Memo: Lionsgate offers its US employees voluntary severance and early retirement packages, citing a "disrupted business environment" (Jeremy Fuster/The Wrap)

Mediagazer: Memo: Lionsgate offers its US employees voluntary severance and early retirement packages, citing a “disrupted business environment” (Jeremy Fuster/The Wrap)

Top News:

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: CNBC, Sportico, DIRECTV, Fast Company, The Desk, The Streamable, Radio & Television …, Hugh Scallon on LinkedIn, New York Post, Front Office Sports, Gizmodo, Business Insider, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News, @xpangler, Next TV, Lewiston Sun Journal, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Awful Announcing, Deadline, Adweek and MediaPost

Discussion:

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

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

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

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

Matt Tamanini /
The Streamable: Why Does DIRECTV and DISH Merger Matter to Consumers?

Adam Jacobson /
Radio & Television Business Report: DirecTV, Dish Marriage May Mirror Sirius XM Nuptuals

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. …

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

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

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: DirecTV Acquires Dish, Unifying Struggling Satellite Business Lewiston Sun Journal: Satellite service DirecTV buys rival Dish as it fights onslaught of streaming services

Michelle F Davis /
Bloomberg: DirecTV, Dish Are Close to Clinching Merger Agreement Associated Press: DirecTV will buy rival Dish to create massive pay-TV company after yearslong pursuit

Andrew Bucholtz /
Awful Announcing: DirecTV, Dish reportedly close to merger deal

David Cohen /
Adweek: Satellite TV Giants DirecTV and Dish Near Merger

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: DirecTV, Dish Reportedly In ‘Advanced’ Merger Talks

RELATED:
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— The World's Call Center Capital Is Gripped by AI Fever — and Fear … Hello World

Discussion:

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.

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

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

Discussion:

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

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

Jess Weatherbed /
The Verge: DirecTV and Dish are merging

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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'

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

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Will DirecTV and Dish Merge? Satellite TV Operators Are Reportedly Close to a Deal

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: EchoStar Stock Jumps Over 11% as Dish, DirecTV Enter Advanced Merger Talks

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

Discussion:

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

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

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: 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.”

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/...

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?

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

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.

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

April Rubin /
Axios: Who are the moderators for the vice presidential debate

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.

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@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

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

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: CBS News Slammed for Moderators Not Fact-Checking Vance-Walz VP Debate, Critics Note ‘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

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/... …

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.

Ximena Bustillo /
NPR: Vance and Walz debate in New York City on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know

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. …

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

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

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: CBS News' JD Vance-Tim Walz Debate Will Feature Hot Mics

Variety:

YouTube blocks songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, and others in the US, after its music licensing agreement with performing rights organization SESAC expired— Songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, R.E.M., Burna Boy, Rush and many others are currently unplayable on YouTube in the U.S. due …

Discussion:
@teamyoutube, Plagiarism Today, Metro.co.uk, CMU, Clayton Durant on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, Vibe, Music Ally, Digital Music News, UPROXX, Billboard, TechCrunch, Music Business Worldwide, The Verge, Cord Cutters News, @asuszczynski, @pearltearizzy, Rolling Stone, @Raccoon@techhub.social, Deadline and The Wrap

Discussion:
@teamyoutube: @claybitkid @claybitkid we hear you. our music license agreement with SESAC has expired without an agreement on renewal conditions despite our best efforts. for this reason, we have blocked content on YouTube in the US known to be associated with SESAC - as in line with copyright law

Jonathan Bailey /
Plagiarism Today: 3 Count: SESAC Dispute

Clayton Durant /
Clayton Durant on LinkedIn: Negotiations between YouTube and SESAC have reached a deadlock, resulting in music from artists like Adele, Bob Dylan, and Mariah Carey being blocked on the platform. …

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

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

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Some music videos removed from YouTube due to Sesac stalemate

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

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

Ashley Iasimone /
Billboard: Songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Kendrick Lamar & More Blocked on YouTube in Dispute With SESAC

