Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
A combined DirecTV and Dish would have ~18M customers total, down 63% from the peak levels in 2016; DirecTV has ~10M pay-TV subscribers, down from 25.5M in 2016 — TPG will acquire AT&T's 70% stake in DirecTV, giving it 100% ownership in the pay-TV provider
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Amy Thomson / Bloomberg:
AT&T agrees to sell its majority stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG for $7.6B in cash, including $1.7B in pre-tax quarterly distributions in H2 2024 — The payments include $1.7 billion in pre-tax quarterly distributions in the second half of this year and $5.4 billion …
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
DirecTV and EchoStar reach a definitive agreement for DirecTV to acquire EchoStar's video business Dish DBS, including Dish TV and Sling TV — The combination “will benefit U.S. video consumers by creating a more robust competitive force in a video industry dominated by streaming services owned …
Discussion:
Reuters, Ad Age, Radio & Television …, The Verge, Business Insider, CNN, The Streamable, Advanced Television, Media Play News, @sherman4949, KGW-TV, @sherman4949, WORLD SCREEN, KSTP-TV, Axios, Quartz, Deadline, Streaming Better, Broadband TV News, Cord Cutters News, @tvgrimreaper, Adweek, @bryanruby@me.dm, @mtfiii, Los Angeles Times, @bristei, CNBC, New York Times, Variety and The Wrap
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: Amazon Prime Video is in talks with veteran anchor Brian Williams to host a live Election Night special, its first entry into news-related programming — Brian Williams may have found his next TV-news job....except it won't be on traditional TV. — The veteran NBC News …
Discussion:
New York Post, Adweek, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Cord Cutters News, The Ankler, Dan Rayburn on LinkedIn, The Daily Beast, @daveleebbg@threads.net, @dylanbyers, @bristei, @hbraun.jackson@threads.net, @stevemberkowitz@threads.net, @crumbler@threads.net, @mcbride.david.j@threads.net, @dylanbyers, @brianstelter, The Verge, The Hill, Mediaite, TVLine, TechCrunch, @fivesilhouettes.bsky.social, DNyuz, The Hollywood Reporter and @wagatwe.com, more at Techmeme »
Jem Aswad / Variety:
YouTube blocks songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, and others in the US, after its music licensing agreement with performing rights organization SESAC expired — Songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, R.E.M., Burna Boy, Rush and many others are currently unplayable on YouTube in the U.S. due …
New York Times:
CBS plans to show an onscreen QR code for the VP debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz to direct users to fact checks on the CBS News website — CBS is experimenting with a novel way to offer real-time fact-checking of the vice-presidential debate on Tuesday. Just don't expect the moderators to frequently jump in.
Jason Parham / Wired:
An interview with Eric Eddings, who leads podcast development for Kevin Hart's Hartbeat, on the rise of “chatcasts” and their impact in the podcasting industry — “The industry part of podcasting has to not be afraid to invest in innovation,” says audio executive Eric Eddings.
Discussion:
@jvquantum and @bonybean
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
CNN revives CNN Films, which was shut down in 2022, with plans to finance and release documentary series and films as part of an overhaul by Mark Thompson — The network is again financing and releasing documentary series and films after backing away from the genre two years ago.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
A US judge rules that Fiona Harvey can pursue her defamation lawsuit against Netflix over Baby Reindeer, saying the show was wrongly billed as a “true story” — A judge ruled Friday that the Netflix show “Baby Reindeer” did not live up to its billing as a “true story,” …
Discussion:
DNyuz, The Independent, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, AV Club, Metro.co.uk and Deadline
New York Times:
Google's lawyers wrapped up their defense of the company in the US DOJ ad tech antitrust trial last week; a judge's ruling is expected in the coming months — The tech giant, which wrapped up its arguments in the federal monopoly trial, simply says it has the best product.
Discussion:
Digital Content Next, MEDIANAMA, Digiday, Fast Company, MediaPost, Ars Technica, Bloomberg, The Keyword, Ad Age and AdExchanger, more at Techmeme »
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Antenna: Netflix cancellations spiked for a few days in late July 2024 after Reed Hastings endorsed Kamala Harris and announced a $7M super PAC donation — Rate of cancellations almost tripled after Trump backers called for action against the streaming service. — Say goodbye to another tough week in Hollywood.
Discussion:
New York Post, The Daily Beast and @lucas_shaw@threads.net, more at Techmeme »
Farah Nayeri / New York Times:
Experts including Martin Baron and Dean Baquet discuss ongoing challenges facing traditional media, from a decline in trust to competition from social networks — A panel at the Athens Democracy Forum explores how and whether traditional news organizations can regain the influence and trust that once defined them.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck and @mariabustillos.bsky.social
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