Top News:
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.
Discussion:
ESPN Press Room U.S., @ourand_puck, @matthewkeyslive, @ourand_puck, The Desk, @matthewkeyslive, @benmullin, @ourand_puck, @sarafischer, @rafat, IndieWire, Streaming Better, Sportico, New York Times, CNN, Axios, The Verge, Variety, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS News and 6abc
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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
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
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
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
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
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.
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
Leah Nylen / Bloomberg:
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
Discussion:
@vidushi_law, @vidushi_law, @vidushi_law, @vidushi_law, @vidushi_law, @vidushi_law, @bigtechontrial, @jason_kint, @leah_nylen and usvgoogleads.com
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