FilmLA: from April through June 2024, the number of on-location filming days in LA fell 12.4% YoY, driven by a 56.9% drop in reality TV production (Lisa Richwine/Reuters)

Mediagazer: FilmLA: from April through June 2024, the number of on-location filming days in LA fell 12.4% YoY, driven by a 56.9% drop in reality TV production (Lisa Richwine/Reuters)

Top News:

Financial Times:

Sources: WBD weighs splitting off its streaming and studio businesses from its legacy TV networks including CNN, leaving most of its debt with the TV networks— Group behind CNN and HBO has discussed options including spin-off of its streaming service and movie studio
Discussion:

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly mulls breaking up media giant to boost sagging stock

David Satin /
The Streamable: Warner Bros. Discovery Reportedly Considering Max, Studio Spinoff and Asset Sales to Right Financial Ship

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery Mulling Split To Boost Stock Price @iamkingwilliams: If this happens, expect even more of these companies to be sold off and loaded with debt... Then shut down all together after a series of fire sales And in Atlanta where most of these businesses are located, expect a more media people to be unemployed over the next few years @edgecliffe: Big @FT scoop from @HeeterMaria @AntoineGara @sindap @JFK_America @grimes_ce - Warner Bros Discovery has discussed the idea of splitting its streaming and movie studio business from its TV networks to boost its stock $WBD https://www.ft.com/...

Martin Peers /
The Information: Warner Bros. Discovery Considers Splitting in Two

Rick Ellis /
@aysrick: I have no doubt that Zaslav would *like* to spin off the linear networks and most of the debt. But aside from the fact that it's not likely he'll find someone willing to take on that financial suicide mission, it doesn't solve his streaming problems. In fact, it makes them worse

Julia Alexander /
@loudmouthjulia: Warner Bros. and Discovery could become their own companies, Apple is potentially licensing library content from Hollywood studios for its service, advertising being the big new push everywhere. I can't wait to see what Hollywood's going to look like in 2014!!

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: WBD considers splitting streaming, legacy TV businesses

Mary Kate Carr /
AV Club: Warner Bros. Discovery might split up to pay the bills

Ross A. Lincoln /
The Wrap: Warner Bros Discovery Weighs Splitting Studio, Streaming Into Standalone as Stock Sags | Report

Bloomberg:

Sources: Apple has spoken to many of the largest Hollywood studios about acquiring more programming from their libraries to offer customers in the US and abroad— - Apple TV+ has relied on original series like ‘Ted Lasso’ … The iPhone maker has spoken to several of the largest studios …

Discussion:
The Streamable, Spyglass, AppleInsider, Reuters and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Apple Talking With Studios About New Movie Licensing Deals for Apple TV+

M.G. Siegler /
Spyglass: Apple Should Buy HBO

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Report: Apple TV+ to license films from more studios, bolstering catalog of originals

Reuters:

FilmLA: from April through June 2024, the number of on-location filming days in LA fell 12.4% YoY, driven by a 56.9% drop in reality TV production— Los Angeles experienced a hefty decline in reality TV production as Hollywood worked to recover from dual labor strikes last year, according to statistics released on Wednesday.

Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline

Discussion:

Jeremy Fuster /
The Wrap: LA On-Location Filming Drops 12% From Last Year Due to Declining Content Spend, ‘Post-Strike Paralysis’

The Verge:

Apple is launching new immersive video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including content from The Weeknd and the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend— Apple is launching new “immersive” video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including one from The Weeknd …

Discussion:
AppleInsider, Apple and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Malcolm Owen /
AppleInsider: Elephants and big waves are subjects of inbound Immersive Video releases Apple: New Apple Immersive Video series, films, concerts, and more set to premiere on Apple Vision Pro beginning July 18

Reuters:

An Italian court orders a journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni €5K for mocking her height; in 2023, journalist Roberto Saviano was fined €1K for insulting Meloni— A Milan court has ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of 5,000 euros ($5,465) …

Discussion:
The Guardian

Discussion:

Committee to Protect Journalists:

The CPJ supports an urgent appeal filed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture on behalf of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, imprisoned since 2022— The Committee to Protect Journalists supports the urgent appeal filed to UN officials by an international legal team …

Discussion:
@pressfreedom, doughtystreet.co.uk

Discussion:
@pressfreedom: CPJ supports the urgent appeal filed to UN officials by an international legal team on behalf of Guatemalan investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora, who the appeal says has been wrongfully imprisoned since 2022 and held in conditions “that amount to torture or other cruel, [image]

