Former Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter, who backed Nelson Peltz in a failed proxy fight for two Disney board seats, sells his stake of nearly 26M Disney shares (Robbie Whelan/Wall Street Journal)

Mediagazer: Former Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter, who backed Nelson Peltz in a failed proxy fight for two Disney board seats, sells his stake of nearly 26M Disney shares (Robbie Whelan/Wall Street Journal)

Top News:

Bloomberg:

Spotify reports Q2 revenue up 20% YoY to €3.8B, MAUs up 14% YoY to 626M, subscribers up 12% YoY to 246M, above est., and €266M operating income; SPOT jumps 12%+— Spotify Technology SA shares surged to their highest in more than three years on Tuesday after the Swedish audio …
Discussion: Spotify, Neowin, Deadline, @alexweprin, Quartz, Axios, Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, @carnage4life@threads.net, The Hollywood Reporter, Proactive, @thetranscript_, Music Business Worldwide, The Verge, @eldsjal, @sarafischer, Music Ally, Reuters, MarketWatch, Tech Xplore, Billboard, Benzinga, Variety, Fast Company and @natetharp@threads.net, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Spotify Stock Pops On Quarterly Numbers As Music Streamer Adds Premium Subscribers, Lowers Costs

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: Pretty clear that Spotify is officially the Netflix of the music space. Everyone else is playing catch up.

Rocio Fabbro /
Quartz: Spotify's price hikes didn't stop it from scoring more subscribers — and record profits

Sara Fischer /
Axios: Spotify posts record gross margin, profit and cash flow for Q2

Patrick Seitz /
Investor's Business Daily: Streaming Music Giant Spotify Beats Q2 Subscriber, Profit Targets

Dare Obasanjo /
@carnage4life@threads.net: Between Spotify and Netflix, streaming services are looking like a winner-takes-all markets. Despite price increases, paying subscribers are up 12% to 246M users. This is 1M more than expected. The company also plans to add a $5 more expensive tier soon.

Caitlin Huston /
The Hollywood Reporter: Spotify Beats Expectations for Paid Subscribers After Price Hikes to Hit 246M

Emily Jarvie /
Proactive: Spotify set to report profit turnaround for Q2 @thetranscript_: Spotify CEO @eldsjal: “We keep on innovating & showing that we aren't just a great product, but increasingly also a great business. We are doing so on a timeline that has exceeded even our own expectations” $SPOT: +15% Pre-Market More details: https://finchat.io/... [image]

Murray Stassen /
Music Business Worldwide: Spotify subscriber base grew by 7m to 246m in Q2, as streaming company posts ‘record high’ quarterly profit

Jess Weatherbed /
The Verge: Spotify's growth continues its upward crawl.Monthly active users increased by 14 percent year-over-year to 626 million, but 5 million short of Spotify's expectations for the quarter.

Daniel Ek /
@eldsjal: Q2 results are out and it was a strong quarter. Lots of reasons why it's such an exciting time for us. Here's a sneak peek, but I'll share more in a few minutes on our investor call. Congrats to the team and huge thanks to all the Spotify listeners around the world. [video]

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: Big, big quarter for @Spotify — Company posted record gross margin, profit and cash flow for Q2 — Music & pod margins increasing (pod biz soon expected profitable) — Ad biz still growing double digits despite macro slowdown — On track to hit gross margin goal ahead of schedule [image]

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Spotify posts record quarterly profit... but user growth misses guidance

Martin Coulter /
Reuters: Spotify slightly misses revenue prediction, falls short of user growth target

Elizabeth Dilts Marshall /
Billboard: Spotify's 7 Million New Subscribers Bumps Revenue Up 20%

Anusuya Lahiri /
Benzinga: Spotify's Q2 Earnings: Revenue Grows 20% As Premium Revenue Surge Drives Higher Average Revenue Per User

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Spotify Turns in Record Profit in Q2, Grows Premium Subscribers to 246 Million

Michael Grothaus /
Fast Company: Spotify stock price: SPOT soars ahead of price hikes; streaming giant sees double-digit growth

Nate Tharp /
@natetharp@threads.net: It is kind of interesting how competing video streaming services have exclusive content libraries but we never got that with music streaming. I can understand why it didn't happen, but in hindsight it's a little surprising that none of the big music houses ever tried to create a competing streaming service.

The Hollywood Reporter:

Comcast reports Peacock Q2 revenue up 28% YoY to $1B, and a $348M loss, down from $651M in Q2 2023; paying subs were up 38% YoY to 33M but down from 33.5M in Q1— Comcast and its entertainment unit NBCUniversal report second-quarter results, including the “best year-over-year improvement” …

Discussion:
Variety, Comcast Corporation, The Information, Next TV, CNBC, The Desk, The Streamable, Variety, MarketWatch, Barron's Online, @alexweprin, The Wrap and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Martin Peers /
The Information: Peacock's Losses Fall Sharply

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: Comcast Earnings Dip Despite Trimming Losses at Peacock

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Comcast broadband, cable subscriber losses continue in Q2

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Peacock subscriptions slide to 33 million in Q2

David Satin /
The Streamable: Peacock Loses 500,000 Subscribers, But Boosts Revenue and Continues to Narrow Losses

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: Comcast Q2 Upset by Shortfalls at Theme Parks, Movie Studios

