How WWNC and other local broadcasters became a lifeline for hard-hit North Carolina communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene (Brian Stelter/CNN)

Mediagazer: How WWNC and other local broadcasters became a lifeline for hard-hit North Carolina communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene (Brian Stelter/CNN)

Top News:

Bloomberg:

AT&T agrees to sell its majority stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG for $7.6B in cash, including $1.7B in pre-tax quarterly distributions in H2 2024— - DirecTV is holding advanced talks to merge with rival Dish — AT&T and TPG are owners of DirecTV, which was founded in 1994
Discussion:

Martin Peers /
The Information: DirecTV and Dish Plan Merger

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: DirecTV to buy debt-laden rival Dish for $1 after decades-long pursuit

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: New, w/@LaurenSHirsch: DirecTV has agreed to acquire Dish for......$1!! (Plus assumption of debt). This is a multi-step transaction that involves TPG buying out AT&T's stake in DirecTV. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Deborah Sophia /
Reuters: AT&T sells 70% stake in DirecTV to TPG for $7.6 bln

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: AT&T Lost Over $30 Billion on DIRECTV As It Finally Sells Its Ownership to TPG

Michelle Chapman /
Associated Press: AT&T exits showbiz, sells remaining stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG for $7.6 billion @bsdtectr.bsky.social: What a terrible purchase that was. Fucked up both AT&T and DirecTV. [embedded post]

Michael Martinez /
@michaelmartinez: AT&T is yet unwinding another horrible acquisition it previously made.

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: DirecTV Acquires Dish, Unifying Struggling Satellite Business

Drew FitzGerald /
TVNewsCheck: DirecTV Agrees To Merge With Satellite Rival Dish

Aimee Picchi /
CBS News: AT&T sells remaining stake in DirecTV for $7.6 billion as it bows out of entertainment

RELATED:
Variety:

A combined DirecTV and Dish would have ~18M customers total, down 63% from the peak levels in 2016; DirecTV has ~10M pay-TV subscribers, down from 25.5M in 2016— TPG will acquire AT&T's 70% stake in DirecTV, giving it 100% ownership in the pay-TV provider

Discussion:

Grace Snelling /
Fast Company: DirecTV is only paying one dollar for Dish in a major merger of shrinking pay-TV giants

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: DirecTV, Dish Network Deal Arrives Too Late in the Game

Hugh Scallon /
Hugh Scallon on LinkedIn: ✅🖥️ Variety (9/30): “Together, DirecTV and Dish would have nearly 20 million customers — a total that is down 63% from their peak levels in 2016, the companies said. …

Mary Kate Carr /
AV Club: DirecTV might actually be allowed to buy Dish TV this time

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: DirecTV announces pending acquisition of Dish video business

Todd Feathers /
Gizmodo: DirectTV Will Buy Dish and Sling TV for $1 and a Bunch of Debt

Todd Spangler /
@xpangler: Together, DirecTV and Dish would have around 18 million pay-TV customers — a total that is down 63% from their peak levels in 2016 https://variety.com/... via @Variety

Kristian Burt /
CNBC: EchoStar to sell Dish to DirecTV, combining major pay-TV providers

Adam Jacobson /
Radio & Television Business Report: DirecTV, Dish Marriage May Mirror Sirius XM Nuptuals Lewiston Sun Journal: Satellite service DirecTV buys rival Dish as it fights onslaught of streaming services

The Hollywood Reporter:
DirecTV and EchoStar reach a definitive agreement for DirecTV to acquire EchoStar's video business Dish DBS, including Dish TV and Sling TV

Discussion:
The Verge, Bloomberg, Reuters, Axios, Denver Post, StreamTV Insider, @sherman4949, CNN, Streaming Better, @tvgrimreaper, Quartz, Ars Technica, Advanced Television, Cord Cutters News, Deadline, @bryanruby@me.dm, CNBC, @mtfiii, Radio & Television …, @sherman4949, Media Play News, Broadband TV News, @bristei, @sherman4949, Los Angeles Times, MediaPost, WORLD SCREEN and Adweek

