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New York Times:
Sources: Paramount extends its deadline for sales talks until early September to evaluate Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s new bid, which could shake up the Skydance deal — Edgar Bronfman Jr. and his bidding group now have until September to sell Paramount on their offer.
Discussion:
The Special Committee …, Deadline, CNBC, The Desk, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, Advanced Television, Broadband TV News, The Wrap, Commercial Observer, AV Club, Front Office Sports, New York Post, Sportico, Financial Times, Axios, The Streamable, The Media Leader, Media Play News, The Hill and Music Business Worldwide
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Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Edgar Bronfman Jr. raises his Paramount bid to $6B, adding $1.7B to let non-Redstone, nonvoting Paramount shareholders cash out at $16 a share — The bid gives non-Redstone, nonvoting Paramount shareholders an option to sell shares at a premium — Edgar Bronfman Jr. has sweetened …
Lauren Irwin / The Hill:
Judy Woodruff apologizes for saying she had read reports that Trump urged Israel's PM not to cut a deal to end fighting in Gaza because it would help Harris — PBS NewsHour senior correspondent Judy Woodruff issued an apology Wednesday after her comments about former President Trump's role in Gaza cease-fire talks sparked criticism.
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Peter White / Deadline:
Sources: Chick-Fil-A plans to launch a slate of original media productions for its own streaming platform and has worked with studios on family-friendly shows — Deadline understands that the fast-food firm has been working with a number of major production companies, including some of the studios …
Discussion:
The Verge, The Hill, Los Angeles Times, Mashable, Axios, @mikeorren, @deadline, @kennysmith.bsky.social, Too Much TV Newsletter, @sleestak.bsky.social, @mfg_iwpj, @deadline, @c_a_huggins, @LilahTovMoon@tech.lgbt, The Overspill, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, AV Club, Vanity Fair, Vibe, CBR, Ars Technica, @cafastfoodunion, @chrisvalentino0, @deadline, The Desk, Streaming Better, Variety, @acidrains.bsky.social, The Daily Beast, Quartz, SlashFilm, Cord Cutters News and The Media Leader
Politico:
Google and California strike a deal to jointly contribute $125M+ over five years to support local news; the deal also includes support for an AI project — The California agreement includes funding for artificial intelligence, a technology many journalists fear could replace their jobs.
Discussion:
KQED, a14.asmdc.org, Associated Press, @eytanwallace, The Information, @gaufre, MediaPost, @jamesqueallylat, @jeffjarvis, @jeffjarvis, @eytanwallace, @eytanwallace, @eytanwallace, Engadget, New York Times, CNN, @davidfolkenflik, @eytanwallace, Los Angeles Times and CalMatters, more at Techmeme »
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Bilge Ebiri / Vulture:
Lionsgate recalls its trailer for Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis that used fake quotes from multiple critics, and apologizes “for this inexcusable error” — Since this story published, Lionsgate has taken the trailer down and issued an apology: “Lionsgate is immediately recalling our trailer for Megalopolis.
Discussion:
Variety, The Guardian, AV Club, HuffPost, Consequence, New York Times, @bilgeebiri, Empire, The Wrap, @bilgeebiri, Mashable, Associated Press, CBR, Deadline, @bilgeebiri, @bilgeebiri, The Verge, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Newser, The Daily Beast, ComingSoon.net, USA Today, Screen Rant, Inverse, Digital Trends, Boing Boing, New York Daily News, The Indian Express and Rolling Stone
New York Times:
The FBI has raided the homes of two US commentators for Russian state media in an effort to blunt foreign influence on elections; more searches are expected — The F.B.I. raided the homes of two prominent commentators on Russian state television channels as part of an effort to blunt attempts to influence November's election.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Rotten Tomatoes debuts a Verified Hot badge for films that have a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher, among other requirements — Movies that are ‘Verified Hot’ by filmgoers will join those that are ‘Certified Fresh’ from critics, in a move meant to give more weight to consumer opinions …
Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
David Anderson, head of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, plans to step down in 2025 after ABC finds a managing director, after a 35-year career at ABC — In a note to staff Anderson - who was first appointed to role in 2019 - says it was an honour and privilege to lead the ABC
Naomi LaChance / Rolling Stone:
Fact checkers' reviews of Democrats' statements about Trump have routinely botched the facts, earning one correction so far and an X Community Note — Fact checkers' reviews of DNC speeches about Trump have routinely botched the facts — earning one correction so far and a community note on X
Discussion:
Press Watch, ComingSoon.net, @nycsouthpaw, @drvolts, @nycsouthpaw, @nycsouthpaw, @spockosbrain, @nycsouthpaw, @brianbeutler, Washington Post, @jamesfallows, @stevehillwriter, @nycsouthpaw, @atrupar, @nycsouthpaw, @kevinmkruse@threads.net, @newsjennifer_schulze …, Mercury News, @epopppp.bsky.social, @juliusgoat.bsky.social and CBS News
Michael Gwilliam / Dexerto:
Twitch plans to raise its new Tier 1 sub and gift sub prices on mobile in 40+ countries on October 1; in an email, Twitch says Tier 1 will rise by $2 to $7.99 — Twitch has announced yet another increase to the price of subs after already raising the cost earlier in the summer.
Discussion:
Neowin, PhoneArena, @twitchsupport, Engadget and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Ormax Media estimates that India currently has 547M streaming users, or 38% of the population, up 14% YoY and driven by ad-supported streaming — The latest edition of Ormax Media's streaming audience research reveals significant growth in India's streaming landscape, albeit driven entirely by ad-supported viewership.
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