Top News:
David Pierce / The Verge:
A look at robots.txt, a goodwill-based social contract that has governed the behavior of web crawlers, as more publishers block AI crawlers from their sites — For decades, robots.txt governed the behavior of web crawlers. But as unscrupulous AI companies seek out more and more data …
Nicola Agius / Search Engine Land:
Google says IAB Tech Lab's report claiming Privacy Sandbox could disadvantage smaller brands and media companies contains “misunderstandings and inaccuracies” — The IAB Tech Lab report claims that Privacy Sandbox could make it harder for brands to serve effective ads - particularly smaller businesses.
Alex Hern / The Guardian:
Google stopped notifying publishers of “right to be forgotten” removals, after a Swedish court ruled that informing webmasters is a breach of privacy — Move comes after Swedish court rules that informing webmasters about delisted content is breach of privacy
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
TVNewsCheck Editor Michael Depp says the outlet needs 1,500 subscribers at $199/year to restart its news operations, which were suspended on February 12 — The lead content editor of the popular broadcast publication TV NewsCheck says the company needs to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars …
Discussion:
Michael Depp on LinkedIn and TVNewsCheck
Tyler Falk / Current:
Q&A with NPR Podcasting Strategy SVP Collin Campbell on the differences between broadcast and podcast audiences, the continuing need for donations, and more — Collin Campbell is the self-proclaimed optimistic new guy at NPR. — “Everywhere I look, I see opportunity,” …
Discussion:
Isabel Lara on LinkedIn
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Sources: Paramount is winding down Noggin, its streaming service for 2- to 7-year-olds that was launched in 2015, and has laid off its entire team — Noggin, Nickelodeon's interactive learning platform for preschool-age kids, is shutting down after almost 10 years, Variety has confirmed.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, The Desk, The Wrap, Advanced Television, Deadline, The Streamable and Cord Cutters News
Amy Hawkins / The Guardian:
Leaked emails appear to confirm that some authors were excluded from the 2023 Hugo Awards over fear their work would offend China, host of the awards convention — Leaked emails reveal organisers of leading science fiction and fantasy awards flagged works of a ‘sensitive political nature’
Discussion:
404 Media, File 770, @jasonkoebler@mastodon.social and @tess@mastodon.social
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Roku reports Q4 revenue up 14% YoY to $984.4M, vs. $968.2M est., and warns of a “challenging” environment for media and entertainment in 2024; ROKU drops 14%+ — Roku revenue came in above Wall Street forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2023 — and it touted new milestones …
Discussion:
Radio Ink, MediaPost, The Information, The Desk, Media Play News, The Wrap, Roku, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »
Ashley Belanger / Ars Technica:
AMC Networks tells streaming customers they might be eligible for part of an $8.3M settlement over claims that AMC shared viewing histories with tech companies — Proposed settlement impacts millions using AMC apps like Shudder and AMC+. — On Thursday, AMC notified subscribers …
Committee to Protect Journalists:
A Turkish court finds three journalists guilty of assisting a terrorist organization; the three have faced multiple trials since their initial arrests in 2016 — The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Turkish authorities not to fight the appeals of journalists Ahmet Altan, Nazlı …
Discussion:
Voice of America and Committee to Protect …
Bloomberg:
Sources: the US DOJ plans to scrutinize the streaming service proposal by Disney, Fox, and WBD over concerns it could harm consumers, rivals, and sports leagues — - Concerns likely focused on pricing, sports league negotiations — Antitrust enforcers have blocked cable bundles in past cases
Discussion:
@tomselliott, Reuters and The Streamable
Drew Harwell / Washington Post:
The SEC approves Truth Social's SPAC merger with DWAC; Trump's stake in the post-merger company would be valued at more than $4B at today's price — The former president's stake in the post-merger company would be valued, at today's share price, at nearly $4 billion.
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