Discussion:

Jess Weatherbed /
The Verge: DirecTV and Dish are merging

Tim Baysinger /
Axios: DirecTV agrees to acquire rival Dish Network

Aldo Svaldi /
Denver Post: Colorado-based EchoStar cuts Dish Network and Sling loose so Boost Mobile can move forward

Bevin Fletcher /
StreamTV Insider: DirecTV plans to acquire EchoStar's Dish, Sling TV pay TV businesses

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: If regulators are still questioning this Dish-DirecTV as anticompetitive, the poor reception on this conference call is providing a strong data point for why the deal should be fine to go through.

John Finn /
Streaming Better: DirecTV Buys Dish TV And Sling TV

Rocio Fabbro /
Quartz: AT&T is getting out of the TV business

Jon Brodkin /
Ars Technica: DirecTV agrees to buy satellite rival Dish (and its debt) for one dollar

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: DIRECTV Officially Buys DISH For $1 Plus Debt Creating The Largest Pay-TV Service In The United States

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: DirecTV And Dish To Merge, Creating U.S. Pay-TV Giant, As AT&T Completes Exit From Entertainment

Bryan Ruby /
@bryanruby@me.dm: @Mediagazer I hope DirecTV doesn't mess with Sling TV. But they will by dismissing the importance of “smaller packages” that Sling brings to customers.

Alex Sherman /
CNBC: EchoStar's Dish sale marks disappointing end to Charlie Ergen's ‘Seinfeld’ strategy

Michael T Ford III /
@mtfiii: Dish Network Parent EchoStar's Stock Climbs On Latest DirecTV Merger Reports The combined entity would be the largest pay-TV provider in the U.S. with nearly 20 million subscribers. https://deadline.com/... via @Deadline

Adam Jacobson /
Radio & Television Business Report: It's Official: DirecTV Agrees To Buy Dish, Sling From EchoStar

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: This is official, and DirecTV is starting its conference call right now. As I'd reported Friday, the total deal value is more than $9 billion .... $9.75 billion specifically in debt, and $1 in equity. So it's a trade of the Dish pay TV biz for the debt on the business.

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: DirecTV to Acquire Rival Satellite TV Operator Dish to Create Nation's Largest Pay-TV Service

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: DirecTV to purchase DishTV

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: !!!!! 'Under the terms of the purchase agreement, DIRECTV will acquire EchoStar's video distribution business, including DISH TV and Sling TV, in exchange for a nominal consideration of $1 plus the assumption of DISH DBS net debt'

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Much like the Seinfeld finale, Dish's finale ends in disappointment. https://www.cnbc.com/...

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: DirecTV To Acquire Dish, Says Merger Will ‘Incentivize’ Programmers

Kristin Brzoznowski /
WORLD SCREEN: DirecTV To Acquire EchoStar's Video Distribution Business

New York Times:

CBS plans to show an onscreen QR code for the VP debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz to direct users to fact checks on the CBS News website— CBS is experimenting with a novel way to offer real-time fact-checking of the vice-presidential debate on Tuesday. Just don't expect the moderators to frequently jump in.

Discussion:
Axios, The Daily Beast, @jayrosen_nyu, @repriggleman, Adweek, Associated Press, Business Insider, Los Angeles Times, @benjaminjs, @bloodravenlib@mas.to, The Hill, @jayrosen_nyu, @markagee, @cmclymer, @chrismohney, Fox News, @mollyjongfast, Media Matters for America, @williambibbiani, @patrickdehahn, @jrubinblogger, @samlindauer, @rotopat, @davewiner, @bdquinn, @budrykzack, @wtflanksteak, @jrubinblogger, Mediaite, Poynter, @sykoscorch, CBS News, NPR, @PamelaBarroway@mstdn.social, @cindyweinstein@mastodon.world, @CindyWeinstein@zirk.us, @WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social, @GottaLaff@mastodon.social, @cindyweinstein@mastodon.world, @barney@mas.to, Boing Boing, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap and Mother Jones

Discussion:

Corbin Bolies /
The Daily Beast: Why CBS News Will Be in The Hot Seat During the VP Debate

Jay Rosen /
@jayrosen_nyu: CBS News Says It Will Be Up To Vance And Walz To Fact-Check Each Other. https://apnews.com/... ABC showed it could be done. Now: “CBS News is clearly indicating it wants to take a step back from the heat generated by calling attention to misleading statements by candidates.”

