Top News:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: AT&T is in discussions to sell Xandr to Indian ad tech company InMobi; the mismanaged ad unit has annual revenue of ~$300-$380M and losses of $50-$90M — AT&T is in discussions to sell its ad unit to Indian ad tech giant InMobi, sources tell Axios.
Discussion:
@profcarroll, @sarafischer, @acfou, @reckless, @alexweprin, @awolk, @aripap, @loupas, @loudmouthjulia, @catthekin, @digitalshields, @karlbode, Ad Age and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Lindsey Turrentine / CNET:
CNET, acquired last year by Red Ventures from ViacomCBS, is looking to fill 150 new roles, its biggest expansion since the 1990s — As part of our largest expansion since the 1990s, CNET is adding more than 150 new roles. … CNET, newly a part of Red Ventures, is making moves to reinvent the modern media model.
Discussion:
@qwongsj and @techledes
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Substack is funding the launch of podcast network Booksmart, which will start with five podcasts; subscribers will get extra content for $7/month or $70/year — Substack is funding the launch of a new podcast network called Booksmart Studios, executives tell Axios.
Discussion:
@tnwhiskeywoman, @tomgara, @sarafischer, @rfaughnder, axios.com and @nwquah, more at Techmeme »
Jay Peters / The Verge:
Netflix says its expansion into gaming will start with mobile games, which will be included with a subscription at no additional cost — Games will be included at no added cost with a Netflix subscription — Netflix revealed that its initial efforts in gaming will be focused on mobile games …
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Jessica Bursztynsky / CNBC:
Netflix reports Q2 revenue of $7.34B vs. $7.32B est., up 19% YoY, global paid net additions of 1.54M vs. 1.19M expected; US and Canada region lost 433K subs QoQ
Netflix reports Q2 revenue of $7.34B vs. $7.32B est., up 19% YoY, global paid net additions of 1.54M vs. 1.19M expected; US and Canada region lost 433K subs QoQ
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, TechCrunch, New York Times, IndieWire, @davidlaz, @sherman4949, @stockmktnewz, @lucas_shaw and @sherman4949, more at Techmeme »
Jessica Toonkel / The Information:
Sources: Vice Media's plan to go public by merging with a SPAC has stalled as it struggles to raise more financing amid questions about Vice's valuation — Vice Media's plan to go public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company has stalled as the company struggles …
Discussion:
@kerrymflynn, @sherman4949 and @lauramandaro
Todd Spangler / Variety:
WarnerMedia is letting Snapchat users in the US watch pilot episodes of some HBO Max original series, like Gossip Girl and Euphoria, for free — In a new sampling strategy to boost HBO Max signups, WarnerMedia is letting Snapchat users in the U.S. watch select pilots of the streaming service's …
Discussion:
/Film, The A.V. Club, The Verge, Adweek, The Streamable, Hollywood Reporter, FierceVideo, Forbes, TechCrunch and @xpangler, more at Techmeme »
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
Sean Hannity drew praise after urging people to “please take COVID seriously”, but Fox News' broader messaging on vaccines remains contradictory and sows doubt — That effort to sow doubt was on full display Monday night — It was a sentiment that has been heard only rarely …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, ABC News, Newser and TVNewser
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Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Internal email shows Fox Corp. has implemented its own version of a vaccine passport, allowing staff to self-report the dates their shots were administered
Internal email shows Fox Corp. has implemented its own version of a vaccine passport, allowing staff to self-report the dates their shots were administered
Discussion:
Mediaite, Insider, The Hill, YouTube, Vanity Fair, @oliverdarcy, @ryangrim, Politico, The Week, Deadline, UPROXX, Raw Story, The Guardian, @sbg1, The Daily Beast, @jessecharleslee, @juliadavisnews, @maxboot, @drdenagrayson, @helenkennedy, @schwarz, @aprildryan, @oliverdarcy, @donmoyn, @davidoatkins, @nickfalacci, @ggreeneva, The Wrap, Media Matters for America and Bad News
Erich Schwartzel / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Apple wants to lease a large campus in LA for film and TV production as competition for soundstages heats up — The producer of ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘The Morning Show’ wants to expand its presence in the competitive streaming landscape — Apple Inc. told real-estate developers it wants …
Discussion:
Forbes, 9to5Mac, New York Post, @mattbelloni, @richlightshed, @pat_garofalo and AppleInsider
The Guardian:
A proposed UK secrecy law would increase prison sentences for leakers of state secrets, remove the public interest defense, and possibly put journalists in jail — Home Office plans would remove the public interest defence for whistleblowing, and could put reporters in jail — ere we go again.
Discussion:
Reclaim The Net, @dcuthbert, @arusbridger, @nancyarts, @carolineslocock, @carolecadwalla, Tim's Newsletter and Press Gazette
Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:
YouTube debuts Super Thanks, which lets users tip creators for individual uploaded videos rather than livestreams and have their message highlighted in comments — YouTube announced its latest feature, Super Thanks, on Tuesday. This is YouTube's fourth Paid Digital Good …
Discussion:
The Verge, Variety, @adam22 and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Ampere: between Q3'20 and the end of March 2021, the proportion of internet-connected people aged 55 to 64 in UK who subscribed to Netflix grew from 38% to 50% — Streaming service to report lowest new subscriber numbers since 2011, with young viewers largely signed up
Discussion:
@jacobdotgov, @karengeier, @agewave, @kvox and Digital TV Europe
Hollywood Reporter:
ESPN's Patricia Mays is named executive editor of news at The Hollywood Reporter, where she will oversee digital strategy — Mays, who oversaw the national coverage team for ‘SportsCenter’ as well as other TV studio shows, live events and digital while at ESPN, has been named to a top editor role at THR.
Discussion:
Insider, @danamo, @jarretthill, @marcjspears, @mikecwright, @michaeleaves and Talking Biz News