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

Mandy Dalugdug /
Music Business Worldwide: MUSIC VIDEOS BY ADELE, KENDRICK LAMAR AND MORE BLOCKED FROM YOUTUBE IN THE US AMID LICENSING DISPUTE WITH SESAC

Richard Lawler /
The Verge: YouTube pulls songs from Adele, Nirvana, and others due to SESAC dispute

Anthony Suszczynski /
@asuszczynski: A significant number of videos, including music videos, on @YouTube are currently inaccessible due to a licensing dispute between the platform and SESAC, one of the major music rights organizations in the U.S. The disagreement has led to widespread content blocks, frustrating [image] @pearltearizzy: Approximately 1.1 million songs have been taken off YouTube by SESAC right now For those who don't know, SESAC is the organization that deals with rights to play music on public spaces and businesses. So far, this only affects Americans. [image]

Daniel Kreps /
Rolling Stone: Thousands of Music Videos, Including Nirvana's ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ Removed From YouTube Amid Copyright Dispute @Raccoon@techhub.social: @Techmeme — It's super weird, because I went on the official Green Day account earlier to listen to a song, and even the music video had been taken down. (This song was “Last Ride In”, which they used for the name of one of their 7-Eleven coffees for the American idiot anniversary)

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

Variety:

Sources: Amazon Prime Video is in talks with veteran anchor Brian Williams to host a live Election Night special, its first entry into news-related programming— Brian Williams may have found his next TV-news job....except it won't be on traditional TV. — The veteran NBC News …

Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, The Streamable, CNN, The Ankler, Cord Cutters News, Fox News, New York Post, Adweek, Dan Rayburn on LinkedIn, The Daily Beast, @dylanbyers, @daveleebbg@threads.net, @bristei, @dylanbyers, @brianstelter, @hbraun.jackson@threads.net, @stevemberkowitz@threads.net, @crumbler@threads.net, @mcbride.david.j@threads.net, The Verge, The Hill, Mediaite, TVLine, TechCrunch, @fivesilhouettes.bsky.social, DNyuz, The Hollywood Reporter and @wagatwe.com, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: Brian Williams will cover election night in Amazon Prime's first foray into news

David Satin /
The Streamable: Amazon Snags Brian Williams to Anchor Election Coverage on Prime Video

Brian Stelter /
CNN: Brian Williams is set to anchor election night coverage on Prime Video. Is Amazon getting into live news?

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Amazon Prime Video Launching Live News Programs? Its Reportedly Working On An Election-Night Special Fox News: Ex-NBC anchor Brian Williams in talks to host Amazon Prime's ‘non-partisan’ election night event

Ariel Zilber /
New York Post: Ex-NBC News host Brian Williams in talks to anchor election night coverage on Amazon: reports

Ethan Alter /
Adweek: Brian Williams May Return to TV News... On Amazon

Dan Rayburn /
Dan Rayburn on LinkedIn: I don't think Amazon Prime Video is a platform consumers would go to for election night editorial coverage. …

Lily Mae Lazarus /
The Daily Beast: Brian Williams Set to Make Shock Return to Anchor Chair

Dylan Byers /
@dylanbyers: Big signal here re: future of news on streaming... and remember that the streamers who say “we don't do news” are the same streamers who said “we don't do sports,” then went and got NFL.

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: Brian Williams set to vie for attention on Election Night with CNN, MSNBC, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News and Fox News with a live Election Night special that would stream on Amazon https://variety.com/... via @variety

Dylan Byers /
@dylanbyers: SCOOP @PuckNews: Amazon has signed BRIAN WILLIAMS to anchor election night coverage on Prime Video, per sources familiar. This is Amazon's first foray into news and Williams' first return to anchor desk since NBC. Full details in the next IN THE ROOM: https://puck.news/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “If the project comes to fruition, it could mark the first entry into news-related programming” by Amazon Prime Video https://variety.com/...

