Top News:
New York Times:
Sources: Google tests an AI tool to produce news stories, pitching the service to the NYT, WaPo, News Corp, and other outlets as a helpmate for journalists — The product, pitched as a helpmate for journalists, has been demonstrated for executives at The New York Times, The Washington Post and News Corp …
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNET, Nieman Lab, @google_comms, The Wrap, New York Post, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, The San Diego Union-Tribune, MarTech, Vanity Fair, CNN, Gizmodo, @nbj914, @mattdpearce, @hshaban, @kendrawrites, @benmullin, The Guardian, @clarajeffery, @matthewkeyslive, @jessicalessin, Android Authority, Engadget, Insider, Gadgets 360, The Information, 9to5Google, @tim@phire.place, The Verge, @hypervisible.bsky.social, @dsilverman@mastodon.social, The Desk and @pwnallthethings.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
Vivendi's Canal+ acquires a 12% stake in Viaplay Group; in June 2023, Canal+ announced a 26.1% stake in Hong Kong-based streaming service Viu — Canal+ has taken a minority stake in embattled Nordic outfit Viaplay Group, which this morning announced it was making 25% of its workforce redundant.
Discussion:
Variety, Broadband TV News and The Athletic
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Anton Wilen / Bloomberg:
Stockholm-based streaming service Viaplay lays off 25% of its ~1,600 staff and puts itself up for sale, after reporting a $574M loss in Q2; its stock drops 40%+
Discussion:
Yahoo Entertainment, Broadband TV News, Media Play News, Cord Busters, WORLD SCREEN, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline
Abner Li / 9to5Google:
YouTube increases YouTube Premium's price in the US from $11.99 per month to $13.99 per month and YouTube Music from $9.99 per month to $10.99 per month — The price of an individual YouTube Premium subscription is increasing by $2 to $13.99 per month in the US for new and current customers.
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Showtime pulled a Vice documentary episode that featured Ron DeSantis' time as a US Navy lawyer at Guantanamo over fears of political consequences — The Scoop — Showtime slated “The Guantanamo Candidate,” a 30 minute-long episode of its Vice documentary series, for May 28.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @makkhorn@c.im, @maxwelltani, @lolgop, @ziltoid1991, @nycsouthpaw, @alexweprin, @willsommer, @nkulw, @StillIRise1963@mastodon.world, @blackamazon, @semaforben and @bmenezes
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
Netflix expands its password-sharing crackdown to its remaining markets and doesn't plan to offer an “extra member” option due to low pricing and penetration — Netflix is bringing password-sharing crackdown to consumers in India and every other market starting today …
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Lisa Richwine / Reuters:
Netflix reports Q2 revenue up 2.7% YoY to $8.2B, vs. $8.3B est., net income up 3.3% YoY to $1.5B, 5.9M net new subs, and a Q3 forecast below est.; NFLX down 8%+
Discussion:
Netflix, Observer, CNBC, Variety, EW.com, The Wrap, Deadline, The Verge, @tvgrimreaper, @sherman4949, @karlbode, @sarthakgh, @karlbode, @juicethousand, @karlbode, @lucas_shaw, @bluthcapital, @lucas_shaw, @reigncoates, @joerussotweets, @loudmouthjulia, @thedeskdotnet, The Guardian, Variety, Variety, NPR, Light Reading, SlashFilm, @carnage4life@mas.to, Deadline, Yahoo Finance, The Information, Reuters, The Desk and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Or Goren / Cord Busters:
Netflix removes its most affordable $10/month ad-free Basic tier in the US and UK, charging new and rejoining members £10.99/month or $15.49/month for no ads
Discussion:
The Verge, The Drum, Tubefilter, The Streamable, Variety, @tallshmo@mas.to, Quartz, Engadget, Android Authority, The Desk, @kylebarr5, @alexweprin, Axios, New York Post, Ars Technica, The Hollywood Reporter, ABC4 Utah, UPI, Bloomberg, New York Daily News, Tv Technology, CNET, SlashFilm, XDA Developers, Fortune, Forbes, CNBC, IndieWire, Insider, Consequence, The Wrap, Screen Rant, TechCrunch, @dcseifert@mastodon.social, Gizmodo, 9to5Mac, IGN, Tech Advisor and UPROXX
Peter White / Deadline:
Netflix increases its free cash flow estimate for 2023 from $3.5B to $5B, citing “lower cash content spend” due to the strikes and “timing of production starts”
Discussion:
Screen Rant, The Streamable, Collider, Fortune, The Wrap, CNBC, Media Play News and The Hollywood Reporter
Makena Kelly / The Verge:
A look at Gigi Sohn's unsuccessful FCC confirmation: Joe Biden nominated her in October 2021 and she withdrew 497 days later after a fierce opposition campaign — ‘Dark money’ and the never-ending election cycle kept a qualified consumer advocate out of the Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Buckley / Bloomberg:
Sources: AMC Entertainment drops a plan to charge more for seats in the center of theaters after a test failed to deliver more revenue or moviegoer interest — The world's largest cinema chain, which said in February it would expand its tiered-pricing structure to theaters in the US and Canada …
Patrick Frater / Variety:
Media Partners Asia: South Korean premium VOD content captured 50% of SVOD viewership and 42% of freemium viewership across East Asia from January to June 2023 — Korean TV series and films are increasing still further their hold on streaming audiences across East Asia.
Discussion:
Deadline and WORLD SCREEN
Calum Jaspan / Sydney Morning Herald:
Australia launches a review to examine the funding terms of ABC and SBS and look at governance at the two broadcasters, including their boards' composition — The federal government has kicked off a review that will examine funding terms for the ABC and SBS and look at governance at the two broadcasters …
Discussion:
The Guardian
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Amazon and BBC Studios launch BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India for an annual add-on subscription of $7.30 or $2.42 for just BBC Kids — STREAMING — Prime Video and BBC Studios have launched BBC Player and BBC Kids on Prime Video Channels in India.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @bbcstudiosindia, Gadgets 360, @fangsbites.bsky.social and WORLD SCREEN
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: a syndicate led by Matthew Roszak of Tally Capital and Peter Vessenes of Capital6 is nearing a deal to buy CoinDesk at an enterprise value of ~$125M — Syndicate is led by Matthew Roszak of Tally Capital and Peter Vessenes of Capital6 — A syndicate of investors is in the final stages …
Jim Milliot / Publishers Weekly:
HarperCollins is shutting down Inkyard Press, its young adult imprint under the Harlequin Trade Publishing division, and laying off its staff on August 1 — In a week that has seen Penguin Random House's workforce winnowed by buyouts and layoffs and the Independent Publishers Group lay off nine staffers …
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
After releasing Chrome 115 on July 18, Google plans to start enabling Privacy Sandbox APIs for developers on July 24, phasing out third-party cookies by Q3 2024 — The first phase of Google's long-standing plan to kill third-party cookies in Chrome is nearly complete.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Digiday and @jcsura, more at Techmeme »
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