Mediagazer: Social media influencers backing Trump include Bryce Hall, with 23.7M TikTok followers, FaZe Banks, with nearly 5M YouTube subscribers, and Jake and Logan Paul (NBC News)

Top News:

Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:

Netflix reports Q2 revenue up 16.8% YoY to $9.56B, vs. $9.53B est., paid memberships up 16.5% YoY to 277.65M, vs. 274.4M est., net income up 44% YoY to $2.15B — Netflix reported second-quarter earnings Thursday that showcased the media giant's position at the head of the streaming race …

Discussion: The Verge, The Wrap, New York Times, Ad Age, Variety, Engadget, IGN, @ainemacdermot.bsky.social, Netflix and Reuters, more at Techmeme »

Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:

Peter Naylor, Netflix VP of ad sales since August 2022, is leaving, and the company will hire a head of US and Canada ad sales to fill his spot — The executive has been at the streaming giant since August 2022. … Naylor has been at Netflix since August 2022.

Discussion: Variety, Ad Age, Adweek, The Information, Deadline, @pkafka, @pkafka and @pkafka, more at Techmeme »

Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:

Netflix says its ad tier now accounts for over 45% of all signups in the markets where it's available, and ad tier memberships grew 34% QoQ in Q2 — The company expands its lead over competitors with 277.65 million subscribers globally — Netflix beat Wall Street expectations …

Discussion: Reuters, Business Insider, Deadline, IGN, Quartz, @sharonwaxman, The Information and Next TV, more at Techmeme »

Financial Times:

Sources: WBD weighs splitting off its streaming and studio businesses from its legacy TV networks including CNN, leaving most of its debt with the TV networks — Group behind CNN and HBO has discussed options including spin-off of its streaming service and movie studio

NBC News:

Social media influencers backing Trump include Bryce Hall, with 23.7M TikTok followers, FaZe Banks, with nearly 5M YouTube subscribers, and Jake and Logan Paul — Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, influencers with large followings spoke out in his support.

Aidan McLaughlin / Mediaite:

Veteran cable news host Lou Dobbs, who made his name on CNN and then Fox Business, has died at 78; Trump announced his death on Truth Social — Lou Dobbs, the veteran broadcaster who made his name on CNN and then Fox Business as an icon of financial news, passed away at the age of 78 …

Lisa Richwine / Reuters:

FilmLA: from April through June 2024, the number of on-location filming days in LA fell 12.4% YoY, driven by a 56.9% drop in reality TV production — Los Angeles experienced a hefty decline in reality TV production as Hollywood worked to recover from dual labor strikes last year, according to statistics released on Wednesday.

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline

Bloomberg:

Sources: Apple has spoken to many of the largest Hollywood studios about acquiring more programming from their libraries to offer customers in the US and abroad — - Apple TV+ has relied on original series like ‘Ted Lasso’ … The iPhone maker has spoken to several of the largest studios …

Discussion: Ars Technica, Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn, AppleInsider, Spyglass, 9to5Mac, The Streamable and Reuters, more at Techmeme »

Committee to Protect Journalists:

The CPJ supports an urgent appeal filed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture on behalf of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, imprisoned since 2022 — The Committee to Protect Journalists supports the urgent appeal filed to UN officials by an international legal team …

Discussion: @pressfreedom, @pressfreedom, doughtystreet.co.uk and @pressfreedom

Reuters:

An Italian court orders a journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni €5K for mocking her height; in 2023, journalist Roberto Saviano was fined €1K for insulting Meloni — A Milan court has ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of 5,000 euros ($5,465) …

Discussion: New York Times and The Guardian

Adam Crafton / New York Times:

CBS Sports secures a four-year deal to air at least 250 English Football League matches per season, starting in August 2024 — CBS Sports is the new home of the English Football League (EFL) and Carabao Cup in the United States after agreeing a four-deal to prise coverage of the competitions away from ESPN.

Discussion: Awful Announcing, Radio & Television …, The Hollywood Reporter, The US Sun, Boris Gartner on LinkedIn, Variety, Deadline and TVNewsCheck

Emma Roth / The Verge:

Apple is launching new immersive video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including content from The Weeknd and the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend — Apple is launching new “immersive” video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including one from The Weeknd …

Discussion: TechCrunch, Apple, BGR, AppleInsider and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »