Top News:
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Apple raises the price of Apple Music, with the individual plan up by $1 to $11.99, and some Apple One bundles, the first price hike for Apple Music since 2022 — Apple has raised the price of Apple Music today in the United States and other countries. Starting today, Apple Music's Individual plan …
Deadline:
A US district court judge says she'll issue a ruling by July 22 on state AGs' request for a temporary stay that would pause the Paramount-WBD merger — U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín heard arguments from both sides in an 80-minute hearing in Oakland on Friday.
Discussion:
CNN, Variety, Bloomberg, @jbflint, @labuzamovies.com, @jbflint, @jbflint, @jbflint and r/MediaMergers
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Gene Maddaus / Variety:
In a filing disputing state AGs' request for a temporary restraining order, Paramount argued its merger with WBD would increase theatrical motion picture output — Paramount Skydance began to lay out its legal argument Thursday against an antitrust lawsuit brought by a dozen states …
Patrick Hipes / Deadline:
Sinclair-owned TV stations affiliated with ABC and NBC aired Trump's speech about elections, using Sinclair's feed; Sinclair owns or operates 177 stations — Trump's address tonight began at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and lasted about 25 minutes. As expected, the brunt of the remarks were regarding elections …
Discussion:
The Hill, Reuters, Forbes, @tdogmedia.bsky.social, @kennysmith.org, One America News Network, New York Times, Reason, Politico, USA Today, @jbflint, The Independent, The Indian Express, Breitbart, The Wrap, Fox News, New York Post, The A.V. Club, NewsMax.com, The Hollywood Reporter and Joe.My.God.
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Ted Johnson / Deadline:
President Trump says ABC and NBC should have their licenses revoked for not carrying his speech, alleging they are part of a “plot” to continue election “fraud” — Donald Trump lashed out at ABC and NBC, the two networks that chose not to carry his speech live …
Discussion:
Reuters, Poynter, Washington Post, The Guardian, The Jim Acosta Show, Florida Politics, Raw Story, Media Matters for America, New York Daily News, Mediaite, The Atlantic, New Republic, @aclu.org, @brianstelter, Truthout, TV Tech, Straight Arrow, Military.com, @jbflint, @farhip, Democracy Docket, twitchy.com, PJ Media, Barrett Media, Newser, American Thinker, Axios, NewsMax.com, Daily Mail, The Gateway Pundit, The Post Millennial, The Hill, RedState and Washington Examiner
Ariel Zilber / New York Post:
Madison Square Garden files a defamation suit against Wired over an article alleging MSG kept a list of gay celebrities; Wired says it stands by its reporting — Wired Magazine used stolen data to falsely accuse Madison Square Garden of creepily surveilling a “list” of gay celeb fans …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Playboy has relaunched a print edition with a “respectful and modern” take on nudity; in 2025, its parent company had a $12.7M net loss on $120.9M in revenue — Playboy Bunnies and Playmates have returned to print. — The team behind a relaunched Playboy magazine have spoken …
Discussion:
Page Six, PinkNews, @pressgazette.co.uk, TMZ.com, DrunkenStepFather.com and Gay Times
Edward Helmore / The Guardian:
DHS announces plans to shorten visas for foreign journalists in the US from up to 5 years to 240 days and cut those for Chinese journalists to 90 days — Visas will be shortened to 240 days, down from five years, and Chinese journalists will be limited to 90 days
Axel Springer SE:
Axel Springer plans to confer the 2026 Axel Springer Award on Peter Thiel in a ceremony scheduled for September 24, with a tribute by CBS News EIC Bari Weiss — Recognizing an entrepreneur, investor, and thought leader who has significantly shaped digital transformation
Emma Roth / The Verge:
Netflix says ~300 titles on its app used generative AI in 2026, mostly in post-production, “to deliver higher quality output more quickly and at a lower cost” — Some titles used AI to create ‘enhanced crowds, historical battle sequences, and worldbuilding establishing shots.’
Discussion:
Netflix Press Site, The A.V. Club, Digital Trends, Cartoon Brew, TVBEurope, Digit, Unite.AI, GamesRadar, WeRSM, TechRadar, mxdwn Television, Far Out Magazine, The Decoder, Gamereactor UK, World of Reel, @kennysmith.org, Consequence, Kotaku, MobileSyrup, @techwire@social.gamefan.net, Variety and Bloomberg
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Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:
Netflix reports Q2 revenue up 13% YoY to $12.56B, vs. $12.59B est., and says it will give fewer engagement updates starting in 2027; NFLX drops 7%+ after hours
Netflix reports Q2 revenue up 13% YoY to $12.56B, vs. $12.59B est., and says it will give fewer engagement updates starting in 2027; NFLX drops 7%+ after hours
Discussion:
NBC News, BNN Bloomberg, Marketing Dive, The American Bazaar, The Wrap, Barchart.com, International Business Times, Livemint, Benzinga, Variety, Blockonomi, Broadband TV News, The Hollywood Reporter, Morningstar, Motley Fool, Fast Company, @pkafka, Barron's Online, Proactive, Wall Street Journal, Adweek, @lucas_shaw, @lucas_shaw, BMI, MediaPost, B&T, AdExchanger, TheDesk.net, Lillian Rizzo on LinkedIn, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, Thurrott, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Cord Cutters News, Quartz, Financial Times, Radio & Television …, Investor's Business Daily, The Hollywood Reporter, Sweden Herald, The Wrap, Variety, Channel NewsAsia, AdNews News, Anadolu Ajansı …, Investing.com, Proactiveinvestors UK, Media Play News, Next in Media, Netflix, Bloomberg and The Economist
Scott Nover / Washington Post:
A US Court of Appeals rules that the DOD's policy requiring government escorts for journalists working at the Pentagon could stand, a blow for the NYT's case — Judges sided with the government over the New York Times in a major press freedom case. — Summary
Discussion:
New York Times, The Wrap, Media Nation, Reason, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, CBS News, Washington Times, @scottnover and Reuters
Max Tani / @maxwelltani:
On a CBS News editorial call, Bari Weiss announces that Mike Pesca, longtime host of recently ended podcast The Gist, is joining as editorial head of podcasts — New: On CBS News' morning editorial call today, Bari Weiss announced that Mike Pesca, the longtime host of the Gist, is joining the network as its editorial director of podcasts.
Discussion:
@djlavoie.bsky.social, TV Insider, @pescagist, @simonowens.bsky.social and Inside Radio
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Newsweek's publishing revenue is set to drop ~20% this year but it's on track for $100M in revenue due to its healthcare-focused DSP contributing 40% of revenue — The publisher is on pace to surpass $100 million in revenue, powered by ad-tech, a rankings business, and events
