Mediagazer: Bill Maher says his show will return sans writers, as some talk shows resume production amid strikes; HBO says Real Time With Bill Maher returns on September 22 (Matt Pearce/Los Angeles Times)

4:40 PM ET, September 14, 2023

Top News:

Sources: Disney has held exploratory talks about selling its ABC network and TV stations to Nexstar Media Group, which now has 200 owned or partner TV stations — Walt Disney Co. has held exploratory talks about selling its ABC network and TV stations to local broadcaster Nexstar Media Group Inc. …

Discussion: The Hill, Reuters, Next TV, 9to5Mac, Deadline, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News and The Desk

Axios:

Sources: audience and ad measurement company VideoAmp laid off ~10% of its workforce last week, or 40+ people, just before announcing it raised a $150M Series G — Media measurement firm VideoAmp quietly laid off about 10% of its workforce last week, Axios has learned. … VideoAmp now has about 400 employees.

Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:

Nielsen names Karthik Rao, a 23-year veteran of the company, as CEO, succeeding David Kenny, who will become executive chairman — Karthik Rao succeeds David Kenny at the top of the ratings firm as competition grows and measurement grows more complex — Nielsen is shaking up its leadership …

Discussion: Insider Intelligence, Radio & Television …, Adweek, RAIN News, Variety, Inside Radio, @nielsen, Axios, @bristei, Ad Age, Nielsen, WORLD SCREEN and MediaPost

Emma Roth / The Verge:

TikTok and Billboard launch the TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart to track the most popular songs on the platform each week in the US — TikTok is partnering with Billboard to launch a top 50 chart that tracks the most popular songs on the platform. Topping the chart right now is Sexyy Red with …

Discussion: MediaPost, Billboard, Billboard, TechCrunch, Variety, Forbes, The Messenger, TikTok, Forbes and TMZ.com

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Newsquest reports 2022 revenue up 6% to £150.6M, says it has passed 65K paying digital subscribers and ~50% of its advertising revenue now comes from digital — Digital now makes up almost half of ad revenues, and digital subs have surpassed 65,000. — Regional news publisher Newsquest grew …

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Linda Yaccarino hires media executives for X's sales teams, including former TNT and TBS GM Brett Weitz as X's head of content, talent, and brand sales — Yaccarino also unveiled a new sales leadership team, including former NBCUniversal and Dow Jones executives.

Discussion: MediaPost, Variety, The Wrap, The Messenger, Deadline and The Information

Carolyn Giardina / The Hollywood Reporter:

Generative AI company Metaphysic claims its new system can help actors navigate the AI likeness rights, and says early users include Tom Hanks and Anne Hathaway — The generative AI tech firm announced a new toolset on Thursday and revealed multiple actors who are using its products.

Discussion: National Review

Matthew Keys / StreamTV Insider:

In a US House hearing, lawmakers expressed frustration over rising pay TV prices and blackouts, and industry experts called cable and broadcast rules outdated — Federal lawmakers this week expressed their frustration over rising cable and satellite television prices and numerous programming blackouts …

Victor Tangermann / Futurism:

Microsoft's Start news website published a garbled, seemingly AI-generated obit for former NBA player Brandon Hunter, headlined, “Brandon Hunter useless at 42” — Former NBA player Brandon Hunter passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 42 this week, a tragedy that rattled fans …

Discussion: Awful Announcing, New York Post, @jbenton, @philco78, @baldur@toot.cafe, @staringispolite, @dsmith_tucson, @edlockwood87, @vtanger, @jmhaigh, @bydankoller, @futurism, @michaelroston, Reuters, UPI, The Hill, The Messenger, Vibe and Fox News

Virginia Chamlee / People:

Fox News adds Lawrence Jones as a co-host of Fox & Friends, starting September 18, making him the youngest Black co-host on cable news — Fox News is expected to announce during its Thursday morning ‘Fox & Friends’ broadcast that Jones, 30, will become the latest addition to the weekday hosting team

Discussion: TVLine, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, Fox News, TV Insider, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, @blackamazon, @lawrencebjones3, The Hill and The Messenger

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:

UK fact checking charity Full Fact announces long-time BBC correspondent Chris Morris as its CEO, succeeding founding chief executive Will Moy — Chris Morris says it's best not to “get too po-faced” about dealing with inaccuracies but wants to boost their profile.

