Top News:


Google plans to test search and shopping ads in its AI Overviews, drawing from advertisers' existing campaigns; AI Overviews rolled out to US users last week — Google is set to start mixing ads into its new AI-generated search answers. It's a test of how the company's biggest revenue stream can adapt to the age of generative AI.
Discussion:
The Verge, @carnage4life@mas.to, The Keyword, Search Engine Land, Adweek, The US Sun and The Guardian, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:


Google is rolling out a new AI-powered ad format that shows shoppers how items of clothing would look on different skin tones and body types — A new breed of online ad allows brands to pay Google to offer shoppers AI-generated images that show how items of clothing would look on different skin tones and body types.
Discussion:
Adweek, The Drum, Search Engine Land, Adweek and MarTech, more at Techmeme »


Russian state-run channel Rossiya24 is broadcasting days-old episodes of Tucker Carlson's show with a Russian voiceover — THEY'LL NEVER LET GO — Hilariously, the supposedly new program called “Tucker” is just days-old episodes of his show with a Russian voiceover.
Discussion:
Newsweek, Mediaite, The Hill, Vanity Fair, New York Daily News, @billkristol, @neilpateltdc, @brianstelter and Boing Boing


Comcast says StreamSaver, a bundle of Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+, will be available starting next week to Comcast TV or broadband customers at $15/month — Comcast, as its legacy cable TV business continues to shrink, has built a new cable-style bundle for the streaming era.
Discussion:
Xfinity, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Awful Announcing, Next TV, 9to5Mac, @loudmouthjulia, Jason Weitzel on LinkedIn, Advanced Television, UPROXX, Adweek, Media Play News, StreamTV Insider, The Wrap, The Streamable, IndieWire, Axios, The Hill, @tvgrimreaper, The Verge, Cord Cutters News, Reuters, WORLD SCREEN and Bloomberg


Israeli officials reverse course and order the return of seized camera equipment to AP, after earlier seizing cameras and blocking AP's live feed from Gaza — Israel's communications minister ordered the government to return seized camera equipment to The Associated Press after blocking its live video of Gaza earlier Tuesday.
Discussion:
AP Definitive Source, Fox News, Mediaite, The Times of Israel, ABC News, The Hill, Freedom of the Press …, Associated Press, Reuters, Reason, Axios, Breitbart, @tbridis, Axios, @onthemedia, @erikwemple, @megankstack, @barakravid, @margbrennan, @barakravid, Newser, @brianstelter, Voice of America, @jongambrellap, Committee to Protect …, CNN, @andreas_krieg, @mehdirhasan, @frances_coppola, @barakravid, @ap_corpcomm, @barakravid, New York Times, Reclaim The Net, The Daily Beast, @bgrueskin, @fpaispal, @rhijazi, @austinahlman, Mediaite, @noa_landau, @jangelooff, @mairavz, The Guardian, Mediaite, @barakravid, Politico, Deadline, The Wrap and عول …


Amid a dispute between music publishers and Spotify, the NMPA asks Congress to change copyright law to give rights holders more options to negotiate royalties — The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) has called on Congress to make a change to copyright law in the United States …
Discussion:
Billboard, Variety, Digital Music News, Rolling Stone, Billboard and CMU


Sources: Google is warning nonprofit newsrooms that passage of a new California ad tax bill would threaten to pause Google News Initiative funding in US — - That statement was made in response to a bill, introduced by California Assembly member Buffy Wicks last year, that would essentially …


Ziff Davis' IGN acquires the UK-based Gamer Network, which includes digital brands GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer, and lays off some staff — New owner makes redundancies across the Gamer Network portfolio — News by Christopher Dring Head of Games B2B


Sources: Apple files a lawsuit at the EU's General Court to challenge a March 2024 decision to impose a €1.8B fine for thwarting competition in music streaming — - Company files suit at EU's General Court to topple penalty — Fine was sparked by long-running dispute with top music rival
Discussion:
MacRumors, Benzinga, AppleInsider, The Verge and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »


London's High Court rejects Prince Harry's bid to include claims against Rupert Murdoch and Piers Morgan in his phone hacking suit against News Group Newspapers — Harry - along with more than 40 other plaintiffs - is suing Murdoch's U.K. newspaper business News Group Newspapers over claims …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Financial Times, @royalreporter, Daily Express, The Guardian, Agence France-Presse, Press Gazette, @justrowena, BBC, Sky News, GB News, The Independent, Mediaite, @royalreporter, The Hollywood Reporter, Telegraph, GB News, New York Times, Reuters, Rolling Stone and Deadline


A group of lawmakers push a US Senate bill that would require USPS to hit performance targets before imposing surcharges on the delivery of newspapers — - Newspapers previously relied on gig economy workers to distribute newspapers via their own vehicles early in the morning.
Discussion:
Senator Welch, 118th US Congress, U.S. Senate, @newsalliance and News/Media Alliance


A profile of Vidhya Srinivasan, Google's VP and GM of ads since November 2023, as the company faces challenges including restoring advertiser trust — She's fighting to rebuild advertiser trust and make sure Google stays ahead of the AI race — When she was a kid, Vidhya Srinivasan …
Discussion:
Malaika Paquiot on LinkedIn, Robert Klara on LinkedIn and Mike Grehan on LinkedIn