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Gizmodo EIC Dan Ackerman sues Apple, the Tetris Company, and others, accusing them of adapting 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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Plagiarism Today, IndieWire, New York Post, PC Gamer, Metro, @xpangler, @reedalbergotti, @11thjeff, The Verge, Engadget, Talking Biz News, The Wrap, Variety, 9to5Mac and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »


The world's largest media orgs, including the News Media Alliance, sign an open letter calling for collective negotiation over AI operators' use of their IP — A group of the world's biggest news media organizations called for revised regulations on the use of copyrighted material by makers …


Funding US local news, which may cost ~$1.5B per year to sustain 25,000 local reporter positions, would more than pay for itself and “save American democracy” — The decline of local journalism isn't just a threat to democracy. It's also costing us money. — Zak podmore did not bring down a corrupt mayor.
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Media Nation, @jrussellmi, @stevenwaldman, American Press Institute, @mckaycoppins, @dlberes and @bykenarmstrong


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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The Wrap, UPI, @brianstelter, @politicoalex, @joelmathis.bsky.social, Deadline, The Hill, @wlabovitz, @jeremymbarr, New York Daily News and Semafor


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


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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TheBlaze, The Desk, Cord Cutters News, The Wrap, Advanced Television, Next TV, The Hollywood Reporter, WORLD SCREEN, Adweek and Deadline


Penn Entertainment is selling Barstool Sports back to founder Dave Portnoy, who has accepted certain noncompete agreements; Penn had bought Barstool for $551M — - Tim Baysinger- Kerry Flynn- Sara Fischer — ESPN on Tuesday announced a betting joint venture with casino operator PENN Entertainment …
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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%
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ESPN's deal allowing Penn to use its brand for ESPN Bet is worth $2B over 10 years: $1.5B in cash plus warrants worth about $500M to purchase shares in Penn
Discussion:
Financial Times, Front Office Sports, Barrett Media, CNN, The Streamable, New York Post, Awful Announcing and Bloomberg


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


Netflix reopens NYC's iconic Paris Theater after major upgrades, with plans to screen its original movies and host special events, retrospectives, and more — The iconic cinema will be able to screen 70mm film for the first time in years and also has a new Dolby Atmos system.


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.
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Axios, AdExchanger, Next TV and Advanced Television


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.
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Forbes, The Wrap, Variety, @warrenleighttv, Breitbart, The Hollywood Reporter, TVNewsCheck, @deggans, Deadline, Vanity Fair, Fortune, Collider, @wgawest, @lisacullen, @wgastrikeunite, @prismreports, @davidhsteinberg, @carolinerenard_, @officermankorn, Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Times


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.
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The Hollywood Reporter, @goldbart1, Deadline and Advanced Television


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
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Fox News and Reuters Institute, more at Techmeme »


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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YouTube plans to stop showing recommended videos in some places, including on the homepage, if a logged-in user's watch history feature is turned off entirely
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Techlusive, @sportstvratings, The Verge, Engadget, @carnage4life@mas.to and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »