Top News:
Dawn Chmielewski / Reuters:
Paramount Global and Skydance Media announce a merger of the two companies, ending months of chaotic talks; a memo says the deal is expected to close in H1 2025 — Skydance Media and Paramount Global (PARA.O) agreed to merge, the companies announced late Sunday evening, opening a new chapter for one of Hollywood's oldest studios.
Discussion:
The Media Leader, CNN, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, New York Times, MediaPost, Mumbrella, Deadline, Financial Times, B&T, The Wrap, IndieWire, Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Axios, The Daily Beast, Cord Cutters News, @richlightshed, Reuters, @lkimmasters@threads.net, @lucas_shaw, @loudmouthjulia, @mattnicholas, @andykleinman, @benmullin, The Hollywood Reporter, @lucas_shaw, @lucas_shaw, @mattbelloni, Los Angeles Times, Media Play News, The Information, @btmcclure, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, Variety, @xpangler, @harrisharrisev9, The Wrap, New York Times, Business Insider, New York Post, r/MediaMergers, r/boxoffice, r/startrek and r/wallstreetbets
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Memo: Shari Redstone says Skydance “have a clear strategic vision for the future”; Paramount co-CEOs say “it's business as usual” until the deal closes in 2025 — Cheeks, McCarthy and Robbins say they will continue carrying out their restructuring plan, including layoffs and asset sales
Discussion:
Reuters, Deadline, IF Magazine and Media Play News
Calum Jaspan / Sydney Morning Herald:
Memo: Nine's Pedestrian Group restructures as CEO departs, staff faces cuts, and licensing deals to publish Vice, Gizmodo, Kotaku, others in Australia get axed — The chief executive of Nine-owned Pedestrian Group, Matt Rowley, will leave the youth publisher as part of a major restructure …
Discussion:
Mumbrella, B&T, The Guardian and @alexkidman@aus.social
Michael D. Shear / New York Times:
Biden aides provided questions for radio interviews on The Source on Philadelphia's WURD, on July 3, and The Earl Ingram Show on Wisconsin's WAUK, on July 4 — The host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia said officials provided her with a list of eight questions to choose from.
Discussion:
WURD Radio, ABC News, Fox News, Variety, @justinbaragona, Mediaite, @charlesarthur, @jonkarl, @jabeale, @victorblackwell, @alexthomp, @aghamilton29, New York Post, TMZ.com, @ethank@threads.net, @ethank@threads.net, Deadline, CNN, CBS News, Axios, The Wrap and ABC News
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Gillian McGoldrick / The Philadelphia Inquirer:
WURD says Biden's interview, with questions provided by his aides, was conducted without management knowledge and is parting ways with Andrea Lawful-Sanders — The Philadelphia radio host who admitted to using questions prepared by President Joe Biden's campaign in one of his first postdebate interviews …
Discussion:
Inside Radio, @brianstelter, CNN, @brianstelter, Fox News, New York Times, New York Post, @alexthomp, Axios, Ashanti Maya Martin on LinkedIn, The Wrap and Mediaite
Ashley Belanger / Ars Technica:
As Glaze, a free tool to help artists prevent AI from copying their style, sees an “explosion in demand”, researchers say its protections can be bypassed — Artists must wait weeks for Glaze defense against AI scraping amid TOS updates. — For many artists, it's a precarious time to post art online.
Janko Roettgers / The Verge:
A look at Redbox's downward spiral since COVID-19, as pandemic-induced movie shortages and the declining number of DVD rental kiosks led to a big revenue drop — The bankruptcy of Redbox's parent company came after months of chaos, cash crunch, and corporate upheaval.
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News
Jef Feeley / Bloomberg:
Discovery investors reach a $125M settlement over claims that company insiders reaped improper benefits worth $1B+ in its $43B merger with WarnerMedia — - Settlement involves payment by Advance/Newhouse partnerships — Merger created one of world's largest entertainment companies
Discussion:
Deadline
Ben Church / CNN:
A look at concerns about Saudi Arabia “sportswashing”, as the country hosts the Esports World Cup; Saudi Arabia's PIF owns some of the biggest gaming companies — In the heart of Saudi Arabia's capital, a seismic moment for esports is underway; one which has triggered both excitement and concern across the industry.
Discussion:
@slasher, @obiexyz, @jacobwolf, @myra__davis, @fishstix, @devrelcallum, @rlewisreports, @jacobwolf, @dszajnuk, @jimohagan, @fishstix, @rlewisreports, @invert_lol, @pengu, @bekahboo1290, @middlecottisme, @thechowderhead, @hoffasaurusx, @owcesports, @ewc_en, @ow_svb, @moneyfolder5, @mattomattik, @cointree_ow, @daesanghyeokie, @lsxyz9, @jimohagan, @lsxyz9, @teadvocated, @liquid112, @slasher, @liquidnazgul, ABC News (Australia) on YouTube, BBC, VG247, BBC News on YouTube, The Esports Advocate, The Esports Advocate, CBC News and BBC
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Mario Koran / New York Times:
A reporter describes how college journalism classes helped him go from being in jail to becoming a NYT Local Investigations Fellow and Wisconsin Watch reporter — While serving a sentence for burglary, I enrolled in a college journalism class. When I interviewed my correctional officer, my world broadened.
Discussion:
Marc Lacey on LinkedIn, @ricfouad, @joshrmoore, @jmalewitz, @jordancoll21, @mariokoran and @keribla
John Hanna / Associated Press:
Former Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver agrees to accept $235,000 to settle part of her lawsuit over a police raid on the Kansas paper in August 2023 — A former reporter for a weekly Kansas newspaper has agreed to accept $235,000 to settle part of her federal lawsuit over a police raid …
Discussion:
Deadline, New York Times, @apjdhanna and @apjdhanna
Li Yuan / New York Times:
How xenophobic content on Chinese social media, directed towards Japan, the US, Jews, and others, became the subject of a debate and spreads despite censorship — Violent attacks on foreigners have prompted a debate about extreme nationalism online in a country that heavily censors information the government bans.
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
At the half-year mark, Hollywood media giants have had double-digit stock price declines, except Disney and Fox, and will likely stay underwater in 2024 — Disney and Fox Corp. buck the downtrend for showbiz shares at the midyear mark — As always, the numbers tell the tale.
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