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: Comcast CEO Brian Roberts indicated to Wall St today that his company is not interested in buying WBD. “Instead of engaging in a process to buy content companies, we are focused primarily on organic opportunities like the NBA...” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Peacock Sheds 500,000 Subscribers, Comcast Earnings Dragged Down by Revenue Drop at Studios and Parks

James Guttman /
Cord Cutters News: Peacock's Subscriber Decline Amidst Revenue Growth: A Mixed Quarter for NBCUniversal

RELATED:

Deadline:

Comcast President Mike Cavanagh says NBCUniversal expects an 11-year rights deal with the NBA, starting with the 2025-26 season, will be announced “soon”— In the first on-the-record comments by a media partner in the NBA's pending $76 billion rights bonanza …

Discussion:
Variety, TVNewsCheck, Next TV, Sportico, The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: Comcast Says NBC Has 11-Year Deal in Place With NBA

Brian Steinberg /
TVNewsCheck: Comcast Says NBC Has 11-Year Deal In Place With NBA

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: Comcast's Mike Cavanagh Expects NBA Deal To Score With Advertising, Subscription Revenue

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: Comcast Heralds NBA's Return to NBC as TNT Drama Unfolds

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: NBCUniversal Touts $2.5 Billion Per Year NBA Package: ‘A Testament to Our Breadth and Reach’

Bloomberg:
A look at Comcast's bet on the Paris Olympics, which executives hope will greatly elevate Peacock against Netflix and Disney+; Peacock has exclusive US rights

Discussion:
Business Insider, The Streamable, Next TV, Reuters, Slate, @lucas_shaw, E! Online, IndieWire and Rolling Stone

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Streaming Crosses 40% of All TV Viewing for First Time; Disney+, Max, Others See Big Increases

R. Thomas Umstead /
Next TV: Paris Olympics Coverage Kicks Off With Soccer, Rugby Matches

Harshita Mary Varghese /
Reuters: Comcast beats quarterly profit estimates on strength in streaming, broadband

Alex Kirshner /
Slate: The Most Mockable Streaming Service Has Transformed Itself

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: Peacock was supposed to launch out of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Then Covid happened. This summer, Peacock gets to try again with the 2024 games in Paris. @hgmiller29 and I spoke to folks at Comcast about their plans. https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Brett M Malec /
E! Online: How to Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony and All Your Favorite Sports

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: Peacock Reinvents the Olympics with Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Prompts and an A.I. Al Michaels

Alan Sepinwall /
Rolling Stone: ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Is Heading to Peacock

Wall Street Journal:

Former Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter, who backed Nelson Peltz in a failed proxy fight for two Disney board seats, sells his stake of nearly 26M Disney shares— Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter, the former Marvel Entertainment executive, who for the last decade and a half has been one of Disney's …

Discussion:
Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline

Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Marvel Ex-Chairman Ike Perlmutter Reportedly Sold His Entire Disney Stake for Nearly $3 Billion After Unsuccessful Board Fight

Caitlin Huston /
The Hollywood Reporter: Ike Perlmutter Sells Entire Stake in Disney After Proxy Fight

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Ike Perlmutter Has Sold His Entire Disney Stake

Deadline:

BBC plans to lay off 500 more staff by March 2026 and reports a £263M operating deficit in 2023/24, up from £193M in 2022/23, projected to be £492M in 2024/25— The BBC will lay off 500 more staff by March 2026 as its annual report paints a worrying financial picture including …

Discussion:

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: BBC to issue 500 pink slips as deficit projected to grow

Charlotte Tobitt /
Press Gazette: BBC to cut 500 more jobs as revenue falls 6% to £5.4bn

Naman Ramachandran /
Variety: BBC to Cut 500 Jobs as Financial Deficit Grows

Rachel Hagan /
The Independent: Tim Davie says sorry over Strictly scandal but insists show must go on

Jonathan Rose /
The Sun: Half a MILLION households cancelled BBC licence fee in the past year - preferring Netflix and YouTube instead

Lily Ford /
The Hollywood Reporter: BBC to Lay Off 500 Staff by 2026 as Annual Report Targets “Leaner, More Agile” Broadcaster

Casey Cooper-Fiske /
London Evening Standard: BBC to cut 500 jobs as it attempts to save £200m for ‘transformation’

Daniel Thomas /
Financial Times: BBC plans 500 job cuts in push for more cost savings

Max Goldbart /
TVNewsCheck: BBC To Lay Off Hundreds More Staff With Financial Deficit Projected To Nearly Double Next Year

RELATED:

Variety:
BBC reports BBC Commercial revenue of £1.9B in 2023/24, down from £2.1B in 2022/23, and 3.8M BritBox International subscribers, with a 25% annual growth rate

Discussion:
Broadband TV News, The Hollywood Reporter, Broadcast, The Hollywood Reporter, Advanced Television, BBC and WORLD SCREEN

Discussion:

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: BBC Studios investing record amounts in new content

Georg Szalai /
The Hollywood Reporter: BBC Commercial CEO on ‘Bluey,’ ‘Baby Reindeer,’ Record Emmy Noms Haul and Hollywood Cuts

Georg Szalai /
The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Bluey’ Merch Sales Rise, But BBC Commercial Profit Drops on Investments, Post-Peak TV Cuts

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: BBC Studios Hails Record Content Investments

Press Gazette:
Huw Edwards tops the list of BBC's highest paid journalists for 2023/24 despite being off-air since July 2023; 46 BBC journalists earned above £178K