Denver Riggleman /
@repriggleman: Ironic that @CBSNews airs this segment on “safeguarding the truth” and won't fact check the Walz-Vance debate— guess real journalism and upholding the integrity of the 4th estate is subordinate to ratings at CBS. F the truth, right?

Mark Mwachiro /
Adweek: Here Are All the Ways to Watch CBS News' Vice Presidential Debate

David Bauder /
Associated Press: CBS News says it will be up to Vance and Walz to fact-check each other in veep debate

Peter Kafka /
Business Insider: You don't need a QR code to get the facts checked at Tuesday's VP debate

Faith E. Pinho /
Los Angeles Times: How, when and where to watch the Vance-Walz vice presidential debate

Ben Siemon /
@benjaminjs: “While the firemen will not be putting out your home's fire, they will project a QR code onto your house with links to tips about fire prevention.”

A. Rivera /
@bloodravenlib@mas.to: Translation: CBS says fuck it, abdicates their journalistic integrity and responsibility. #fail — > CBS News says it will be up to Vance and Walz to fact-check each other in veep debate https://apnews.com/... #media #news #USPolitics #FactCheck

Caroline Vakil /
The Hill: What to know about the Walz-Vance debate — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Sen. JD Vance …

Jay Rosen /
@jayrosen_nyu: QR code for online fact checks. That's good. That CBS has a verification unit is good too. https://variety.com/... But the point remains. The executives at ABC News thought their moderators could handle (at least some) live fact checking on air. CBS has different ideas.

Mark Agee /
@markagee: “If you want to know the real facts go on the Internet” *15 minutes later* “QAnon is now polling at 86%”

Charlotte Clymer /
@cmclymer: Let's be clear about something: the only reason that CBS News is declining to fact check the vice presidential debate is that they're terrified of Trump and his supporters retaliating for being held accountable on the candidate's relentless lying and disinformation.

Chris Mohney /
@chrismohney: real “to test the hypothesis, the king consults with his menagerie of birds” moment “https://x.com/...

Molly Jong-Fast /
@mollyjongfast: CBS refusing to fact check the Vp debate shows that when bad faith actors work the refs, they win.

William Bibbiani /
@williambibbiani: What the fucking fuck JUST PUT THE FACT-CHECK ON THE SCREEN. What in god's name is WRONG with CBS?

Patrick deHahn /
@patrickdehahn: My counter-argument is if CBS can fit an onscreen QR code, it can fit a small text box for live fact checks. @jrubinblogger: UPDATE: CBS will be factchecking online. Stop. The vast majority aren't watching online. If you can fact check online do it on TV. This is a disgrace and disservice to demcracy.

Sam Lindauer /
@samlindauer: Just like when Edward R Murrow asked folks to send in 10 bottle caps to get the truth about McCarthy.

Patrick Daugherty /
@rotopat: Fact-checking self checkout lol

Dave Winer /
@davewiner: CBS should just scroll the factcheck data through the bottom of the screen in real time. Don't make people go to the website. This isn't hard. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Zack Budryk /
@budrykzack: Verhoeven-esque

Ali B /
@wtflanksteak: Every idea that isn't “just call out the candidates when they're lying” is so silly

@jrubinblogger:
The CBS no fact checking rule isn't the fault of the moderators but it's @margbrennan and @noraodonnell whose reputations will take a hit. they are props in the CBS lazy and cowardly approach to journalism.

