Top News:


Sources: Skydance reached a preliminary deal to pay $1.75B for National Amusements and agreed to a 45-day period where other Paramount bidders can make offers — Skydance would pay $1.75 billion for National Amusements under the preliminary deal — David Ellison's production company …
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, The Desk, Variety, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, The Information, @sherman4949, Financial Times, @richlightshed, @richlightshed, @rfaughnder, @sherman4949, Los Angeles Times, Awful Announcing, The Wrap, Deadline, @paulconstant.com and Forbes, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:


Sources: Paramount Global is in exclusive talks to sell BET for $1.6B-$1.7B to buyers that include BET CEO Scott Mills and Chinh Chu, who runs CC Capital — - Discussing offer from BET CEO and CC Capital's Chinh Chu — New interest after Paramount talks with Skydance fell apart
Discussion:
Stereogum, Fortune, @reigncoates, @mattbelloni, Fast Company, New York Post, IndieWire, The Wrap, The Desk, Variety, The Streamable, Axios, Cord Cutters News, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes and New York Times


Mastodon adds clickable bylines under article links, pointing to the author's fediverse account; The Verge and MacRumors are among the pubs using the feature — A new feature for media organizations, journalists and bloggers — To reinforce and encourage Mastodon as the go-to place for journalism …
Discussion:
The Verge, TechCrunch, @Mastodon@mastodon.social, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @garry@mstdn.social, @yaohsi@istanza.ch, Melanie Sill on LinkedIn, @mho@social.heise.de, @amberage@eldritch.cafe, @ernie@writing.exchange, @buddiesofbudgie@floss.social, @seanfobbe@fediscience.org, J. Nathan Matias on LinkedIn, @bretcarmichael@mastodon …, @nileane@nileane.fr, @btp@fosstodon.org, @Edent@mastodon.social, @frozencanuck@mas.to, @dimillian@mastodon.social and @IceCubesApp@mastodon.online


Journalists need to reject formulas that have made them ineffective, like presenting “both sides”, after the SCOTUS ruling giving presidents unrestricted power — This is the first in a series of posts. — Dear journalists: This is your moment.


EverPass Media, which has commercial rights to NFL's Sunday Ticket, acquires UPshow, a service that enables live sports streaming at commercial establishments — A satellite dish is no longer the only way bars and restaurants can air the National Football League's package of “Sunday Ticket” games.
Discussion:
EverPass Media, The Hill, Awful Announcing, The Media Leader, Barrett Media, Deadline, Sportico and The Hollywood Reporter


Judges have allowed First Amendment free speech rights to be hijacked to suppress the sovereignty of humans in favor of the power of companies and machines — The First Amendment was written in the 18th century with the noble and vitally important goal of ensuring robust political debate and a free press.
Discussion:
@g_shullenberger, @elonmusk, @mkhammer, @rationalist69, @alex, @jess_miers, Ann Rutledge on LinkedIn, @sergiovengeance, @murielblaivephd, @aaron_renn, @scottgreenfield, @jeninyounesesq, @pluribuspub, @centralunplan, @jeninyounesesq, @g_shullenberger, @aricohn, @michaelkpate, @g_shullenberger, @emmma_camp_, @scottlincicome, Fox News, Reason, Public Knowledge, Freedom of the Press …, @KevinCarson1@kolektiva.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, News/Media Alliance, Engadget, The Verge, Bloomberg, Free Press, Slate, Techdirt and Deadline


Reddit users: Netflix is following through on its plan to phase out its cheapest $11.99/month ad-free tier, instead pushing its $6.99, $15.49, and $22.99 tiers — Netflix is following through on its plan to phase out its cheapest ad-free tier for existing subscribers.
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, 9to5Mac, @tvgrimreaper, @tvgrimreaper, Neowin, Android Authority, PCMag, Android Central, Tom's Guide, PhoneArena, MobileSyrup, Financial Express, Business Standard, PYMNTS.com, GameSpot, Android Headlines, How-To Geek, Android Police, TechRadar, Mashable, BGR, Trusted Reviews, r/mildlyinfuriating, r/television and Slashdot, more at Techmeme »


Brad Stone, editor of Bloomberg Businessweek, which moved to monthly circulation, says print may make a comeback as readers want “distraction-free luxury” — Editor of Businessweek Brad Stone said he believes print journalism could make a comeback as the 95-year-old title moved from weekly to monthly circulation this week.


AI spam still sometimes ranks higher than original reporting in Google Search despite Google's adjustments to target AI spam in March 2024 — Google adjusted its policies to target AI spam earlier this year, but plagiarizing content still comes up higher in search results months later—and SEO experts aren't sure why.
Discussion:
@wired, The Overspill, Digital Journal, @wired, @wired, Beyond Search and ROI Revolution, more at Techmeme »


Memo: News Corp CEO Robert Thomson signals the company is weighing legal action against at least one generative AI firm, weeks after finalizing an OpenAI deal — In the memo, the CEO shared more detail on his approach to generative AI, which he considers a major risk to journalism — even as the company strikes deals with AI firms.
Discussion:
@johnbuckley_ and @kalihays1@threads.net


Snapchat adds new features, including letting Snapchat+ subscribers design a personalized house on Snap Map and send Snaps that last less than .5 seconds — Snapchat is introducing new ways for users to personalize their accounts, the company announced on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Snap Newsroom, Randy Meech on LinkedIn and The Verge, more at Techmeme »


Following Paramount's takedown of MTV News, the Internet Archive has assembled a searchable index of 460,575 web pages earlier published at MTV.com/news — MTV News lives! Well, sort of. … You can search the MTV News archive on the organization's Wayback Machine at this link.