Top News:
Jessica Testa / New York Times:
Taylor Swift's podcast debut on New Heights, co-hosted by Travis Kelce, shows the format is an appealing option for stars instead of late-night TV and magazines — For stars promoting their projects, podcasts have become an appealing alternative to late-night TV and glossy magazines.
Discussion:
New Heights on YouTube, Forbes, Marin Independent Journal, Whiskey Riff, Barrett Media, People, Us Weekly, TMZ.com, Variety, KVIA-TV, WSVN-TV, Just Jared, TODAY.com, Axios, New York Post, NBC Bay Area, Los Angeles Times, Deseret News, CBS News, Hollywood Life, NBC News, Poynter, WKYC-TV and Page Six
Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:
Paramount DTC Chair Cindy Holland says Paramount+ is now open to buying third party content, reminiscent of Holland's strategy when she was at Netflix — At a Los Angeles press event on Wednesday, new Paramount CEO David Ellison touted the move to empower Paramount+ team …
Discussion:
Tom's Guide, Media Play News and Collider
RELATED:
Matt Donnelly / Variety:
Paramount's streaming head Cindy Holland says streaming movies are “not a priority”, as CEO David Ellison says debate on value of theatrical releases is “over” — The leadership team at Skydance's Paramount have no interest in playing the original streaming movies game …
Discussion:
Media Play News, @variety, TV Insider, Deadline, TrekMovie.com, The Wrap and Deadline
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison says BET Networks is no longer for sale and he plans to operate the new company with Paramount's assets intact
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Deadline, Cord Cutters News, @tvgrimreaper, TheDesk.net, TVNewsCheck, Benzinga and Collider
Scott Nover / Washington Post:
The GAO launches a probe into USAGM for potential overreach; sources say congressional staffers warned Kari Lake that she illegally used appropriated funds — As Trump lieutenant tells a federal judge she is following the law in dismantling the international broadcasting agency …
RELATED:
Neel Dhanesha / Nieman Lab:
CPB's closure threatens tribal radio and TV stations, endangering critical services like emergency alerts in areas lacking broadband or reliable cell service — “These stations are not just media outlets, they are cultural infrastructure.” — In the most remote parts of Alaska …
Discussion:
The Guardian
Hadas Gold / CNN:
A US judge rules Infowars will go up for sale yet again, paving the way for The Onion to revive its bid for the conspiracy-driven outlet and its assets — Alex Jones' far-right platform Infowars can be sold once again to help pay the more than $1 billion he owes the families …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Hill, NewsMax.com, Courthouse News Service, Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal and NPR
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Ampd: South Korea's premium VOD revenue hit $1.1B in H1 2025, with paid subscriptions up 1.5M to 24.5M; Netflix has 8.2M subscribers and ~50% of the market — The Korean streaming wars are heating up. New data shows the country's premium video-on-demand sector reached $1.1 billion …
Discussion:
WORLD SCREEN
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
A look at MicroCo, a Hollywood startup aiming to tap into the micro drama craze, as Chinese apps gain US traction with millions of downloads, per Sensor Tower — A new app will focus on super-short TV shows shot for phones, a bit like Quibi, an earlier app aimed at quick content. — Remember Quibi?
Elsa Keslassy / Variety:
Mubi founder and CEO Efe Cakarel responds to criticism of Mubi's Sequoia funding, after some directors criticized it over Sequoia's ties to Israeli military — “Any suggestion that our work is connected to funding the war is simply untrue,” Cakarel wrote in a statement
Discussion:
The Wrap, IndieWire, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Screen
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Tubi expands its partnerships with MrBeast and other creators, and hires former TikTok executive Kudzi Chikumbu as VP of creator partnerships — The company has also hired TikTok executive Kudzi Chikumbu to manage partnerships with creators on the platform.
Discussion:
The Streamable, The Wrap, Streaming Better, WORLD SCREEN and Cord Cutters News
Jessica Yellin / The Atlantic:
A former CNN correspondent discusses the challenges facing “evidence-based creators”, journalists doing original reporting primarily on social media platforms — Truth is still alive on social media—but it's not easy enough to find. — There's a quiet revolution in how millions of Americans decide what's real.
Discussion:
@andria.bsky.social and Mashable
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
How the NFL changed its streaming strategy as the TV landscape shifted; in a first, every NFL game will be available on streaming by the end of August — The league isn't content to be a ratings juggernaut for partners. As it takes equity in ESPN and Paramount Skydance, it's muscling into Hollywood's end zone.
Discussion:
Awful Announcing