David Gilmour /
Mediaite: Here's How CBS Plans to Approach Fact-Checking the VP Debate Between Vance and Walz

Ximena Bustillo /
NPR: Vance and Walz debate in New York City on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know @PamelaBarroway@mstdn.social: I mean, why even bother with moderators at all? Or call yourself a news organization? Just a complete dereliction of duty. — CBS News says it will be up to Vance and Walz to fact-check each other in veep debate — #HarrisWalz2024 #TimWalz #Debate #USpol #journalism @KamalaHarrisWin …

Cindy Weinstein /
@cindyweinstein@mastodon.world: “Anticipatory obedience is a political tragedy.” — Timothy Snyder — CBS's lily-livered (and dangerous) decision not to fact-check exemplifies what Timothy Snyder says NOT to do: “Do not obey in advance.” — https://apnews.com/... #OnTyranny — #TimothySnyder — #Fascism — #Media

Cindy Weinstein /
@CindyWeinstein@zirk.us: “Anticipatory obedience is a political tragedy.” — Timothy Snyder — CBS's lily-livered (and dangerous) decision not to fact-check exemplifies what Timothy Snyder says NOT to do: “Do not obey in advance.” — https://apnews.com/... #OnTyranny — #TimothySnyder — #Fascism — #Media

Warner Crocker /
@WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social: The question to be asked is “If a candidate came on stage and said the network was run by pedophiles or some other nonesense what would the moderators do?” — CBS News says it will be up to Vance and Walz to fact-check each other in veep debate — #politics #media — https://apnews.com/... …

Laffy /
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social: 🎯Via Mark Jacob: — This is what it looks like when a news outlet thinks the job of a journalist is simply turning on the microphones. — Jay Rosen: — CBS News Says It Will Be Up To #JDVance And #Walz To Fact-Check Each Other. https://apnews.com/... ABC showed it could be done. …

Cindy Weinstein /
@cindyweinstein@mastodon.world: Walter Cronkite is turning over in his grave. — CBS's lily-livered (and dangerous) decision not to fact-check exemplifies what Timothy Snyder says NOT to do: “Do not obey in advance.” — https://apnews.com/... #OnTyranny — #TimothySnyder — #Fascism — #Media

Barney /
@barney@mas.to: Because ABC News did its job, by pointing out Trump's outrageous lies during his debate, Trump threatened to shut down the entire ABC network. — Trump's threat was successful. CBS News is now refusing to fact-check their vice presidential debate. — Democracy cannot survive if the press surrenders to fascist threats like that. …

Jason Weisberger /
Boing Boing: CBS “moderators” abdicate role as journalists

Stephanie Kaloi /
TVNewsCheck: CBS News Slammed For Saying Vance And Walz Will Have To Fact-Check Each Other At VP Debate

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: CBS News Slammed for Moderators Not Fact-Checking Vance-Walz VP Debate, Critics Note ‘ABC Showed It Could Be Done’

Julianne McShane /
Mother Jones: CBS Moderators Won't Fact-Check the VP Debate

New York Times:

Sony Pictures says its CEO, Tony Vinciquerra, will step down at the beginning of 2025 and be succeeded by the studio's president and COO, Ravi Ahuja— Mr. Ahuja, president and chief operating officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment, will succeed its current chief executive, Tony Vinciquerra.

Discussion:
The Wrap, IndieWire, Variety, Wall Street Journal, The Wrap, Reuters, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, @benmullin, @tvmojoe and @megjameslat

Discussion:

Sharon Waxman /
The Wrap: Outgoing Sony Pictures CEO Predicts ‘Chaos’ in Entertainment Industry Over Next Two Years

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: Sony Pictures Chairman Tony Vinciquerra to Step Down; TV Chief Ravi Ahuja Elevated to CEO

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Sony Pictures Entertainment Sets CEO Shuffle: Tony Vinciquerra to Step Down, Ravi Ahuja Takes Reins in January