@pressfreedom:
“Jose Rubén Zamora's treatment in prison and pre-trial detention is appalling and constitutes a grave violation of international human rights standards,” said Carlos Martínez de la Serna, CPJ's Program Director. “The international community must act urgently to ensure his [image]

@pressfreedom:
José Rubén Zamora's real crime “has been doing journalism.” As jailed Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora began the first stages of his trial on spurious charges of money laundering last year, his son @jczamora spoke at the @UN. Zamora was arrested on spurious charges of [video]

New York Times:

CBS Sports secures a four-year deal to air at least 250 English Football League matches per season, starting in August 2024— CBS Sports is the new home of the English Football League (EFL) and Carabao Cup in the United States after agreeing a four-deal to prise coverage of the competitions away from ESPN.

Discussion:

Adam Jacobson /
Radio & Television Business Report: Second-Tier English Soccer Heading To CBS Sports

Naman Ramachandran /
Variety: CBS Sports Secures Multi-Year Rights Deal for English Football League

Bob Williams /
The US Sun: CBS Sports in major broadcasting change and showing 250 games for new sporting venture in historic multi-million deal

Etan Vlessing /
The Hollywood Reporter: CBS Sports Nabs U.S. TV Rights to English Football League Games

Boris Gartner /
Boris Gartner on LinkedIn: Following a great “Summer of Soccer” with record-breaking audiences for CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 and UEFA EURO 2024 in the United States, the growth of futbol continues to be unstoppable. …

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: CBS Sports, English Football League Ink Multi-Year, Multi-Platform Rights Deal

Variety:

Verizon offers customers who subscribe to Peacock Premium at the new $79.99 per year rate one year of Netflix Premium for free— Verizon keeps reshuffling its deck of various and sundry streaming bundle deals, aiming for new ways to appeal to bargain hunters — and to cater to particular sign-up goals of its content partners.

Discussion:
StreamTV Insider, The Streamable, MediaPost, Next TV, Deadline, ComingSoon.net, The Hollywood Reporter, @tvgrimreaper, Media Play News and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Bevin Fletcher /
StreamTV Insider: Comcast exec: StreamSaver bundle ‘strong out of the gate’

David Satin /
The Streamable: Verizon Offering Stunning Deal on Full Year of Netflix Premium for Free with Peacock Annual Plan

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Verizon To Leverage NBCU's Olympics In Peacock/Netflix Bundle

Daniel Frankel /
Next TV: Verizon Launches Its Latest Streaming Bundle — Free Netflix Premium for Customers Who Pay for Peacock

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Verizon Offers Netflix Premium Subscription To Customers Who Sign Up For Peacock

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Peacock-Netflix Streaming Bundle Launched by Verizon Ahead of Paris Olympics

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Verizon Launching First-Ever Netflix/Peacock Annual Subscription Streaming Bundle

New York Times:

A profile of Carlos Espina, who has 9.4M TikTok followers, posts in Spanish about immigration and politics, and whom the White House treats as a broadcaster— Carlos Espina is among a new kind of social media personalities whom politicians, especially those in the Biden White House, view as modern-day broadcasters.

Discussion:
@taylorlorenz, TVNewsCheck, @sapna and

Discussion:

Taylor Lorenz /
@taylorlorenz: “You got to take people where they are. The days of Walter Cronkite and three television stations where everybody gets their news are long gone.” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Sapna Maheshwari /
@sapna: Carlos has more TikTok followers than Beyoncé or Reese Witherspoon (and made more than $1 million last year) but has flown under the radar in the national press because his videos are in Spanish. but he's a huge force and taped a video with Biden last month.

