Top News:
James Faris / Business Insider:
Sources: Disney is discussing a potential free tier for Disney+; product and tech chief Adam Smith discussed the initiative at a town hall but gave no timeline — Disney is exploring making some of its streaming content available at an unbeatable price: free.
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Alisa Bowen, president of Disney+ since late 2022, is leaving to become CEO of Disney-controlled Fubo, succeeding David Gandler, who led Fubo for over a decade — Alisa Bowen, who has served as president of Disney+ since September 2022, is leaving that role to become CEO of Fubo …
Discussion:
Radio & Television …, The Wrap, The Streamable, Barrett Media, Advanced Television, Sports Business Journal, Deadline, Benzinga, Cord Cutters News, Telecompaper, TheDesk.net, Jessica Casano-Antonellis on LinkedIn, ir.fubo.tv, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter and Media Play News
Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
NYT countersues the US EEOC, accusing it of retaliation for NYT's coverage of the agency by suing NYT for passing over a white man for a top editorial role — The publication accuses the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of filing a lawsuit in retaliation for its reporting.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Report: Letterboxd's owners have held early talks with potential buyers, including Netflix, Sony Pictures, Paramount, and PE giant TPG — Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount and Alexis Ohanian also supposedly eyeing movie social platform — Could Letterboxd, the popular film-review social network …
Discussion:
Puck, The Guardian, IndieWire, @joshuadysart.bsky.social, @thereeljon.cryptoanarchy …, @moviessilently.bsky.social, @mtsw.bsky.social, Kotaku, The Wrap, @matt.evil.gay, Polygon.com, @marvelousdeath, @asiahoe.com, Nerdist, @aleixpitarch.bsky.social, @okwithmydecay@en.osm.town, OloriSuperGal, @coreyatad.com, @dansheehan.bsky.social, @_zeets, Far Out Magazine, 9to5Mac, @normwilner.bsky.social, @zakfilm, @maddiewhittle, @baileylikemovie, Digital Trends, @colettearrand.bsky.social, @thecoratee.bsky.social, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, ScreenRant and World of Reel
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
As Hollywood looks for its next Obsession-type hit, 11 studios bid on YouTube series The Mandela Catalogue and sources say WBD paid $1M for rights to Siren Head — Creator of monster called Siren Head scores rich deal as studios hunt for next ‘Backrooms’-style hit
Discussion:
Digital Trends
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Netflix executives are increasingly worried about declining engagement and are exploring adding live TV and bundling streaming services like Peacock — Streamer is rethinking some of its core strategies to compete with rivals — Top Netflix executives who gathered …
Discussion:
Puck, The Wrap, iDrop News, Breitbart, The Bulwark, @mattbelloni.bsky.social, Barron's Online, TechRadar, Barrett Media, PCMag, Thurrott, The Mac Observer, Newsmax, Streaming Better, Gadget Review, Android Authority, Tech Brew, @matthewkeyslive, Cord Cutters News, Blockonomi, @pabastien.bsky.social, How-To Geek, @bakerdphd.bsky.social, The Streamable, @johnrogers.bsky.social, Android Police, TechCrunch, T3, Advanced Television, @claireatki, @djniconv, Radio Times, Digital Trends, The A.V. Club, @carnage4life@mas.to, Ben Fritz on LinkedIn, 9to5Mac, @blackazizanansi.blacksky.app, @michaelsderby.bsky.social, @zugernat.bsky.social, Awful Announcing, @whoa-magic.lol, @scout6.bsky.social, @andonthedrums.bsky.social, @bryanmurphy.bsky.social, @brianstorms@mastodon.social, @stevemking.bsky.social, @firerock31@threads.com, @jakevk.bsky.social, @benfritz.bsky.social, The Verge, Benzinga and Proactive, more at Techmeme »
Brent Lang / Variety:
Department M is acquiring a significant stake in indie studio Neon; founder Tom Quinn remains Neon CEO, and The Friedkin Group remains a significant shareholder — Department M has closed a transaction to acquire a significant stake in Neon, the Oscar-winning indie studio behind “Parasite” and “Anora.”
Discussion:
The Wrap, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter and Screen
Ellyn Briggs / Front Office Sports:
Sports is garnering new attention from media outlets, like Politico and VF, as it offers content that readers actively seek out rather than stumble upon — Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media, including some of the unlikeliest publications.
Discussion:
@wolfereports.bsky.social and @readdanwrite
Ina Fried / Axios:
Privacy advocates, CAA, and SAG-AFTRA slam Meta's Muse Image, which lets users create AI images using the likenesses of people with public Instagram accounts — Meta's move to allow users to create AI images using the likenesses of people with public Instagram accounts is drawing criticism …
Discussion:
Deadline, CBC News, The Wrap, OloriSuperGal, NonStop Local Tri …, The Deep View, What's Trending, Tubefilter, LAmag, Black Enterprise, Forbes, Page 4 - The Tab, Los Angeles Times, Variety, WPXI-TV, Outlook India, The Hindu, Far Out Magazine, Fast Company and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »
Katherine Sayre / Wall Street Journal:
An RIAA-led coalition representing labels and artists proposes two tags for AI content: one for entirely AI-generated songs and another for “AI-assisted” tracks — An RIAA-led coalition of groups representing music labels and artists says fans want transparency
Discussion:
Variety, Gizmodo, Digital Music News, Music Ally, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Music Business Worldwide and Deadline, more at Techmeme »
Anna Wise / The Independent:
New Ofcom proposals would fine social media platforms and search engines up to £18M or 10% of global revenue for failing to take action to stamp out scam ads — Firms could face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, whichever is greater, once the new rules come into effect.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Advanced Television, BBC, Ofcom and Telecompaper
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
The UK's YouTube-based TLDR News is supplementing digital ad revenue by selling a print magazine and merchandise, earning a profit in its latest fiscal year — Youtube-based publisher TLDR News has increased its revenue by 28% year on year after its print magazine and merchandise became its joint biggest source of income.
