Top News:
Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:
WBD splits into two publicly traded companies: Global Networks, with CNN and other cable channels, and Streaming & Studios, with HBO Max and its studio business — The entertainment company is contending with a hefty debt load and a sagging stock price
Discussion:
CNN, New York Times, The Desk, Variety, Axios, Associated Press, Mediaweek, @sherman4949, Awful Announcing, New York Post, @sherman4949, @sarafischer, @jbflint, @sherman4949, @jbflint, The Streamable, @xpangler, @benremaly, @jbflint, @karlbode.com, @brianstelter, @ofadam.com, How-To Geek, @jbflint, Dylan Jones on LinkedIn, Barrett Media, Financial Times, @tvgrimreaper, TechCrunch, @sherman4949, @jackcarterbenjamin …, The Independent, Deadline, @dylanbyers, Newser, @alissawilkinson.bsky.social, @sherman4949, @pkafka, @karlbode.com, @jbflint, Sports Business Journal, @jbflint, Ava Justin on LinkedIn, Yevhen Zorichev on LinkedIn, MediaPost, Yahoo Finance and The Washington Free Beacon
RELATED:
Jacob Pramuk / CNBC:
WBD says David Zaslav will be CEO of the new Streaming & Studios business, and current WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will become CEO of the Global Networks business — Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two public companies by next year, the media giant announced Monday …
Discussion:
The Verge, Broadband TV News, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., Screen, Deadline, Adweek, @kristenlopez88.bsky.social, ZeroHedge News, Entrepreneur, @radiodeadair.com, NBC News, Quartz, TVBEurope, @thacalebdume.bsky.social, The Business Times, Front Office Sports, Variety, The Wrap, Pocket-lint, New York Sun, Bloomberg, NPR, The Hollywood Reporter, @robpegoraro.com, RetailWire, MarketWatch, The Streamable, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Yahoo Finance, UPI, Los Angeles Times, Proactive, Advanced Television, Cord Cutters News, Mediaite, Tom's Guide, Le Monde, Times of India, Reuters, PR Daily, WORLD SCREEN and TVNewsCheck
Tony Maglio / The Hollywood Reporter:
WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks
WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks
Discussion:
CNBC, @sherman4949, Deadline, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, Engadget, Kotaku, @sherman4949, @sherman4949 and Sportico
Washington Post:
CPJ says police have assaulted “more than 20” journalists, including by less-lethal projectiles, since LA protests began on June 6, echoing the 2020 US protests — Reporters say they were struck with less-lethal rounds fired by law enforcement. Advocates worry it will inhibit vital journalism.
RELATED:
Natasha May / The Guardian:
9News Australia reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot with a rubber bullet by law enforcement live on camera while reporting on LA protests against immigration raids
9News Australia reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot with a rubber bullet by law enforcement live on camera while reporting on LA protests against immigration raids
Discussion:
MediaPost, The Times, Adweek, Mediaweek, New York Times, Salon, 9News, @9newsaus, CBS News, CNN, New York Post, @girlbosswoman, NBC Bay Area, The US Sun, WWL-TV, @joelcardwellx, @designedtofade, @_zeets, @gregggonsalves.bsky.social, @rekrav.bsky.social, @sigkill, @nickmckim, @grhutchens, @cbmccartney, Daily Caller News Foundation, The Wrap, The Independent, @adamrose.bsky.social, @nickschadegg, Telegraph, Out Magazine, Alternet.org, Newser, @byyourlogic, TechCrunch, @stayinalive2.bsky.social, @daanysaeed, @emgeekay.bsky.social, @krishgm, @newsguy.bsky.social, Deadline, @craigbuchananwa.bsky.social, The Hill and Full Feed
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney closes its deal with Comcast to buy out NBCUniversal's 33% stake in Hulu, paying an additional $439M, after agreeing in 2023 to pay $8.61B — Disney agreed to buy Comcast's 33 percent stake in Hulu in 2023, after an extended appraisal process, the deal is finally set to close.
New York Times:
Docs: from mid-December, YouTube told moderators to prioritize “freedom of expression” over potential harm, including for political, social, and cultural issues — The world's largest video platform has told content moderators to favor “freedom of expression” over the risk of harm in deciding what to take down.
