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While the Tribune-Sinclair deal is off, smaller local TV deals are still in the works, part of a broad media consolidation trend — Changes in decades-old broadcasting rules, combined with new types of competition in news and entertainment, are creating a drama-filled free-for-all as local U.S. broadcasters consolidate.
Discussion:
@davemorgannyc, Peter O'Kelly's Reality Check and Engadget
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Twitter suspends several accounts associated with the right-wing group Proud Boys and founder Gavin McInnes for violating policy on violent extremist groups — Twitter suspended several accounts associated with the Proud Boys, a right-wing group present at last year's Unite The Right rally …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, @edzitron, @rmac18, @rmac18, @kumarssalehi, @rmac18, Mashable and Yahoo, more at Techmeme »


Regulatory filings show that Hulu lost about $357M in Q2 due to higher programming and marketing costs; parent companies to invest an additional $1.5B in 2018 — Parent companies to invest additional $1.5 billion in streaming venture in 2018 — Hulu's cash burn has accelerated …
Discussion:
Multichannel News


How a producer and a writer worked together on a story about a McDonald's Monopoly game scam, sparking a movie-option bidding war and earning a $350K fee — On a Saturday in late July, the Daily Beast posted a story titled “McScam: How an Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald's Monopoly Game and Stole Millions” …
Discussion:
/Film, @alisonwillmore, @rachel, @jerrydunleavy, @calebhannan, @emilyyoshida, @erikdavis, @jorcru, @mradamtaylor, @emily_cohn, @alexweprin, @gabrielsnyder, @ceilidhann and @sarahw


Sources describe how Mark Zuckerberg arrived at the decision to take down Infowars, finally making his decision after Apple's removal of Infowars podcasts — Slippery-slope fears about mass censorship by social media platforms are probably overblown. But many valid questions remain.
Discussion:
Mashable, infowars.com and Editor & Publisher, more at Techmeme »


State Department cable says a 2016 attack on Swedish news sites was part of a Russian disinformation campaign to destabilize NATO alliances — According to a newly released State Department cable, the attack was part of a Russian campaign to sow disinformation about NATO.
Discussion:
@ericgeller, @jasonleopold and @fascinatorfun


Laura Ingraham's remarks about “massive demographic changes” fed into pattern of white nationalist ideas at Fox News, raising questions about Murdochs' stance — Fox News host addresses controversial comments — It wasn't so much a dog whistle as it was an airhorn. Or perhaps a primal scream.
Discussion:
The Atlantic, The Hill, CNN, Newser, @juliaioffe, Washington Post, Vox, @brianstelter, Deadline, @juddapatow, Business Insider, Mediaite, Hollywood Reporter, HuffPost, Quartz, @davidklion, @joshscampbell, @nadinevdvelde, HuffPost and TV Tattle


Sources: NBCU is licensing nonexclusive content from YouTube stars and other online influencers for its Watch Back video app, which will likely launch late fall — The entertainment company is licensing nonexclusive content from YouTube stars and other online influencers for the product.


Sumner Redstone's trust restricts sale of Viacom and CBS by prohibiting any merger leaving National Amusements shareholders with less than 30% of voting control — Trust restrictions on potential mergers would apply after Redstone's death or incapacitation


Gannett reports mixed results for Q2, with net income of $16.3M on revenue of $730.8M, down from $774.5M in 2017 — MCLEAN, Va. - Gannett, which owns USA TODAY and 109 local media properties, said Thursday that digital revenues continued to climb during the second three months of 2018 …
Discussion:
Motley Fool, Press Release and MediaPost


As small papers report more layoffs because of Trump's tariffs on Canadian newsprint, one study says US newsprint prices will rise 30%+ in one to two years — WASHINGTON — The Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs on Canadian newsprint is hastening the demise of local newspapers across …
Discussion:
@sulliview, NPR, @samanthajpower, @danrather, Indivisible Illinois, The Rural Blog, Wisconsin Newspaper …, @spsullivan, @dangillmor, @invw and @brettdl


Condé Nast CEO outlines plan for growth: diversify revenue away from ads, shed titles, cut staff; says company is studio shopping to help boost video efforts — Owner of magazines including Vogue, Vanity Fair wants to diversify revenue away from advertising, shed some titles
Discussion:
New York Post, @mplsgilyard, @mwityk, @erik_hayden and Daily Front Row