Discussion:
Reuters, The Sun, The Mirror, GB News, Telegraph, RTÉ, Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sun, The Mirror, London Evening Standard, Metro.co.uk, LBC, The Times, The Independent, Deadline, The i Paper, Daily Express, The Independent and Sky News

Discussion:

Ryan Merrifield /
The Sun: BBC boss defends Huw Edwards' salary and £40k pay rise despite presenter spending nine months off-air

Olivia Gantzer /
GB News: Huw Edwards pay rise defended by BBC boss amid outrage to £40k increase: ‘Ripping off licence fee payers!’ Daily Mail: BBC's top earners revealed: Huw Edwards was third highest paid star on £479,999 after 9 per cent pay rise despite nine months off air following sex pics scandal …

Mark Jefferies /
The Mirror: BBC under fire for Huw Edwards £40,000 pay rise and huge salary despite not being on screen

Jamie Phillips /
The Sun: Gary Lineker & Zoe Ball top BBC's best-paid list - but scandal-hit Huw Edwards still in top 3 despite time OFF-AIR

Zara Woodcock /
The Mirror: BBC salary list in full - who got a pay rise and who took a cut this year

Robert Dex /
London Evening Standard: BBC's highest earners revealed: Gary Lineker nets £1.3million as Huw Edwards paid £475,000 before resignation

Sabrina Barr /
Metro.co.uk: BBC defends Huw Edwards' salary increase despite resignation over a year ago

Chris Blackhurst /
The Independent: Give Gary Lineker a break and end the annual BBC salary horror show

Jake Kanter /
Deadline: Huw Edwards' Final BBC Pay Packet Soared To Five-Year High Despite Him Being Off-Air For Months

Adam Sherwin /
The i Paper: Huw Edwards was highest-paid BBC newsreader despite only three months on air

Leah Stanfield /
Daily Express: Huw Edwards six-figure salary despite being off-air sparks fury with ‘rip off’ complaint

Rachel Hagan /
The Independent: Huw Edwards third highest-paid BBC journalist after £40,000 pay rise despite being off air

TechCrunch:

Though the UK's ICO says it's “disappointed” with Google's not deprecating third-party cookies, the regulator has only weakly enforced data protection laws— In a material development that will likely have a big impact on online business models, Google is no longer proposing …

Discussion:

Dominic Ponsford /
Press Gazette: Google scraps plan to ditch cookies on Chrome

Jake Peterson /
LifeHacker: Google Is Reversing Its Decision to Kill Cookies

Kim Davis /
MarTech: Google's Privacy Sandbox: What you need to know @Privacymatters@mastodon.social: @riptari 🔥 “The [@ICOnews] has been infamously weak at standing up to tracking by the ads industry, despite the regulator's public acknowledgement (since 2019) that cookie-based tracking and profiling violates privacy laws.” 👏 (ICO did take the IAB for dinner though) …

Lena Cohen /
Electronic Frontier Foundation: Why Privacy Badger Opts You Out of Google's “Privacy Sandbox”

Thomas Claburn /
The Register: Google's plan to drop third-party cookies in Chrome crumbles

Laurie Sullivan /
MediaPost: Google To Keep Cookies

RELATED:
Digiday:

Google says it won't be “deprecating third-party cookies” in Chrome and will instead keep working on “privacy-preserving alternatives” via Privacy Sandbox APIs— After much back and forth, Google has decided to keep third-party cookies in its Chrome browser.

Discussion:
Privacy Sandbox, Nieman Lab, The Drum, AdExchanger, Information Commissioner's …, Search Engine Land, Wall Street Journal, PRWeek, @cmagovuk, Bloomberg, Neowin, @pedrodias, @levie, Marketing Dive, Emil Protalinski on LinkedIn, MarTech, Gizmodo, Caitlin Halpert on LinkedIn, Silicon Republic, @torgo@mastodon.social, @edzitron, @ariellesgarcia, @dalmaer, @ngriffin_uk, @simonw, @vtoubiana, @jdaykin, @aripap, @mattlanza, @jeffjarvis, @sarafischer, Tech Xplore, @murakamiwood, @rowan_m, @alextcone, @michaelmiraflor, @chronotope, @keithepetri, @samueljscott, @incloud, @thezedwards, @paperghost, @kendraebarnett, @glenngabe, @ryanbarwick, @lukolejnik, @simoahava, @robinberjon, @lukolejnik, @wolfiechristl, Google Help Center, The Verge, Mark McEachran on LinkedIn, The Information, Financial Times, GOV.UK, Search Engine Land, Fast Company, James Rosewell on LinkedIn, Marc Majewski on LinkedIn, Mahesh Narayanan on LinkedIn, @mysk@mastodon.social, Simo Ahava on LinkedIn, @wchr@mastodon.social, W Media Research, The Drum, The Media Leader, Angelina Eng on LinkedIn, Matthias Cada on LinkedIn, Engadget, Oliver Klander on LinkedIn, Rio Longacre on LinkedIn, @lauren@mastodon …, Hello Partner, 9to5Google, @jaffathecake@mastodon.social, Paul Bannister on LinkedIn, Alex Cone on LinkedIn, The Drum, AdExchanger, Ad Age, @LukaszOlejnik@mastodon.social and CBS News

Discussion:

