Amazon joins the Motion Picture Association, after a long courtship; the lobbying group's other members are Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and WBD (Brooks Barnes/New York Times)

Mediagazer: Amazon joins the Motion Picture Association, after a long courtship; the lobbying group's other members are Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and WBD (Brooks Barnes/New York Times)

Top News:

The Verge:

YouTube says it has “widely rolled out Pause ads to all advertisers” after a “strong advertiser and strong viewer response”; YouTube piloted Pause ads in 2023— It's been nearly six years since we warned you that ads were coming for your pause button …
Discussion: TechCrunch, Android Authority, AdExchanger, The Information and Search Engine Land, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Kyle Wiggers /
TechCrunch: Amazon releases a video generator — but only for ads

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TechCrunch:
YouTube integrates Google DeepMind's AI video generation model Veo into Shorts, letting creators generate high-quality backgrounds and 1080p six-second clips

Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, @reneritchie, The Keyword, Wired, Guohui on LinkedIn, Business Insider and Google DeepMind

Discussion:

Rene Ritchie /
@reneritchie: Bucket list unlock — write for @Google Keynote (with an incredible amount of help from the team!) https://blog.google/...

Rene Ritchie /
The Keyword: 9 new features we announced at Made on YouTube 2024

Guohui /
Guohui on LinkedIn: Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the AI video generation capability within YouTube Shorts. … Business Insider: YouTube just unveiled new features that could make life easier for creators but come with risks

Eli Collins /
Google DeepMind: Empowering YouTube creators with generative AI

The Verge:
YouTube unveils Hype, a promotional system that lets users boost smaller creators with a hype button after liking; the most-hyped videos appear on a leaderboard

Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, Music Ally, TechCrunch, 9to5Google and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Jessica Locke /
YouTube Official Blog: Hype: Giving fans a stake in the success of their favorite emerging creators

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: YouTube's next features: Communities hubs, more GenAI and Hype

Sarah Perez /
TechCrunch: YouTube unveils ‘Hype,’ a new way for fans to help smaller creators grow their reach

The Verge:
YouTube adds an Inspiration tab in the YouTube Studio app that lets creators use AI to generate video concepts, create titles and thumbnails, and write scripts

Discussion:
Adweek, @baekdal, The Information, Android Central, Business Insider, Engadget, The Wrap, @Faintdreams@dice.camp, Deadline and TechCrunch

Discussion:

Thomas Baekdal /
@baekdal: Now it's even quicker for clueless creators to crate AI slop... Note to creators. If you have no idea what to make a video about, turning to AI is not the solution.

Kaya Yurieff /
The Information: YouTube Unveils a Cornucopia of AI Tools

Nickolas Diaz /
Android Central: Made by YouTube highlights rising star ‘Hype’ and AI generation with Veo

Dan Whateley /
Business Insider: Google is pushing AI hard. A top YouTube exec explains what that means for creators.

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: YouTube to Organize Creator Content by Seasons, Episodes in Nod to Traditional TV @Faintdreams@dice.camp: Did any actual YouTube Creators actually ask for this ? — “YouTube will use AI to generate ideas, titles, and even full videos — / YouTube's own tools can now help you write the perfect title, pick the perfect thumbnail, and make a video in seconds”. - The Verge — 😖 — #YouTube #AIVideo …

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: YouTube Will Give A Living-Room Nod To TV Tradition, Organizing Channel Content By Seasons And Episodes

The Verge:
YouTube launches Communities, a space where creators can let fans post content and chat, and Community Hub, which shows creators all their channel's activity

Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, Inside Radio, Variety, Thurrott, Fast Company, Tubefilter, Neowin and TechCrunch

Discussion:

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: YouTube Unveils Wave of AI-Powered Features and Monetization Tools for Creators

Todd Spangler /
Variety: YouTube Leans Into AI With Tools to Generate Video, Backgrounds and More: 'It's About Empowering Creativity, Not Replacing It'

Laurent Giret /
Thurrott: YouTube Launches New Communities Experience

Jessica Bursztynsky /
Fast Company: YouTube will now help creators' fans form online communities

Sam Gutelle /
Tubefilter: YouTube wants creators to share the Hype

John Callaham /
Neowin: YouTube is adding new features for creators and viewers including Communities

New York Times:

Amazon joins the Motion Picture Association, after a long courtship; the lobbying group's other members are Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and WBD— The Motion Picture Association has been wooing the company for years. The addition gives the group a lot more muscle.

