Top News:
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:
CNET, Nieman Lab, @google_comms, Boing Boing, New York Post, Ars Technica, The Wrap, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Vanity Fair, Gizmodo, @nbj914, @mattdpearce, @hshaban, MarTech, @kendrawrites, CNN, @benmullin, The Guardian, @clarajeffery, @matthewkeyslive, @jessicalessin, Android Authority, TechCrunch, Insider, Gadgets 360, Engadget, The Information, 9to5Google, @tim@phire.place, The Verge, @hypervisible.bsky.social, @dsilverman@mastodon.social, The Desk and @pwnallthethings.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
Vivendi's Canal+ acquires a 12% stake in Viaplay Group; in June 2023, Canal+ announced a 26.1% stake in Hong Kong-based streaming service Viu — 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:
Variety, Broadband TV News and The Athletic
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Anton Wilen / Bloomberg:
Stockholm-based streaming service Viaplay lays off 25% of its ~1,600 staff and puts itself up for sale, after reporting a $574M loss in Q2; its stock drops 40%+
Discussion:
The Desk, Yahoo Entertainment, Media Play News, Cord Busters, WORLD SCREEN, Broadband TV News, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline
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, Ars Technica, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, @darthbluesky.bsky.social, TechCrunch, XDA Developers, Gizmodo, @majorlinux@toot …, Music Business Worldwide, Engadget, Tv Technology, Android Authority, PCWorld and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Showtime pulled a Vice documentary episode that featured Ron DeSantis' time as a US Navy lawyer at Guantanamo 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:
The Wrap, @makkhorn@c.im, @maxwelltani, @lolgop, @ziltoid1991, @nycsouthpaw, @alexweprin, @willsommer, @nkulw, @StillIRise1963@mastodon.world, @blackamazon, @semaforben and @bmenezes
Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
A group of 66 production workers at Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation announces plans to form a union and asks WBD to voluntarily recognize the unit — The staffers, who work on projects including ‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ and ‘Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake,’ filed for a National Labor Relations Board election on Wednesday.
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.
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
The Taylor family donates The Moab Times-Independent to The Salt Lake Tribune, which will offer the weekly free in print to Moab residents and online for all — The Moab Times-Independent, owned for generations by the Taylor family, will be donated to the Tribune.
Discussion:
Salt Lake Tribune, Institute for Nonprofit News, @sltrib, @sltrib, @sltrib, @sltrib and The Times-Independent
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 launches a review to examine the funding terms of ABC and SBS and look at governance at the two broadcasters, including their boards' composition — 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
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 …
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Amazon and BBC Studios launch BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India for an annual add-on subscription of ~$7.30, or ~$2.42 for just BBC Kids — STREAMING — Prime Video and BBC Studios have launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @bbcstudiosindia, Gadgets 360, @fangsbites.bsky.social and WORLD SCREEN
Andreas Wiseman / Deadline:
Hasbro plans to shut down Entertainment One's theatrical operations in the UK; sources say Hasbro will reduce staff in the country as part of its global 15% cut — EXCLUSIVE: Hasbro's reshaping of eOne continues with multiple sources telling us that the latter will cease theatrical operations in the UK.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, @chordia22, @mistercoat and Axios
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 …
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:
EW.com, Financial Times, Screen Rant, Comic Book, Music Business Worldwide, Forbes, Associated Press, Insider, The Verge, Fox Business, Android Authority, Gadgets 360, Moneycontrol, Gadgets 360, Zee Business, DNA India, BBC, CNBC-TV18, The Guardian, Variety, CNN, Tv Technology, Deadline, Yahoo Finance, Ad Age, Reuters, Bloomberg, CNBC and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
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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
Discussion:
The Drum, Tubefilter, The Verge, Variety, The Streamable, @tallshmo@mas.to, Quartz, Engadget, Android Authority, The Desk, @kylebarr5, @alexweprin, Axios, New York Post, Ars Technica, ABC4 Utah, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Daily News, UPI, Bloomberg, Tv Technology, CNET, SlashFilm, XDA Developers, Fortune, Forbes, CNBC, IndieWire, Insider, Consequence, The Wrap, Screen Rant, TechCrunch, @dcseifert@mastodon.social, Gizmodo, 9to5Mac, IGN, Deadline, Tech Advisor and UPROXX
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