Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube's ad revenue increased 4.4% YoY to $7.67B in Q2, above expectations of $7.43B and a reversal after three consecutive quarters of declines — Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, came in above analyst earnings expectations, with top-line growth of 7%.
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Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Google says 2B+ logged-in monthly users are watching YouTube Shorts, up from 1.5B+ in June 2022, and YouTube is reaching 150M people on their TVs in the US — Google said today that more than 2 billion logged-in monthly users are watching YouTube Shorts, giving it an edge over competitors like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Discussion:
CNBC, more at Techmeme »
Miles Kruppa / Wall Street Journal:
Alphabet reports Q2 Google ad revenue of $58.14B, growing 3% YoY after two consecutive quarters of falling ad sales — Financial chief Ruth Porat to become Alphabet's president and chief investment officer — Google reported a pickup in revenue growth during the most recent quarter …
Discussion:
The Information, @joshuaogundu, Reuters, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 9to5Google, MediaPost and Fortune, more at Techmeme »
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
CEO Daniel Ek teases ways Spotify could integrate additional AI functionality into its products, including summarizing podcasts and generating audio ads — During the company's second-quarter earnings call this morning, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek teased a few ways the streaming service could introduce additional AI-powered functionality.
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Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says podcasting is ageing down, citing the growth of video podcasts and “Internet-native” creators who upload “more longform content”
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says podcasting is ageing down, citing the growth of video podcasts and “Internet-native” creators who upload “more longform content”
Discussion:
@connorwein and Financial Times
Newley Purnell / Wall Street Journal:
Meta hasn't labeled propaganda accounts of state-backed media from Russia and other authoritarian governments on Threads, unlike on Facebook and Instagram — State-backed media accounts have hundreds of thousands of followers without the labels they are made to carry on Instagram and Facebook
Tatiana Siegel / Variety:
Sources detail Jeff Zucker's efforts to court potential investors in a bid for CNN, including Jeff Bezos, Laurene Powell Jobs, Alex Soros, and Roman Abramovich — Jeff Zucker was breezing through the Faena Hotel in Miami Beach when he spotted David Zaslav across the room.
Discussion:
The Wrap, CNN, RADAR, @tatianasiegel27, @agrenell, @mrwhite.bsky.social, @variety, @mvpeers, @lucas_shaw, @cerealcommas, Mediaite, @theinsneider, @variety, @variety and @variety
Jon Lafayette / Next TV:
Marquee Sports Network, a Chicago Cubs and Sinclair joint venture, launches a streaming app with live Cubs games and more in the Chicago area, for $19.99/month — Subscription costs $19.99 a month — Marquee Sports Network, the regional sports network joint venture of the Chicago Cubs and Sinclair …
Discussion:
The Streamable, Cord Cutters News and Marquee Sports Network
The Hollywood Reporter:
A majority of around 5,000 TV commercial production workers, organized by a group called Stand With Production, signs cards seeking to join the IATSE union — The group, titled Stand With Production, comprises an estimated 5,000 TV workers, a majority of whom have signaled their support …
Discussion:
Deadline, @moreperfectus, @moreperfectus and The Wrap
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
Documents show that authorities sought evidence of alleged criminal unauthorized computer access when searching journalist Timothy Burke's home on May 8, 2023 — A search warrant obtained by The Desk shows federal investigators are looking into an alleged cyber intrusion scheme involving former Deadspin editor Timothy Burke.
Discussion:
@matthewkeyslive and @matthewkeyslive
Matias Grez / CNN:
The BBC apologizes for a reporter's “inappropriate” question at the Women's World Cup opener; the reporter asked Morocco's captain if the team had gay players — Women's World Cup 2023: Live scores, fixtures, results, tables and top scorers — The BBC has apologized for an …
Wall Street Journal:
Emails: X offers discounts on new video ads in the US and UK and warns advertisers that they will lose verified status unless they reach spending thresholds — Social-media site X is offering hefty discounts to lure back ad dollars — X Corp. is cutting ad prices as it tries to woo brands back to the Elon Musk-owned platform.
Discussion:
@joelmathis.bsky.social, @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social, @martinsfp, The Drum and Forrester, more at Techmeme »
Angelique Jackson / Variety:
SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance says Dwayne Johnson donated a seven-figure sum to the SAG-AFTRA Relief Fund, the largest single donation ever — On July 13, as SAG-AFTRA leadership declared the union was going on strike, SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance …
Discussion:
@carolinerenard_, @mancitykd, @effoff1988, @comicgirlashley, @rufushound, @emmatolkin, @realjaredgilman, @benjisales, @ecto_fun, @bootsriley, @sherazfarooqi_, @vinn_ayy, Insider, TMZ.com, @hankofjuly, VIBE.com, Global News, @discussingfilm, Fortune, Vanity Fair, CBS News, Forbes, ET Canada, The Guardian, Metro, @shayz0rz@mastodon.online, @riteshwriter.bsky.social, UPROXX, New York Daily News, Comic Book, The A.V. Club, Gizmodo and Deadline
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Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The Guardian reports revenue up 3.4% YoY to £264.4M for FY ending March 31, 2023, digital reader revenue grew 7.6%, and digital makes up 70% of total revenue — Total revenues were up 3% in the year to 31 March 2023. — Guardian Media Group has maintained a four-year run of revenue growth …
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Guardian, Mumbrella, Nieman Lab and MediaPost
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Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The Guardian creates seven journalist jobs to improve its coverage of underrepresented communities, including in the UK and US, after its founder's slavery ties
The Guardian creates seven journalist jobs to improve its coverage of underrepresented communities, including in the UK and US, after its founder's slavery ties
Discussion:
@josephharker, @blackamazon, @josephharker, @judeinlondon, The Guardian and @andria.bsky.social
Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:
Snap Q2: revenue down 4% YoY to $1.07B, vs. $1.05B est., global DAUs up 14% YoY to 397M, vs. 395M est., and Q3 revenue forecast below est.; SNAP down 16%+ — - Snap's overall sales in the second quarter declined 4% from the $1.11 billion it logged in the previous year during the same period.