Discussion:
The Wrap

Discussion:

Sean Burch /
The Wrap: Amazon Joins Motion Picture Association

Reuters:

The EU's General Court annuls a €1.49B antitrust fine imposed on Google in 2019 for abusing its dominance to prevent websites from using non-AdSense ad brokers— Alphabet (GOOGL.O) unit Google won a legal challenge on Wednesday against a 1.49 billion euro ($1.7 billion) …

Discussion:
Android Central, @adrianweckler, @eucourtpress, The Information, The Register, Android Authority, Global Competition Review, Search Engine Land, Courthouse News Service, Thurrott, BBC, Wall Street Journal, The Information, Neowin, Engadget, Financial Times, CNBC, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, Politico and RTÉ

Discussion:

Adrian Weckler /
@adrianweckler: Rare win for big tech in EU — ECJ rules against European Commission on advertising sector abuse (AdSense), cancels the €1.5bn fine https://curia.europa.eu/... @eucourtpress: #EUGeneralCourt annuls the @EU_Commission's decision to fine @Google almost €1.5 billion #AdSense 👉 https://curia.europa.eu/...

Martin Peers /
The Information: PayPal Makes Headway With Flurry of Deals

Brandon Vigliarolo /
The Register: Google dodges €1.5B EU ads antitrust fine after appeal win

Stephen Schenck /
Android Authority: Google just dodged a massive EU antitrust fine

Francesca McClimont /
Global Competition Review: General Court overturns EU Google AdSense decision

Anu Adegbola /
Search Engine Land: Google wins $1.7B EU antitrust fine appeal

Alexandra Brzozowski /
Courthouse News Service: In surprise ruling, EU court scraps $1.65 billion antitrust fine against Google

Paul Thurrott /
Thurrott: EU General Court Tosses Out a Google Antitrust Fine

Tom Gerken /
BBC: Google scores rare legal win as 1.49bn euro fine scrapped

Mauro Orru /
Wall Street Journal: Google Wins Fight to Scrap $1.7 Billion EU Antitrust Fine Over Ads

Amir Efrati /
The Information: Google Reportedly Proposed Selling its Ad Exchange to End EU Antitrust Attacks

Karthik Mudaliar /
Neowin: Google overturns €1.49 billion antitrust fine by the EU over digital ad market practices

Mariella Moon /
Engadget: Google wins appeal against $1.7 billion EU fine for ‘abusive’ advertising practices

Javier Espinoza /
Financial Times: Google wins appeal against €1.5bn EU competition fine

Arjun Kharpal /
CNBC: Google wins court challenge to the EU's $1.7 billion antitrust fine over ad product

Samuel Stolton /
Bloomberg: Google Wins Fight Over €1.5 Billion EU Fine for Ads Abuse Associated Press: Qualcomm loses court appeal against European Union antitrust penalty in chipset case from 2019

Edith Hancock /
Politico: Google scores surprise court win on EU antitrust fine

RELATED:

Reuters:

Sources: Google tried to end an EU antitrust probe by offering to sell its ad marketplace AdX, or Ad Exchange, but European publishers rejected the proposal— Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google earlier this year offered to sell its advertising marketplace AdX to allay EU competition concerns …

Discussion:
The Information, Engadget, Breitbart and Associated Press, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Anna Washenko /
Engadget: Report: Google offered to sell AdX to end EU antitrust suit

Lucas Nolan /
Breitbart: Google Trial 2.0: Internal Documents Show Internet Giant Used Exclusivity Deals to Maintain Ad Empire

Associated Press:
Google wins legal bid to overturn 1.5 billion euro antitrust fine in EU digital ad case

The Hollywood Reporter:

Ted Sarandos calls on streaming rivals to release their viewership numbers, says Netflix can double its viewership with live events and Christmas Day NFL games— The executive added that he believes the streaming giant can double its viewership thanks to programming like live events and the Christmas Day NFL games.

Discussion:
Quartz, IndieWire, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap and Deadline

Discussion:

Bruce Gil /
Quartz: People watched a whopping 94 billion hours of Netflix in the first half of 2024, CEO says

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: Ted Sarandos Calls on Other Streamers to Be as ‘Transparent’ as He Says Netflix Is

Sean Piccoli /
TVNewsCheck: Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Calls On All Streamers To Be Transparent With Viewership Data

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Netflix's Ted Sarandos Calls for Streaming Viewership Transparency Ahead of Data Dump

Wall Street Journal:

Amazon's new competition TV show, debuting October 30, will have entrepreneurs pitch judges, including Amazon execs; finalists' product will be sold on Amazon— In competition show, sellers compete in front of Amazon executives and celebrity judges — Coming soon: Amazon.com sellers duking …

Discussion:
Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

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New York Times:

Axel Springer strikes a deal with KKR and CPP to split into two, with control of the publishing giant's classified ads business going to the PE firms— The deal values all of Axel Springer at roughly $15 billion, with the company's publishing assets worth about $4 billion.

Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, The Information, Axios, Reuters, Financial Times, Bloomberg and MediaPost

Discussion:

Martin Peers /
The Information: Axel Springer Splits in Two

Sara Fischer /
Axios: KKR, Axel Springer reach deal to break up the media giant

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: Axel Springer To Split Off Classifieds Business To KKR

NBC News:

Analysis: Elon Musk, apparently unaware of Tenet Media's alleged Russian funding, replied to or reposted content from accounts tied to Tenet at least 60 times— Musk, apparently unaware of the company's Russia funding source, engaged with content from Tenet Media and its creators at least 60 times.