Henry Jackson /
@hbraun.jackson@threads.net: If this were the launch of a news program with a full staff that was going to stick around, I could see it. Streamers owe us news, we need to put that expectation on them. But Trump is already stating his plans to try to overturn a result that goes against him. …

Steve Berkowitz /
@stevemberkowitz@threads.net: I look forward to ads for Fallout, Thursday Night Football, groceries, 🧻 and healthcare mixed with state by state coverage.

Casey Newton /
@crumbler@threads.net: Brian Williams commentating next to a box showing you other elections you might like

David McBride /
@mcbride.david.j@threads.net: I guess that we don't know the full plan, but without a news bureau backing them, even great anchors are just blowing smoke. A great anchor takes input from reporters, photographers, researchers, producers, historians and analysts and delivers a coherent, informative and approachable picture of what's happening. …

Juliann Ventura /
The Hill: Brian Williams may host Amazon election night special

Phillip Nieto /
Mediaite: Brian Williams In Talks With Amazon to Host A Prime Video Election Night Program

Claire Franken /
TVLine: Brian Williams to Host Election Night Special on Prime Video (Report)

Jaye /
@fivesilhouettes.bsky.social: Isn't this the dude that lied about being in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq....? [embedded post]

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Former NBC News Anchor Brian Williams in Talks With Amazon to Lead Election Night Special @wagatwe.com: just what's missing from election and news coverage! we don't hear enough from white male millionaires. [embedded post]

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

Wired:

An interview with Eric Eddings, who leads podcast development for Kevin Hart's Hartbeat, on the rise of “chatcasts” and their impact in the podcasting industry— “The industry part of podcasting has to not be afraid to invest in innovation,” says audio executive Eric Eddings.

Discussion:
@jvquantum and @bonybean

Discussion:

JV Quantum /
@jvquantum: Chat podcasts are here to stay, according to audio exec Eric Eddings. It's all about that personal connection! But don't think the industry is stuck in the past - innovation is key! 🎙️ #podcasts #audioindustry Chat Podcasts Rule the Market—and Always W... https://www.wired.com/...

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:
TechCrunch, @kyliebytes and @dangillmor@mastodon.social, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

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

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/...

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. …

The Wrap:

Memo: Lionsgate offers its US employees voluntary severance and early retirement packages, citing a “disrupted business environment”— The early retirement package offer comes as multiple studios go through a fresh round of layoffs — Lionsgate is offering …

Discussion:
Deadline

Discussion:

Press Gazette:

Gaming and entertainment media publisher Gamurs Group cuts 30 staff worldwide, blaming Google changes in late 2023, including its “helpful content” update— Gaming and entertainment media publisher Gamurs Group has cut 30 staff worldwide, saying the layoffs were necessitated …

Discussion:
@matthewkeyslive

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:
TVNewsCheck and Media Play News

Discussion:

Variety:

A US judge rules that Fiona Harvey can pursue her defamation lawsuit against Netflix over Baby Reindeer, saying the show was wrongly billed as a “true story”— A judge ruled Friday that the Netflix show “Baby Reindeer” did not live up to its billing as a “true story,” …

Discussion:
Business Insider, DNyuz, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Beast, Rolling Stone, AV Club, Metro.co.uk, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline

Discussion:
Business Insider: A timeline of the twists and turns of Emmy-winning ‘Baby Reindeer,’ as a judge clears the way for Fiona Harvey to continue with her defamation lawsuit DNyuz: Netflix shouldn't have called ‘Baby Reindeer’ a true story, judge says, opening the way for defamation lawsuit

Sian Cain /
The Guardian: Baby Reindeer was wrongly billed by Netflix as a ‘true story’, judge finds

Ellie Muir /
The Independent: ‘Real Martha’ Baby Reindeer lawsuit to go forward as judge rules series not a ‘true story’

Hugh Dougherty /
The Daily Beast: 'Baby Reindeer's Real-Life Stalker Scores Major Victory over Netflix

Pierra Willix /
Metro.co.uk: Netflix suffers blow after $170,000,000 Baby Reindeer trial takes unexpected turn

Winston Cho /