Top News:


Emails: BuzzFeed is shutting down HuffPost UK's news operation and video desk, except for its politics team, affecting 16 of 29 journalists — Exclusive: Owner BuzzFeed's move leaves more than half of editorial staff at risk — BuzzFeed has told the UK staff of its recently acquired HuffPost website …


As House holds hearing on tech and news, Microsoft accuses Google of making publishers depend on it and Google claims Microsoft just wants to undercut a rival — - Microsoft and Google sparred over their practices and treatment of news outlets in a battle between antitrust targets of past and present.


AT&T says it plans to launch HBO Max international and AVOD in June and expects HBO Max and HBO subscribers worldwide to reach 120-150M by 2025 — That is up from AT&T's previous forecast of 75-90 million. — AT&T Corp. said Friday that it now expects to reach 120-15 million HBO Max …
Discussion:
Variety, The Streamable, Ad Age, Observer, MediaPost, Variety, @natjarv, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @jbflint and Cord Cutters News


YouTube says it has taken down 30,000 videos that made false or misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines over the last six months — YouTube has taken down more than 30,000 videos that made misleading or false claims about COVID-19 vaccines over the last six months, YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez …
Discussion:
Breitbart, @evelyndouek, @niemanlab, Slashdot and Engadget


In a letter to GOP Senators, Amazon says it removed a book because of its policy not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness — Company states policy in response to inquiry by several Republican senators over recent removal of book by conservative author
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, The Wrap, CNET, Forbes, @jack_turban, @ryantand, The Week, @evelyndouek, Breitbart and New York Post, more at Techmeme »


Media and politics news site Mediaite is launching a paywall that allows ten free articles per month; subscriptions will cost $4.99 per month or $44.99 per year — As you may know, Mediaite is one of the few major websites in the country that is personally funded (and not by a wildly wealthy banker …


Netflix is running a test cracking down on password sharing, prompting some users to get their own account if they don't live with the owner of the account — Earlier this week, some Netflix subscribers began to notice that it might be a bit harder to “borrow” someone's password.
Discussion:
GammaWire, nexttv.com, The Verge, Cord Cutters News, Chicago Sun-Times, BBC, CNBC, ScreenRant, Variety, Sky News, Fortune, The Daily Dot, Hollywood Reporter, CBS Philly, 90 Second News, The Muffin por Mauricio …, @edzitron, IGN India, @film_girl, @film_girl, @lanceulanoff, @sherman4949, @jyarow, @tzm_tmt, @richlightshed, Boing Boing, AppleInsider, Los Angeles Times, io9, Mashable, Washington Post, MacRumors, /Film, Fast Company, WGN-TV, 9to5Mac, The Wrap, Insider, The Desk, Engadget and Reuters, more at Techmeme »

In memo, Jeff Zucker says CNN is targeting an August 1 return to Atlanta offices and September 1 for NYC, DC, SF, and LA — In note to staff, CNN President Jeff Zucker announces plans for staff returning to the office. “In Atlanta, we are targeting an AUGUST 1 return for our News and Sports colleagues. In New York, DC, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, we are targeting SEPTEMBER 1.” https://twitter.com/...
Discussion:
American Press Institute, The Hill and TVNewser


Google is further integrating the Publisher Provided Identifier into its Ad Manager, aiding publishers' first-party tracking in lieu of third-party cookies — The PPID's technical setup works like this: the publisher will create a unique ID for users, based on a first-party cookie or a log-in ID.
Discussion:
@ashk4n, Press Gazette, Adswerve, @chronotope, @sarahsluis, @aripap, @jbrouet, Privacy News Online …, Michael Tsai, The Keyword and IAB Tech Lab, more at Techmeme »


Epidemic Sound, a marketplace for online creators looking for background music, raises $450M from Blackstone and EQT Growth, at a valuation of $1.4B — The popularity of video and other streamed content like podcasts is continuing to grow at a breakneck speed, and today a startup called Epidemic Sound …
Discussion:
Complete Music Update and Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »


Fox News added a Tucker Carlson reaction cam to its broadcast of Biden's address last night, another move that signals the infusion of opinion into news — - Fox News aired a “live Tucker reaction” box during Biden's prime-time speech on Thursday. — The box showed the host Tucker Carlson's facial reactions in real time.


The Weeknd says his albums will no longer be submitted to the Grammys due to its anonymous voting committees, which some believe subvert the will of the voters — The event on Sunday will address the challenges of a music industry hit hard by the pandemic.