Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
CPB says the Department of Education has terminated Ready To Learn, the grant program that funded Sesame Street and would've provided $23M for children's shows — The termination of the federal grant program, called Ready To Learn, resulted in a loss of $23 million that would have gone to educational programs.
Andrew Liszewski / The Verge:
Amazon updates its iOS Kindle app to add a prominent orange “Get book” button, enabling purchases via the mobile browser, after the recent Epic v. Apple ruling — Amazon has updated its Kindle iOS app to take advantage of recent changes to Apple's App Store rules.
Discussion:
Business Insider, Daring Fireball, Ars Technica, @adamconner, MacStories, TechCrunch, @dhh, @markrein, @richontech, @timsweeneyepic, 9to5Mac, GeekWire, Dexerto, @parkerortolani, Put the knife …, AppleInsider, Mashable, Android Authority, Six Colors, MacRumors and The Information, more at Techmeme »
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Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Patreon rolls out an updated version of its iOS app that lets users make purchases via the web in addition to using in-app purchases — Creator platform Patreon has rolled out an updated version of its app that now allows users to make purchases via the web, in the wake of the Apple-Epic court ruling …
Discussion:
9to5Mac, Music Business Worldwide and Stratechery, more at Techmeme »
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Comcast's spinoff of the majority of the NBCU cable network portfolio will be named Versant; the “holding company” name is for “business-to-business purposes” — Comcast's spinoff of the majority of its NBCUniversal cable network portfolio will be named Versant …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, @sherman4949, Cord Cutters News, The Wrap, @scottnover, @benmullin, The Desk, Adweek, Barrett Media, @sherman4949, Semafor, @edeggans@threads.com, Sports Business Journal, @tsoh_investing, @jbflint, @jbarro, @versantmedia, @tomgara@threads.com, @jbillinson@threads.com, @sherman4949, Deadline, Awful Announcing, TVNewsCheck, MediaPost, Washington Examiner, Media Play News, Yahoo Finance and Radio & Television …
Malheur Enterprise:
The Malheur Enterprise, a rural weekly in Oregon, is closing after more than 115 years, as its owners plan to retire; the last print edition is May 7 — The Malheur Enterprise is ceasing publication after 115 years with the May 7 edition being the last printed version.
John O'Nolan:
Ghost says independent media businesses that use the platform are nearing $100M in overall revenue earned and reports $8M in annual recurring revenue — Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one … I was 24 when I first started working on the idea, and back then I had no idea what I was doing.
Discussion:
@johnonolan.bsky.social
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
NBC plans to use generative AI to recreate the voice of famed NBA narrator Jim Fagan, who died in 2017, to use in promos, title sequences, and show opens — Fagan passed away in 2017, but when the ‘NBA on NBC’ returns this fall, his voice will appear in promos, title sequences and other segments.
Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
The family of an Afghan mine-clearer, who was killed by the Taliban after appearing in a Nat Geo documentary working with Green Berets, sues Disney and others — The estate of an Afghan man, who was killed by the Taliban after he was seen in Matthew Heineman's documentary ‘Retrograde’ working alongside …
Axios:
Yahoo Sports announces a deal with Boardroom, a media company co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, to co-produce a video series and launch a content hub — Yahoo Sports on Tuesday announced a new deal with Boardroom, a media company co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman …
Discussion:
Adweek and @yahoosports
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
SiriusXM and Fox Nation announce a bundle that will include SiriusXM's app-only All Access plan and a subscription to Fox Nation for $11.99 per month — The Fox News owned streaming service and the satellite radio giant's streaming app will sell a bundle for $11.99 per month, a 33 percent discount.
Discussion:
Axios, Cord Cutters News, TVNewsCheck, The Desk, Streaming Better, The Streamable, Sirius XM Holdings Inc., Media Play News and Barrett Media
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
News reader Particle launches on the web, featuring news headlines and AI summaries, key quotes, links to sources, and reader questions answered by AI — Particle, the startup behind an AI-powered newsreader that aims to help publishers, not just steal their work, is bringing its product to the web.
Erik Hayden / The Hollywood Reporter:
CNN hires Choire Sicha as SVP of features editorial; Sicha joins from Vox Media where he served as editor at large for New York Magazine — The editor, formerly at New York magazine and the Styles desk at The New York Times, is the latest to join as the brand rebuilds its digital operations
Discussion:
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @jeremymbarr, @mediaevan, @taylorlorenz.bsky.social, @katienotopoulos, @simondowens@threads.com, TVNewsCheck, @meaghano.bsky.social, Choire Sicha on LinkedIn, @katzish.bsky.social, @rusty.todayintabs.com, @paperhaus.bsky.social, CNN, Deadline and Barrett Media
