Top News:
Christopher Palmeri / Bloomberg:
Source: Byron Allen submits a preliminary $10B offer to acquire Disney's ABC TV network, local TV stations, and the FX and National Geographic cable channels — - Disney said it hasn't made any decisions on sale of properties — Nexstar has also held early talks for ABC and local stations
RELATED:
Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Sources including ABC News employees describe a feeling of dread and trepidation in the newsroom; staff say they read about the potential sale in the press
Sources including ABC News employees describe a feeling of dread and trepidation in the newsroom; staff say they read about the potential sale in the press
Discussion:
New York Post, Columbia Journalism Review and Reuters
Bloomberg:
Sources: Disney held talks exploring selling its ABC network and TV stations to Nexstar Media Group, which has 200 owned or partner TV stations in 116 markets
Sources: Disney held talks exploring selling its ABC network and TV stations to Nexstar Media Group, which has 200 owned or partner TV stations in 116 markets
Discussion:
MediaPost, Forbes, Axios, @mattbelloni, @nick_weather, The Streamable, @willthelandman, @lucas_shaw, @jayrosen_nyu, @lucas_shaw, The Verge, The Desk, Ad Age, Reuters, Bleeding Cool News, Sports Media Watch, Los Angeles Times, Deadline, The Wrap, Insider, TVLine, Variety, The Hill, 9to5Mac, Barrett Media, Next TV, The Messenger, The Hollywood Reporter, Cord Cutters News, Deadline and The Wrap
Mediaite:
Sources: Fox News fired veteran executive John Finley on September 8 following a woman alleging he sexually harassed and stalked her; Fox settled with the woman — John Finley, a top Fox News executive who was fired last week after more than 20 years at the network, was ousted after a woman alleged …
Discussion:
The Wrap and @joelmathis.bsky.social
David Marchese / New York Times:
Q&A with Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner on interviewing his friends, boomers' legacy, and his new book, The Masters, about seven white male rock musicians — “We've lived really privileged lives,” says the co-founder of Rolling Stone. “Now we get to rest.”
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, ET Canada, @jayrosen_nyu, @jodyrosen, @moorehn, @franklinleonard, @johntomlinson, Consequence, @jacobtwop, @jkarsh, @lebassett, @mitchellepner.bsky.social, @usefulnoise.bsky.social, @bowiesongs.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, @nedraggett.bsky.social, @bowiesongs.bsky.social, @bowiesongs.bsky.social, @thisismari.at, @electriceden92.bsky.social and UPROXX
Ernesto Van der Sar / TorrentFreak:
Plex notifies users that the streaming company plans to block access in October for those who use the hosting company Hetzner, citing large-scale TOS violations — Plex is a multifunctional media software and service that allows users to easily access all their entertainment in one place.
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
WBD's General Manager for Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Hannes Heyelmann, steps down, following the exits of EMEA head Priya Dogra and UK head Antonio Ruiz — Warner Bros. Discovery Germany boss Hannes Heyelmann has become the latest to exit from Gerhard Zeiler's international team.
Discussion:
Variety and Broadband TV News
Elizabeth Wagmeister / Variety:
After a backlash, Drew Barrymore apologizes to writers and unions for her show returning on September 18, saying “we will be in compliance” with strike rules — Drew Barrymore is offering up an explanation as to why her daytime talk show is returning, amid fierce criticism during the writers strike.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Mediaite, TVLine, Axios, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, CNN, Vanity Fair, The Week, @hellolanemoore@threads.net, @hellolanemoore@threads.net, @themeteor@threads.net, @themeteor@threads.net, @themeteor@threads.net, The Onion, @brendelbored.bsky.social, The Daily Beast, @beccalew.bsky.social, The Messenger, TV Insider, UPROXX, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and The Indian Express
Financial Times:
Sources: Meta is exploring whether to show ads in WhatsApp and charge a subscription fee to use the app without ads; WhatsApp denies working on such a feature — Talks are at an early stage, sources say, as Facebook parent looks for new ways to increase revenue
Discussion:
The Information, @wcathcart, @edzitron, The Drum and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
Sources: VFX firm DNEG told staff to take 20%+ pay cuts for seven months or agree to a 36-month loan scheme; DNEG cut ~7.5% of its London HQ workforce in July — EXCLUSIVE: Just weeks after laying off dozens in its London HQ, Dune VFX firm DNEG is asking staff to take up to 25% pay cuts …
Discussion:
ComingSoon.net and Collider
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
X changes its crowdsourced fact-checking Community Notes feature to show contributors other note proposals and see other viewpoints before they submit a rating — X (formerly Twitter) this week changed how its crowdsourced fact-checking Community Notes feature works.
Discussion:
@communitynotes
Benjy Sarlin / Semafor:
Sources: The New York Times has had serious talks with Politico Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza about helping the newspaper relaunch its On Politics newsletter — Punchbowl News: As negotiations within the House GOP conference continue over a stopgap funding bill, some GOP members are hopeful …
Discussion:
@sauthoff.bsky.social, @joshuaerlich and @agoldmund
Alyssa Boyle / AdExchanger:
Q&A with Rob Emrich, the chair and founder of ad tech platform Infillion, on his plans for ad tech company MediaMath, which Infillion acquired out of bankruptcy — Infillion is finally unveiling its intentions for MediaMath after buying the company out of bankruptcy during an auction last month.
Discussion:
@kerrymflynn, Digiday, Insider and Axios
Haroon Siddique / The Guardian:
MailOnline agrees to pay the BBC's Gabby Logan and her husband “substantial damages” over false claims; ex-Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie agrees to pay for a tweet — Payout relates to article that wrongly claimed pair had received £500,000 to promote tax avoidance schemes