Top News:
Mandy Dalugdug / Music Business Worldwide:
UMG, ABKCO, and Concord sue Believe and its subsidiary TuneCore for $500M+, alleging Believe built its business via “industrial-scale copyright infringement” — Universal Music Group (UMG), along with ABKCO Music & Records, and Concord Music Group, filed a major copyright infringement lawsuit …
Reuters:
French judicial source: investigators searched Netflix's offices in France and the Netherlands as part of a preliminary investigation into tax fraud laundering — Investigators searched the offices of U.S. streaming giant Netflix (NFLX.O) in France and the Netherlands as part …
Discussion:
Deadline, more at Techmeme »
Christopher Palmeri / Bloomberg:
Sources: Shari Redstone does not plan to stay on the board of Paramount Global after the company completes its planned merger with Skydance Media — Shari Redstone won't stay on the board of Paramount Global after the company completes its planned merger with Skydance Media, according to people familiar with her plans.
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Around 75% of the largest US newspapers aren't endorsing anyone for president this year, as publishers try not to annoy any sliver of their remaining customers — Led by risk-averse corporate owners, dozens of the biggest U.S. newspapers have decided their editorials should express opinions …
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, @dilanesper, @tianran, @alexanderrusso, @tysonbrody, @frasermatthew, Crikey, @farhip, @jbenton, Axios, MediaPost and The Guardian
William Earl / Variety:
Heretic's directors say they put a message in the credits that “no generative AI was used in the making of this film” to warn Hollywood about the danger of AI — Scott Beck and Bryan Woods explain why they ended their movie with a pointed message about generative AI.
Discussion:
@bdisgusting, @beckandwoods, Screen Rant and GQ
Jay Peters / The Verge:
Netflix plans to delist nearly all of its interactive shows and films as of December 1 saying the tech “served its purpose”, after launching the format in 2017 — Netflix's “Interactive Specials” page lists 24 titles, but only four will remain: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch …
Discussion:
The Mirror, Tech Advisor, DNyuz, Gizmodo, BGR and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Meta informs ad partners that it will extend its ban on new election ads for the week leading up to the election until several days after the polls close — - It later adjusted its policies to temporarily stop all social issue, electoral, or political ads from running after the polls closed on November 3rd.
Discussion:
Fortune, CNBC, Forbes and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
The Information:
Sources: ByteDance's international revenue grew 60%+ YoY to ~$17B in H1 2024, and overall revenue grew 35% YoY to ~$73B, after growing 40% YoY in H1 2023 — TikTok parent ByteDance increased its international revenue more than 60% to about $17 billion in the first half of 2024 …
Discussion:
Wired and @jessicalessin, more at Techmeme »
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
Altice USA's Optimum lost 77K subscribers in Q3, bringing total subs to 2.1M; revenue fell 4% YoY to $2.2B, with a loss of $43M, down from a $66.8M profit YoY — The cable operator, led by Dennis Mathew, has introduced new digital TV packages to target cord-cutters and consumers shifting online.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, The Desk and Altice USA
Max Tani / @maxwelltani:
In email to staff, AG Sulzberger says the NYT Tech Guild strike will likely continue through the election and accuses the Guild of blocking essential journalism — NYT publisher AG Sulzberger emails the Times newsroom saying the NYT Tech Guild strike will likely continue through the election. He says it is “troubling that the Tech Guild would try to block this public service at such a consequential moment for our country.” [image]
RELATED:
Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch:
As the NYT Tech Guild goes on strike, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas offers the AI company's services to the NYT to help ensure election coverage is available
As the NYT Tech Guild goes on strike, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas offers the AI company's services to the NYT to help ensure election coverage is available
Discussion:
@aravsrinivas, @nytguildtech, @aravsrinivas, @coreypein.bsky.social, @albertfong98, acecomments.mu.nu, Latin Times, PCMag, @carnage4life@mas.to, @simonkp, @AnnemarieBridy@mastodon …, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @Sobieck@hachyderm.io, @WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social, The Information, NBC News, Fast Company, 404 Media, ZeroHedge News, HuffPost and Semafor, more at Techmeme »
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
The NYT reports adding 260K digital subscribers in Q3, for 11.9M in total, with digital ad revenue up 8.8% YoY to $81.6M, and The Athletic had its first profit — The Times reported steady growth in digital subscriptions in the third quarter and a profit for The Athletic for the first time since it acquired the sports site in 2022.
RELATED:
Elisabeth Egan / New York Times:
An interview with Craig Garnett, the publisher of The Uvalde Leader-News, about his new book Uvalde's Darkest Hour, the aftermath of the school shooting, more — Craig Garnett, the publisher of The Uvalde Leader-News, opens up about covering a tragedy that was — and is — too close to home.
Ellen Clegg / What Works:
After The Minnesota Star Tribune decided last summer not to endorse anyone for president, 15 former opinion staffers posted their own endorsement online — The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times shocked readers, staff and political observers when their billionaire owners killed editorial endorsements …
Discussion:
@dankennedy_nu and Media Nation
Alyson Krueger / New York Times:
A profile of Town & Country EIC Stellene Volandes, who is trying to keep the Hearst-owned 178-year-old magazine relevant via social media and its website — Stellene Volandes has brought new life to Town & Country, with snappy cover lines and an active social media presence.