Variety:

WPP's GroupM names Brian Lesser, a veteran Madison Avenue operative who has worked in senior media investment roles on both sides of the table, as global CEO— Brian Lesser, a veteran Madison Avenue operative who has worked in senior media-investment roles on both sides of the table …

Discussion:
MediaPost, Ad Age, Radio Ink, Digiday, Mumbrella, The Information, TVNewsCheck, Adweek, AdExchanger, Next TV and The Media Leader

Discussion:

Dave Morgan /
MediaPost: Return Of Brian Lesser: ‘Back To The Future’ For WPP

Lindsay Rittenhouse /
Ad Age: GroupM's new CEO faces hurdles in reviving the WPP agency—insiders react to the hire

Rosie Drew /
Mumbrella: GroupM announces new global CEO

Sahil Patel /
The Information: Ad Giant GroupM Names New Global CEO

Mark K. Miller /
TVNewsCheck: WPP Names InfoSum Chairman Brian Lesser Global CEO Of GroupM

Allison Schiff /
AdExchanger: Brian Lesser Is The New Global CEO Of GroupM

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: Brian Lesser Returns To GroupM as Global CEO

Financial Times:

Publicis reports H1 2024 revenue up 7.7% YoY to €7.7B and raises revenue growth guidance from 4%-5% to 5%-6% for 2024, as US tech clients' ad spending picks up— Paris-based advertising agency nudges up annual forecast on recovery in marketing budgets

Discussion:
Ad Age, The Drum, Adweek, Publicis Groupe, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and MediaPost

Discussion:

Brian Bonilla /
Ad Age: Arthur Sadoun believes Publicis Groupe can reach WPP for top holding company spot

Cameron Clarke /
The Drum: Publicis boss Arthur Sadoun on beating growth expectations despite global volatility

Jameson Fleming /
Adweek: Arthur Sadoun Explains Why Publicis Groupe Raised Its 2024 Guidance Publicis Groupe: First Half 2024 Results — • H1 2024 net revenue organic growth of +5.4%; +7.4% on a like-for-like revenue basis

Leo Marchandon /
Reuters: Advertising firm Publicis ups guidance after Q2 beat

Adrià Calatayud /
Wall Street Journal: Publicis Raises Guidance After Revenue Growth Beats Expectations

Francois De Beaupuy /
Bloomberg: Publicis Raises Annual Revenue Outlook on US, China Growth

Steve McClellan /
MediaPost: Omnicom Reports 5.2% Growth For The Second Quarter

New York Times:

Sources: the WNBA's media rights deals mirror the NBA's, and the league is set to get at least $2.2B over 11 years or $200M/year, up from the current ~$50M/year— The WNBA's next national media rights package has come into shape. The league is set to receive roughly $2.2 billion …

Discussion:
Awful Announcing, @ourand_puck, The Streamable, Frazer Rice on LinkedIn, Brittany Gropp on LinkedIn, Sportico, @kennysmith.bsky.social, Front Office Sports, Deadline, Chelsee Washington on LinkedIn, Sports Illustrated, Next TV, New York Post, Front Office Sports, Mediaite, The Guardian, Black America Web, USA Today, Sports Media Watch and Associated Press

Discussion:

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo /
Awful Announcing: WNBA's mega media rights deal marks dramatic shift for women's sports

John Ourand /
@ourand_puck: Warner Bros. Discovery received the NBA's media contracts with Disney, NBA and Amazon on Wednesday night. It has until the end of the day on Monday to decide whether it will use its matching rights. More in tonight's edition of The Varsity.

David Satin /
The Streamable: WNBA to Ink $2.2 Billion Media Rights Deal With ESPN, NBC, Prime Video; Still Has 2 More Packages to Sell

Frazer Rice /
Frazer Rice on LinkedIn: Wow! — Great news for the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) . . . $2.2B over 11 years on major networks. …

Brittany Gropp /
Brittany Gropp on LinkedIn: 🔥 The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) is having itself a news cycle!! — 📱 First, the announcement …

Kurt Badenhausen /
Sportico: WNBA Players Union Questions New $2.2 Billion Media Deal

Kenny Smith /
@kennysmith.bsky.social: $200 million a year, plus some other deals pending. Now you can pay the players and have equal footing and ... [embedded post]

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Intends To Match Amazon's NBA Rights Deal

Chelsee Washington /
Chelsee Washington on LinkedIn: Just released: The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) has just landed a massive $2.2B, 11 year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon (The Athletic). …

Daniel Frankel /
Next TV: WNBA More Than Quadruples Its Current National TV Contract With 11-Year, $2.2 Billion Deal

Ahmad Austin Jr /
Mediaite: WNBA Set to Receive a Staggering $2.2 Billion in New Media Rights Deal: Report

Nick Cottongim /
Black America Web: New WNBA Media Rights Deal Is Worth Quadruple The Amount Of The Previous Deal

Mike D. Sykes /
USA Today: The 2024 MLB All-Star game wasn't that interesting but Paul Skenes sure was

Jon Lewis /