Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Sources: CNN will begin experimenting in early October with a metered paywall, charging some readers for digital access after they read a set number of articles — CNN will begin experimenting in October with a subscription model, in a major initiative from its chief executive, Mark Thompson.
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Newsmax and election systems company Smartmatic reach a confidential settlement that averts Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit over 2020 election lies — Newsmax has reached a settlement with election systems company Smartmatic, averting a defamation trial that was set to start next week.
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, Mediaite, Adweek, The Desk, The Wrap, Radio & Television …, New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, The Hill, TVNewsCheck, CNN, CNN, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, The Daily Beast, Associated Press, CBS News, Reuters, Barrett Media, ABC7, Media Matters for America and Advanced Television
Carly Thomas / The Hollywood Reporter:
CNN won 11 awards in the 2024 News & Documentary Emmy Awards, ABC News won eight including three credited to Hulu, and National Geographic won five — The awards were handed out at the Palladium Times Square in New York City on Wednesday. — CNN, ABC and National Geographic are among …
Discussion:
Variety, Barrett Media, CNN, Deadline, TVNewsCheck and GoldDerby
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New York Times:
Hoda Kotb plans to leave NBC's Today early next year but will remain an occasional contributor to NBC; her exit will create two vacancies in the Today franchise — Her exit, planned for early next year, is a seismic shift for NBC and opens up a pair of morning TV's most coveted anchor chairs.
Discussion:
TODAY.com, Axios, @todayshow, Hollywood Life, ComingSoon.net, WWL-TV, Page Six, @bristei, Full Feed, TODAY.com, @brianstelter, CNN, @grynbaum, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Adweek, @tusk81@mastodon.social, DNyuz, @drewkerr, Mediaite, Black America Web, Barbara Palmer on LinkedIn, TMZ.com, Variety, @davidaxelrod, Us Weekly, Deadline, TVLine, The Wrap, HuffPost, The Hill, Rachel Kay on LinkedIn, CNBC, Next TV, New York Daily News, WRBL-TV, Media Play News, Fox News, E! Online, Forbes, The Daily Beast, KFOR-TV, USA Today, Extra and TV Insider
Todd Spangler / Variety:
AI company Runway launches The Hundred Film Fund, offering grants of $5,000 to $1M for 100 short films and feature-length movies that use generative AI — Runway is launching The Hundred Film Fund, an initiative to help produce and fund as many as 100 short films and feature-length movies …
Andrew Marchand / New York Times:
Sources: ESPN lays off NBA senior writer Zach Lowe as part of continuing cost cutting; his salary, in excess of seven figures annually, was the biggest factor — ESPN has parted ways with NBA senior writer Zach Lowe as part of the network's continuing layoffs, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic on Thursday.
Thomas Claburn / The Register:
Matt Mullenweg says WP Engine no longer has free WordPress.org access and directs WP Engine customers having trouble with their websites to WP Engine support — WordPress on Wednesday escalated its conflict with WP Engine, a hosting provider, by blocking the latter's servers …
Discussion:
WordPress News, @viewfromthebox, Dave Martin, @jbenton, @bgardner, @bgardner, @photomatt, @automattic, @carlhancock, @bowefrankema, @ozskier, @photomatt, @davidtaggart, @photomatt, @vinnysgreen, @benjmay, @patchstackapp, @mgeheren, @stshank, @rmccue, @fjzeit, @bgardner, @shendison, @joshmanders, @keithdevon, @itsdavemartin, @thespacedmonkey, MarTech, @thedannorris, @dcurtis, @wpdavidv, @taraclaeys, @mrlanphear, @danielcid, @tomfrankly, @seldo, @pressable, @t3dotgg, @williamsba, @raymmar_, @slexaxton, @photomatt, @photomatt, @deviorobert, @tealou, @wordpress, @photomatt, @timbouchard, @tmeister, WP Engine's Status Page, Search Engine Journal, TechRadar, @runakog@threads.net, @dvk@toot.re, TechCrunch, @Kye@tech.lgbt, @Jayhoffmann@mastodon.social, @bretcarmichael@mastodon …, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @chris@mastodon …, One Man & His Blog and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
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Elizabeth Lopatto / The Verge:
X is blocking links to Ken Klippenstein's newsletter with a hacked JD Vance dossier and suspended Klippenstein's X account for posting Vance's private info — X is preventing users from posting links to a newsletter containing a hacked document that's alleged to be the Trump campaign's research …
Discussion:
@pkafka@threads.net, Mediaite, Engadget, New Republic, @omimesis@mastodon.social, @BackFromTheDud@mas.to, The Hill, @Cyberpreppy@mastodon.social, @digiphile@mastodon.social, @thezedwards, @alibreland, @alibreland, @rmac18, @justinbaragona, @leahmcelrath, @leahmcelrath, @leahmcelrath, @leahmcelrath, @rmac18, @emptywheel, @jessicalburbank, Elizabeth Lopatto on LinkedIn, @passantino@threads.net, Ken Klippenstein and @mmasnick.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
The Information:
Source: Amazon exceeded its goal of $1.8B in ad-spending commitments for its video-streaming offerings, including Thursday Night Football, in the coming year — Amazon's decision to introduce ads within its Prime Video streaming service is already paying off for the company.
Discussion:
Reuters, Deadline and Adweek, more at Techmeme »
Emma Roth / The Verge:
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2426, which forces digital stores to tell customers they are getting a revocable license when “buying” digital media — California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law (AB 2426) to combat “disappearing” purchases of digital games, movies, music, and ebooks.
Hadas Gold / CNN:
Nevada court hearings in the Murdoch family succession fight ended outside of public view; resolution may take weeks and be appealed to Nevada's Supreme Court — New York CNN — — The fate of Rupert Murdoch's vast media empire, including Fox News, is now in the hands of a Reno probate commissioner …
Discussion:
@passantino@threads.net
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Subscription management platform RevenueCat acquires Dipsea, an app that offers subscriptions for “spicy” audiobooks, as a test ground for RevenueCat's features — On the heels of its earlier $12 million fundraise, subscription management platform RevenueCat has made its first acquisition — and it's an unusual one.
Marci McCue / Flipboard:
Flipboard says it is federating 250 publisher profiles and 4,000 of their curated Magazines, including ABC News, the AP, The Atlantic, PBS, and USA Today — BYMARCI MCCUE — Today Flipboard is federating 250 publisher profiles and 4,000 of their curated Magazines, making it possible …
Discussion:
DNyuz, @mike@flipboard.social, @Flipboard@flipboard.social and @tchambers@indieweb.social
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