on The Athletic for sports news coverage — The union representing the New York Times newsroom filed a grievance Thursday challenging the company's announcement that it plans …
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
Vivendi's Canal+ acquires a 12% stake in Viaplay Group; in June 2023, Canal+ planned to acquire a 26.1% stake in Hong Kong-based streaming service Viu for $300M — Canal+ has taken a minority stake in embattled Nordic outfit Viaplay Group, which this morning announced it was making 25% of its workforce redundant.
Discussion:
The Desk, Variety and Broadband TV News
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Abner Li / 9to5Google:
YouTube increases YouTube Premium's price in the US from $11.99 per month to $13.99 per month and YouTube Music from $9.99 per month to $10.99 per month — The price of an individual YouTube Premium subscription is increasing by $2 to $13.99 per month in the US for new and current customers.
Discussion:
CNET, The Streamable, The Wrap, The Verge, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, @darthbluesky.bsky.social, TechCrunch, XDA Developers, Gizmodo, @majorlinux@toot …, Music Business Worldwide, Ars Technica, Engadget, Android Authority, Tv Technology, PCWorld and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
Thomas Buckley / Bloomberg:
Sources: AMC Entertainment drops its seat location pricing plan; a test didn't grow revenue as moviegoers didn't pay up for better seats or less for worse seats — The world's largest cinema chain, which said in February it would expand its tiered-pricing structure to theaters in the US and Canada …
Discussion:
Variety, Screen Rant, Forbes, CNN, IndieWire, SlashFilm, Gizmodo, TMZ.com, New Jersey Online, New York Times, The A.V. Club, UPROXX, Los Angeles Times, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter
New York Times:
Sources: Google is pitching an AI news article writing tool to outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and News Corp as a helpmate for journalists — The product, pitched as a helpmate for journalists, has been demonstrated for executives at The New York Times …
Discussion:
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Wall Street Journal:
Sources: a syndicate of investors led by Matthew Roszak of Tally Capital and Peter Vessenes of Capital6 is close to acquiring CoinDesk in a deal worth ~$125M — Syndicate is led by Matthew Roszak of Tally Capital and Peter Vessenes of Capital6 — A syndicate of investors is in the final stages …
Discussion:
Bloomberg and Talking Biz News
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Showtime pulled a Vice documentary episode that featured Ron DeSantis' time as a US Navy lawyer at Guantanamo Bay over fears of political consequences — The Scoop — Showtime slated “The Guantanamo Candidate,” a 30 minute-long episode of its Vice documentary series, for May 28.
Discussion:
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Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
Production workers, 66 at Warner Bros. Animation and 22 at Cartoon Network, file an NLRB petition to form a union and ask WBD to voluntarily recognize the unit — The staffers, who work on projects including ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ and 'Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake …
Makena Kelly / The Verge:
A look at Gigi Sohn's unsuccessful FCC confirmation: Joe Biden nominated her in October 2021 and she withdrew 497 days later after a fierce opposition campaign — ‘Dark money’ and the never-ending election cycle kept a qualified consumer advocate out of the Federal Communications Commission.
Ellise Shafer / Variety:
Q&A with NME Networks COO Holly Bishop on relaunching the magazine as a global bimonthly using a “high-hype model” after shutting down print production in 2018 — Iconic music publication NME is relaunching its print magazine. — After shutting down production in 2018 …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Press Gazette and Music Business Worldwide
Jim Milliot / Publishers Weekly:
HarperCollins plans to shut down Inkyard Press, its young adult imprint under the Harlequin Trade Publishing division, and lay off all its staff on August 1 — In a week that has seen Penguin Random House's workforce winnowed by buyouts and layoffs and the Independent Publishers Group lay off nine staffers …
Patrick Frater / Variety:
Media Partners Asia: South Korean premium VOD content captured 50% of SVOD viewership and 42% of freemium viewership across East Asia from January to June 2023 — Korean TV series and films are increasing still further their hold on streaming audiences across East Asia.
Discussion:
WORLD SCREEN and Deadline
Calum Jaspan / Sydney Morning Herald:
Australia opens a review to examine the funding terms of ABC and SBS and look at the governance at the two broadcasters, including their boards' compositions — The federal government has kicked off a review that will examine funding terms for the ABC and SBS and look at governance at the two broadcasters …
Discussion:
The Guardian
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
Netflix expands its password-sharing crackdown to its remaining markets and doesn't plan to offer an “extra member” option due to low pricing and penetration — Netflix is bringing password-sharing crackdown to consumers in India and every other market starting today …
Discussion:
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Or Goren / Cord Busters:
Netflix removes its most affordable $10/month ad-free Basic tier in the US and UK, charging new and rejoining members £10.99/month or $15.49/month for no ads
Netflix removes its most affordable $10/month ad-free Basic tier in the US and UK, charging new and rejoining members £10.99/month or $15.49/month for no ads
Discussion:
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