Top News:
CNBC:
Axel Springer agrees to acquire Politico, the remaining 50% share in Politico Europe, and Protocol; sources say the deal is worth around $1B — - German publisher Axel Springer plans to acquire digital media site Politico. — The deal is worth about $1 billion, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Discussion:
Business Wire, New York Times, CNN, Adweek, The Wrap, Variety, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Talking Biz News, Mediaite, The Hill, MediaPost, Reuters, @harrispolitico, @kerrymflynn, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @mr_berman, @sherman4949, @danbarker, @jasonabbruzzese, Bloomberg, @timothynoah1, Axios, @stevekovach, @sherman4949, @jamesvgrimaldi, @alex, @mcwm, @rafat, Washingtonian, @morningbrew, @cjr, Protocol, @benyt, @robinwigg, @tomgara, @anthony, @robinwigg, The Daily Beast, @mollyhc, @jyarow, @sherazadesemsar, @sbg1, @brianstelter, @oliverdarcy and @rasmus_kleis
Forbes:
Forbes is going public via SPAC at a valuation of $630M; the transaction is expected to close in late 2021 or early 2022 — ● Combination will enable Forbes to further capitalize on its successful digital transformation, pursue additional growth opportunities and fully recognize …
Discussion:
CNBC, New York Post, Reuters, The Wrap, Talking Biz News, @mike_federle, @jyarow, @pkafka, @iblametom, @kerrymflynn and @kerrymflynn
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Apple launches News Partner Program, which lowers commissions on in-app purchases to 15% for news publishers who participate in Apple News — Apple today is launching a new program that will allow subscription news organizations that participate in the Apple News app and meet certain requirements …
Discussion:
CNBC, Apple and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Will Oremus / Washington Post:
Researchers say YouTube, which attracts less scrutiny than Facebook or Twitter, is a hard platform to study because video is so difficult to analyze in bulk — While Facebook and Twitter take the brunt of backlashes over misinformation and ‘censorship,’ the Google-owned video giant has often laid low.
Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, Bloomberg, @evelyndouek, @willoremus, @tomgara, @annaedge4, @brianstelter and @noupside, more at Techmeme »
Joan E. Solsman / CNET:
Netflix is testing games in its Android app in Poland, starting with two existing Stranger Things games — Playing on Netflix's mobile app is new, but the games themselves — two pixelated Stranger Things games — have already been available off Netflix for years.
Discussion:
Polygon and ComingSoon.net
Tim Baysinger / The Wrap:
ESPN takes Rachel Nichols off its NBA programming and cancels her show The Jump, after controversy over her comments about now-former colleague Maria Taylor — ESPN is taking Rachel Nichols off its NBA programming, which includes canceling her daytime show “The Jump.”
Discussion:
Sports Business Journal, NPR, Mediaite, Defector, Fox News, Good Morning It's Basketball, @benjstrauss, deadline.com, Newser, @neoavatara, @thr, @newsweek, @dimeuproxx, @sportsguymarv, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Axios, New York Post, ABC News, TMZ.com, Washington Post, Bangor Daily News, Barrett Media, TVNewser, The Hill, New York Times, New York Daily News, TVLine, Awful Announcing, Sportico, Sports Illustrated and Hollywood Reporter
New York Times:
Sources: Facebook has approached experts about forming an advisory body for how it handles global election matters, including political ads and misinformation — The social network has contacted academics to create a group to advise it on thorny election-related decisions, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Discussion:
American Press Institute, @jason_kint, @mr_berman, @carlmalamud, @davidakaye, @emilybell, @ancalerts, @blackamazon, @rapplerdotcom, @dispositive, @sheeraf, @natematias, @qwongsj, @brainnotonyet, @emilybell, @emilybell, @samthielman, @moonalice, @sachp, The Verge and The Morning Missive, more at Techmeme »
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
WarnerMedia is ending distribution of CNN International on UK's Virgin Media, BT, and Freesat; viewers will have to pay £2/month for streaming service CNN Live — A global variant of AT&T WarnerMedia's news channel CNN will no longer be available on British cable television systems starting next month.
Discussion:
Broadband TV News
The Wire:
Yahoo says it is shutting down content operations in India as of Thursday due to the country's new regulations limiting foreign ownership of digital media — New Delhi: Online tech giant Yahoo is shutting down its content operations in India, a decision that the company says is due to changes in regulatory laws in the country.
Discussion:
Hindustan Times and @shakirmir
Esha Sarai / Voice of America:
US lawmakers sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday urging help for about 550 USAGM employees and their relatives who are still trying to leave Afghanistan — U.S. lawmakers pushed President Joe Biden on Wednesday to evacuate hundreds of people affiliated with the U.S. Agency for Global Media …
Discussion:
@w7voa, @benyt and GovExec.com
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Fox Corp. announces an investment in Eluvio, which uses blockchain to distribute video, provide ticketing services, and offer video NFTs, at a $100M valuation — Fox Corp. announced a strategic investment in Eluvio, giving it a minority stake in the startup whose platform is designed …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Hollywood Reporter, @xpangler, Light Reading and Radio & Television …
Josh Eidelson / Bloomberg:
MSNBC newsroom staffers vote for a union, after the network declined voluntary recognition in June; MSNBC's president signals the network won't contest results — - Writers Guild won election among about 300 employees — The Writers Guild has swelled its ranks in recent years