Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Amazon suspends access to Prime Video for customers based in Russia — Amazon has joined the growing number of businesses suspending commercial activities in Russia in the wake of the country's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. — The e-commerce giant said in a statement that it is cutting off access …
Discussion:
About Amazon, TechCrunch, The Streamable, Engadget, ZDNet, @zdroberts, @biannagolodryga, @ercboxoffice, The Verge and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
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Jennifer Maas / Variety:
Jason Kilar announces that WarnerMedia will pause “all new business in Russia” amid Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine — WarnerMedia is “pausing all new business in Russia” amid its continued invasion of Ukraine, CEO Jason Kilar announced Wednesday.
Discussion:
The Streamable and @brianstelter
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
Discovery pulls 15 channels in Russia, operated as part of a joint venture with the country's leading TV company National Media Group — Discovery has pulled some 15 channels off the air in Russia, following similar moves by CNN and the BBC.
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
The New York Times temporarily removes its journalists from Russia in response to the law that effectively renders independent reporting in the country illegal
The New York Times temporarily removes its journalists from Russia in response to the law that effectively renders independent reporting in the country illegal
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @cliffordlevy, @dylanbyers, @emilybell, American Press Institute, CNN, @cliffordlevy, Talking Biz News, Nieman Lab, Vox, @vabvox, New York Magazine, Poynter, @stevenleemyers, @abarnardnyt, @oliverdarcy, @sbg1, @waschukcanua, @ichbinilya, bbc.co.uk, Variety, Mediaite, @mschwirtz, @nytimesbusiness, @izatabaro, @sarafischer, @jonathancmunro, @maxboot, @ewong, Washington Post, @cliffordlevy, @grynbaum, @kasparov63, @alexey__kovalev, @cliffordlevy, Fox News, Freedom of the Press …, Variety, Metro.co.uk, The Wrap, The Hill, @sulliview, bookforum.com, Condé Nast, Reuters and Deadline
On Substack:
Substack launches an iOS app for reading; Android users can join a waitlist — What you read matters — Today, we're launching an iOS app for reading. It's like your email inbox, but better. — For readers, the app brings all your Substack subscriptions together in one venue …
Discussion:
One Man & His Blog, CNET, @iroughol, @hamishmckenzie, Nieman Lab, @bmorrissey, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, TechCrunch, InvestTank's Newsletter, @adders, @jrothenberg_, thotfulness, gratitude …, We Are Speaking, Cup of Strength, The Half Marathoner, The Verge, The Lee Show, Writing Worlds,, Competitive Hedge …, Engadget, Alts by Flippa, 9to5Mac, @niubi, @substackinc, @jonrussell, AIPT, Substack Finance, @thesteinline, @pierce, @kendallbaker, @dwr, @annehelen, Mashable, @tcarmody, @martinsfp, @kantrowitz and Liberal Confessions, more at Techmeme »
Jessica Toonkel / The Information:
Sources: Disney is considering significantly broadening Disney+ content beyond its strict family focus, including horror and thriller movies and shows — Horror movies and thrillers on Disney+? An ESPN sports betting partnership? Plans that would once have been unthinkable at Disney …
Discussion:
@jtoonkel, @jessicalessin and The Streamable
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Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
CEO Bob Chapek says Disney opposes Florida's “Don't Say Gay” bill, pledges $5M to LGBTQ+ rights advocates, and says he'll discuss the bill with FL's governor
CEO Bob Chapek says Disney opposes Florida's “Don't Say Gay” bill, pledges $5M to LGBTQ+ rights advocates, and says he'll discuss the bill with FL's governor
Discussion:
Variety, Los Angeles Times, Insider, New York Post, Orange County Register, WFLA-TV, The Verge, LGBTQ Nation, Polygon, IndieWire and Deadline
Mike Ozanian / Forbes:
Sources: the streaming deal between MLB and Apple is worth $85M annually over seven years and NBC Sports' two-year MLB deal is worth $30M annually — Baseball is in the midst of a lockout that is threatening the start of the 2022 season, but that isn't preventing the league from getting richer.
Emily Nicolle / Bloomberg:
Two Austrian entrepreneurs acquire the assets of LimeWire, the music sharing service shuttered in 2010, and plan to relaunch it as an NFT marketplace for music — A pair of serial entrepreneurs in Austria has bought the rights to defunct music platform LimeWire with plans to revamp its image …
Angelique Chrisafis / The Guardian:
President Macron vows to scrap the €138/year French TV license fee if he is re-elected next month, prompting questions over the funding of public media — Presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo says scrapping fee will ‘kill’ independence of public media — Emmanuel Macron has promised …
Discussion:
@jayrosen_nyu
Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Sources: Amazon is expected to win unconditional approval from the European Commission for its $8.5B acquisition of MGM, which was announced in May 2021 — Amazon is expected to win unconditional EU antitrust approval for its $8.5 billion buy of U.S. movie studio MGM, people familiar with the matter said …
Discussion:
@auerdirk and Axios, more at Techmeme »
Patience Haggin / Wall Street Journal:
Researchers say Gannett gave ad buyers incorrect information about where ads appeared for nine months; Gannett says it regrets the error, which it fixed March 4 — Publisher misrepresented where billions of ads were placed, researchers say, and Gannett corrected the issue in recent days
Discussion:
braedon.dev, @braedon, Editor and Publisher, @bmorrissey, @seangriffey, The Hill, @braedon, @thezedwards, @braedon, @alex, Fox News, @joshsternberg, @catthekin, @braedon, @braedon, @braedon, @braedon, @braedon, @braedon, @braedon, @apantazi, @andreabitely, @jeffjarvis, @acfou, @merenewman and MediaPost
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Jeff Zucker's exit deal with CNN paid him $5M+, which was owed from his 2021 bonus, and he didn't get further severance; he waived his rights to sue — Mr. Zucker, who resigned last month citing his failure to report consensual relationship with colleague, waived rights to sue CNN parent WarnerMedia as part of pact
Discussion:
The Week, Fox News, @benmullin, @mattbelloni, The Wrap, @johnnydollar01, Mediaite and @jeremymbarr
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
TikTok launches music distribution platform SoundOn in the US, the UK, Brazil, and Indonesia, letting artists upload music to TikTok, Resso, Spotify, and more — TikTok has already achieved massive influence in today's music industry, sending songs that find popularity on the app to the top of the Billboard charts.
Discussion:
Variety, Social Media Today, Protocol, Music Business Worldwide and @marshallk, more at Techmeme »