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

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Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

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James Hale / Tubefilter:

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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.

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Press Association:

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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

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Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:

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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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