Top News:
Liam Reilly / CNN:
YouTube TV and Fox agree to a “short-term extension” of their distribution deal, avoiding a Fox blackout, as they keep working on a new agreement — Fox and YouTube TV on Wednesday agreed to an eleventh-hour short-term extension to their distribution deal, narrowly avoiding a blackout of all Fox's content on the platform.
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
FCC Chair Brendan Carr appears to blame Google for the Fox standoff and says “get a deal done Google”; the FCC has no authority over services like YouTube TV — Brendan Carr, the pro-Trump chairman of the FCC, weighed in on the carriage fight between Google's YouTube TV and Fox Corp. …
Discussion:
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Justin Baragona / The Independent:
YouTube strikes a deal to carry Herring Networks' One America News on YouTube TV's base package in Q4 2025; in 2022, DirecTV and Verizon Fios dropped OANN — The launch of OAN and AWE on YouTube TV is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of 2025 — Your support helps us to tell the story
Rolfe Winkler / Wall Street Journal:
Apple partners with TuneIn to make Apple Music's six radio stations available outside its app, a first, as it seeks to compete with Spotify; TuneIn has 75M MAUs — The tie-up with TuneIn to distribute Apple's radio stations aims to introduce the company's music service to more people
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, Digital Music News, The A.V. Club, PYMNTS.com, Thurrott, Radio Ink, Reuters, iDownloadBlog.com, Apple Must, AppleInsider, TuneIn, @tunein, MacRumors, 9to5Mac, Billboard, CNET, Rolfe Winkler on LinkedIn, Cult of Mac, iDrop News, Radio & Television …, TVNewsCheck, Mobile World Live, RADIO ONLINE, MacTech.com and MacDailyNews, more at Techmeme »
Taylor Lorenz / Wired:
Sources: a secretive project offering influencers $250-$8,000 a month to boost Democrats kicked off in July; creators were told 90+ influencers were taking part — An initiative aimed at boosting Democrats online offers influencers up to $8,000 a month to push the party line.
Discussion:
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Mike Hale / New York Times:
Documentary series American Experience begins an abbreviated schedule after WGBH suspended its production and laid off 13 staffers amid US federal funding cuts — The documentary series “American Experience” begins an abbreviated schedule this week. A victim of the federal funding take-back …
Marina Adami / Reuters Institute:
Some journalists detail how they are covering the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including using trusted contacts, OSINT, and filming from airdrop flights — Foreign correspondents have long served as additional eyes on the ground, assisting local reporters in telling the story of conflicts around the world.
Kelefa Sanneh / New Yorker:
How music criticism lost its edge: since the 2010s, outlets like Pitchfork have abandoned extremely low scores, and critics face harassment for negative reviews — Music writers were once known for being much crankier than the average listener. What happened?
Discussion:
Pixel Envy, @angulusterrarum, @812filmreviews, @aalong64, @willystaley, @vlrtualboy, Freddie deBoer, @bigsnugga, @_zeets, @dannygroner.bsky.social, @grace_roso, @grace_roso, @gemko.bsky.social, @poniewozik.bsky.social, @gemko.bsky.social, @kearse.bsky.social, @rmbodenheimer.bsky.social, @sotoalfred.bsky.social, @ericdharvey.com, @stevenhyden.bsky.social and UPROXX
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Anthony D'Alessandro / Deadline:
Sources: Anonymous Content, the production company behind Spotlight, is undergoing layoffs; the estimated cut is less than 15% from a total staff of about 130 — The estimated reduction of staff is less than 15% of the company's employees. — I hear that pink slips will be across the board, from admin staff to executives.
Discussion:
Variety
Sara Fischer / Axios:
NASCAR launches on Substack, becoming the first major sports league on the platform; the newsletter will be written by NASCAR's in-house editorial team — NASCAR on Thursday will launch its first-ever Substack newsletter, becoming the first major sports league to partner with the email platform …
Discussion:
@sarafischer, Sports Business Journal and Sports Media Watch
The Guardian:
Lebanese journalists demand an apology from US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack after he told them to “act civilized” and not be “animalistic” in Beirut — Reporters demand apology from Tom Barrack, US special envoy to Syria, after his remarks at Beirut press conference
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Disney sues Sling TV for allegedly violating their carriage deal by including Disney's networks without permission in the new mini-bundles launched in August — The mini-bundles start at $4.99, a fraction of the usual minimum of $45.99 a month for a regular Sling subscription.
The Marshall Project:
The Marshall Project names Jennifer Peter as EIC, replacing Susan Chira, who stepped down in December 2024; Peter worked at the Boston Globe since 2004 — Peter, of The Boston Globe, will lead the national criminal justice outlet's news operations. — Jennifer Peter has been named editor …
