The Hallmark Channel says it will launch streaming service Hallmark+ for $8/month in September, with on-demand access to old content and memberships perks (Brooks Barnes/New York Times)

Mediagazer: The Hallmark Channel says it will launch streaming service Hallmark+ for $8/month in September, with on-demand access to old content and memberships perks (Brooks Barnes/New York Times)

Top News:

CNN:

A US jury finds Archegos Capital Management's Bill Hwang guilty of fraud for artificially inflating stocks of companies including ViacomCBS and Discovery— Bill Hwang, founder of Archegos Capital Management, was found guilty of fraud Wednesday by a Manhattan federal court after the 2021 collapse …
Discussion: Deadline, Variety, Financial Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Associated Press, Bloomberg and New York Times

Discussion:

Bruce Haring /
Deadline: Bill Hwang, Wall St. Investor In Major Media Stocks, Guilty Of Fraud And Market Manipulation

William Earl /
Variety: Archegos Founder Bill Hwang Found Guilty in Fraud and Racketeering Case Involving ViacomCBS Stock

Winston Cho /
The Hollywood Reporter: Archegos Founder, Charged With Manipulating ViacomCBS Stock, Found Guilty of Fraud Associated Press: Founder of collapsed hedge fund Archegos Capital is convicted in securities fraud scheme

Ava Benny-Morrison /
Bloomberg: Bill Hwang's Fate Is Now in Jury's Hands After Archegos Trial

Matthew Goldstein /
New York Times: Jury Finds Archegos Founder Bill Hwang Guilty of Fraud and Racketeering

Variety:

Brian Lowry, the veteran Hollywood reporter, critic, and a contributor to CNN's Reliable Sources newsletter, is set to leave in the new round of CNN job cuts— The news outlet is cutting approximately 100 jobs as it works to boost its digital business.

Discussion:
@blowryontv, @tvmojoe, Cord Cutters News, The Wrap and Talking Biz News

Discussion:

Brian Lowry /
@blowryontv: First time for everything. To quote the late great Norman Lear's memoir title, “Even This I Get to Experience.” @tvmojoe: This is such a dumb move ahead of a subscription product launch. Stuff like Reliable Sources and insight from Lowry and others on the showbiz team is what will get me/others to pay extra for CNN.

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: Veteran Media Critic Brian Lowry Among CNN's 100 Layoffs

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: CNN entertainment writer Lowry is departing

RELATED:

The Media Mix:
Sources: CNN lays off the team producing its Opinion section, with an end date of August 9; a source says Senior Editor Sheena McKenzie is among those leaving

Discussion:
@simondowens@threads.net, @newspolitics, Axios and @bsdtectr.bsky.social

Discussion:

Simon Owens /
@simondowens@threads.net: Given CNN's new focus on digital subscriptions, it makes sense that it's cutting its budget for opinion columns given that the political opinion niche is incredibly saturated and unlikely to drive paid conversions. https://www.themediamix.co/...

Jon Nicosia /
@newspolitics: @claireatki “The CNN team working on the news network's Opinion output was let go today. The contributors and editors were gathered and informed that they would be terminated with an end date of August 9, according to people there. The move is part of a wider cost cutting measure announced

Sara Fischer /
Axios: CNN boss lays out plans for digital future, layoffs to come Wall Street Journal: Memo: Mark Thompson says CNN is cutting about 100 jobs, plans to launch its first CNN.com subscription product later in 2024, but offers few details, and more

Discussion:
CNN, Adweek, Media Nation, Nieman Lab, Deadline, The Verge, Variety, Associated Press, Media Voices, @farhip, @mattdpearce, Broadband TV News, @heysamantha, @sfiegerman, @kevincollier, @iyengarish, Breitbart, The Wrap, The Media Mix, @rasmus_kleis, @pressgazette, @alexweprin, @bristei, @brianstelter, @bristei, Talking Biz News, Brian Steinberg on LinkedIn, Mediaite, MediaPost, Jeremy Moore on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, Hartford Courant, The Media Leader, The Information, New York Post, Reuters and Cord Cutters News