Discussion: @fullfact and Full Fact

Janko Roettgers / Lowpass:

Amazon adds IAP back to Prime Video for Android, letting users buy VOD rentals and more, after removing IAP from its apps in 2022 to avoid Google's 30% fee — Next up: The Kindle app, maybe? — Some news from the someone-must-have-struck-a-deal department: Amazon is once again allowing users …

Discussion: 9to5Google and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

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Local Government Reporter, IA — The Gazette

Research Director, CA — OCBJ

Immigration Enforcement Reporter — Documented

Presque Island Reporter, ME — Bangor Daily News

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More News:

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Automattic releases ActivityPub 1.0.0 for WordPress, letting fediverse users follow WordPress blogs on apps like Mastodon and receive replies as blog comments

Discussion: @chrismessina@mastodon.xyz, more at Techmeme »

Bloomberg:
DAZN plans to bid for Ligue de Football media rights in which the local league is seeking at least €800M per year; source: beIN is also considering a bid

Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Hipgnosis plans to sell 29 music catalogues, including songs by Shakira, Kaiser Chiefs, and Nelly, to a Blackstone-owned fund for $465M, to boost its finances

Discussion: Billboard, Reuters and Music Business Worldwide

Caitlin Vogus / Freedom of the Press Foundation:
Some US lawmakers retaliate against local outlets that criticize them by revoking public notice contracts or changing laws requiring notices in newspapers

Discussion: Palm Beach Post and Media Nation

Tyler Cowen / Bloomberg:
Child content creators, or “kidfluencers”, some of whom make $20M+/year, show that protecting kids from labor exploitation is difficult in the social media age

Discussion: @michellemanafy@journa.host, @tylercowen and @anecdotal, more at Techmeme »

Futurism:
Analysis: the bulk of The A.V. Club's AI-generated articles appear to be copied verbatim from IMDb; the articles have “reviewed and edited” by staff disclaimer

Discussion: Plagiarism Today, @shivvyshiv.bsky.social, @kbeninato@mstdn.party, @kphipps3000, @charlescmann, @samuelaadams, @jhoffman, @thehighsign, @dceiver, @jon_christian, @pierogipowered.bsky.social, @dell.bsky.social, @baldur@toot.cafe, @Lazarou@mastodon.social and @tante@tldr.nettime.org

Kat Tenbarge / NBC News:
Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland is accused of sexual assault and grooming underage fans, based on interviews with 11 people plus pictures, emails, and more

Earlier Picks:

Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times:
Bill Maher says his show will return sans writers, as some talk shows resume production amid strikes; HBO says Real Time With Bill Maher returns on September 22

Discussion: @billmaher, New York Times, Screen Rant, Breitbart, @parkermolloy, @parkermolloy, @wgawest, @stephenking, @elonmusk, Deadline, NPR, @davidkusnet, @fmanjoo, @nickknudsenus, @wgawest, @gennefer, Decider, @bradleywhitford, @michaelsocolow, @wgawest, Fox News, @joshgnosis, New York Post, Bleeding Cool News, TV Insider, Vanity Fair, Boing Boing, @aletheion.bsky.social, Variety, @dannyzuker, @thor_benson, @thor_benson, @drewzachary, @ironstache, @guyendorekaiser, @robynelyse, @andrewperezdc, @cmclymer, @harrymwood, @ashtonpittman, @clairewillett, @annamerlan, @lehmannchris, @geoffreyplitt, Deadline, Rolling Stone, The A.V. Club, UPROXX, CBS News, The Daily Beast, @EarthIsOurHome@mastodon.world, TMZ.com, @nedhamson@campaign …, The Hill, @tylerjameshill.bsky.social, The Messenger, The Wrap, TVLine, @fazz.bsky.social, @fazz.bsky.social, @fazz.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @fazz.bsky.social, @fazz.bsky.social, Consequence and The A.V. Club

Ben Hallman / The Examination:
Nonprofit health news outlet The Examination launches, publishing collaborative investigations with Der Spiegel, The Washington Post, The Guardian US, and more

Discussion: @marinawalkerg, @sheilacoronel, @examinationnews, @mujschool, @mujschool, @examinationnews, @ben_hallman, @ben_hallman, @ben_hallman, @ben_hallman, @ben_hallman, @ben_hallman, The Examination and Columbia Journalism Review

Andrea Grimes / Dame Magazine:
Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has led to a loss of income, opportunities, and connections for independent journalists, and alternatives are lacking so far

Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
TikTok expands its revamped creator fund Creativity Program Beta beyond the US to eligible creators in Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the UK

Discussion: Insider, MediaPost and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »

Corbin Bolies / The Daily Beast:
Bob Boilen, who created NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts and All Songs Considered and directed All Things Considered for 18 years, says he's leaving NPR after 35 years

Discussion: @bobboilen, @belafleckbanjo, The Wrap, @minaannlee, @pastemagazine, @seejanemarie, @unrealbluegrass, Billboard and The Messenger

Angela Fu / Poynter:
The Dallas Morning News, which reported a $0.9M net loss in Q2 2023, offers buyouts that could eliminate as many as 40 jobs across the company, or a 6% cut

From Techmeme:

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is working on a smart doorbell system with advanced facial recognition that can wirelessly connect and unlock third-party smart locks

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Donald Trump announces that Sriram Krishnan, until recently a general partner at a16z, will serve as senior policy advisor for AI at the White House OSTP

Financial Times:
Sources: Palantir and Anduril are in talks with OpenAI, SpaceX, and more to form a consortium to bid for US defense contracts and plan to announce it in January

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