Mediagazer: Hollywood trade publications have long been seen as PR tools for studios, but their stories during the WGA strike have absolutely shattered their credibility (Katharine Trendacosta/Defector)

7:50 PM ET, August 24, 2023

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Katharine Trendacosta / Defector:

Hollywood trade publications have long been seen as PR tools for studios, but their stories during the WGA strike have absolutely shattered their credibility — If you were on the website-formally-known-as-Twitter last week, first of all, my condolences, we are in hell together, and second …

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety, Bloomberg, @k_trendacosta, @mikeisaac, @slack2thefuture, @trevoremetcalfe, @mikeisaac, @k_trendacosta, Yahoo Entertainment, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily News, Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times and New York Times

Sharon Waxman / The Wrap:

Instead of calming strike tensions, CEOs who met with the WGA's negotiators riled things up, revealing ego-driven decision-making; the union responded angrily — Sharon Waxman … We all thought things were finally moving in the right direction. We thought there might be a break coming.

Kaya Yurieff / The Information:

The Creators Guild of America, a nonprofit advocacy group with board members including YouTuber Justine Ezarik, launches to support digital creators' interests — The Hollywood strike has highlighted the lack of a similar labor movement within the creator economy, but new efforts to change that are emerging.

Discussion: @kyurieff, @ericnewcomer and Communicate Online

Nathan McAlone / Insider:

OnlyFans reports revenue up 17% YoY to $1.1B in the FY to November 30, 2022, profit up 24% YoY to $404M, creators up 47% YoY to 3.2M, and users spent $5.6B — - The OnlyFans business is still booming. — OnlyFans users spent $5.6 billion on the platform in 2022, up from $4.8 billion in 2021.

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Pamela McClintock / The Hollywood Reporter:

Barbie becomes 2023's top-grossing movie in North America, grossing $575.4M in 34 days; The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $574.3M in 140 days in North America — Greta Gerwig's movie has surpassed ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ in North America and will do the same at the worldwide box office by early next month.

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@futuromedia:

Futuro Media, a nonprofit that produces the radio show Latino USA and other Latino-focused media, announces layoffs after “months of economic uncertainty” — A Message from Futuro Media [image]

Discussion: @carloseats, @lopezcruzado, @sylvesterd, @madisonmcvan, @juandr47, @whosworld and @reynaldoleanos

Sahil Patel / The Information:

Sources: Amazon has had early talks with Disney about working on a streaming version of ESPN, perhaps helping with distribution and taking a minority stake — Amazon has had early talks with Disney about working on the streaming version of ESPN it is developing, said people familiar with the matter.

Discussion: Reuters, @rawkuz99 and @aagave, more at Techmeme »

David Pierce / The Verge:

For Amazon's second season streaming Thursday Night Football, the company plans more AI tools in Prime Vision, more Black Friday shopping integrations, and HDR — This NFL season, if you watch a Thursday Night Football game on Amazon Prime Video, you're likely to see all sorts of new on-screen stuff.

Discussion: TechCrunch, @reckless1280@threads.net, The Streamable, Barrett Media, Variety and Wall Street Journal

Peter White / Deadline:

Memo: Fifth Season, formerly Endeavor Content, cuts 30 positions, or ~12% of its workforce, blaming “the ongoing dispute between the AMPTP and WGA & SAG-AFTRA” — - Martin Sheen Goes Full President Bartlet In Rousing Speech At National Day Of Solidarity Rally In LA As Kerry Washington & Ron Perlman Blast Studios

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter

Dade Hayes / Deadline:

WBD plans to launch CNN Max, a 24/7 stream pulled from CNN's US and international feeds alongside some original content, in “open beta” on September 27 on Max — - Netflix Added 2.6M U.S. Subscribers In July, Continuing Advertising Momentum Amid Password-Sharing Crackdown, Study Finds

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