Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
A look at Israel's influence campaign in the US, including a $45M+ contract with Brad Parscale, chief strategy officer of conservative media network Salem Media — The Israeli government is trying to shore up its U.S. reputation with help from influencers, Trump insiders and millions of AI-driven texts
Discussion:
Middle East Monitor, @passantino.bsky.social, @kleinman.bsky.social, CTech and Barrett Media, more at Techmeme »
Reuters:
Sources: Trump Media pitched a monthly fee of as much as $100K for the Truth API, with fast access to Trump's posts, for banks, algorithmic traders, and others — Donald Trump's social media company has discussed charging Wall Street traders and investment firms as much as $100,000 a month …
Discussion:
ZeroHedge News, Sydney Morning Herald, The American Bazaar, Benzinga, Seoul Economic Daily, OutsideTheBeltway, Washington Examiner, COINOTAG, The Asia Business Daily, The Verge, Notebookcheck, Al Jazeera, @monalisazelf.bsky.social, @philthepill.online, Engadget, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Talking Points Memo, @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social, Straight Arrow, Coinpedia Fintech News, MS NOW, Daily Mail, Fox News, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Euronews, Washington Post, Blockonomi and Cointelegraph
Wall Street Journal:
Source: FIFA plans to open media rights bidding for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups but faces headwinds, like media companies locking in billions for other sports — Soccer's governing body plans to open bidding on media rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups but faces headwinds
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Front Office Sports, SportsPro and Barrett Media
RELATED:
Nick Robins-Early / The Guardian:
Spanish-language Telemundo captured 49% of the World Cup audience in the US through the first 48 matches, including viewers whose primary language is English
Spanish-language Telemundo captured 49% of the World Cup audience in the US through the first 48 matches, including viewers whose primary language is English
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, NBCUniversal Telemundo …, Awful Announcing, The Athletic, Deadline, @derfbackderf.bsky.social, El País, Billboard, Adweek and Deadline
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Apple raises the price of Apple Music, with the individual plan up by $1 to $11.99 per month, and some Apple One bundles, citing rising licensing costs — Apple has raised the price of Apple Music today in the United States and other countries. Starting today, Apple Music's Individual plan now costs $11.99 per month, up from $10.99.
Discussion:
Music Ally, GB News, Trusted Reviews, Moneycontrol, Mashable, Business Today, MacRumors, The Mac Observer, Gizchina, Deadline, Variety, Music Business Worldwide, TechRadar, Macworld, The Hans India, PCMag, GSMArena.com, @nileane@nileane.fr, Cult of Mac, iThinkDifferent, CNET, Redmond Pie, Digital Trends, Android Authority, iDrop News, iPhone in Canada, iClarified, MobileSyrup, AppleInsider, @philthepill.online, Thurrott, BGR, Engadget, @ChanceHMiller@mastodon.social, Digital Music News, The Apple Post, The Verge and MacDailyNews
K.J. Yossman / Variety:
Holly Willoughby, until recently the host of ITV's daytime show This Morning, plans a lifestyle series on YouTube, as the platform dominates viewing figures — Holly Willoughby, best known until recently as the host of ITV's daytime show “This Morning,” is set to make a comeback.
Discussion:
The Standard, The Sun and Radio Times
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
AMC's stock jumps 14%+ after reporting Q2 revenue up 14% YoY to $1.6B, driven by a box office rebound and its highest quarterly revenue in its 106-year history — The movie theater chain's second-quarter revenue grew 14% to $1.59 billion, though it posted a widened net loss of $11.4 million
Discussion:
Quartz, Barron's Online, Media Play News, The Hollywood Reporter and Benzinga
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey nets $124.5M at the domestic box office and $264.1M worldwide on its opening weekend; Universal spent ~$250M to make the film — Christopher Nolan's nearly three-hour epic was No. 1 over the weekend, with about $124.5 million in ticket sales in the United States and Canada.
Discussion:
MediaPost, The Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal, GamesRadar, CinemaBlend, Gold Derby, The Wrap, Media Play News, Los Angeles Times, CNBC, NewsMax.com, Reuters, Barron's Online, Yahoo Entertainment, ScreenRant, TV Central, Cosmic Book News, CBS News, Forbes, What's on Netflix and Bloomberg
Deadline:
A US district court judge says she plans to 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:
Media Play News, @jayrosen.bsky.social, Forrester, CNN, Variety, @brianstelter, @jbflint, @jbflint, @jbflint, @jbflint, San Francisco Chronicle, NewsMax.com, The A.V. Club, MS NOW, The Wrap, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, Fox Business, Annotated DC, @labuzamovies.com, The Sling, Global Competition Review, r/MediaMergers, r/MediaMergers and r/MediaMergers
The Athletic:
A profile of ESPN analyst Matt Miller, who is accused of stiffing winners of his charity fantasy football leagues and was nearly killed in a car crash in June — In the days before his Ford Bronco drifted into the path of an oncoming semi-truck, Matt Miller was settling debts.
Eliza Gkritsi / Politico:
Draft: the Trump admin plans to use the UN General Assembly to push a global “freedom of expression” declaration that EU lawmakers call an attack on tech rules — BRUSSELS — The Trump administration will use the upcoming U.N. General Assembly to push a global “freedom of expression” …
Discussion:
@wood5y@mastodonapp.uk, @glynmoody@mastodon.social and Reason, more at Techmeme »
Ned Holmes / Radio Times:
Netflix and Goalhanger agree to a new two-year deal to broadcast The Rest Is Football podcast through the next two Premier League seasons and the Euros in 2028 — It's good news for fans of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards... The Rest Is Football will be back on Netflix …
Discussion:
Advanced Television, Daily Mail, Goal.com, Podnews, PodcastingToday, BANG Showbiz, The Standard, Televisual, Broadband TV News and Broadcast
Jon Passantino / Status:
Sources: a US judge granted NYT temporary reprieve from Trump admin subpoenas targeting three reporters, ahead of a July 23 hearing over confidential sources — Earlier this week, in a Manhattan courtroom, The New York Times asked a federal judge to block an extraordinary attempt …
Discussion:
@passantino.bsky.social, @willpollock.com, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, Raw Story, New Yorker and ZeroHedge News