Anthony Chavez /
Privacy Sandbox: A new path for Privacy Sandbox on the web

Joshua Benton /
Nieman Lab: Browser cookies, as unkillable as cockroaches, won't be leaving Google Chrome after all

Joe Root /
The Drum: Cookie or not, nothing has changed. Don't leave your destiny in the hands of Google

Allison Schiff /
AdExchanger: What Does Google's Plan To Keep Cookies Mean For Its Relationship With Regulators? Information Commissioner's Office: ICO statement in response to Google announcing it will no longer block third party cookies in Chrome

Patience Haggin /
Wall Street Journal: Google Is Keeping Cookies in Chrome After All

Lucy Shelley /
PRWeek: Google 'couldn't contain collateral damage': Industry reacts to cookies U-turn @cmagovuk: #Google has confirmed a new approach to third-party cookies. Instead of removing them from #Chrome, it will introduce a user-choice prompt. We're considering the impact of this announcement and welcome views until 12 August. Read more: https://www.gov.uk/... [image]

John Callaham /
Neowin: Google does a 180 as it will keep supporting third party cookies in Chrome after all

Pedro Dias /
@pedrodias: Google seems to be losing the “charm” that once “dazzled” so many smaller companies. No wonder, given the frustrations that they've fostered and eroded trust on their users

Aaron Levie /
@levie: Every time I tried to understand how the web was supposed to work after this, I got more confused.

Emil Protalinski /
Emil Protalinski on LinkedIn: Google wants to have its cookie and eat it too. — After delaying third-party cookie deprecation in Chrome for years, the new timeline is... never. …

Matt Novak /
Gizmodo: Google Won't Kill Third-Party Cookies After All

Caitlin Halpert /
Caitlin Halpert on LinkedIn: 🤯 Wow - I never thought I'd see the day - Google says it's no longer deprecating third party cookies in Chrome!!! …

Daniel Appelquist /
@torgo@mastodon.social: This is a disappointing (though hardly surprising) climb-down for Google Chrome. However, it reinforces what I've been saying for ages: don't use Chrome. Use a browser that respects your #privacy. There are many Chromium-based options that respect privacy out of the box, such as Brave and Vivaldi. …

Ed Zitron /
@edzitron: so google just gave up on what was meant to be the big move away from tracking cookies after all. Ah! Nevertheless,

Arielle Garcia /
@ariellesgarcia: Yeah, this. They will effectively kill cookies under the guise of consumer choice, when they're good and ready. This is just a marginally more convincing “privacy” cover.

Dion Almaer /
@dalmaer: Wow. So. Much. Time. “In light of this, we are proposing an updated approach that elevates user choice. Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and

Nicholas Griffin /
@ngriffin_uk: @jaffathecake Good, their solution was bad overall and was a complete land grab, and, in reality just made ads much, much worse. In the long term, this could have most certainly ended up with Google sneaking in advantages for their own products, with a bunch of lawyers backing them up.

Simon Willison /
@simonw: @jaffathecake I honestly can't decipher that blog post, I would love it if someone could write a translation of that including HTTP-protocol-level examples of what would work / not work and what their proposed alternative path would look like

Vincent Toubiana /
@vtoubiana: Let's call that the “DoNotTrack” setting? https://privacysandbox.com/... [image]

Jerry Daykin /
@jdaykin: Cookies might strictly be here to stay in Chrome... but consumers and Safari are still kicking them to the curb in many situations. Quite the switcharoo though 😂 🫣

Ari Paparo /
@aripap: Google has been trying to remove third-party cookies for longer than Biden has been in office, but at least Biden has a back-up plan.

Ari Paparo /
@aripap: My guess is they're going to slowly move from opt out of third-party cookies, to recommending blocking to users, then eventually to opt in only.

Matt Lanza /
@mattlanza: Any plan to eliminate cookies is a terrible business idea. Why on earth would you deprive people of cookies during this time of upheaval? @jeffjarvis: Google kills everything *except* cookies. Publishers and regulators demanded that cookies die ... until they didn't. Google Is Keeping Cookies in Chrome After All https://www.wsj.com/...

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: Ad tech stocks tick up on news that Google pulled the plug on cookie phaseout [image] @murakamiwood: #Google has reversed its decision to eliminate #thirdpartycookies, in favour of some bullshit about user choice. #Privacy clearly not as important to them as #surveillance #advertising revenue, as if we didn't know that.

Rowan Merewood /
@rowan_m: We'll update the developer docs soon, but this doesn't change the core implementation work to move away from third-party cookies. The APIs and cookie feature changes you need to make your site more private and more secure are ready *right now* - do it for your users.

Alex Cone /
@alextcone: Today is a big day for the Privacy Sandbox team. https://privacysandbox.com/... We announced that we're proposing a new approach to Sandbox on the web that we believe works for the entire industry (publishers, devs, advertisers, etc.). We plan to prioritize user choice in order to

Michael J. Miraflor /
@michaelmiraflor: What a turn of events. Huge news for everyone that spends digital ad dollars, big brands and small, who care about customer acquisition costs and data fidelity (and privacy) moving forward.

