Top News:

The EU Commission fines Apple €1.8B for stifling competition from rival music streaming services, the EU's third-largest antitrust fine; Apple plans to appeal — iPhone maker hit by first-ever Brussels fine as competition watchdogs step up scrutiny of Big Tech
Discussion:
European Commission, Spotify, The Verge, Business Insider, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, @om, AppleInsider, Ad Age, Mark Shaw on LinkedIn, The Drum, @willoremus, TechCrunch, Media Play News, CityAM, CNBC, Advanced Television, @lisaocarroll, CBS News, @sarafischer, @eu_commission, @carnage4life@mas.to, CMU, @samuelstolton, Imprisoned for llama crimes, Federica Tremolada on LinkedIn, @pkafka, Los Angeles Times, @vestager, @lisaocarroll, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Deadline, New York Times, Semafor, CNN, TechCrunch, Digital Music News, VentureBeat, The Hollywood Reporter, Fox Business and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Apple:
Apple says Spotify was the “primary advocate” and “biggest beneficiary” of the EU's ruling, Spotify pays Apple nothing, and that “free isn't enough for Spotify” — CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Today, the European Commission announced a decision claiming the App Store …
Discussion:
Reuters, Deezer Newsroom, MediaNama, 9to5Mac, @timsweeneyepic, TechCrunch, Digital Music News, Wired, BleepingComputer, The Hill, @ugambini, @raulpesch, @danielpunkass@mastodon.social, Al Jazeera, @bostoenfriso, @florian4gamers, @lewis_crofts, Music Business Worldwide, Fast Company, The Information, @zach_cer, @james@bne.social, New York Post, BGR, AppleInsider, Music Ally, @oliverhaslam@mastodon.social, Rolling Stone and Variety, more at Techmeme »

The NewsGuild of New York accuses the NYT of targeting staff with Middle Eastern or North African backgrounds in a investigation into October 7 coverage leaks — In a letter to the publisher, a union leader said the leak probe has singled out employees ‘for their national origin, ethnicity and race’

While HBO hit streaming DTC profitability under David Zaslav, via licensing to Netflix, slashing marketing, layoffs, and more, WBD's stock is down 25%+ YTD — They chased Netflix and then they cut costs. Neither has worked. — Good afternoon from Las Vegas; I am here for The Netflix Slam …
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, Appleosophy, @lucas_shaw, @masasoncap, @lucas_shaw, @jalefkowit@octodon.social, @tvgrimreaper and Fox Business
RELATED:
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Warner Bros. Discovery plans to start cracking down on Max password sharing later this year with a wider rollout in 2025, joining rivals Netflix and Disney+
Warner Bros. Discovery plans to start cracking down on Max password sharing later this year with a wider rollout in 2025, joining rivals Netflix and Disney+
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, @culturecrave, Yahoo Finance, The Streamable, BGR, @thestreamable, Media Play News, @lucas_shaw, 9to5Mac, NewscastStudio, Next TV and @iamadequate_

Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch says the Fox, Disney, and WBD sports streaming joint venture is anticipating signing up 5M customers in the first five years — The 5 million mark will be where the JV “settles after five years,” Murdoch said, speaking Monday at the 2024 Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco.
Discussion:
Deadline, @jbflint, New York Post, Sports Media Watch, The Streamable, The Desk, Sportico, @jbflint, The Wrap, Business Insider, @sherman4949, Reuters, Awful Announcing, Media Play News and Bloomberg

Ofcom has “significant concerns about GB News' editorial control of its live output” after finding GB News in breach over Laurence Fox's misogynistic comments — Ofcom has said it has “significant concerns about GB News' editorial control of its live output” …
Discussion:
Ofcom, Variety, @alistaircoleman, The Guardian, @parody_pm, @drmatthewsweet, Mediaite, HuffPost, Financial Times, Broadband TV News, Advanced Television and Press Gazette

GB News reports year to May 2023 revenue up 80% YoY to £6.7M, losses up 38% YoY to £42.4M, for £76M in losses since 2021, and 295 staff, up from 175 in May 2022 — Losses in the latest accounting period were six times greater than revenue.
Discussion:
@carolvorders, @otto_english, @seaninsound and @jamesrbuk

An interview with Mehdi Hasan about his new media company Zeteo, which he says has gained “thousands more” paid subscribers than expected in its first week — Hasan said focusing on subscribers, not advertisers, is “better for business”. — Mehdi Hasan has told Press Gazette …
Discussion:
@matt_walsh, @ernie.tedium.co and Zeteo

Reach reports FY 2023 revenue down 5% YoY to £568.6M, pre-tax profit down 45% YoY to £36.7M, and digital page views down 24% YoY due to Meta's 2023 news rules — UK publisher's profits dive after decline in digital readership, but deal reached over pension commitments
Discussion:
Press Gazette, The Media Leader and Reach plc

Vivendi's Canal+ increases its bid for South Africa's MultiChoice by almost a fifth, valuing MultiChoice's shares at $2.9B, and enters exclusive takeover talks — - Vivendi's Canal+ is working with JPMorgan, Bank of America — Vivendi says its committed to JSE listing, transformation
Discussion:
Deadline and Broadband TV News

NewsGuard adds AI-assisted tools for early detection of election-related misinformation, with exclusion lists for advertisers that want to avoid such misinfo — NewsGuard, the news rating service, is adding more automation tools as it works to track misinformation efforts ahead of the 2024 elections.
Discussion:
NewsGuard, Journalism.co.uk and @martyswant

A look at the Chicago Public Media merger with Chicago Sun-Times two years later: newsroom and staff compensation grew, Sun-Times dropped paywall, and more — After a $61 million acquisition by public media, Chicago-Sun Times readers get free content and the newsroom has grown.
Sophie Culpepper / Nieman Lab:
Report for America, the nonprofit that placed 600+ reporters in newsrooms since its 2017 launch, is “phasing out” partnerships with hedge fund-owned outlets — Since Report for America was founded in 2017, the nonprofit has placed more than 600 reporters in local newsrooms around the country …
Discussion:
journal-isms.com and @ernie.tedium.co