Joe Flint /
Wall Street Journal: Sony Pictures, Studio Behind ‘The Crown’ and ‘Jeopardy,’ Gets a New Boss The Wrap: Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra to Step Down, Ravi Ahuja to Succeed as President and CEO

Thomas Buckley /
Bloomberg: Sony Pictures Names TV Head Ahuja CEO as Vinciquerra Steps Down

Meg James /
Los Angeles Times: Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra to step down, succeeded by Ravi Ahuja

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: Sony Shocker: Tony Vinciquerra Stepping Down As CEO; Ravi Ahuja To Succeed Him

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Sony Pictures Shake-Up: CEO Tony Vinciquerra Stepping Down, Ravi Ahuja Named Successor

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: Hollywood has a new mogul! As expected, Ravi Ahuja will succeed Tony Vinciquerra as chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment at the beginning of next year: https://www.nytimes.com/...

New York Times:

CNN revives CNN Films, which was shut down in 2022, with plans to finance and release documentary series and films as part of an overhaul by Mark Thompson— The network is again financing and releasing documentary series and films after backing away from the genre two years ago.

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Nicole Sperling /
TVNewsCheck: CNN Wades Back Into the Documentary Business

The Verge:

Reddit moderators must now submit a request to Reddit staff before changing a subreddit's public/private status, making sitewide mod-led protests much harder— Reddit is giving its staff a lot more power over the communities on its platform. Starting today, Reddit moderators will not be able …

Discussion:

Dare Obasanjo /
@carnage4life@mas.to: Reddit figured out last year that its moderators need it more than it needs them and is now taking advantage of that knowledge. — Despite being unpaid, the clout of being a moderator was enough that mods decided to fold and now Reddit is ensuring such protests can't happen again. …

Dan Gillmor /
@dangillmor@mastodon.social: Reddit makes millions off the volunteer (hard) labor of its moderators and the contributions of its users. — More and more, it operates as a dictatorship. Latest move is to clamp down even further on the mods' flexibility — and not coincidentally, on their ability to organize protests about the corporate control-freakery. …

Scharon Harding /
Ars Technica: In fear of more user protests, Reddit announces controversial policy change

Ivan Mehta /
TechCrunch: Reddit communities will require permission while going private or switching to NSFW

Jon Snow /
@jonsnow@mastodon.online: Reddit is making sitewide protests basically impossible / Moderators will now have to submit a request if they want to switch their subreddit from public to private. Thousands of subreddits went private as part of last year's protests. — https://www.theverge.com/... #reddit #enshittification #tech

Kylie Robison /
@kyliebytes: New: Starting today, Reddit moderators will not be able to change if their subreddit is public or private without first submitting a request to a Reddit admin. So, this essentially prevents mass protests like we saw last year. https://www.theverge.com/...

Colin Kirkland /
MediaPost: Reddit Reduces Moderators' Control Over Subreddits

The Verge:

YouTube reaches a deal with SESAC that will bring back songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and others that were removed over the weekend in the US— YouTube has reached a deal with the music licensing organization SESAC that will bring back songs that were removed over the weekend.

Discussion:
@teamyoutube: If you're in the United States ➡️ ️we're happy to share that YouTube has reached a deal with SESAC. Content (that was previously blocked) will be restored across YouTube services over the next day or two. We appreciate all your patience 🙏

Chris Eggertsen /
Billboard: SESAC Song Catalog to Return to YouTube Following Rate Dispute Settlement

Variety:
YouTube Inks Deal With SESAC to Restore Music Videos for Adele, Nirvana, Bob Dylan and More in U.S.

Stephen Schenck /
Android Authority: YouTube solves its missing music problem

Marc Griffin /
Vibe: Videos By Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, And More Pulled From YouTube Amid SESAC Dispute

Aaron Williams /
UPROXX: Why Did J. Cole's ‘She Knows’ Get Removed From YouTube Along With Dozens Of Other Songs?

