Top News:
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
The Trump administration issued subpoenas to several NYT reporters after the outlet reported on security concerns involving the new Qatari-donated Air Force One — The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.”
Discussion:
Associated Press, CNBC, Deadline, CNN, CBS News, @freedomofpress, @farhip, @rmac.bsky.social, @nytimes, The Indian Express, Townhall, @grynbaum, @christopherjm, @rpsagainsttrump, @harrylitman.bsky.social, @clarajeffery.bsky.social, NewsMax.com, The Independent, Clash Report, TMZ.com, The Gateway Pundit, The Hill and Forbes
Corbin Bolies / Variety:
Meta says it will discontinue a feature that allowed users to generate images in Meta AI using public Instagram accounts, following days of criticism — Meta said on Friday it would discontinue an AI feature that allowed users to generate images using public Instagram accounts following days …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Dexerto, International Business Times, The Hans India, Fortune India, Digit, PetaPixel, New York Times, @jenncutter.bsky.social, @dmacalvert.bsky.social, Fox Business, OloriSuperGal, The A.V. Club, Times of India, Ubergizmo, @mikeisaac, BBC, @dylanbyers, Digital Trends, Engadget, 9to5Mac, Deadline, TechCrunch, Reuters, CBC News, ANI News, NBC Bay Area, ScreenCrush, Joe.My.God., AfroTech, NBC Palm Springs, Semafor, The Verge, The Tab, Tech in Asia, Outlook India, The Economic Times, The Hindu, USA Today, The Mac Observer, iDrop News, Boing Boing, Washington Times, Phandroid, BMI, iThinkDifferent, iPhone in Canada, Tom's Guide, Business Today, Amateur Photographer, ZDNET, Malwarebytes and Ghacks, more at Techmeme »
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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, The Oldham Times, The Wrap, Reuters, The Movie Blog, PCMag, OloriSuperGal, The Deep View, What's Trending, NonStop Local Tri …, Tubefilter, LAmag, Page 4 - The Tab, Forbes, WPXI-TV, Variety, Los Angeles Times, Black Enterprise, Far Out Magazine and Fast Company, more at Techmeme »
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:
The Wrap, Inc.com, @_zeets, @baileylikemovie, @maddiewhittle, @marvelousdeath, @zakfilm, @joshuadysart.bsky.social, @thereeljon.cryptoanarchy …, @moviessilently.bsky.social, OloriSuperGal, @thecoratee.bsky.social, The Guardian, @okwithmydecay@en.osm.town, @matt.evil.gay, IndieWire, @asiahoe.com, Polygon.com, 9to5Mac, Nerdist, @aleixpitarch.bsky.social, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, @normwilner.bsky.social, @dansheehan.bsky.social, Digital Trends, Far Out Magazine, Kotaku, @mtsw.bsky.social, @colettearrand.bsky.social, @coreyatad.com, The A.V. Club, ScreenRant and World of Reel
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, 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
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, Radio & Television …, The Streamable, The Wrap, Barrett Media, Sports Business Journal, Advanced Television, Benzinga, Deadline, Telecompaper, TheDesk.net, Jessica Casano-Antonellis on LinkedIn, ir.fubo.tv, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter and Media Play News
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:
The A.V. Club and Digital Trends
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.
Discussion:
Associated Press, CNN, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Deadline, Reuters, Reuters and Benzinga
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:
@timxai.ai, Screen, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Sources: over 50 Scripps-owned local TV stations returned to DirecTV's satellite and streaming platforms after a distribution dispute ended on Friday — The new deal brings more than 50 Scripps-owned local stations back to DIRECTV's platforms, but the broadcaster is staring …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Cord Cutters News, Deadline, The Wrap and Radio & Television …
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Oregon's AG withdraws a motion to delay the Paramount-WBD merger while he sought company documents; EU agencies and some state AGs are still examining the deal — An ODOJ spokesperson tells TheWrap that the David Ellison-led media giant thinks they're “above the law” after refusing to comply …
Discussion:
Deadline, @brianstelter, Variety, Reuters, @brianstelter, Gadget Review, Cord Cutters News, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Awful Announcing, Advanced Television and Benzinga
Malia Mendez / New York Times:
PEN America's president resigns, citing the group's publication of an article that opposed cultural boycotts and detailed challenges Jewish writers face now — The novelist Dinaw Mengestu, who was elected seven months ago, said the article “continues this approach toward defending some rights while not defending others.”
Discussion:
PEN America, New York Sun and r/TrueLit
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:
@readdanwrite and @wolfereports.bsky.social
