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.
Discussion:
NBC News, DNyuz, Washington Post, Axios, @stuartathompsonnyt …, Forbes, @katie_robertson, NPR, Newser, Associated Press, CNN, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, Mediaite, Adweek, The Desk, The Wrap, CBS News, New York Times, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, The Hill, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Radio & Television …, New York Daily News, TVNewsCheck, Barrett Media, ABC7, Media Matters for America and Advanced Television
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 …
Discussion:
Governor of California, The Wrap, The Hill, @kayreneeesq, Rolling Stone, Maria J Da Mata Mulero on LinkedIn, ABC7, NBC News, Mashable, DNyuz, Billboard and KSTP-TV
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.
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?
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:
The Wrap, Reuters, Deadline and Adweek, more at Techmeme »
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:
The Wrap, Variety, Variety, Barrett Media, CNN, Deadline, TVNewsCheck and GoldDerby
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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 …
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, @alibreland, @leahmcelrath, @emptywheel, @leahmcelrath, @alibreland, @thezedwards, DNyuz, @leahmcelrath, @jessicalburbank, Breitbart, @rmac18, @leahmcelrath, @rmac18, @newrepublic@threads.net, @eliothiggins, @justinbaragona, Engadget, @omimesis@mastodon.social, @BackFromTheDud@mas.to, New Republic, New York Daily News, Ken Klippenstein, @oremus.bsky.social, @davekarpf.bsky.social, @davekarpf.bsky.social, @Cyberpreppy@mastodon.social, @hn50@social.lansky.name, @digiphile@mastodon.social, Elizabeth Lopatto on LinkedIn, @passantino@threads.net, Mediaite, The Hill, @mmasnick.bsky.social and Hacker News, more at Techmeme »
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
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:
Washington Post, @marcatracy, @waldersports, @tyler_greever, @fmaddennba, @sherman4949, @kforch1@threads.net, Front Office Sports, Deadline, @sepinwall@threads.net, @yourmandevine, @philiprr_omd, @johnjf125, Mediaite, Sports Media Watch, New Jersey Online, Awful Announcing, @howelloneill.bsky.social, UPROXX, Barrett Media and USA Today
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.
Matt Mullenweg:
Matt Mullenweg says Automattic has “been attempting to make a licensing deal” with WP Engine “for a very long time, and all they have done is string us along” — In short, WP Engine is violating WordPress' trademarks. Moreover, they have been doing so for years.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Fast Company, @photomatt@mastodon.social and Automattic
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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
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
Discussion:
Tedium, WordPress News, @viewfromthebox, @bowefrankema, @bgardner, @pressable, @automattic, @tmeister, @rmccue, @wpdavidv, @bgardner, @thedannorris, @shendison, @joshmanders, @williamsba, @patchstackapp, @fjzeit, @mrlanphear, @timbouchard, @stshank, @tomfrankly, @danielcid, @itsdavemartin, @dcurtis, @vinnysgreen, @t3dotgg, @slexaxton, @tealou, @benjmay, @thespacedmonkey, @seldo, @ozskier, @taraclaeys, @photomatt, @deviorobert, @photomatt, @davidtaggart, @photomatt, @photomatt, @photomatt, @carlhancock, @photomatt, @mgeheren, @bgardner, @jbenton, @raymmar_, @keithdevon, @wordpress, MarTech, Dave Martin, TechRadar, WP Engine's Status Page, Search Engine Journal, @runakog@threads.net, @dvk@toot.re, TechCrunch, @Kye@tech.lgbt, @Jayhoffmann@mastodon.social, @bretcarmichael@mastodon …, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @chris@mastodon … and One Man & His Blog, more at Techmeme »