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Google shutters FLoC, its controversial ad tech for replacing third-party cookies, and proposes Topics, which categorizes the sites users visit into 300+ topics — FLoC (Federated Learning of Cohorts), Google's controversial project for replacing cookies for interest-based advertising …
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Substack plans to launch a native video player in beta next week that will let creators upload or record a video and embed it directly in a Substack post — Substack plans to launch a native video player next week in an effort to lure new creators to the platform, a spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Discussion:
Sub Pub, On Substack, @sarafischer, @ckrewson, @simonowens and @protocol


Fight Club gets an alternate ending in its China release on Tencent Video wherein the police thwart Tyler Durden's anarchist plan — Someone tried very hard to please Chinese movie censors. — VZ — Fight Club is getting an entirely different ending in a new online release in China …
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Fox News' Peter Doocy says Biden called him to “clear the air” about an hour after the president was caught on a hot mic calling Doocy “a stupid son of a bitch” — The president later called Peter Doocy and “cleared the air,” Mr. Doocy said.
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Neil Young posts and then deletes a letter to his manager and a Warner exec demanding they remove his music from Spotify over Joe Rogan's vaccine misinformation — Neil Young posted a since-deleted letter to his management team and record label demanding that they remove his music from Spotify.
Discussion:
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Two House Energy and Commerce Committee members send a letter to NBC Universal's execs asking whether China or the IOC have influenced NBC's Olympics coverage — Republican leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have sent a letter to NBC Universal executives voicing concerns about …
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Cable operators are quietly dropping Newsmax; Atlantic Broadband, Cincinnati Bell, Hargray Communications, and Blue Ridge Communications say it's just business — Conservative channel's carriage issues emerge as rival OAN faces pay TV oblivion — While the focus has been on its conservative …
Discussion:
@dannyfrankel and The Streamable


PitchBook: VCs invested $1.4B in US and European publishing startups in 2021, more than twice the investment of any previous year — Spiffy online news outlets are hot again. Every month seems to welcome a new publication built on an established journalist's existing audience.
Discussion:
@acoyne


Stripe partners with Spotify to help podcasters accept payments in dozens of currencies in more than 30 countries — — Stripe has partnered with Spotify to help podcasters use the platform to accept payments in dozens of currencies in more than 30 countries.


The Philadelphia Inquirer is negotiating to rent office space that is 60% smaller and $1M/year cheaper, starting Q1 2023, as it expects much work to be remote — The Philadelphia Inquirer is negotiating a lease at the midcentury landmark at 100 S. Independence Mall West still often known …
Discussion:
@ingasaffron, @emarvelous, @elaheizadi, @ylichterman, @ellierushing, @ckrewson, @dlboardman, @robtornoe, @wbender99 and @farfarraway


HarbourView Equity, the group backed by $1B from Apollo to invest in music rights and other media assets, buys Luis Fonsi's catalog, its first major acquisition — Deal with HarbourView comes as Wall Street chases returns from music copyrights — Private equity giant Apollo Global Management …
Discussion:
Music Business Worldwide and @annaknicolaou


Profile of Italian soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has amassed a huge following by becoming the go-to source for transfer news on social media — Fabrizio Romano has turned rumors and a catchphrase into an industry. But is he an observer of soccer's multibillion-dollar transfer market, or a participant in it?
Discussion:
@jacquioatley, @davidamoyal, @rorysmith, @franklinleonard, @andreasharsono, @dannyoneil, @stephengrey, @markdistef, @andrewdasnyt, @dylanbyers, @kevinmdraper and @ninobucci