Mediagazer: A look at the rise in video podcasts, as YouTube leads in podcast consumption in the US and companies invest in video to gain new audiences and boost ad revenue (Reggie Ugwu/New York Times)

Top News:

Sources: Paramount is planning for what happens if no big deal happens, mulling cutting $2B in costs, selling BET and TV stations, starting a streaming JV, more — The storied Hollywood company behind ‘The Godfather’ faces its biggest battle yet as Shari Redstone's merger plans collide with shareholder fury and a CEO on the outs

Discussion: The Streamable, CNBC, Deadline, Awful Announcing, @jtoonkel and @waystarcroixco

Alex Sherman / CNBC:

Sources: Paramount Global's board is preparing to fire CEO Bob Bakish as soon as Monday, after he lost the trust of controlling shareholder Shari Redstone — Bob Bakish, then president and chief executive officer of Viacom Inc., speaks during the Mobile World Congress Americas event in Los Angeles …

Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Paramount Global's board is considering replacing CEO Bob Bakish with an “Office of the CEO” made up of division heads on an interim basis

Discussion: Next TV, New York Times, The Wrap, Broadband TV News, Cord Cutters News, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Amol Sharma on LinkedIn, The Information, Deadline, New York Post, Media Play News, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, Variety and Alex Sherman on LinkedIn

Laura Wagner / Washington Post:

Over 50 journalism professors call on the NYT to address questions on its report that described a “pattern of gender-based violence” in Hamas' October 7 attack — A major investigative report into sexual violence in the Hamas attack on Israel has drawn criticism inside and outside the newspaper

Discussion: @bazzinyu, @peterkirstein and @matteomedia

Ben Smith / Semafor:

Sources: Nicholas Carlson, who has been the global editor-in-chief of Business Insider since 2017, is expected to leave the publication later this summer — After a nine-month span in 2020, in which social media furors forced the resignations of editors at Condé Nast titles …

Discussion: Talking Biz News, @maxwelltani, @semaforben and @akarl_smith

Madhumita Murgia / Financial Times:

The Financial Times signs a deal with OpenAI to train AI models on its archived content, and to let ChatGPT respond with short summaries of FT articles — Agreement comes as Microsoft-backed start-up seeks data from reliable sources to train latest artificial intelligence models

Discussion: Journalism.co.uk, TechCrunch, The Guardian, The Information, @decka227, Bloomberg, Music Ally, @stokel, @james_muldoon_, @mhbergen, Press Gazette, The Verge, @rasmus_kleis, @lukolejnik, @rasmus_kleis, @jjvincent and Reuters, more at Techmeme »

Sammy Gecsoyler / The Guardian:

BBC presenter Liz Bonnin's likeness was used in an ad after the company running the campaign was tricked by a fake, likely AI-generated, version of her voice — Exclusive: Liz Bonnin's face used on insect repellant advert after deal negotiated via WhatsApp and voice notes generated by AI

Discussion: Media Voices, The Drum, Deadline, @sammygecsoyler, Lynne Stainthorpe on LinkedIn, The Overspill and Steve Gray on LinkedIn

Leila Abboud / Financial Times:

French production group Mediawan acquires German rival Leonine for €500M; Mediawan is unaffected by streaming cuts due to EU quotas on locally produced content — French TV and film company Mediawan is benefiting from EU quotas on locally produced content

Discussion: Variety, WORLD SCREEN, Deadline, Broadband TV News and The Hollywood Reporter

Sara Guaglione / Digiday:

Some publishers are hesitant to monetize generative AI chatbots with ads because of low CPMs and lack of scale, opting to build a subscription model first — This article was provided as an exclusive preview for Digiday+ members, who were able to access it early.

Discussion: @caddymarketing

Mike Fleming Jr / Deadline:

Producers United, a grassroots group of 86 top Hollywood “career producers”, launches to advocate for reforms, including changing their fee structure — EXCLUSIVE: As signatories prepare to negotiate new deals with IATSE and Teamsters, it might seem like the last thing the town wants …

Discussion: @mynette, @deadline, @ezhossington, @franklinleonard, @lynettehtaylor and New York Times

Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:

Some founders say the TikTok ban won't impact creator economy startups much, as they have diversified across multiple platforms after Trump's 2020 ban attempt — ‘Two years ago, this would have been devastating’ — President Joe Biden signed a bill on Wednesday that could ban TikTok — for real this time.

Discussion: @robertoblake, TIME, Traackr, Polygon and ICYMI, more at Techmeme »

Bloomberg:

Blackstone offers $1.30 per share in cash for Hipgnosis, valuing the business at ~$1.57B, above Concord's $1.51B offer; Hipgnosis' board recommends the deal — - Fresh bid of $1.30 per share surpasses Concord deal price — Hipgnosis owns songs catalogs from Blondie, Kaiser Chiefs

Discussion: Billboard, Music Ally, Music Business Worldwide, City A.M., Reuters, Sky News and Financial Times

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:

BBC ex-Director of News and Current Affairs James Harding says the BBC “will drain advertising away from journalism” if the broadcaster runs ads on its podcasts — House of Lords also hears that Spiked has been put on advertising blacklist. — Former BBC director of news …