Aram Zucker-Scharff /
@chronotope: Assuming regulators are insane enough to approve this incredibly baffling plan, not a thing that I would say will for-sure happen, it is a mistake to frame this as 3p being “here to stay”. It looks like the proposal is a consent wall for 3p at the browser level. Assume mostly NOs

Keith Petri /
@keithepetri: This is insane because by Google's own accord, they met the CMA requirements: “Early testing from ad tech companies, including Google, has indicated that the Privacy Sandbox APIs have the potential to achieve these outcomes. And we expect that overall performance using Privacy

Samuel Scott /
@samueljscott: And your reminder: Attribution is useless. No one buys something because of one ad they saw one time. For years, ad tech companies have brainwashed marketers who should know better that cookie-based attribution means something.

Mike O'Neill /
@incloud: After a decade of regulators failure to enforce #ePrivacy, W3C failure to let #DoNotTrack become a standard, Google finally admits its addiction to surveillance marketing.

Zach Edwards /
@thezedwards: Google's decision not to deprecate 3rd party cookies is further proof they can't be trusted with the responsibilities they have as a global data controller via Chrome. From bait and switches on their competitors to broken privacy promises to regulators. Absolute clown show.⛈️⚖️⛈️

Chris Boyd /
@paperghost: every few months it felt like i had to write yet another blog about how google's cookie sunsetting plan was being pushed back a little bit more but it was definitely happening honest, and now

Kendra Barnett /
@kendraebarnett: BREAKING: @Google scraps years-long plans to eliminate 3rd party cookies on Chrome. They'll remain running for those who don't disable them, but Google plans to debut a new prompt that “elevates user choice.” My story for @TheDrum: https://www.thedrum.com/...

Glenn Gabe /
@glenngabe: Whoa, big reversal -> Google says it won't be “deprecating third-party cookies” in Chrome and will instead keep working on “privacy-preserving alternatives” “In an ‘updated approach’ announced in a blog post today, Google revealed it won't be “deprecating third-party cookies.” [image]

Ryan Barwick /
@ryanbarwick: 🚨NEW: Google says third-party-cookies are here to stay. “Instead of deprecating cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing” https://privacysandbox.com/...

Lukasz Olejnik /
@lukolejnik: So after @ICOnews detailed study and criticism of Privacy Sandbox they're going to assess if retaining third-party cookies is really a better alternative for online privacy? :-) #GDPR. Competition regulator won't accept nothing in place ...

Simo Ahava /
@simoahava: Third-party cookie deprecation in Chrome moved from a perpetual “in two years' time” to an effective “never”.

Robin Berjon /
@robinberjon: Five years ago when the Chrome team announced the Privacy Sandbox, I called a “delaying tactic.” Not getting rid of cookies as the first step was never going to work. Today they announced that they won't be deprecating third-party cookies. That's five years wasted. [image]

Lukasz Olejnik /
@lukolejnik: After four years of attempts, Google is backtracking from plans to phase out third-party cookies? https://privacysandbox.com/... [image]

Wolfie Christl /
@wolfiechristl: Third-party cookie are staying in Chrome, I cannot f*cking believe it. Google has been misleading everyone for years, making regulators, policymakers and an entire industry think they will soon go away. Year-long deception at its finest, I take off my hat. https://privacysandbox.com/... [image]

Richard Lawler /
The Verge: Google's plan to turn off third-party cookies in Chrome is dying

Mark McEachran /
Mark McEachran on LinkedIn: The cookie lives. — While the outlook maintains some uncertainty now that there will be a new privacy roadmap Chrome, I'm encouraged by the bold move here. …

Martin Peers /
The Information: What Verizon's Numbers Mean for Apple

Stephen Morris /
Financial Times: Google abandons plan to remove cookies from Chrome browser

Chris Morris /
Fast Company: Google reverses course on privacy, opting to keep targeting cookies in Chrome

James Rosewell /
James Rosewell on LinkedIn: 🚨 Whilst Google's announcement concerning their Privacy Sandbox is a welcome development, it is not yet competition on the merits. …

Marc Majewski /
Marc Majewski on LinkedIn: Prediction arrived - Google (Chrome) will NOT kill third-party cookies! 👈 — A good choice in my opinion, but a final decision after years of uncertainty and endless discussions? …

Mahesh Narayanan /
Mahesh Narayanan on LinkedIn: Privacy Sandbox, as we knew/thought of it, is changing. — Key Takeaway seems to be: 3PC stays 🙂 … @mysk@mastodon.social: Google's blog about introducing a new experience in Chrome that “lets people make an informed choice” regarding browser cookies has one button on its cookie banner. It's labeled “Hide.” — https://privacysandbox.com/... #Privacy — #Google — [image]

Simo Ahava /
Simo Ahava on LinkedIn: Third-party cookie deprecation in Chrome pushed back to “never”. — https://lnkd.in/...

Wolfie Christl /
@wchr@mastodon.social: Third-party cookie are staying in Chrome, I cannot f*cking believe it. I mean, sure I can believe it, but. — Google has been misleading everyone for years, making regulators, policymakers, civil society advocates and an entire industry think third-party cookies will soon go away. …

Kendra Barnett /
The Drum: UK data privacy regulators ‘disappointed’ in Google's decision to keep third-party cookies

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: Google backtracks on killing third-party cookies, focuses on user choice

Angelina Eng /
Angelina Eng on LinkedIn: 🚨 Big News from Google on Privacy! 🚨 — Google is shifting its approach to online privacy by prioritizing user control …

Matthias Cada /
Matthias Cada on LinkedIn: That's a news to all #cookieless fans - — Chrome keeps the #3Pcookie and we all think, what the...? One could think, why all these efforts?!? …