Discussion:
Mother Jones, The Federalist and New Republic, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Anna Merlan /
Mother Jones: What Did Lauren Chen Want? — The most striking thing about Lauren Chen, in hindsight, is how she managed to be everywhere.

T.J. Harker /
The Federalist: DOJ's Russia Indictment Exists To Associate Conservative Media With Putin

Edith Olmsted /
New Republic: Russian Disinfo Influencer Whines Harris Ruined His Podcast

Variety:

TelevisaUnivision names Daniel Alegre as its new CEO, replacing Wade Davis, who will become the company's vice chairman and continue as a member of the board— TelevisaUnivision CEO WadeDavis will hand the reins of the Spanish-language media giant to Daniel Alegre, the Activision Blizzard …

Discussion:

Adam Jacobson /
Radio & Television Business Report: Wade Davis Relinquishes CEO Role at TelevisaUnivision

Dominic Patten /
TVNewsCheck: TelevisaUnivision CEO Wade Davis Out, Ex-Activision Blizzard Boss Daniel Alegre To Take Over

Kristin Brzoznowski /
WORLD SCREEN: TelevisaUnivision Names New CEO

Dominic Patten /
Deadline: TelevisaUnivision CEO Wade Davis Out As Ex-Activision Blizzard Boss Daniel Alegre Takes Over ASAP

Ross A. Lincoln /
The Wrap: TelevisaUnivision Names Daniel Alegre as New CEO, Wade Davis Steps Down

Benjamin Mullin /
New York Times: TelevisaUnivision Considers Removing C.E.O. Who Knit Company Together

Cassandra Garrison /
Reuters: TelevisaUnivision to replace CEO; source cites lagging results

Deadline:

The TIFF Lightbox in Toronto shows Russians at War after the end of the Toronto International Film Festival, which axed screenings due to “significant threats”— The anti-war documentary Russians at War screened yesterday at the TIFF Lightbox theater after the Toronto International …

Discussion:

Corey Atad /
Toronto Star: TIFF cancelled it over threats. Now it's back on the schedule. Why is ‘Russians at War’ so controversial? Read our four-star review @pov_magazine@threads.net: “We stand for peace.” RUSSIANS AT WAR screens at @tiff_net following temporary pause. Festival offers more insight into decision, while filmmakers take chance to engage with audience TIFF24 https://povmagazine.com/...

Pat Mullen /
POV Magazine: Russians at War Screens at TIFF

Kate Tsurkan /
The Kyiv Independent: Toronto Film Festival resumes ‘Russians at War’ screening, ignoring widespread criticism

Jeremy Kay /
Screen: TIFF staff received threats of sexual violence, fest head tells ‘Russians At War’ audience

Corey Atad /
@coreyatad.com: for the Toronto Star, i reviewed the controversial (and great) documentary Russians at War, which is having its delayed TIFF screenings tomorrow @spaghettikozak.bsky.social: If you want to see how much life sucks for russian soldiers, don't watch Russians at War. Watch our drone videos.

Mariya Postelnyak /
Globe and Mail: Russians at War screening at TIFF theatre draws protesters

Adam Benzine /
The Hollywood Reporter: “Rape, Violence, Abuse”: The Threats That Led the Toronto Film Festival to Pull ‘Russians at War’

Disheeta Maheshwari /
ComingSoon.net: Russians at War: Why People Are Protesting Against Its TIFF Screening?

The Desk:

DirecTV will carry Chicago Sports Network starting October 1, offering live games from the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, and Chicago White Sox— Satellite and streaming television platform DirecTV has become the first pay TV provider to confirm its intent to distribute …

Discussion:
@bsdtectr.bsky.social, Bleacher Nation, Tv Technology, WGN-TV, The Streamable, Cord Cutters News and Next TV

Discussion:
@bsdtectr.bsky.social: Already received email from YouTubeTV that the current channel is going away. No notification that they'll be carrying the new channel. — YTT doesn't carry Marquee, so didn't watch many Cubs games. — Wld be something being in Chicago & not being able to see our teams unless it's a national broadcast. …

George Winslow /
Tv Technology: DirecTV, Chicago Sports Network Reach Multi Year Distribution Agreement

Michael Johnson /
WGN-TV: New Chicago Sports Network, DIRECTV announce agreement to televise Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox starting Oct. 1

Daniel Frankel /
Next TV: New Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox RSN Gets Carriage on DirecTV

Axios:

Major US networks are eyeing local sports rights as part of their streaming and broadcast portfolios, while NBA and MLB explore ways to nationalize local rights— - That has allowed local TV giants like Scripps and Gray TV to compete for sports rights. — While teams are striking …

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck

Discussion: