Top News:
Andrew Marchand / The Athletic:
Sources: ESPN and MLB have a deal framework giving ESPN exclusive rights to sell out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five clubs — Major League Baseball and ESPN have a framework agreement that would give the network the exclusive rights to sell …
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Wall Street Journal:
Sources: NBCU is in advanced talks with MLB to carry games on NBC and Peacock for close to $200M/year; Netflix nears a deal for the Home Run Derby at $35M+/year — Netflix is also in advanced talks with the league to stream the Home Run Derby in a deal that would be worth more than $105 million
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Sources: ESPN is in talks to license MLB.TV and wants midweek national games, giving up Sunday Night regular season games and the Home Run Derby — Disney's new ESPN flagship streaming app launches Thursday. Here's what we know — Microsoft and NFL announce multiyear partnership to use AI to enhance game day analysis
Discussion:
The Verge, ESPN Press Room U.S., Adweek, KSTP-TV, Deadline, Slate, Vulture, Deseret News, Awful Announcing, Forbes, Fast Company, Cord Cutters News, The Information, Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Washington Post, TV Tech, Barrett Media, Front Office Sports and Sports Business Journal
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Wired and Business Insider remove articles by journalist Margaux Blanchard that appear to be AI-generated and feature people who do not seem to exist — Wired and Business Insider have removed news features written by a freelance journalist after concerns they are likely AI-generated works of fiction.
Discussion:
Mumbrella, Wired, MediaPost, The Wrap, Kaitlyn Arford on LinkedIn, Talking Biz News, Jem Collins on LinkedIn, @stokel.bsky.social, @mjanssen.bsky.social, @seywarddarby.bsky.social, @benmullin, @grspur.bsky.social, @kbeninato.bsky.social, Sarah Scoles on LinkedIn, @jaywillis.net, @jetjocko.bsky.social, Matt Allyn on LinkedIn, The Guardian, @scottnover.bsky.social, Futurism, @AlisonCreekside@mstdn.ca, @paris.nyc, TVNewsCheck, @ogmcduck.bsky.social, @jamesrball.com, @harryrose.bsky.social, @garethtbij.bsky.social, @oisinmcgann.bsky.social, @katebevan.com and @pressgazette.co.uk
Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:
Apple raises the price of Apple TV+ in the US and some markets globally after previously raising the price in 2023; in the US, the price will rise $3 to $12.99 — Apple today announced that the monthly price of Apple TV+ is rising in the United States and some international markets.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Post, PhoneArena, Plain Dealer, Tom's Guide, iDownloadBlog.com, Digital Trends, PCWorld, The Streamable, Los Angeles Times, Cult of Mac, TheDesk.net, Streaming Better, BGR, Decider, iClarified, Appleosophy, Reuters, Macworld, The Wrap, The Apple Post, iPhone in Canada, Screen Rant, Engadget, Broadband TV News, TechCrunch, PCMag, @krassotkin.bsky.social, iThinkDifferent, MacRumors, Pocket-lint, Android Headlines, @goldengaytime.bsky.social, @edkane71.bsky.social, Thurrott, Ars Technica, Forbes, Fast Company, The Verge, MobileSyrup, Variety, TVLine, Redmond Pie, Canadian Press, Bloomberg, Business Insider, WPXI-TV, AppleInsider, Media Play News, MacDailyNews, Deadline, MacTech.com and Collider, more at Techmeme »
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill:
Two House Democrats sent Paramount a letter on August 20 demanding documents, communications, and answers regarding the Skydance merger approval process — A pair of top House Democrats are launching an investigation into Paramount's $7 billion merger with fellow media conglomerate Skydance …
Discussion:
HuffPost, New York Sun, The Wrap, NBC News, Deadline, Salon, The Independent, CNBC, LateNighter, TVNewsCheck, Bloomberg and Radio & Television …
Lydia Polgreen / New York Times:
A reflection on Israel's killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif in an airstrike on a press tent, and Israel's weak claim that he was a Hamas militant — Eleven days ago, Israel assassinated a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a young man who had suddenly become the face and voice …
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Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:
The Onion has 53K+ print subscribers and expects $6M in 2025 revenue, signaling a market for print media, also shown by print relaunches of Saveur and others — Publications turn to old-style products to appeal to readers and stand out in digital media landscape
Discussion:
Will Flannigan on LinkedIn, @jeff@newsie.social, Matt Pearce on LinkedIn, @dexanderson.com, @wendysawatzky.bsky.social, @bencollins.bsky.social, Jesse Dungan on LinkedIn, @djlavoie.bsky.social, @jocelynl.bsky.social, John Martin on LinkedIn, @mediaevan.bsky.social, @bolson.org, @kibblesmith.com and r/Journalism
Columbia Journalism Review:
Thirteen newsroom leaders and ethicists discuss elements of journalistic ethics, including dealing with AI, anonymous leaks, bias, lies, and audience needs — We asked newsroom leaders and ethicists what they're keeping or changing in an era of Trump, “fake news,” AI, and industry decline.
Discussion:
@columjournreview.bsky.social
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Analysis: 16 of the UK's top 50 biggest news websites now use a “consent or pay” model to let users opt out of cookies; almost 100% choose to accept cookies — Consent rates jump up and small number of holdouts tend to pay instead - experts say it's a win-win.
Abid Rahman / The Hollywood Reporter:
Nielsen and Adobe: the Premier League's opening weekend averaged 850K viewers across six matches on NBC/Peacock and USA Network, a record and up 4% on 2024-25 — The Manchester United-Arsenal game scored 2.3 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, Telemundo and NBC Sports' digital platforms.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck
Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:
Chris Parnell, most recently an Apple TV+ creative executive and previously co-president of Sony Pictures TV Studios, is appointed EVP for Paramount+ Originals — She is bringing in Chris Parnell, most recently an Apple TV+ creative executive and previously co-president of Sony Pictures TV Studios …
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, 9to5Mac, AppleInsider, MacDailyNews and MacTech.com