Pranav Dixit /
Engadget: Google isn't killing third-party cookies in Chrome after all

Oliver Klander /
Oliver Klander on LinkedIn: Ooooo... Be honest... we saw it coming. — “After years of uncertainty, Google says it won't be ‘deprecating third-party cookies’ in Chrome.” …

Rio Longacre /
Rio Longacre on LinkedIn: Rug pull of the century by our friends at Google: 3P cookies will NOT be deprecated next year as planned. …

Lauren Weinstein /
@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org: After years of work, #Google decides NOT to abandon third-party cookies. — My take on this is that the regulatory issues surrounding the replacement (Privacy Sandbox) and the technical challenges of actually eliminating third-party cookies everywhere without breaking significant parts of the Web, have just been too much. …

Sol Wilkinson /
Hello Partner: Affiliate Tracking Saved? Google's New Approach to Third-Party Cookies Explained

Jake Archibald /
@jaffathecake@mastodon.social: Chrome's dropping their plans to fully deprecate third party cookies. https://privacysandbox.com/...

Paul Bannister /
Paul Bannister on LinkedIn: Huge news from Google today that they won't be deprecating 3PC, or at least not without users deciding when they want to do it themselves. …

Alex Cone /
Alex Cone on LinkedIn: Today is a big day for the Privacy Sandbox team. https://lnkd.in/... We announced that we're proposing a new approach to Sandbox on the web …

Allison Schiff /
AdExchanger: Google Says It Won't Deprecate Cookies In Chrome After All (?!)

Lukasz Olejnik /
@LukaszOlejnik@mastodon.social: After four years of attempts, Google is backtracking from plans to phase out third-party cookies? https://privacysandbox.com/... [image]

Reuters:

A US judge rules that Nina Jankowicz, a former Biden anti-disinformation official, could not back up her defamation claims against Fox News and parent Fox Corp— Fox News Media and its parent Fox Corp (FOXA.O) won a ruling on Monday dismissing a lawsuit by a former Biden administration official …

Discussion:
ABC News, New York Post, Deadline, The Hill, Mediaite, NPR and Los Angeles Times

Discussion:
ABC News: Defamation suit against Fox News by head of dismantled disinformation board tossed by federal judge

Jonathan Turley /
New York Post: A judge rules that yes, the Biden administration was trying to censor people online

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: Judge Tosses Out Misinformation Expert's Defamation Lawsuit Against Fox News

Dominick Mastrangelo /
The Hill: Judge dismisses Nina Jankowicz lawsuit against Fox News

Jamie Frevele /
Mediaite: Fox News Scores Court Victory as Defamation Lawsuit Tossed

David Folkenflik /
NPR: Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox, while network scores separate court victory

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox News over mock trial show

The Hollywood Reporter:

TelevisaUnivision reports Q2 revenue up 3% YoY to $1.3B, ad revenue up 6% YoY to $785M, and operating expenses up 6% YoY to $896M— The Spanish-language media giant, led by CEO Wade Davis, reports its second-quarter financials. … The company also reemphasized that its streaming business …

Discussion:
New York Times, Next TV, TelevisaUnivision, Variety, WORLD SCREEN and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Neal E. Boudette /
New York Times: Tesla's Profit Fell 45% in the Second Quarter on Weak E.V. Sales

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: TelevisaUnivision Turns a $14 Million Profit in Q2

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: Ad Sales Help Drive Q2 Profit for TelevisaUnivision

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: Revenues, Profit Slip At Comcast

Georg Szalai /
TVNewsCheck: TelevisaUnivision Posts Q2 U.S. Ad Gain

Reuters:

The US calls on Russia to free Russian-American RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was jailed last week in what RFE/RL said was “a mockery of justice”— The U.S. Embassy in Moscow on Tuesday called on Russia to free Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist …

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Inter Press Service, Semafor, Reporters Without Borders and European Federation …

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Ed Holt /
Inter Press Service: Rights Groups Demand Governments Protect Exiled Journalists, Dissidents Reporters Without Borders: RSF outraged by arbitrary sentencing of Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in Russia

RELATED:

Sky News:
A Russian court sentences Russian-American RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to six and a half years in prison for spreading “false info” about the Russian army

Discussion:
Associated Press, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, TVNewsCheck, @freedomofpress, @samberkhead, @bentavener, @reidstan, @rebecca_vincent, @janlipavsky, @samagreene, @pressgazette, @bbcstever, @hadas_gold, CNN, New York Times, Reuters, Committee to Protect …, BBC, The Guardian, Voice of America, CNN, CBS News and USAGM

Discussion:

Dasha Litvinova /
Associated Press: US-Russian journalist convicted in a rapid, secret trial, gets 6 1/2 years in prison, court says

Rowan Humphries /
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: American RFE/RL Reporter Alsu Kurmasheva Tried & Convicted in Russian Court

Ivan Nechepurenko /
TVNewsCheck: Russia Sentences Alsu Kurmasheva, American Editor, To A Penal Colony @freedomofpress: U.S.-Russian reporter Alsu Kurmasheva's only “crime” is doing her work as a journalist, but Russia is proving once again its intolerance to reporting about the war in Ukraine that doesn't toe the Kremlin's line. Russia should #FreeAlsu immediately because #JournalismIsNotACrime.

