Top News:
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
Google invests in independent movie studio A24 as part of a new AI partnership; sources say Google is investing $75M, equal to what Thrive invested in 2024 — Search giant is putting about $75 million into the film company as part of an artificial-intelligence research partnership
Discussion:
TechCrunch, /Film, Reuters, IndieWire, The Keyword, The Next Web, Los Angeles Times, Gizmodo, The Wrap, Inc.com, Screen, The Verge, Variety, Neil Parris on LinkedIn, Consequence, Digital Trends, Decrypt, Hindustan Times, Helena Malikova on LinkedIn, How-To Geek, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Proactive, @discussingfilm.net, Sherwood News, Far Out Magazine, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Showbiz411, Yahoo Finance, Ben Fritz on LinkedIn, World of Reel and The Decoder, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
The Atlantic ramps up its video podcasts, doubling its video team from ~10 to ~20, and says its podcast revenue is up 104% YoY and downloads rose ~50% YoY — One of America's oldest magazines is investing in video after seeing notable growth in its audience in recent months.
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
ABC is airing direct appeals to its audience for The View and for stations it owns, asking viewers to comment on FCC actions challenging the show and stations — The spots, which will start airing on Monday, are the latest pushback from The Walt Disney Co. and the network …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Washington Post, New York Times, TheDesk.net, Fox News, The Guardian, CNN, Wall Street Journal, The Wrap, New York Sun, Variety, Los Angeles Times, The Daily Caller, @jeremymbarr, Reality Tea, Washington Examiner, Cord Cutters News, Reuters, Bloomberg and Just Jared
New York Times:
People Inc., a major food content creator, is ramping up social media video production that emphasizes human-made recipes and testing to stand out from AI slop — People Inc., the home of Food & Wine and Southern Living, publishes more food content than anyone else.
Ben Sisario / New York Times:
Clive Davis, one of music's most powerful executives who guided Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, and Whitney Houston's careers, dies at 94 — He rose from a midlevel position at Columbia Records to become one of music's most powerful executives, shepherding stars like Barry Manilow and Whitney Houston.
Discussion:
Billboard, HuffPost, Reuters, The Wrap, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, RADAR, Reality Tea, Instapundit, @katiestereo.bsky.social, NPR, Hypebot, The Forward, VINnews, KFOR-TV, Daily Mail, @canaansdad1987.bsky.social, Mirror, Vanity Fair, The Stranger, Vibe, TODAY.com, E! Online, Bossip, HELLO!, Suggest, Just Jared, The Gateway Pundit, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Fox News, Page Six, The Detroit News, The Sun, Daily Star, Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, TMZ.com, The Daily Caller, @larrytenney.bsky.social, CBS News, KOIN.com, Deadline and WPXI-TV
Echo Wang / Reuters:
Sources: Vimeo owner Bending Spoons seeks to raise ~$1.62B in a US IPO, selling 58M shares at $26 to $28 apiece, at a valuation of $19B at the top of the range — Bending Spoons, an Italian technology company that acquires and revamps software businesses, is seeking to raise as much as $1.62 billion …
Discussion:
Finimize, more at Techmeme »
Borys Kit / The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix wins rights to the Sesame Street movie; Rideback, the production company behind live-action Lilo & Stitch and Aladdin movies, will produce the feature — Rideback, the production company behind the billion-dollar live-action “Lilo & Stitch” and “Aladdin” movies, brought it to the studio and will produce.
Discussion:
Gizmodo, IGN, Just Jared, @rwmead.bsky.social, World of Reel and The InSneider
Jeff Barker / @jeffbarkermedia:
Jeff Barker, who has covered politics and sports for The Baltimore Sun for 25 years, resigns, saying the news outlet has changed under ownership of David Smith — I've resigned from The Baltimore Sun after 25 years of politics and sports reporting. I was proud to have been there during a long period when our reporting followed the facts wherever they happened to lead. I'm not saying anything readers can't see for themselves, but The Sun [image]
Discussion:
@curtishouck, @brodyinmd, @ammarmufasa, @chucktodd, @carterelliottiv, @sashagalbreath and @gene_wang
Associated Press:
Staff of Czech public broadcasters stage a warning strike, protesting government plans to shift funding from license fees to the state budget starting next year — Journalists and other employees formed a human chain around the Czech public radio in Prague on Monday as part of a warning strike …
Discussion:
The Guardian and Newser
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Disney plans an interactive hub called ESPN Fan House alongside ESPN's College GameDay in August, with fan experiences like live polls and merchandise showcases — Disney wants to help advertisers reach more of the sports fans under its own roof. — The entertainment giant this August …
Discussion:
Sports Business Journal, ESPN Press Room U.S., MediaPost and Deadline
Mallory Moench / BBC:
Israeli strikes kill Al Jazeera correspondent Ahmed Wishah, claiming he was “a sniper operative”; Al Jazeera says it “strongly condemns” the killing of Wishah — Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least six people, including an Al Jazeera cameraman and at least one child …
Discussion:
The Guardian, @simonrosenberg.bsky.social, Al Jazeera, RTÉ, New York Post, The Times of Israel, NBC News, Associated Press and Arab News
Martin Peers / The Information:
WPP Media expects ad revenue from AI search and chatbots to reach $5.1B in 2026 and $101B in 2030, but notes lack of historical data makes forecasting difficult — If you've wanted to visit the South of France, this might be the week. The annual Cannes Lion ad festival …
Discussion:
Digiday, The American Bazaar and The Verge
