Top News:
Brent Lang / Variety:
Sources: Paramount layoffs could affect 2,000 to 3,000 employees and are expected by early November; Paramount had 18,600 employees globally as of December 2024 — After closing its merger with Skydance this month, Paramount is poised to enact deep staffing cuts across its various divisions …
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, Reuters, @mildpeach@mstdn.social, Reuters, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News and Deadline
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Four outlets have taken down AI-generated articles by a “journalist”; Wired says the article it took down didn't get a proper fact-check or sufficient editing — More editors reveal they had been pitched by ‘Margaux Blanchard’. — Wired has revealed that a request …
Discussion:
@brainwise@mas.to, Jean Burgess on LinkedIn, New York Post, Wired, Charlotte Tobitt on LinkedIn, @jbhall56@infosec.exchange, @faduda.bsky.social, @pressgazette.co.uk, @kashhill.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, The Guardian, Mumbrella, MediaPost, The Wrap, Futurism, TVNewsCheck, Talking Biz News and Press Gazette
Ben Koo / Awful Announcing:
Sources: ESPN has removed its paywall on most written content, after requiring an ESPN+ subscription for previously free articles on its site starting in 2020 — As we and many other digital outlets are well aware, producing ad-supported written content is a tough business.
Discussion:
@awfulannouncing, Hoops Wire, MediaPost and TVNewsCheck
Sohee Kim / Bloomberg:
Bollywood star Aamir Khan opts to put his films on YouTube's pay-per-view service after theatrical runs rather than on global streamers; he'll get 50%+ of sales — Welcome to Tech In Depth, our daily newsletter about the business of tech from Bloomberg's journalists around the world.
Discussion:
MediaBrief
Matt Donnelly / Variety:
Sources: Disney is on the hunt for original movie concepts to lure young men aged 13-28 back to the brand, as audiences dwindle for the superhero genre — Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty aren't the only ones looking for a prince. — Leadership at Walt Disney Studios has been pressing Hollywood creatives …
Discussion:
ZeroHedge News, @parkscopejoe.bsky.social, @born2wrshp.bsky.social, @mudron.bsky.social, @thecinemascene.bsky.social, Kristi DeRubertis on LinkedIn, Ace of Spades HQ, Screen Rant, Washington Examiner, GamesRadar, The Federalist, Mediaweek, twitchy.com, Daily Mail, RedState, Comic Book, World of Reel and Just Jared
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Bluesky blocks access to its service in Mississippi, saying it doesn't have the resources to comply with the state's broad new law requiring age verification — Social networking startup Bluesky has made the decision to block access to its service in the state of Mississippi, rather than comply with a new age assurance law.
Discussion:
Bluesky, Mississippi Free Press, The Verge, PCMag, P.V. Poseur, @mac-b5.stickimporters.com, @krassotkin.bsky.social, @racebannon.bsky.social, Mashable, @taylorlorenz, @joeo10@mastodon.sdf.org, @spiderfrommars.bsky.social, @andytseng.bsky.social, @malketchupstain.bsky.social, Engadget, @taylorlorenz, Chronology, @sronmar.bsky.social, @acvalens.net, Wired, @thenexusofprivacy …, @thesammon.com, @klonick.bsky.social, TheDesk.net, @Sheep_Overboard@infosec …, @annie1x.bsky.social, @ajsta.bsky.social, @ulfrgrimdark.bsky.social, @paullecomtephoto.nz, @dell.bsky.social, @newsguy.bsky.social, @tommorris@mastodon.social, @EveHasWords@toot.cat, PC Gamer, Six Colors and Breakfast At Ralf's, more at Techmeme »
Jessica Testa / New York Times:
A look at SiriusXM's podcasting business; 2024's “off-platform earnings” were $606M, with podcast advertising making up most of that sum, up from $475M in 2022 — The company famous for car radio and Howard Stern has recently climbed the podcast charts by betting hundreds …
Discussion:
@jtes and Barrett Media
Sarah Raza / Associated Press:
After News Media Corporation announced the closure of 31 outlets in five states on August 6, a publishing group bought 8 papers in WY and another bought 4 in SD — A dozen recently shuttered newspapers across Wyoming and South Dakota are set to publish again, after buyers stepped up within days …
Julian Wyllie / Current:
South Dakota Public Broadcasting plans to lay off 25% of its staff, affecting public affairs programming; CPB funding made up 20% of its FY24 revenue — Screenshot/YouTube … " id="street-iframe-svdc8d6wzow0000000000 " style="max-width: 100%;"> — “These reductions include the elimination …
Discussion:
SDPB, Inside Radio, @chrisottolnp.bsky.social and Radio & Television …
Haroon Siddique / The Guardian:
Actor Noel Clarke loses his UK libel case against the Guardian over an investigation in which he was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women — High court rejects actor's claim that accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracy
Esther Zuckerman / New York Times:
Studios are rereleasing old films in theaters, helping them pad out thin slates; Universal has 12 rereleases on its 2025 slate, vs. four in 2024 and two in 2023 — The multiplex is awash in titles that are 15, 20, even 60 years old. Nostalgia is a factor but economics play a big part, too.
Discussion:
@kennysmith.bsky.social
Jennifer Maas / Variety:
The National Association of Broadcasters and several broadcasting companies urge the FCC to end its rule capping the number of TV stations an entity can own — The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and several broadcast companies called for a repel of the FCC's longstanding national TV ownership rule on Friday.
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:
Variety, CNBC, @nicholasadeleon, Sports Business Journal, Adweek, Inside Radio, KSTP-TV, The Verge, Deadline, Vulture, Awful Announcing, The Information, TV Tech, Forbes, Fast Company, Washington Post, Deseret News, Business Insider, Cord Cutters News, Wall Street Journal and ESPN Press Room U.S.
RELATED:
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
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
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
Discussion:
San Diego Union-Tribune, NCS | NewscastStudio, Wall Street Journal, Sports Business Journal, Poynter, TVNewsCheck, Fox Business, New York Post, @dannygroner.bsky.social, Cord Cutters News, masslive.com, Reuters, Variety, Awful Announcing, Media Play News, @velociicoaster.bsky.social, Barrett Media and Awful Announcing
