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ESPN Press Room U.S.:
ESPN and Penn Entertainment announce a deal to launch ESPN Bet, as Penn rebrands its sportsbook in the 16 US states where it is licensed; PENN jumps ~15% — Sports betting deal to include a streamlined experience for sports fans — ESPN today announced an agreement with PENN Entertainment …
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Axios:
Penn Entertainment is selling Barstool Sports back to founder Dave Portnoy, who has accepted certain noncompete agreements; Penn had bought Barstool for $551M
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Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
Australia's ABC shutters all but four of its accounts on X, citing “toxic interactions” and cost, amid shifting resources to TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram — The public broadcaster says interactions on the platform are ‘toxic’ as it closes almost all its Twitter accounts
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Blake Brittain / Reuters:
Gizmodo EIC Dan Ackerman sues Apple, the Tetris Company, and others, claiming they adapted his book about Tetris into a feature film without his permission — Dan Ackerman, editor in chief of the tech-news website Gizmodo, filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on Monday accusing Apple …
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IndieWire, Insider, Talking Biz News, Metro, Engadget, The Verge, The Wrap, Variety, 9to5Mac and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »
Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
The RNC picks Fox Business to host the second GOP presidential primary debate on September 27, after Fox News hosts the first debate later on August 23 — It's now two-for-two for the Murdoch empire when it comes to presidential candidate forums. — The Republican National Committee …
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Lara O'Reilly / Insider:
Private equity firm Novacap acquires TV adtech company Cadent from Lee Equity Partners, a source says for $600M — - PE firm Novacap has acquired TV adtech company Cadent. — The deal is valued at around $600 million, according to a source. — Cadent now plans an acquisition spree to bolster the platform's growth.
Discussion:
Axios, AdExchanger, Next TV and Advanced Television
Catherine Perloff / Adweek:
Google renames “in-stream ads” to “skippable ads”, to “more accurately describe the ad format”, after an Adalytics report accused YouTube of misleading buyers — What was once in-stream ads are now skippable ads — Google removed “in-stream” …
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Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
RTL Deutschland launches a €12.99 per month “all-in-one” streaming bundle with video, live sports, music, podcasts, audiobooks, and digital magazines — The new “all-inclusive” platform is promising German subscribers a one-stop-shop for video, live-sports, music, podcasts …
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The Desk
Joe Otterson / Variety:
Wonya Lucas, who became the president and CEO of Hallmark Media in 2020, plans to depart the company at the end of 2023 but will continue on its board — Hallmark Media president and CEO Wonya Lucas will depart the company at the end of the year. Upon her departure, Lucas will continue …
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The Desk, Next TV, Cord Cutters News, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, WORLD SCREEN, Advanced Television, Adweek and Deadline
Martin K.N Siele / Rest of World:
In Kenya, TikTok's most active African country, creators make money hosting protest livestreams, which protesters say help them stay safe from police violence — At least 23 people have reportedly been killed as crowds oppose proposed tax increases. — • NAIROBI, KENYA
Discussion:
Fox News and Reuters Institute, more at Techmeme »
Sophie Culpepper / Nieman Lab:
A look at Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang's “transparency portal”, launched to improve audience trust after facing criticism for a botched story — Readers “have to see this again and again and again, I think, before you really make an impact.”
Reuters:
The WGA strike hits 100 days: negotiations with major studios are stalled and writers are protesting what they describe as a disregard for their demands — The Hollywood writers' strike marks 100 days on Wednesday with contract talks stalled and people on the picket lines protesting what they describe as a disregard for their demands.
Variety:
Source: Comcast-owned Sky, the UK's largest pay-TV broadcaster, gives up the rights to broadcast the Oscars, acquired from the BBC in 2004, as ratings decline — After a 20-year pact, the Oscars will no longer broadcast on Sky in the U.K., Variety has confirmed.
Discussion:
@goldbart1, Deadline and Advanced Television
Gavin J Blair / The Hollywood Reporter:
Sony Pictures reports Q1 profit down 68% YoY to $115M, revenue down 6% YoY to $2.3B, and forecasts unchanged FY 2023 profit; Music profit rose 20% YoY to $86M — Sony Corp. reported its latest financial results in Tokyo on Wednesday, with revenue at the pictures division down slightly to $2.3 billion.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Associated Press, Sony, Sony, Deadline and Variety, more at Techmeme »
Elizabeth de Luna / Mashable:
X begins making ad revenue payouts to smaller creators, after releasing payments to thousands of select accounts; how payouts are calculated remains unclear — ‘$8 to make $370 is a fantastic ROI for something I do anyway,’ one creator tweeted. … X is finally paying smaller creators …
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TechCrunch, MarTech, Engadget, Digiday, @support, Techlusive, The Information, Forbes, Adweek and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
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