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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.
Discussion:
The Desk, IndieWire, The Hill, @matthewkeyslive, ESPN Press Room U.S., @matthewkeyslive, Sportico, New York Times, Awful Announcing, CNN, Axios, UPI, The Verge, @benmullin, @sarafischer, Sports Media Watch, Variety, @ourand_puck, Deadline, @ourand_puck, Los Angeles Times, @ourand_puck, @rafat, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS News and Next TV
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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


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


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


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:
Bloomberg


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:
Lookout Santa Cruz, @sarahscire and @jbenton


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.


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


Google ad trial: an ex-Facebook ad exec testifies the company signed the 2018 Jedi Blue deal with Google because it couldn't compete against Google's “monopoly” — - Employees concluded ad tech ‘monopoly’ hurt competition — The social network eventually signed an agreement with Google


The BBC is adding extra hours of programming and new shows to cover the US elections, expanding World News America, adding podcast episodes, and more — The U.K. network will devote more hours than ever to America's presidential campaign — The 2024 U.S. presidential election is heading …
Discussion:
Politico


Trump says he has “absolutely no intention” of selling his Trump Media stock when the lockup period expires; DJT initially popped 25%+, then closed up about 12% — Shares of Trump Media shot up by more than 25% on Friday, minutes after majority owner Donald Trump said he has no plans to sell his stake.
Discussion:
Fortune, Associated Press, CNN, Bloomberg, @pkafka, @airspeedswift@mastodon.social, Politico, CBS News, Axios, New York Times, Reuters, Fortune and Quartz, more at Techmeme »