Murray Stassen /
Music Business Worldwide: YOUTUBE STRIKES DEAL WITH SESAC, BEGINS REINSTATING MUSIC VIDEOS BY ADELE, KENDRICK LAMAR AND MORE FOLLOWING LICENSING DISPUTE

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: YouTube's SESAC Contract Expires Without a Deal — Adele, Nirvana, Kendrick Lamar, Britney Spears & More Unavailable

Anthony Ha /
TechCrunch: YouTube blocks videos from Adele, Green Day, Bob Dylan, others in dispute with SESAC

Daniel Kreps /
Rolling Stone: Thousands of Music Videos, Including Nirvana's ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ Removed From YouTube Amid Copyright Dispute

Carly Thomas /
The Hollywood Reporter: Songs by Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, More Blocked by YouTube Due to Legal Dispute

Natalie Oganesyan /
Deadline: YouTube Blocks Songs From Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day & More In SESAC Dispute

Semafor:

Politico and Capitol AI partner for an AI tool to let users create topical reports from Politico and Politico Pro content, available for Pro users later in 2024— THE SCOOP — Politico is launching a strategic partnership with a Y Combinator-backed artificial intelligence startup …

Discussion:

Morgan Haefner /
Quartz: The Memo: To AI or no? — Plus: There's always pen and paper. — Hello, Memo readers!

Max Tani /
@maxwelltani: New from last night's @semafor media newsletter: Politico is partnering with Capitol AI to launch an AI tool for its highest paying subscribers that will quickly summarize all of its paywalled journalism and create detailed reports https://www.semafor.com/...

Gabriel Brotman /
Gabriel Brotman on LinkedIn: 😱 When I mention I work in news media, I'm often asked: “Doesn't AI spell the end of the journalism business?” …

Shaun Modi /
Shaun Modi on LinkedIn: Big news!! Capitol AI (YC S24) and POLITICO are redefining political intelligence. Thank you for your partnership. …

Garry Tan /
@garrytan: Agentic LLMs are going be the biggest revenue drivers for media brands and @usecapitol is going to bring it to every one, starting with powering Politico Pro It's a research assistant and persuasive writer at your fingertips https://www.semafor.com/... [image]

Shaun Modi /
@shaunmodi: Big news!! @usecapitol and @politico are redefining political intelligence. In the near future, all media brands will use Capitol to grow and monetize their relationship with their customers. https://www.semafor.com/...

Rachel Loeffler /
Rachel Loeffler on LinkedIn: I'm fresh off a week in San Francisco where we launched a strategic partnership with Capitol AI, a member of the Y Combinator Class of Summer 2024. …

Goli Sheikholeslami /
Goli Sheikholeslami on LinkedIn: POLITICO was at the forefront of the digital transformation in media, capturing the mindshare and loyalty of millions of readers and creating jobs …

Brad Dayspring /
Brad Dayspring on LinkedIn: This is really cool! — This is a great example of how technology can be harnessed and used to increase and amplify the impact of POLITICO's newsroom. …

Tom Gara /
@tomgara@threads.net: This kind of thing is an extremely obvious subscriber benefit that AI enables news orgs to offer - letting people ask specific questions that get answered by your full base of reporting is so clearly useful for news power users. “Give me a quick history of all the times the New York state budget failed to pass the senate and what the main reasons were” etc.

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: Politico's Wonky Pro Service to Roll Out New AI Tool

New York Times:

How the opacity of The Jewish Chronicle's ownership has reinforced suspicions that it is being used to promote the agenda of right-wing Israeli politicians— When several prominent journalists resigned this month from the British newspaper over false news articles, they also raised a broader question: Who owns it now?

Discussion:
@arusbridger and @marklandler

Discussion:

Alan Rusbridger /
@arusbridger: The question that just won't go away...

The Desk:

Fox News Media's streaming service Fox Nation plans to launch faith-based original shows under a new brand vertical called Fox Faith— Fox News Media's premium streaming service Fox Nation will debut a handful of faith-based original series under a new brand vertical called Fox Faith.

