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Axios:
Memo: NBCU News Group Chair Cesar Conde tells staff NBC dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor and apologizes for hiring the former RNC chair — NBC has dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, NBCU News Group Chair Cesar Conde confirmed in a memo to staff following backlash from some of the network's journalists.
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Axios:
Analysis: 16 of the White House's 31 press secretaries since 2000 have gone on to become paid contributors, commentators, or hosts on TV news programs — - Multiple networks scrambled to sign McDaniel when she left the RNC last month, despite her role in former President Trump's efforts …
Washington Post:
A member of Qatari royal family invested ~$50M in Newsmax in 2019, 2020; sources: before and after the deal, staffers were urged to soften coverage of Qatar — Before and after the investment, senior newsroom leaders urged Newsmax staff to soften coverage of Qatar, current and former employees said
Daria Mosolova / Financial Times:
BBC Director General Tim Davie calls for license fee reform as part of a broader strategy to turn the national broadcaster into a more commercial operation — Director-general says ‘fundamental questions’ need to be asked as corporation battles flagging demand
Discussion:
BBC, Digital Journal, The Guardian, @ben@werd.social, Advanced Television and Press Gazette
Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg:
Trump Media & Technology Group closed up 16% at $57.99 per share in its Nasdaq debut, valuing the unprofitable company at $7.9B, following the merger with DWAC — - Trump Media & Technology Group operates Truth Social — Deal provides a windfall on paper for the former president
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Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Audible partners with Amazon MGM Studios to co-produce TV series based on Audible Originals content; the titles will be shopped to Prime Video, MGM+, and others — Kerry Washington, James Patterson, Aaron Korsh are among the notables on board for new iterations of ‘The Prophecy,’ ‘Daniel X: Genesis,’ ‘Nut Jobs’ and others
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Source: G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller told staff The A.V. Club and The Takeout have been sold; Paste bought The A.V. Club and Static Media bought The Takeout — G/O Media, the struggling company that recently sold Deadspin, is shopping popular humor site The Onion and continued its fire sale …
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Ananya Bhattacharya / Rest of World:
A look at Disney+ Hotstar's and JioCinema's strategy to beat Netflix and Prime Video in India, including by focusing on sports content and affordable pricing — Mukesh Ambani's Reliance and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces creating a hard-to-beat streaming entity in the country.
Discussion:
@_ananyaaa and @_ananyaaa
Wall Street Journal:
The NFL says the opening week Friday night game will be exclusive to NBC's Peacock, and Prime Video secured exclusive rights for a 2024-2025 season playoff game — Brazil game is part of league's effort to expand international presence, have more games not played on Sunday afternoons
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The Verge, NBC Sports Pressbox, New York Post, Deadline, The Desk, Awful Announcing, Media Play News, BGR, Sports Media Watch, Next TV, Business Insider, Decider, Reuters and Cord Cutters News
Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch:
Adobe launches GenStudio to let brands create content and measure its performance using generative AI, underpinned by promises of brand safety — Brands want to use generative AI to personalize their marketing efforts — but they are also deathly afraid of AI going off message and ruining their brand.
A.J. Perez / Front Office Sports:
Sources and a lawsuit by ex-Arena Group CEO Ross Levinsohn detail The Arena Group's chaotic handling of Sports Illustrated and a messy transfer to Minute Media — - Sources say 5-Hour Energy tycoon Manoj Bhargava threatened to destroy the archives in a meeting with the new publishers of ‘SI.’
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, The Wrap, MediaPost, Business Insider and Adweek
Sam Meredith / CNBC:
A UK court grants Julian Assange permission to appeal his US extradition, unless the US provides “satisfactory assurances” on certain issues within three weeks — WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Britain.
Discussion:
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