Top News:
Emma Roth / The Verge:
The BBC launches social.bbc, an “experimental” Mastodon server with posts from a handful of BBC accounts, and plans to try out the server for six months — The BBC has launched its own “experimental” Mastodon server, marking one of the first major news outlets to establish an instance on the Twitter alternative.
Discussion:
BBC R&D, TechCrunch, @Lats@aus.social, @1br0wn, @davemolloy, @john_fisherman@mastodon …, @adrianpolglase@mastodon …, @BenjaminHan@sigmoid.social, @hrefna@hachyderm.io, @renwillis@mstdn.social, @BBCRadio4@social.bbc, @BBC5Live@social.bbc, @BBC_News_Labs@social.bbc, @hamatti@mastodon.world, @BBCRD@social.bbc, @BBCRD@social.bbc and @BBCTaster@social.bbc, more at Techmeme »
Brian Conway / Nieman Lab:
A look at the decline of Pittsburgh news site The Incline, launched in 2016 by Jim Brady with a $2.6M investment from Gannett, as its last journalist leaves — An online Pittsburgh newsroom's last remaining journalist says goodbye, as the city's media landscape sputters.
Discussion:
@ckrewson, @sarahscire, @brian__conway and MediaPost
Christopher Grimes / Financial Times:
Sources: Disney hired Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, two ex-executives seen as potential successors to Bob Iger during his first stint as CEO, as advisers to Iger — Disney has hired two former executives who were seen as potential successors to Bob Iger during his first stint as the company's chief executive …
Discussion:
Puck, Deadline, Deadline, @themeparkdirk, The Information, @danprimack, New York Times, @dsnynewscast, Awful Announcing, @mattbelloni, Los Angeles Times, Variety, Front Office Sports, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Post, Barrett Media, Axios, NBC 7 San Diego, Next TV, The Wrap, Bloomberg and Cord Cutters News
Eriq Gardner / Puck:
Sources: Trump subpoenaed Fox News for Tucker Carlson's unaired interview with a former US Capitol Police chief, as part of a lawsuit defense; Fox News refused — The former president is demanding the network turn over footage and communications that he could use to defend himself …
Discussion:
The Hill, Mediaite, CNN, Forbes and @eriqgardner
Giorgio Leali / Politico:
Journalists at France's Journal du Dimanche voted to end the 40-day strike protesting the JDD's new right-wing editor; many said they will leave the outlet — Geoffroy Lejeune was appointed top editor at the iconic publication after it was bought by conservative tycoon Vincent Bolloré.
Discussion:
Agence France-Presse
Matthew Keys / Fierce Wireless:
Amazon will require streaming services on Fire TV to give 30% of their ad impressions to Amazon, or in certain countries share 30% of ad revenue, from Sept. 1 — Amazon will soon require international app developers who offer ad-supported streaming video services available to Fire TV users …
Bryan Pietsch / Washington Post:
X sues the Center for Countering Digital Hate, alleging that researchers violated its terms of service and the CFAA while studying hate speech on the platform — X, the company formerly known as Twitter, is suing a research group that investigated hate speech on the social media platform …
Discussion:
Next TV, New York Times, CNN, Twitter, Engadget, Insider, Associated Press, Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, Wall Street Journal, Benzinga, Free Press, HuffPost, Variety, The Hill, Semafor, d2331, Mediaite, Financial Times, TechCrunch, The Guardian, The Wrap and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
As audiences shrink, TV networks cut costs on long-running series by having casts take pay cuts and reclassifying series regulars as recurring cast members — In a shrinking business, actors on some shows are being guaranteed less money, an issue that's helping to fuel the Hollywood strike.
Discussion:
@avocalistsrival, TVLine and @sonyasteele@mastodon.social
Sam Schechner / Wall Street Journal:
Under EU pressure, Meta offers to seek user consent in Europe for targeted ads based on users' activity to comply with GDPR, sources say as soon as October 2023 — Under pressure from regulators, the Facebook and Instagram owner proposes asking users to opt in before targeting ads with their digital activity
Discussion:
TechCrunch, The Verge and d2331, more at Techmeme »
Amanda Bright / Nieman Lab:
How a 149-year-old Georgia weekly grew after being taken over by UGA's journalism school, winning awards, tripling ads, and doubling subscriptions in 18 months — In the first 18 months, The Oglethorpe Echo added digital products, won awards, tripled advertising, and doubled subscriptions.
Ray Schultz / MediaPost:
DoubleVerify, which offers software for digital media measurement and analytics, agrees to acquire digital ad campaign optimization company Scibids for $125M — DoubleVerify is acquiring Scibids, a digital campaign optimization firm. — The cash-and-stock transaction is valued at $125 million …
Discussion:
Insider, @doubleverify, @ainvest_wire, DoubleVerify, @larakiara, AdExchanger and Dow Jones Newswires
Chethan Rao / Android Police:
YouTube starts a small-scale experiment generating AI summaries of English-language videos to help users decide what to watch and encourages feedback — YouTube's new experiment is currently limited to English content — YouTube constantly adds new features to its mobile, web, and TV apps to enhance user experience.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Neowin, Engadget, 9to5Google and The Verge
Yadarisa Shabong / Reuters:
Cineworld says it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after cutting debt by $4.53B, raising $800M in new equity, and securing $1.71B in debt financing — Cineworld Group (CINE.L) said it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after nearly 11 months, coming out with lower debt and a new slate of management and board.
Discussion:
City A.M., Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and CNN