Discussion:
Variety, TVNewsCheck and Media Play News

Discussion:

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: Fox Nation Aims to Make Name in Faith-Based Programming With ‘God. Family. Football.’

Bloomberg:

Audacy wins regulatory approval for the transfer of its licenses to George Soros-backed Fund for Policy Reform, letting Audacy emerge from Chapter 11— Under the restructuring approved by the court in February, the new, closely held company will be controlled by the Fund for Policy Reform …

Discussion:
New York Post, Inside Radio, Axios, CNN, Radio Ink, Radio World, Radio & Television … and Reuters

Discussion:

Casey Harper /
New York Post: George Soros' ‘unprecedented’ purchase of Audacy radio stations before election investigated by lawmakers: ‘New shortcut’

Lori Lewis /
Inside Radio: FCC Approves Audacy Restructuring; Company Plans To Emerge From Bankruptcy In Days.

Sara Fischer /
Axios: Audacy emerges from bankruptcy as a private company

Liam Reilly /
CNN: Audacy will head to bankruptcy court after months of delays fueled by GOP allegations over Soros' stake in radio giant

Randy J. Stine /
Radio World: FCC Approves Plan That Allows Audacy to Exit Bankruptcy

David Shepardson /
Reuters: FCC approves radio license transfers to allow Audacy to exit bankruptcy

CNN:

How WWNC and other local broadcasters became a lifeline for hard-hit North Carolina communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene— One caller was trying to find her brother. Another was asking about evacuation routes. A third was wondering if another tropical storm was on the way.

Discussion:
PolitiFact, @bgrueskin, @brianstelter, @nicolemfoy, @brianstelter, @digiphile, @brianstelter, Inside Radio, @brianstelter, TVNewsCheck and DNyuz

Discussion:
PolitiFact: Trump's false claim that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp couldn't reach Joe Biden after Hurricane Helene

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: Maybe we need a journalism version of the mutual-aid program that utility companies use, when they send emergency crews to bring power back to disaster zones. Because some of these understaffed news sites clearly are not able to serve their readers amid an onslaught of grim news

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: One caller asked for help finding her brother. Another needed info about evacuation routes. A third worried if a nearby dam was about to burst. And many callers said “I'm just so proud of my neighbors.” Local radio in western North Carolina is a literal lifeline right now 🧵

Nicole Foy /
@nicolemfoy: 3 years ago Gannett often sent reporters (like me!) to help smaller newsrooms report on Ida & other disasters Today nearly all those journalists we went to help are gone, including longtimers who were the ONLY reason I produced anything coherent about a place I'd never been

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “On a lighter note,” Wilson asked as last night's live coverage concluded, “how many babies do you think will be born nine months from now?” Foxx roared with laughter and said “they better not name a single one of them Helene!” https://www.cnn.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: As Helene's waters recede, iHeartMedia's stations in Asheville are giving voice to the crisis - and giving hope to listeners. @newsradio570 and six other stations owned by iHeart are working together, simulcasting round-the-clock coverage. Live here: https://wwnc.iheart.com/

Alex Howard /
@digiphile: As @BrianStelter reports, a key reason local radio can be a “lifeline” for people is because of Starlink connectivity. Internet access is critical before, during, and after natural disasters. Connectivity must be part of the infrastructure that the federal government provides to

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: I was so moved by the raw radio coverage last night that I wrote about it for @CNN. Co-host @Starling570wwnc told me he's been on the air with only brief breaks since Thursday. “This is what we do as local broadcasters,” he said https://www.cnn.com/...

Lori Lewis /
Inside Radio: CNN: North Carolina's Local Broadcasters A ‘Lifeline’ For Storm-Ravaged Areas.

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Other local outlets - like @BlueRidgePublic - are also doing heroic work. Stations are sharing updates on road closures; spreading word about food and water distribution; and reassuring listeners that help is on the way. Sometimes they're also dispelling misinformation...

Scott Dance /