Discussion:

Oliver Darcy /
CNN: CNN chief Mark Thompson announces sweeping overhaul of news network, cuts 100 jobs

Dan Kennedy /
Media Nation: CNN's dicey reinvention plans: Layoffs, AI and another attempt at paid digital

Joshua Benton /
Nieman Lab: Are you willing to pay for CNN.com? Prepare to be asked before year's end

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: CNN To Reduce Staff By About 100 As CEO Unveils New Details Of “One Newsroom” Strategy; Layoffs Include Media Critic Brian Lowry — Update

Andrew Liszewski /
The Verge: CNN announces more layoffs as it preps for a future beyond cable TV

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: CNN Plans Launch of Digital Subscription Product by End of 2024 Amid Newsroom Layoffs

Paul Farhi /
@farhip: Numerical context: CNN's overall viewership rose just 2 percent in the April-June quarter vs same period a year ago, and fell 10 percent among people aged 25-54. Election years (and presidential debates) usually bring big increases.

Samantha Murphy Kelly /
@heysamantha: I was among the CNN reporters laid off today as part of the company's restructuring. I loved CNN and I'm so proud of the work we did. If you're looking for a tech reporter to cover AI, social media, trends, Big Tech, gadgets, tech anything, please send a message! I'd love to chat

Seth Fiegerman /
@sfiegerman: Breaking my year-plus streak of not tweeting to say Sam is absolutely incredible and any newsroom would be lucky to have her. Trust me: I've worked with her longer than anyone.

Kevin Collier /
@kevincollier: This damn industry [image]

Rishi Iyengar /
@iyengarish: Adding my voice to the literal dozens of people who have already said what a brilliant journalist, colleague, friend, and human being Sam is. Any publication would be lucky to have her.

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: Veteran Media Critic Brian Lowry Among CNN's 100 Layoffs

Claire Atkinson /
The Media Mix: CNN Memo outlines new strategy and 100 job losses.

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen /
@rasmus_kleis: CNN is “nowhere near ready for the future” CEO Mark Thompson told colleagues. Dose of cold realism in an industry that often manages to continue business-as-usual serving aging, shrinking audiences and dwindling number of advertisers while rhetorically insisting they are digital @pressgazette: CNN chief executive Mark Thompson has told staff that the organisation is cutting around 100 jobs, equivalent to approximately 3% of its total workforce https://pressgazette.co.uk/...

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: Major changes coming to CNN. A subscription product launching this year, with others to follow. A total reorg of its newsrooms. “strategic” push into AI. And layoffs, with about 100 staff to be cut today. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: CNN will cut 100 jobs as it seeks to move more readily into digital, and will launch a subscription product via its website by the end of the year https://variety.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “CNN said it is cutting about 100 jobs and will launch its first CNN·com subscription product later this year as it looks to lessen its dependence on its cable-TV channel.” https://www.wsj.com/...

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: This story about CNN has it all: *100 job cuts? ✅ *New digital ideas? ✅ *Pages of prose from CEO? ✅ ^A vague sense primetime needs help? ✅ https://variety.com/...

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: CNN senior tech writer Kelly among the layoffs

Brian Steinberg /
Brian Steinberg on LinkedIn: This story about CNN has it all: — *100 job cuts? ✅ — *New digital ideas? ✅ — *Pages of prose from CEO? ✅ …

Diana Falzone /
Mediaite: CNN Staff in a State of ‘Resignation’ as CEO Announces Revamp of Network, Job Cuts

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: CNN Will Debut Subscription Products This Year: Report

Jeremy Moore /
Jeremy Moore on LinkedIn: This doesn't seem to be a recipe for success. Beyond the damage to the professionals who will be laid off, the overarching narrative seems …

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: CNN to Lay Off 100 Staffers as It Preps Major Revamp of Digital Efforts

John Koblin /
New York Times: CNN Cuts 100 Jobs, and Announces Plan for Digital Subscription Product

