Top News:


UK watchdog gives Facebook a preliminary fine of about $664,000, the maximum allowed, for letting Cambridge Analytica access data about millions of people — Facebook is staring down its first fine for allowing Cambridge Analytica to improperly access data about millions of people …


Writing in the BBC's annual report, the corporation's Chairman David Clementi says British content faces a threat from the “west coast of America” — The U.K. public broadcaster in its annual report says BBC Worldwide, which after the end of the fiscal year was merged with its production arm …
Discussion:
The Guardian
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BBC's annual report reveals that just two of the corporation's top 20 highest paid stars are female, despite efforts to address gender pay gap — Number of women paid £150,000 or more has increased from 14 to 22 but large gender pay gap remains — The BBC is facing a backlash …


21st Century Fox Inc. boosts its bid for Sky TV, offering £14 per share and valuing the company at £24.5B, topping Comcast's offer of £22B — - Offer is now 12 percent higher than Comcast's bid for Sky — Sky is part of a wider battle between Comcast and Disney
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, Fortune, The Wrap and Reuters


Sources: Sinclair to launch STIRR, a new streaming VOD app, which would include a 24/7 news channel, TV shows, movies, and sports, by year-end — The local TV giant expects to release the streaming app this year, according to sources familiar with the project.
Discussion:
FierceCable and @amy_siskind


Netflix launches Smart Downloads feature to automatically retrieve your next episode for offline viewing on Android, will launch on iOS later this year — Netflix is automating downloads of series so you can binge-watch shows off-line without even pressing a button.
Discussion:
Netflix Media Center, BGR, VideoNuze Analysis, Media Update, VentureBeat, MacRumors and 9to5Mac


Univision confirms it hopes to sell Gizmodo Media Group and its stake in The Onion and has hired Morgan Stanley to help with the sale — Univision Communications is officially looking to unload the Gizmodo Media Group — which mostly comprises the sites it acquired in the bankruptcy auction …


Mark Halperin and John Heilemann are in negotiations over material for a follow-up “Game Change” book and TV-mini series, most of which Halperin holds — Until their split last year, Mark Halperin and John Heilemann were the golden boys of American political journalism.
Discussion:
@dankennedy_nu, @grahamdavida and @owillis


The relationship between The New York Times and Facebook has been fraught, with the Times' CEO Mark Thompson repeatedly attacking the social network — Facebook has been taking fire from all sides lately, but few have been more outspoken and consistent of late than Mark Thompson, CEO of The New York Times.
Discussion:
@bmorrissey and @digiday


Ex-Vice journalist and Canadian writer Sarah Hagi recounts her experience of being laid off from a large media company — When I need comfort and familiarity, I cycle through five or so different movies I've seen at least a half dozen times each. Nora Ephron's 1998 classic You've Got Mail is a frequent go-to.
Discussion:
@mattdpearce and @nicole_soojung


Source: White House deputy communications chief Bill Shine timed the announcement of Trump's Supreme Court pick to coincide with the start of Hannity's show — Now that Shine is in the saddle, it's Mooch 2.0: Kelly is being humiliated, Sarah Sanders has been deemed low energy, and the biggest winner of all is, naturally, Sean Hannity.


Former Trump campaign manager David Bossie returned to Fox News on Tuesday night, following two-week suspension for racially-charged insult — David Bossie, the former deputy campaign manager for Donald Trump, returned to Fox News on Tuesday after a two-week suspension over his use of a racially charged insult.
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, @slpng_giants and Mediaite