Samantha Berkhead /
@samberkhead: ⚡ U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was secretly sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on Friday for spreading “fake news” about the Russian army, AP reports. The U.S., where she holds citizenship, has yet to declare her “wrongfully detained.” https://apnews.com/...

Ben Tavener /
@bentavener: In a statement to the BBC Alsu Kurmasheva's husband Pavel Butorin & his two daughters wrote: “The girls & I know Alsu has done nothing wrong. And the world knows it too. We need her home.”

Reid Standish /
@reidstan: My colleague Alsu Kurmasheva was just sentenced in a secret trial to 6 1/2 years in a Russian prison on baseless charges. DC journalists, her husband @PashaButorin will be in Washington this week and is available to talk. https://x.com/...

Rebecca Vincent /
@rebecca_vincent: Just three days after the outrageous sentencing of Evan Gershkovich, there's been another shameful verdict against an American journalist in Russia. Alsu Kurmasheva should be immediately released - and the US government must up the ante NOW to better support her. #FreeAlsu

Jan Lipavský /
@janlipavsky: Day after day, Russia confirms that basic human rights mean nothing to it. The trial and the sentence of @RFERL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva is a mockery of the law. Czech diplomacy will continue to fight for her release and for justice for other political prisoners. #FreeAlsu

Sam Greene /
@samagreene: The news that a Russian court sentenced Alsu Kurmasheva on the same day as Evan Gershkovich suggests—but does not prove—that the Kremlin is preparing a deal. More likely, they are preparing to offer up a negotiating table that Washington will find it difficult to ignore. /1 @pressgazette: Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for US govt-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, sentenced to 6.5 yrs in jail in Russia accused of spreading false information- as WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 yrs in a penal colony https://www.bbc.com/...

Steve Rosenberg /
@bbcstever: Turns out that last Friday, while we were witnessing one Russian court sentencing Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison, another Russian court (in Kazan) was sentencing US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to 6 ½ years behind bars for allegedly spreading “false information”

Hadas Gold /
@hadas_gold: A Russian court has sentenced Alsu Kurmasheva, a longtime American-Russian journalist for US-backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), to six and a half years to be served in a general regime colony https://cnn.com/... CNN: US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva given 6.5 years in Russian jail in swift and secret trial

Ivan Nechepurenko /
New York Times: Russia Sentences Alsu Kurmasheva, American Editor, to a Penal Colony Committee to Protect Journalists: US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva sentenced to 6½ years in secret trial

Robert Greenall /
BBC: Russian-US journalist jailed for ‘false information’

Jennifer Hansler /
CNN: Family of another American journalist held in Russia calls on Biden administration to do more to help CBS News: Russia sentences U.S. dual national journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to prison for reporting amid Ukraine war

The Hollywood Reporter:

YouTube Q2 ad revenue grew 13% YoY to $8.66B, vs. $8.93B est.; Google's subscriptions, platforms, and devices unit that includes YouTube TV had revenue of $9.3B— The Google-owned video platform still saw its ad haul rise by 13 percent compared to last year.

Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Quartz, The Information, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, Alphabet Inc. and 9to5Google, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: YouTube Ad Revenue Rises 13% to $8.66 Billion in Q2

Todd Spangler /
Variety: YouTube Q2 Ad Revenue Hits $8.66 Billion, up 13%, Short of Wall Street Expectations

Laura Bratton /
Quartz: Google's profits are booming because of AI

Martin Peers /
The Information: Google's Ad Revenue Growth Softens Slightly in Q2

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: YouTube Posted “Healthy Watch Time Growth” In Q2, Boosting Advertising Returns, Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat Says

Popular Information:

A look at Sinclair's Rapid Response Team, which produces biased short articles; affiliates must include at least three RRT stories nightly— Eugene Ramirez, the lead anchor of Sinclair's national evening news broadcast, resigned in January over concerns about the accuracy and right-wing bias …

Discussion:
@kbode@threads.net, @FAIR@mastodon.world, @michaelsocolow, @sueblueswilson, @agt00soul, @kali_fissure, @eugeneramirez, @juddlegum, @drvolts, @jayrosen_nyu, @thetnholler, @davidfolkenflik, @davinasass@threads.net, @KimPerales@toad.social, @kiminsley11@threads.net, @shamrockchickens@threads.net, @emmettoconnell@mas.to and @realjuddlegum@threads.net

Discussion:

Karl Bode /
@kbode@threads.net: TFW you finally realize you are working for a right wing propaganda mill pretending to be a local news broadcaster @FAIR@mastodon.world: “Sinclair's national leadership frequently booked guests from far-right groups, including Moms for Liberty and the Heritage Foundation. When Ramirez challenged the dubious claims made by these guests, he was admonished and instructed not to interrupt them.... Representatives of progressive groups were almost never booked as guests. ” …

Michael Socolow /
@michaelsocolow: Uri Berliner: I quit @NPR because my journalistic employer is ideological but pretends not to be. Eugene Ramirez: I quit @WeAreSinclair because my journalistic employer is ideological but pretends not to be. Seems a more common complaint upon quitting a media job these days?

Sue Wilson /
@sueblueswilson: @jayrosen_nyu @JuddLegum Interesting point. Perhaps @ABC @CBS @NBCNews @foxnetworks need to establish better guidelines for their Network Affiliates. Perhaps also it is time for local viewers to flex their collective muscles. Here's how: https://www.mediaactioncenter.net/ ...