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: CNN to cut 100 jobs and launch digital subscription product

Taylor Herzlich /
New York Post: CNN CEO Mark Thompson to lay off 100 employees as he discloses fresh turnaround plans

New York Times:

Sources: the NBA finalizes contracts with new partners NBC and Amazon Prime Video, while maintaining ABC/ESPN for the NBA Finals; TNT could still match— The NBA and network executives finalized contracts that will make NBC and Amazon Prime Video new partners, while maintaining ABC/ESPN …

Discussion:

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: NBA Finalizes Deals With NBC, Amazon, ESPN, Setting Up Possible Warner Showdown

Michael McCann /
Sportico: TNT Could Sue Over Losing NBA, but Winning May Be a Long Shot

Dave Greene /
Barrett Media: ESPN, NBC and Amazon's NBA Media Rights Package is a Big Win for Sports

Eric Fisher /
Front Office Sports: 'Where's truTV?' March Madness Channel Is Now TNT Sports' New Star

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: NBA on the verge of a deal with Amazon, NBC and ESPN, potentially leaving TNT on the bench

Mike D. Sykes /
USA Today: The NBA's new broadcast deals are reportedly agreed to, which means the end for NBA on TNT may finally be here

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: NBA Finalizes 11-Year, $76 Billion TV Contracts With NBC, Amazon and ESPN

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: NBA Finalizes TV Deals With Disney, NBC and Amazon ... But TNT's Future Is Unclear

Ahmad Austin Jr /
Mediaite: NBA Finalizes Lucrative Media Deals With ESPN, Amazon, and NBC — TNT Could Still Try to Match Offers

Alex Schiffer /
Front Office Sports: NBA Agrees to $76 Billion in Media-Rights Deals, but TNT Still Looms

David Satin /
The Streamable: NBA Finally Finalizes TV Deals with ESPN, Prime Video, NBC; TNT Expected to Try to Match Amazon Offer

Brendon Kleen /
Awful Announcing: Everything you need to know about the NBA's new broadcast rights package

New York Times:

The Hallmark Channel says it will launch streaming service Hallmark+ for $8/month in September, with on-demand access to old content and memberships perks— Hallmark+, which arrives in September, will include free greeting cards and a “Hallmark Hunk” competition show.

Discussion:
Variety, Alyssa Zeisler on LinkedIn and The Streamable

Discussion:

Emily Longeretta /
Variety: Hallmark+ Streaming Service to Launch in Fall, Will Include First Holiday Limited Series, Original Movies and More

Alyssa Zeisler /
Alyssa Zeisler on LinkedIn: Excited to share some of the amazing initiatives happening at Hallmark — we're relaunching our streaming service and enhancing our retail connections …

The Verge:

YouTube announces new Shorts features, including TikTok-like text-to-speech video narration, in-app auto-generated captions, and a set of Minecraft effects— YouTube has announced a set of new features for YouTube Shorts, some of which are available now, like a new text-to-speech video narration …

Discussion:
TechCrunch and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Sarah Fielding /
Engadget: YouTube Shorts gets Instagram's ‘Add yours’ prompt stickers

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: comedian Dax Shepard signs an $80M podcasting deal with Amazon, shifting his Armchair Expert show to Amazon's Wondery service from Spotify— New deal includes video episodes, gives Amazon's Wondery exclusive distribution and ad-sales rights — Comedian Dax Shepard has signed …

Discussion:
@kerrymflynn

Discussion:

Music Business Worldwide:

Ticketmaster and Shazam announce a partnership letting artists link their live events in Shazam, adding to Ticketmaster's integration with Snap and TikTok— After integrating its ticket sales platform with Snap and TikTok, ticketing giant Ticketmaster is taking another step towards sales …

Discussion:
Billboard, Music Ally and Digital Music News

Discussion:

Chris Eggertsen /
Billboard: The Deals: Ticketmaster Integrates With Shazam, Beatport Gets Fraud Detection Partner

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Ticketmaster reveals its latest app integration: Shazam

TechCrunch:

South Korea-based Beeble AI, which is developing virtual production services for indie filmmakers, raised $4.75M in seed funding at a valuation of $25M— Visual effects (VFX) have emerged as essential in filmmaking and have transformed storytelling and creativity in the film industry with its diverse digital techniques.

