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, Mediaite, Billboard, Forbes, Forbes, Marin Independent Journal, People, Us Weekly, Barrett Media, Ailis O'Connell on LinkedIn, TMZ.com, KVIA-TV, Variety, WSVN-TV, TODAY.com, Axios, New York Post, NBC Bay Area, Los Angeles Times, Just Jared, 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”
Discussion:
@variety, TV Insider, Gamereactor UK, Media Play News, 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
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 …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Bluesky revises its policies and Community Guidelines to comply with new regulations, including the EU DSA, UK Online Safety Act, and US Take It Down Act — Two years after launching, social network Bluesky is revising its Community Guidelines and other policies, and asking for feedback from its users on some of the changes.
Discussion:
Bluesky, more at Techmeme »
David Roeder / Chicago Sun Times:
Chicago Public Media, which owns the Sun-Times and public radio station WBEZ, names Kimbriell Kelly as EIC effective September 2, succeeding Jennifer Kho — A Pulitzer Prize winner, Kelly has a background in investigative reporting. She will succeed Jennifer Kho, who will work on a project dealing with the future of public media.
Discussion:
Crain's Chicago Business
Mike Scarcella / Reuters:
A US district court judge dismisses Rumble's lawsuit accusing WPP, WFA, and Diageo of an ad boycott, saying a Texas court is not the proper forum for the case — A U.S. judge on Wednesday dismissed online video-sharing and internet-hosting company Rumble's (RUM.O) lawsuit accusing spirits maker Diageo …
Discussion:
MediaPost and Bloomberg Law
Joanna Gerber / AdExchanger:
Mediaocean's ad verification division partners with the Internet Watch Foundation, which identifies and works to remove websites containing CSAM — Brand safety isn't always cut and dried. — An alcohol brand, for instance, might look for content that other brands would instinctively steer clear of.
Discussion:
Eva Papoutsakis Smith on LinkedIn, MediaPost, @adexchanger, Eliminating Child … and TechCentral.ie
Gabriel V Rindborg / The Guardian:
Monitoring firm MUSO says piracy hit a low in 2020 with 130B website visits and grew by 2024 to 216B; in Sweden, 25% of those surveyed reported pirating in 2024 — As subscription costs rise and choice diminishes on legal sites, film and TV fans are turning to VPNs and illicit streamers …
Discussion:
Plagiarism Today and Jerome Mazandarani on LinkedIn
Jason Koebler / 404 Media:
Media advocates criticize a US Department of Energy plan to throw out FOIA requests sent before October 1, 2024, unless the request is formally renewed — The Department of Energy said it will close FOIA requests from last year unless the requester emails the agency to say they are still interested.
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 and @grovesprof.bsky.social
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:
Benzinga and WORLD SCREEN
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:
HuffPost, The Independent, Gizmodo, New York Times, Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal, NewsMax.com, Courthouse News Service, The Hill and NPR
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, Screen and The Hollywood Reporter
