Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Roku plans to lay off 300+, or 10% of its staff, to cut costs and will take a ~$65M impairment charge in the current quarter to remove content; ROKU jumps 12%+ — Roku will cut more than 300 staffers — laying off 10% of its workforce — as the streaming-platform company continues its battle to control costs.
Discussion:
The Verge, MediaPost, TechCrunch, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Deadline, Media Play News, Hollywood Reporter and Cord Cutters News
Thomas Claburn / The Register:
Google has been rolling out Chrome's “Enhanced Ad Privacy” via a popup, part of its Topics API; some say the “Got It” button is misleading as tracking is active — YMMV, based on where you are — Google has been gradually rolling out Chrome's “Enhanced Ad Privacy.”
Discussion:
The Verge, @nixCraft@mastodon.social and The Messenger, more at Techmeme »
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Interviews with 25+ people who worked with Bob Iger and Bob Chapek between 2020 and 2022 detail how Disney's succession plan went awry and led to Iger's return — - What did a private bathroom, Oogie Boogie and a hippo have to do with the behind-the-scenes chaos between Bob Iger and Bob Chapek at Disney?
Discussion:
@mattrosoff, @sherman4949, @murraymatt, NBC 7 San Diego and @sherman4949
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Wall Street analysts say the Disney-Charter dispute could be a tipping point for cable TV and adds uncertainty to the industry even if it's resolved quickly — Wall Street analysts debate whether the standoff between the studio and the cable giant is “the end of the end,” …
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Walt Disney Company, Techdirt, WVXU, @philmeyer, Reuters, Stratechery, Deadline, Axios, MediaPost, Sports Business Journal, Fox News, CBS News and Variety
Wayne Friedman / MediaPost:
Fox says its free ad-supported streaming TV service Tubi now has 74M MAUs, up from 64M in February 2023; Nielsen: Tubi has a 1.4% share of total TV viewing time — Fox Corp's free ad-supported streaming platform Tubi TV has grown sharply over the last six months — up 16% to more than 74 million monthly active users.
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter and Cord Cutters News
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
X rolls out Community Notes for videos and says the tool offers a “highly-scalable way of adding context to edited clips, AI-generated videos, and more” — Social network X, formerly known as Twitter, has introduced Community Notes for videos. Community Notes is an existing program for crowdsourced moderation.
Discussion:
Gizmodo
Jon Lafayette / Next TV:
Allen Media Group's Local Now streaming service adds Washington Post Television, which offers breaking news, interviews, and in-depth reporting, to its lineup — Newspaper started channel in May — Allen Media Group said its Local Now digital platform had added Washington Post Television to its channel lineup.
Discussion:
The Desk, Washington Post and TVNewsCheck
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater plans to retire later in 2023 after four decades with the corporation and 14 years of running its sport's coverage — - French Studio Magical Society Launches UK Arm Helmed By ‘Saving Mr Banks’ Producer Paul Trijbits — As Success-Based Residuals …
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Filing: WBD forecasts 2023 adjusted EBITDA down by $300M-$500M to $10.5B-$11B, citing strikes, and $1.7B+ in Q3 2023 free cash flow due to Barbie and strikes — “The company now expects to exceed $1.7 billion in free cash flow for the third quarter of 2023, in part due to the strong performance …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Variety, CNN, The Information, @rfaughnder, Fortune, @howardrodman, @raypride, @stevendeknight, @joerussotweets, @joerussotweets, @richlightshed, @mattbelloni, SlashFilm, Fortune, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, IGN, Wall Street Journal, TheStreet, The Wrap, CNBC, Deadline, 98 Rock Online and Media Play News
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
NPR President and CEO John Lansing, who has led the organization since 2019, plans to retire at the end of 2023; NPR plans a national search for his successor — - U.S. Economy Adds 187,000 Jobs In August, Entertainment Employment Continues To Decline Amid Strikes
Discussion:
NPR, NPR, Poynter, @benmullin, RADIO ONLINE, @hollyedgell, CNN, Current, The Desk, The Wrap and Inside Radio
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney plans to run a Disney+ deal until September 20 offering its ad tier for $1.99/month for three months, down from $7.99, for new and existing subscribers — Disney will offer Disney+ for $1.99 per month as it prepares to debut ‘Elemental’ on Sept. 13 and the live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ on its streaming service.
Discussion:
TVLine, CNET, Screen Rant, The Verge, Variety, Media Play News, Engadget and Cord Cutters News
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
UMG and Deezer strike a deal to give more weight to professional artists, who generate at least 1,000 listens a month, when calculating streaming royalties — Agreement with Deezer aims to boost royalties for artists and labels and reduce payouts for ‘noise’