Top News:
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Disney says that Hulu will replace the Star hub on Disney+ from October 8 in non-US markets, in an effort to turn Hulu into an internationally recognized brand — Starting on October 8th, Hulu will replace Star on Disney Plus in international markets.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
In three days, Elon Musk has posted or reposted criticisms and calls to cancel Netflix at least 26 times on X, over transgender references in kids' shows — Elon Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has launched an effort urging his 227 million followers on X — the social media platform he controls — to cancel Netflix.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, The Independent, The Hill, New York Sun, The Verge, Livemint, Erin In The Morning, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, RedState, MarketWatch, @diversetechgeek.bsky.social, KDBC, Inc, indy100, @mockman.bsky.social, Not the Bee, Newsmax, Daily Mail, Benzinga, Consequence, Business Insider, LGBTQ Nation, One America News Network, The Tab, Financial Express, Finbold, NDTV Profit, Moneycontrol and ZeroHedge News
Sara Guaglione / Digiday:
The Guardian launches its product recommendation site, The Filter, in the US, one year after its UK launch, with a focus on ethical consumption — The Guardian is bringing its product recommendation site, The Filter, stateside - a year after its U.K. launch - as it looks to push harder into commerce revenue.
Discussion:
The Guardian
Megan Brenan / Gallup:
A survey finds only 28% of US adults overall and 8% of Republicans have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, radio, and TV news, a new low — Republicans' confidence in mass media to report news “fully, accurately and fairly” now at 8%
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Ashley Allison, a CNN commentator and Democratic consultant, buys The Root from G/O Media, returning the brand to Black ownership — The Root, a groundbreaking website for and about Black America, is returning to Black ownership for the first time in years.
Elizabeth A. Harris / New York Times:
A Florida judge rules that a local school district did not violate 1A by removing a book from school libraries because a school library is not a public forum — The lawsuit was an effort to keep ‘And Tango Makes Three,’ about two male penguins raising a chick, in a county's school libraries.
Discussion:
Orlando Sentinel and LGBTQ Nation
RELATED:
Burgess Everett / Semafor:
Source: Brendan Carr has agreed to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee over his public pressure on Disney and ABC about Kimmel's Charlie Kirk monologue — FCC Chair Brendan Carr has agreed to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee, a person familiar with the matter told Semafor.
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, Breitbart, The Hill, TV Tech, Mediaite, NBC News, Washington Examiner, Scripps News, NewsMax.com, Reuters, City Journal and Deadline
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Seven US and French news publishers sign up with Perplexity's Comet Plus, a $5/month add-on for the AI-powered Comet browser, with revenue splits for publishers — Washington Post, Le Monde and Conde Nast sign up to Comet Plus scheme. — Perplexity has signed up seven US-based …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, The Economic Times, Business Insider, CNET, Perplexity and Condé Nast, more at Techmeme »
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Sources: Universal Music and Warner Music are nearing landmark AI licensing deals with companies like Google, Spotify, ElevenLabs, Stability AI, Suno, and Udio — Universal and Warner seek payment structure similar to streaming as more disruption looms — Universal Music and Warner Music …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Dave Carr on LinkedIn, Music Business Worldwide, CMU, Music Ally, Reuters, NewsMax.com and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Meta unveils communities on Threads, starting with 100+ dedicated spaces for casual conversations around topics like basketball, television, and K-pop music — Instagram Threads, Meta's X rival that now has over 400 million monthly active users, is officially launching a new feature …
Discussion:
Engadget, The Verge, Mashable, Meta Newsroom and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
David Buttle / Press Gazette:
TollBit: publishers with OpenAI licensing deals have a ChatGPT clickthrough rate almost 7x higher than those without agreements; OpenAI has 40+ US and UK deals — Publishers with OpenAI licensing deals benefit from a ChatGPT clickthrough rate almost seven times higher than those without agreements …
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
Canadian studio Blue Ant Media acquires MagellanTV for $12M, paying $6M in cash up front and $6M in cash or Blue Ant voting shares over two years — Blue Ant Media, the Canadian streamer and studio, has acquired Washington-based online documentary video service MagellanTV in a $12M deal.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, The Hollywood Reporter, Advanced Television, Blue Ant Media and Media Play News
