Mediagazer: A look at the struggle to release The Apprentice, a “Frankenstein origin story about Donald Trump”, ahead of the US election after Trump threatened to sue (Gabriel Sherman/Vanity Fair)

2:50 AM ET, October 3, 2024

Top News:

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:

WP Engine files a lawsuit in California against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion, abuse of power, and greed — Web hosting provider WP Engine has filed a lawsuit against Automattic, and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power.

Discussion: @hashim_warren, @cowkitty, @jeffr0, @zimm3rmann, @ryancduff, @ctrlaltdwayne, @dwlz, @ryancduff, @ryancduff, The Register, WP Engine, @automattic, @wpengine, @bgardner and Automattic, more at Techmeme »

Emma Roth / The Verge:
Automattic demanded an 8% cut of WP Engine's monthly revenue to use the WordPress trademark in a seven-year deal proposed on September 20; WP Engine declined

Discussion: @j12t@j12t.social and Automattic, more at Techmeme »

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

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James Hale / Tubefilter:

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Discussion: @itswoori and The Mozilla Blog, more at Techmeme »

Joe Otterson / Variety:

WBD and All Elite Wrestling sign a multiyear deal, sources say worth $150M+ per year; AEW shows remain on TBS and TNT and stream live on Max in the US in 2025 — All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has officially signed a new multi-year multimedia rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Discussion: UPROXX, New York Post, Bennett Wolin on LinkedIn, Awful Announcing, Mark Caplan on LinkedIn, Deadline, All Elite Wrestling, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, The Verge, Bloomberg, Barrett Media and POST Wrestling

Press Association:

The BBC cancels a planned interview with Boris Johnson after news presenter Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent the former UK prime minister her briefing notes — Presenter Laura Kuenssberg says ‘embarrassing and disappointing’ mishap meant it was not right that the interview go ahead

Discussion: @bbclaurak, Deadline, Telegraph and HuffPost

Gabriel Sherman / Vanity Fair:

A look at the struggle to release The Apprentice, a “Frankenstein origin story about Donald Trump”, ahead of the US election after Trump threatened to sue — The Donald Trump biopic was one of the hottest tickets at Cannes this year. So why did it take months, and a minor miracle, to sell?

Discussion: @brianstelter and Deadline

Angela Fu / Poynter:

Journalists in western North Carolina hustled to cover Hurricane Helene's aftermath with sparse internet access, and radio broadcasts became crucial connectors — Local journalists are working to reach isolated communities to fill in information gaps — while dealing with damage in their own lives

Discussion: The Asheville Citizen Times, @solomonlexib, @amariscastillo, @cislmunc, @poynter, Poynter, @poynter, @poynter, @ellekehres, The Urban News, Radio World, NewsLab, NPR and Asheville Watchdog

Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:

Nielsen: the vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz drew 43.15M US viewers across 15 networks, down 25.5% from the 2020 vice presidential debate — Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced off in the CBS News-produced debate. — The lone debate between …

Discussion: Variety, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, DNyuz, CNN, New York Post, The Wrap, Axios, Deadline, Politico, The Hill, Media Play News and Mediaite

Katie Drummond / Wired:

Q&A with Bobbi Althoff about The Really Good Podcast, her rise to fame as part of “Mommy TikTok”, chaos after her Drake interview, brand deals, and more — From Mommy TikTok to that Drake interview and beyond, the podcast host is proof you can brute-force your way to online fame …

Discussion: WIRED on LinkedIn, Vanity Fair, Simon Owens on LinkedIn, @katiedrumm and @laurengoode@threads.net

Evan Drellich / New York Times:

Diamond Sports Group, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, says in 2025 it will stop carrying all but one of the 12 MLB teams it now televises — Embattled broadcaster Diamond Sports Group says in 2025 it will stop carrying all but one of the 12 MLB teams it now televises …

Discussion: Michael Lange on LinkedIn, @vtuss, @crupicrupicrupi, @matthewkeyslive, CNBC, Streaming Better, TVNewsCheck, Awful Announcing, @jluckhaupt.bsky.social, Cord Cutters News, @jasoncollette.bsky.social, @2xaught7.bsky.social, The Desk, Sportico and The Streamable

Joe Mandese / MediaPost:

Sources: ad-tech startup Hudson MX, controlled by UK holding company Ascential, discontinues operations; Ascential had been trying to find a buyer for Hudson MX — Editor's Note: An initial version of this story incorrectly reported that Comcast's FreeWheel division had acquired certain assets …

Josh Ocampo / New York Times:

Q&A with The New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin about building relationships with sources, challenges of the media beat, social media, and more — To report on the business of media, the journalist Ben Mullin says he is “endlessly curious” about the people populating his own industry.

Discussion: @benmullin and @semaforcomms

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From Techmeme:

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
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