Top News:
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.
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Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
Former child star Demi Lovato joined California Governor Gavin Newsom as he signed two bills that financially protect child influencers and content creators — Former child star Demi Lovato joined the California governor on Thursday as he greenlit legislation that expands the Coogan Law …
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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:
Deadline, The Wrap, Reuters and Adweek, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple rethinks its movie strategy, including rolling back theatrical releases and cutting budgets for most to under $100M, after some box office misses — The tech giant intended to spend $1 billion annually on films for cinemas. After several box office disappointments …
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
A look at National Trust for Local News, which owns 65 newspapers across Colorado, Maine, and Georgia, employs ~250 journalists, and has 100K paying subscribers — “What we're trying to solve for is not necessarily a business model problem. We're trying to solve for an ownership incentive problem."
Discussion:
Rodney Gibbs on LinkedIn
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
A look at publishers' growing use of Subtext, founded in 2019 by Advance Local's Alpha Group, to drive traffic, reduce churn, and drive affiliate revenue — Could old-fashioned SMS texting be a more reliable alternative to fickle social media algorithms for publishers?
Elizabeth Lopatto / The Verge:
X is blocking links to Ken Klippenstein's newsletter with a hacked JD Vance dossier and has suspended Klippenstein's X account for posting Vance's personal 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:
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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.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, New York Post, Washington Post, Adweek, ComingSoon.net, @sepinwall@threads.net, Front Office Sports, @kforch1@threads.net, Deadline, @johnjf125, @tyler_greever, @sherman4949, @waldersports, @philiprr_omd, @fmaddennba, @yourmandevine, @marcatracy, Mediaite, Sports Media Watch, New Jersey Online, Awful Announcing, @howelloneill.bsky.social, UPROXX, Barrett Media and USA Today
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.
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:
Talking Biz News, The Wrap, Variety, Variety, Barrett Media, CNN, Deadline, TVNewsCheck and GoldDerby
RELATED:
Elle Kehres / Radio World:
The FCC voted to impose fines for three Miami-area pirate radio operators totaling $800K+ and proposes fines totaling $1M for three suspected NYC-area operators — Commission carries out three fines, has three more proposed — The Federal Communications Commission has taken swift action …
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
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 …
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