Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says ABC's decision to not carry Trump's July 16 speech about elections live will be part of its review for ABC-owned station licenses — Are TV broadcasters obligated to carry the U.S. president's comments live on their government-licensed airwaves?
Samuel Stolton / Bloomberg:
The European Commission grants conditional approval for Paramount's WBD acquisition as long as Paramount ends its EU distribution deal with Universal Pictures — Paramount Skydance Corp.'s $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. won conditional approval from the European Union …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Reuters, European Commission, Cord Cutters News, Associated Press, Media Play News, Screen, Forbes, Variety, Blockonomi, New York Post, Euronews, The Hollywood Reporter, CNBC, Los Angeles Times, Türkiye Today, Joe.My.God., The Guardian, Washington Examiner, Deadline, eMarketer, GSMArena.com, The Streamable and r/MediaMergers
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CJ Haddad / CNBC:
Reddit's stock closed down 8.32% after a report that the company was considering ending Google's access to its content for AI training; RDDT is down ~26% YTD — Shares of Reddit slid 9% on Wednesday after the Wall Street Journal reported the company has discussed shutting off Google's access …
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Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
How major publishers in the UK are pivoting away from quantity of content towards quality as Google AI changes lead to falling traffic referrals — Hearst UK is publishing less articles but “more effective” content overall by asking journalists to explain why they are producing every piece.
Discussion:
Glenn Gabe on LinkedIn and Search Engine Land
Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Reddit, Politico, and others mull cutting Google's access to their content for AI as traffic drops; Reddit signed a $60M/year deal with Google in 2024
Sources: Reddit, Politico, and others mull cutting Google's access to their content for AI as traffic drops; Reddit signed a $60M/year deal with Google in 2024
Discussion:
AdExchanger, Adweek, Neowin, @mikeisaac, Barron's Online, @alexbruell, New York Post, Quartz, Melissa Korn on LinkedIn, Tech Brew, @ryanmews, Will Flannigan on LinkedIn, @roshanjnu, @mikeisaac, @mikeparanzino, The Ankler, PR Daily, TechSpot, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, Gizmodo, Eurogamer.net, AdNews News, Techstrong.ai, Unite.AI, Kotaku and Video Game Town
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Alphabet reports YouTube's Q2 ad revenue rose 13% YoY to $11.06B, vs. $10.8B est., and Google's ad revenue reached $81.63B, up from $71.34B in Q2 2025 — Video giant YouTube, one of the world's biggest entertainment businesses, continues to turn in double-digit increases in ad revenue.
Discussion:
Digital Music News, TechCrunch, New York Times, Thurrott, Newsmax, TheDesk.net, Quartz, Alphabet, StockStory, The Information, @philthepill.online, Search Engine Roundtable, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Proactiveinvestors UK, Cord Cutters News, OloriSuperGal, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »
David W Fitzsimmons / David Fitzsimmons:
Lee Publishing blocks cartoonist David Fitzsimmons from donating 10K+ cartoons to the University of Arizona by requiring the college to sign a licensing deal — For years, Lee Publishing, owner of The Arizona Daily Star, has been blocking me from donating my professional life's work …
Discussion:
@andrewhsowards.bsky.social, Daniel Barr on LinkedIn and The Daily Cartoonist
The Guardian:
A four-month probe reveals that employees of lobbying firm CT Group say they pay journalists to write news pieces favorable to CT clients for UK newspapers — Exclusive: Guardian investigation of CT Group uncovers practice that appears to seek hidden influence over public opinion
The Hollywood Reporter:
SEC filing: Primordial Soup, Darren Aronofsky's AI film and content studio, is raising $15M in cash, selling over $11M in equity so far since July 1 — Primordial Soup, which launched last year, quietly filed with the SEC for a $15 million raise. … Earlier this month Primordial Soup Labs …
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Scripps names Dean Littleton president of media, a new position overseeing local stations, national networks, and Scripps News, its streaming news service — The E.W. Scripps Company has promoted Dean Littleton to the role of President of Media, a newly created position that places …
Discussion:
Blockonomi, TVNewsCheck, TV Tech and Radio & Television …
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
A US judge rules that Trump must turn over detailed financial information of 400+ companies owned by a family trust in his defamation suit against the BBC — MIAMI, Florida- A federal magistrate judge ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump must turn over detailed financial information …
Discussion:
BBC, @kylegriffin1.bsky.social, @crampell.bsky.social, Staff Stories, Raw Story, @joshgerstein.bsky.social, @brianstelter, @blackraven30.bsky.social, The Standard, Mirror, @intruder1500stevie …, Techdirt, @lolagaylec.bsky.social, @portiamcgonagal.bsky.social, @ariannaciccone.bsky.social, @sonjawest.bsky.social, New York Sun, New Republic, The Wrap, GB News, New York Post, NOTUS, Benzinga, @kvconner.bsky.social, The Guardian, NewsMax.com and Bloomberg
State of California:
California's Rob Bonta and a 13-state group challenge the appointment of current and recent Nexstar personnel to Tegna's board, after a preliminary injunction — - Attorney General Bonta to Court: Nexstar/Tegna Violating Co... Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
Discussion:
Deadline, @jbflint, @agrobbonta, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News, TheDesk.net and Variety
James Faris / Business Insider:
Sources: Paramount+ is planning to test adding micro dramas in its mobile app in the coming months to drive visit frequency and keep people engaged for longer — Paramount+ is preparing to add micro dramas to its app in the coming months, Business Insider has learned.
