Top News:
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Newsmax and election systems company Smartmatic reach a confidential settlement that averts Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit over 2020 election lies — Newsmax has reached a settlement with election systems company Smartmatic, averting a defamation trial that was set to start next week.
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Axios, Washington Post, CNN, Mediaite, CNN, Adweek, The Desk, @katie_robertson, NPR, Radio & Television …, The Wrap, Forbes, New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, The Hill, TVNewsCheck, CNN, New York Daily News, CBS News, Associated Press, Reuters, Media Matters for America, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, The Daily Beast, Barrett Media, Advanced Television and ABC7
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Sources: CNN will begin experimenting in early October with a metered paywall, charging some readers for digital access after they read a set number of articles — CNN will begin experimenting in October with a subscription model, in a major initiative from its chief executive, Mark Thompson.
Carly Thomas / The Hollywood Reporter:
CNN won 11 awards in the 2024 News & Documentary Emmy Awards, ABC News won eight including three credited to Hulu, and National Geographic won five — The awards were handed out at the Palladium Times Square in New York City on Wednesday. — CNN, ABC and National Geographic are among …
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Variety, Barrett Media, CNN, Deadline, TVNewsCheck and GoldDerby
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
AI company Runway launches The Hundred Film Fund, offering grants of $5,000 to $1M for 100 short films and feature-length movies that use generative AI — Runway is launching The Hundred Film Fund, an initiative to help produce and fund as many as 100 short films and feature-length movies …
New York Times:
Hoda Kotb plans to leave NBC's Today early next year but will remain an occasional contributor to NBC; her exit will create two vacancies in the Today franchise — Her exit, planned for early next year, is a seismic shift for NBC and opens up a pair of morning TV's most coveted anchor chairs.
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The Information:
Source: Amazon exceeded its goal of $1.8B in ad-spending commitments for its video-streaming offerings, including Thursday Night Football, in the coming year — Amazon's decision to introduce ads within its Prime Video streaming service is already paying off for the company.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Reuters, Deadline and Adweek, more at Techmeme »
Andrew Marchand / New York Times:
Sources: ESPN lays off NBA senior writer Zach Lowe as part of continuing cost cutting; his salary, in excess of seven figures annually, was the biggest factor — ESPN has parted ways with NBA senior writer Zach Lowe as part of the network's continuing layoffs, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic on Thursday.
Elizabeth Lopatto / The Verge:
X is blocking links to Ken Klippenstein's newsletter with a hacked JD Vance dossier and suspended Klippenstein's X account for posting Vance's private info — X is preventing users from posting links to a newsletter containing a hacked document that's alleged to be the Trump campaign's research …
Discussion:
@pkafka@threads.net, DNyuz, Mediaite, @newrepublic@threads.net, New Republic, The Hill, Engadget, Ken Klippenstein, @Cyberpreppy@mastodon.social, @alibreland, @oremus.bsky.social, @hn50@social.lansky.name, @jessicalburbank, @leahmcelrath, @emptywheel, @leahmcelrath, @rmac18, @alibreland, Elizabeth Lopatto on LinkedIn, @leahmcelrath, @rmac18, @davekarpf.bsky.social, @BackFromTheDud@mas.to, @davekarpf.bsky.social, @passantino@threads.net, @mmasnick.bsky.social, @digiphile@mastodon.social, @thezedwards, @justinbaragona, @omimesis@mastodon.social, @leahmcelrath and Hacker News, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Subscription management platform RevenueCat acquires Dipsea, an app that offers subscriptions for “spicy” audiobooks, as a test ground for RevenueCat's features — On the heels of its earlier $12 million fundraise, subscription management platform RevenueCat has made its first acquisition — and it's an unusual one.
Elle Kehres / Radio World:
The FCC voted to impose fines for three Miami-area pirate radio operators totaling $800K+ and proposes fines totaling $1M for three suspected NYC-area operators — Commission carries out three fines, has three more proposed — The Federal Communications Commission has taken swift action …
Hadas Gold / CNN:
Nevada court hearings in the Murdoch family succession fight ended outside of public view; resolution may take weeks and be appealed to Nevada's Supreme Court — New York CNN — — The fate of Rupert Murdoch's vast media empire, including Fox News, is now in the hands of a Reno probate commissioner …
Discussion:
@passantino@threads.net
Thomas Claburn / The Register:
Matt Mullenweg says WP Engine no longer has free WordPress.org access and directs WP Engine customers having trouble with their websites to WP Engine support — WordPress on Wednesday escalated its conflict with WP Engine, a hosting provider, by blocking the latter's servers …
Discussion:
Tedium, WordPress News, @viewfromthebox, @bgardner, @bgardner, @photomatt, @automattic, @carlhancock, @bowefrankema, @ozskier, @photomatt, @davidtaggart, @photomatt, @vinnysgreen, @benjmay, @patchstackapp, @mgeheren, @stshank, @rmccue, @fjzeit, @bgardner, @shendison, @joshmanders, @itsdavemartin, @thespacedmonkey, MarTech, @thedannorris, @dcurtis, @wpdavidv, @taraclaeys, @mrlanphear, @danielcid, @tomfrankly, @seldo, @pressable, @t3dotgg, @williamsba, @slexaxton, @photomatt, @photomatt, @deviorobert, @tealou, @photomatt, @timbouchard, @tmeister, @jbenton, @keithdevon, @raymmar_, @wordpress, Dave Martin, WP Engine's Status Page, TechRadar, Search Engine Journal, @runakog@threads.net, @dvk@toot.re, TechCrunch, @Kye@tech.lgbt, @Jayhoffmann@mastodon.social, @bretcarmichael@mastodon …, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @chris@mastodon …, One Man & His Blog and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
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Emma Roth / The Verge:
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2426, which forces digital stores to tell customers they are getting a revocable license when “buying” digital media — California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law (AB 2426) to combat “disappearing” purchases of digital games, movies, music, and ebooks.
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