Caleigh Fisher /
@kali_fissure: This won't be news to people who monitor media landscape and ecology but it's always good to know who is feeding< you your information. So you can reverse bias it accurately. https://popular.info/...

Eugene Ramirez /
@eugeneramirez: This morning I was sent a news story about me. I can only say that I do not contest any of the claims made, and I appreciate the messages of support I have received in response. My integrity is not for sale. Now, let's get to work.

Judd Legum /
@juddlegum: 13. Do you know someone who should know the facts about @WeAreSinclair, a news organization that reaches 40% of the US population? It's all right here, with links to sources: https://popular.info/...

David Roberts /
@drvolts: Sinclair owns hundreds of local TV stations & produces the local news shows that hundreds of thousands of people see each night. They are centrally producing far-right content & forcing it on local affiliates. Let's talk more about the liberal media. https://popular.info/...

Jay Rosen /
@jayrosen_nyu: “The lead anchor of Sinclair's national evening news broadcast, resigned in January over concerns about the accuracy and right-wing bias of the content he was required to present...” https://popular.info/... Oustanding work by @JuddLegum I have never been able to establish @thetnholler: UPDATE: “Eugene Ramirez, the lead anchor of Sinclair's national evening news broadcast, resigned in January over concerns about the accuracy and right-wing bias of the content he was required to present on air...” Hey @FOXNashville, care to comment? https://popular.info/... [image]

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: A top anchor for Sinclair's national evening news show quit over concerns it slanted hard right - story broken by @JuddLegum & Rebecca Crosby on https://popular.info/. The anchor, Eugene Ramirez, affirms Legum's story in a brief public post & to NPR. https://popular.info/...

Davina Sashkin /
@davinasass@threads.net: Friends don't let friends watch Sinclair-owned stations. If you are in the Austin area, it's the CBS station. Look up your local station here: https://sbgi.net/...

Kim Perales /
@KimPerales@toad.social: E Ramirez -lead anchor of Sinclair's nat. evening news broadcast, resigned in Jan over concerns about the accuracy & RW bias of the content he was required to present on air. His show, which continues to air with a new host, appears on at least 70 of the 100s of local TV affiliates owned by Sinclair. …

Kim Insley /
@kiminsley11@threads.net: Good for him. Sinclair shuttered a long-standing local newsroom in my home state and replaced local news with this. An example of a large corporation turning its back on its responsibility with public airwaves.

Charlie Pom /
@shamrockchickens@threads.net: We lost 2 of our beloved anchors a couple months after Sinclair bought a local station.

Emmett O'Connell /
@emmettoconnell@mas.to: 'Through July 4, 2024, the (Sinclair Media) RRT has produced 147 stories this year that portray Democrats in a negative light and just 7 stories that portray Democrats positively. Over that same time period, the RRT has produced 57 stories that portray Republicans positively and 22 that portray Republicans negatively. …

Judd Legum /
@realjuddlegum@threads.net: Eugene Ramirez, the lead anchor of Sinclair's national evening news broadcast, resigned this year over concerns about the accuracy and right-wing bias of the content he was required to present on air, three sources — one current and two former Sinclair employees — told Popular Information.

Variety:

Amazon begins rolling out a new UI for Prime Video to help distinguish content included with Prime, update its navigation bar, manage subscriptions, and more— And the new UI specifically addresses something that's annoyed Prime Video users for years: Now, according to Amazon …

Discussion:
About Amazon, Gizmodo, Neowin, CNET, PCMag, Engadget, 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, GSMArena.com, The Streamable, Cord Cutters News, Advanced Television, iPhone in Canada Blog, Kotaku, Digital Trends, The Verge, The Wrap, Lyndsay Grilo on LinkedIn, Deadline and UK About Amazon, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Sherri L Smith /
Gizmodo: Amazon Prime Video's New Look Hopes to End Decision Paralysis

John Callaham /
Neowin: The Amazon Prime Video TV app is getting a UI refresh with a new top navigation bar and more

Will Shanklin /
Engadget: Prime Video gets a much-needed UI overhaul with a new content bar and AI recommendations

Ben Lovejoy /
9to5Mac: Prime Video update will make it easier to see what isn't free with your subscription

Andrew Romero /
9to5Google: Prime Video is changing its UI to show more content from additional services

Peter /
GSMArena.com: Amazon Prime Video gets new UI that helps you find what's included with your Prime subscription

David Satin /
The Streamable: Prime Video Tweaks User Interface to Make it Easier to See What Titles Are Free and What You Have to Pay Extra For

James Guttman /
Cord Cutters News: Amazon's Prime Video Enhances User Experience With Some Big Changes

Nik Roseveare /
Advanced Television: Prime Video enhances streaming experience

Steve Vegvari /
iPhone in Canada Blog: Amazon Prime Video New User Streaming Experience Rolls Out Globally

John Walker /
Kotaku: Amazon Prime Video Is Fixing Its Absolute Worst Feature

Emma Roth /
The Verge: Amazon is making it easier for members to find their Prime TV shows and movies

Kayla Cobb /
The Wrap: Prime Video Has a Brand New Look: Updated Nav Bar, AI Recommendations Begin Rollout

Lyndsay Grilo /
Lyndsay Grilo on LinkedIn: Today, Prime Video is beginning to roll out updates to the streaming experience globally. Improvements like enhanced recommendations …

Dade Hayes /