Reuters:

Source: Turkey is seeking an explanation from Saudi Arabia for detaining a Turkish journalist who allegedly made comments about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi— Turkey is seeking an explanation from Saudi Arabia after Saudi police detained a Turkish journalist over alleged comments …

Discussion:
Committee to Protect …

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Writers Guild of America West negotiates a $3.05M settlement with CBS to compensate 24 writers on MacGyver, Seal Team, and Hawaii 5-0 for unpaid work— The union told members on Wednesday of the resolution to an arbitration claim made on behalf of ‘MacGyver,’ ‘Seal Team’ and ‘Hawaii 5-0’ scribes.

Discussion:

Jeremy Fuster /
The Wrap: CBS Pays Writers Guild $3 Million for Contract Violations

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: WGA West Reaches $3 Million Settlement With CBS Studios Over Writer Fees and Benefit Payments

Nieman Lab:

Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris on his 1988 The Thin Blue Line documentary, generative AI, disinformation, reenactment, his new Separated documentary, and more— “Our task is to get back to the real world, to the extent that it is recoverable.” — Errol Morris is used to being called a liar, a trickster, and a manipulator.

The Verge:

How the SCOTUS NetChoice ruling on social media platforms' First Amendment rights could affect a host of tech legislation, including kids' online safety laws— Here's what the SCOTUS decision might mean for everything from kids online safety laws to the TikTok ‘ban.’

Discussion:
Wired, @lauren_feiner, @eff and ACLU, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Makena Kelly /
Wired: Reid Hoffman Hasn't Given Up on Biden Just Yet

Lauren Feiner /
@lauren_feiner: SCOTUS' big tech policy decision may have been overshadowed by the Trump immunity one, but it's poised to have massive effects on the future of social media regulation. Here's what the NetChoice opinion means for the future of tech policy: https://www.theverge.com/... @eff: TikTok should feel good about SCOTUS' Netchoice decisions, EFF's David Greene told @Verge. “The overwhelming message...is that content moderation is speech protected by the 1st Amendment,” a holding that's crucial to TikTok & to all social media companies. https://www.theverge.com/...

Lowpass:

A US court grants Redbox owner Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Chapter 7 bankruptcy, paving the way for shutting down Redbox and liquidating its assets— Redbox will shut down, corporate parent is being liquidated — The bankruptcy case of Redbox's corporate parent Chicken Soup …

Discussion:

Jonathan Randles /
Bloomberg: Redbox Owner to Be Liquidated Following Alleged Mismanagement

Jay Peters /
The Verge: Redbox's disc rentals are over

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Redbox Owner Chicken Soup For The Soul To Liquidate In Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Shift; Workforce Of 1,000 To Be Let Go And 24,000 Kiosks Shut Down, Lawyer Says

Mariella Moon /
Engadget: Say goodbye to Redbox — Its parent company is shutting down its disc rental kiosks in bankruptcy liquidation.

Andrew A. Rosen /
@aagave: Sad. I spoke to management two years ago and the strategy didn't add up to me. It's not only notable that they couldn't course correct, but that no buyer came in to course correct for them.

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Redbox Will Shutdown DVD Rentals & Its Streaming Service As Will Crackle

William Hughes /
The A.V. Club: Chicken Soup is going in the toilet, and taking Redbox with it

Ximena Suarez /
Ximena Suarez on LinkedIn: Today marks a heart-wrenching moment for all of us who were part of the Redbox family. I spent 16 years with this team, and it's heartbreaking to see this chapter come to an end. …

Janko Roettgers /
@jank0@sfba.social: @kajord Yeah I know, interesting timing. But apparently he was brought in to help with the transition, and then realized that it was way more of a mess than he had anticipated.

Kelsey Jordahl /