Mediagazer: Sources: DirecTV is in talks with Dish for a merger, which could create the largest pay-TV provider in the US with about 20M subscribers (Michelle F Davis/Bloomberg)

Michelle F Davis / Bloomberg:

Sources: DirecTV is in talks with Dish for a merger, which could create the largest pay-TV provider in the US with about 20M subscribers — - On-again, off-again efforts date back more than two decades — DirecTV-Dish merger would create largest US pay-TV distributor

Discussion: Reuters, Cord Cutters News, Streaming Better, @michellef_davis, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @2xaught7.bsky.social and New York Times

CNBC:

Disney and DirecTV reach an agreement that will bring Disney's ESPN and other channels back to the pay-tv provider's customers after a roughly two week blackout — DirecTV and Disney have reached a deal that will bring Disney's ESPN and other channels back to the pay-tv provider's customers after a roughly two week blackout.

Financial Times:

Sources: Mathias Döpfner and KKR near a deal to split up Axel Springer, valuing the company at €13.5B; KKR would get control of the €10B+ classifieds business — Agreement to be discussed next week could cement Mathias Döpfner's control over media outlets Politico and Bild

Discussion: @hrreisen, Bloomberg and Reuters

Ben Schoon / 9to5Google:

Google TV rolls out Freeplay as a new home for its free, ad-supported TV channels, which grew to 150, up from 80 in early 2023 — After adding a few more new channels recently, Google TV has started rolling out “Freeplay” as a new home for its free, ad-supported TV channels.

Discussion: Cord Cutters News, SamMobile, Neowin, TechRadar, The Verge, Android Authority, Gizchina.com, Android Police and BGR

Joseph Gedeon / Politico:

The US State Department says Russia's RT is operating a military procurement network to supply Russian forces and is growing global covert influence operations — The state-backed media outlet has been sending weapons to Russian units, including sniper rifles and suppressors, body armor …

Discussion: CNN, @rt_com, @peterjukes, @tatatfender, @jgedeon1, @davetroy, @juliadavisnews, @thezedwards, @juliadavisnews, @robfardon, @davetroy, Politico, London Evening Standard, @erosalie@infosec.exchange and @rvps2001@mastodon.social

David Klepper / Associated Press:

The US State Department announces new sanctions on Russian state media and their leaders, including RT parent TV-Novosti and a related group, Rossiya Segodnya — The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions on Russian state media Friday, accusing a Kremlin news outlet of working hand …

Discussion: Washington Post, @sputnikint, Voice of America, The Desk, The Guardian, New York Post, Reuters, @cdarwin@c.im, New York Times, @markmetz@sfba.social and Boing Boing

Peter Beaumont / The Guardian:

The Jewish Chronicle removes a series of sensational articles relating to the Gaza war after claims that they were fabricated by freelance journalist Elon Perry — Newspaper's due diligence is under scrutiny amid growing misgivings over its ownership and the role of its editor

Discussion: @i_ammukhtar, @jayrayner1, @freedland and @helenlewis

Jason Parham / Wired:

An interview with Maya Cade, founder of the Black Film Archive, on the Internet Archive lawsuit, Hollywood's business model, Black media's future, and more — “It's as if television, media, and filmmaking are becoming manifest destiny in the wrong ways,” says Maya Cade, founder of the Black Film Archive.

Discussion: @mayascade and @nonlinearnotes

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

Sources: Netflix is in talks with BuzzFeed to stream Hot Ones, to add to its live lineup; Sean Evans would host several live episodes specifically for Netflix — - Streaming company holds talks with show owner BuzzFeed — Program would add to lineup of live fare, including NFL, WWE

Discussion: TechCrunch, TV Insider, Forbes, Variety, @daveleebbg@threads.net, AV Club, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, TVNewsCheck and The Verge

Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:

Q&A with Ken Doctor, the news industry analyst who founded Lookout, on its Santa Cruz newsroom in California, expansion into Oregon, revenue streams, and more — After finding success — and a Pulitzer Prize — in Santa Cruz, Lookout aims to replicate its model in Oregon.

Discussion: American Press Institute

Mike Janssen / Current:

Email: New York Public Radio's CEO announces 26 layoffs, including 12 voluntary departures, or 8.5% of jobs, as NYPR plans to cut back on podcasts and events — New York Public Radio is eliminating 26 positions and will cut back on podcasts and live events, CEO LaFontaine Oliver announced in an email to staff Thursday.

Discussion: Gothamist, Barrett Media, Beth Fertig on LinkedIn, Digital Music News, Ilya Marritz on LinkedIn, Radio & Television … and Inside Radio

Michael Kunzelman / Associated Press:

Two brothers are charged with assaulting New York Times photographer Erin Schaff on January 6, 2021, in the Capitol and stealing her camera — Two brothers were arrested Thursday on charges that they assaulted a New York Times photographer inside the U.S. Capitol during a mob's attack on the building more than three years ago.

Discussion: NBC News, HuffPost and The Philadelphia Inquirer