Katharine Viner / The Guardian:
The Guardian partners with Cambridge University to launch Secure Messaging in its app, protecting sources by making messages indistinguishable from other data — Today, the Guardian, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, launches Secure Messaging, a world-first from a media organisation
Discussion:
GitHub, MediaPost, The Guardian, University of Cambridge, Vicky Frost on LinkedIn, @dpcarrington.bsky.social, iPhone in Canada, @pivic@kolektiva.social, Press Gazette, @vivianschiller.bsky.social, @1br0wn@eupolicy.social, Chris Beall on LinkedIn, Alastair Beresford on LinkedIn, Daniel Hugenroth on LinkedIn, @hoy.la and r/theguardian
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Dr. Phil was embedded with ICE during the LA immigration raids, for a report on McGraw's Merit TV, highlighting the made-for-TV nature of Trump's crackdown — As federal agents prepared to fan out in Los Angeles for a controversial immigration crackdown, the officers were greeted by a familiar face: Dr. Phil McGraw.
Discussion:
Fox News, 404 Media, The Hill, RedState, CBS News, KRDO, BBC, NewsMax.com, Politico, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, The A.V. Club, Bloomberg, New York Post, Mother Jones, Washington Post, @ggvotesblue.bsky.social, The Independent, @murshedz.bsky.social, The Wrap, @besmith63.bsky.social, @robertscotthorton.bsky.social, @awinston.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @aadip.bsky.social, @nateforutah.bsky.social, @angrydonkeynews.bsky.social, @brianstelter, Raw Story, The Guardian, @heidilifeldman@mastodon …, Le Monde, The Cut, @aaronblake, The Daily Signal, Ars Technica, Global News, Townhall, NPR, @brianstelter, Axios, @lucas_shaw, Fox Business, Mediaite, SFGATE, @tinyklaus.com, @stevemnomoremister …, Time, Advocate, The Gateway Pundit, Protos, Wired, Daily Kos, @brianstelter, Metro.co.uk, MSNBC, @matttomic.bsky.social, New York Sun, ABC News and Washington Times, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
Politico's editorial union says its new AI tool generates garbled or made-up DC intelligence, including a fictional basket-weaver guild; Politico defends it — The Scoop — Politico's new AI product has generated garbled or made-up Washington intelligence, including a lobbying effort …
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
A US federal judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400M defamation claim against Blake Lively, finding Lively's sexual harassment claims were legally protected — Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni's entire lawsuit — which also alleged extortion and other claims — but allowed him to amend …
Discussion:
People, Page Six, HELLO!, Vanity Fair, HotAir, Daily Mail, ELLE, UPI, The Sun, The A.V. Club, Rolling Stone, Business Insider, Lawyer Monthly, The Wrap, CNN, @kateaurthur.bsky.social, Us Weekly, HOLA!, Suggest, E! Online, Star Magazine, TODAY.com, IndieWire, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Deadline, WWL-TV, One America News Network, Real Deal News, The Guardian, @aceglancemv, @girlsreallyrule, Metro.co.uk, Consequence, Global News, Reuters, Daily Star, The Hill, The Hollywood Gossip, New York Daily News, Mirror, RADAR, TMZ.com, NBC News, @taylorlorenz, @sippingaugust, Fox News, The Daily Caller, @iwasenchantedt, Screen, @popcrave, New York Times, WPXI-TV and The Hollywood Reporter
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
Axel Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner plans to mandate that all staff spend at least four days per week in the office, impacting staff at titles like Politico — Axel Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner plans to mandate that all staff spend at least four days per week in the office.
Kristin Robinson / Billboard:
Sources: Sony Music has acquired Hipgnosis Songs, three months after it was rebranded as Recognition Music — News of Sony's acquisition comes three months after Hipgnosis rebranded itself as Recognition Music Group. … Emails obtained by Billboard under the subject line …
Discussion:
Variety, Music Ally, David Dunn on LinkedIn, Digital Music News, CMU and The Hollywood Reporter
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
In a wide-ranging report, the BFI says AI companies are plundering 130K UK film and TV scripts to train AI models in a “direct threat” to the industry's future — Film institute's report raises fears AI will eliminate junior roles in film, TV, video game and special effects industries
Discussion:
Variety, Dexerto, BFI, Film Stories, @metacurity.com, @kennysmith.bsky.social, PetaPixel, Deadline, @eicathomefinn.bsky.social, Screen and The Hollywood Reporter
