Rotten Tomatoes debuts a Verified Hot badge for films that have a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher, among other requirements (Alex Weprin/The Hollywood Reporter)

Mediagazer: Rotten Tomatoes debuts a Verified Hot badge for films that have a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher, among other requirements (Alex Weprin/The Hollywood Reporter)

Top News:

The Hollywood Reporter:

Rotten Tomatoes debuts a Verified Hot badge for films that have a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher, among other requirements— Movies that are ‘Verified Hot’ by filmgoers will join those that are ‘Certified Fresh’ from critics, in a move meant to give more weight to consumer opinions …
Discussion: Rotten Tomatoes, The Wrap, IndieWire, Engadget, @jacobtalks4ever, @gigawattconduit, @ellysmelancholy, @screenslate and Media Play News

Discussion:

Drew Taylor /
The Wrap: Rotten Tomatoes Adds New ‘Verified Hot’ Audience Badge for Fan-Approved Movies

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: Rotten Tomatoes Introduces a New Audience Rating for People Who Actually Bought a Ticket

Jacob Ethington /
@jacobtalks4ever: Well, there's no way this doesn't incentivize review-bombing in the opposite direction just to land a “Verified Hot” badge thereby making online fandom behavior even more insane than it already is. Certainly that won't happen.

Justin Carter /
@gigawattconduit: There's so much effort being done to devalue critical opinions instead of teaching people to just accept that not everything's gonna be widely liked and you'll be Fine regardless https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/ ... @screenslate: Congratulations to all the piece-of-shit Verified Hot movies on their loser participation trophies

Stephanie Prange /
Media Play News: Rotten Tomatoes Unveils ‘Verified Hot’ Audience Badge

Bloomberg:

How the end of a federal ban on sports gambling transformed the way sports media is funded and changed what kind of stories get covered and published— The $10 billion industry transformed how sports media is funded—and written. — Few journalists embody the gambling industry's capture …

Discussion:
CommonWealth Beacon, @ghaleonq, @patrickhayes_13, @tcraggs22, @albertburneko, @kevinmdraper and @travis_waldron

Discussion:

Quinton Klabon /
@ghaleonq: Something as corrupt as the Olympics still produces ecstasy about human excellence. Shouting at Tyrese Haliburton because his assists total affects your car payment does not, because it ceases to put athletics at the forefront. (I adore Haliburton for sneering at such behavior.) [image]

Patrick Hayes /
@patrickhayes_13: This is an excellent albeit depressing piece by Tommy Craggs. This portion was extra gross though. https://www.bloomberg.com/... [image]

Tommy Craggs /
@tcraggs22: I tried to explain why sports media in the gambling era just kinda sucks https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Albert Burneko /
@albertburneko: great blog https://www.bloomberg.com/... [image]

Kevin Draper /
@kevinmdraper: “Sports betting still existed in that crowded liminal space in American life, at once an illicit underground activity and a pastime enjoyed by many with total impunity, like cocaine or wage theft.” https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Travis Waldron /
@travis_waldron: “How sports gambling came to be such a hulking, clanging presence in our life is the ultimate sports media story—which is funny, in a ghoulish sort of way, given there's not a lot of sports media left to tell it.” Always read @tcraggs22: https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Adweek:

Sources and docs: sales reps say Google's targeting of teen minors goes beyond Meta; Google lets advertisers target an “unknown” group that skews toward teens— This activity is broader than the agreement between Google and Meta that the FT reported this month

Editor and Publisher:

A draft plan circulating among California lawmakers and media leaders would create a Local News Fund with Google and state money, run by a board at UC Berkeley— Following years of legislative work, a draft deal between Google, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks …

Discussion:

Ashley Zavala /
KQCA-TV: Deal set to be announced on journalism and tech in California

Tyler Katzenberger /
Politico: AI initiatives would get $40M annually in draft California journalism bill agreement

Jacob Bryant /
The Wrap: California Lawmakers Set to Scrap Legislation Requiring Big Tech to Pay for News in $172.5 Million Google Settlement | Report @future_of_music: This could have been a bill that helped support local music communities by funding local music journalism. Instead, it's looking like more AI-fueled extraction.

Steven Waldman /
@stevenwaldman: Google, California lawmakers in last-minute negotiations for local news fund | Editor and Publisher https://www.editorandpublisher.com/ ...

Brian Merchant /
@bcmerchant: Utterly devastating for CA journalists. This bill was supposed to make big tech pay its fair share after usurping advertising from news publishers and profiting from their work—instead it's *rewarding* their market dominance by turning journos into content trainers for AI systems

Brian Merchant /
@bcmerchant: This will be framed as a win—but it's only a win for Google. In exchange for gutting the CA journalism law, which would have put a durable mechanism into place to share ad revenue from stories on its platform, it's a paltry payout—and *AI initiatives* rammed down our throats. [image]

Matt Pearce /
@mattdpearce: California's journalists did not ask for this.

Garry Tan /
@garrytan: We have to pay attention to how this money is allocated. If it goes to journos who systematically fail to honestly cover news like Mission Local, Oaklandside, 48 Hills, or even the Chronicle We will get far worse than Chesa Boudin We don't want activism disguised as journalism @econliberties: “This backroom deal is bad for journalists, publishers, and all Californians, which is why state lawmakers including @GavinNewsom should reject it.” Statement from @LeeHepner on Google's absurd deal to terminate the California Journalism Preservation Act. https://www.economicliberties.us/ ... [image]

Matt Pearce /
@mattdpearce: Also I guess I should say out loud what everybody believes behind the scenes, which is that the biggest obstacle here to actual monopoly regulation isn't actually Google but Governor Gavin Newsom.

Matt Pearce /
@mattdpearce: If I ran a government accountability newsroom and learned a backroom deal would send taxpayer dollars to Alden Global Capital during a budget crunch, I would have spent the weekend telling my reporters, not my business partners, to contact @BuffyWicks. https://www.politico.com/... [image]

Sarah Kay Wiley /
Sarah Kay Wiley on LinkedIn: That Google is essentially able to stop the legislative process with a $172.5M check (over five years mind you) is deeply disturbing …

Brian Merchant /
@bcmerchant: And to be clear this is not at all what any journalist involved wanted. At all. The opposite in fact — when the News Guild voted to support the original bill it had *nothing* to do with AI and everything to do with making big tech share the gains it made on journalists' backs. @researchbuzz@researchbuzz.masto.host: #Google #California #media #advertising — ‘California leaders are expected to announce a truce has been reached between state lawmakers, tech and some journalism advocates on an effort to provide millions of dollars in funds to local newsrooms across the state.’ — https://www.kcra.com/...

The Wrap:

Document: Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s Paramount bid is backed by a group of 19 investors including Fortress, Brock Pierce, and producer Steven Paul— Kazakh investor Nurali Aliyev joins Fortress and producer Steven Paul in the last minute $4.3 billion bid — Cryptocurrency mogul Brock Pierce …

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck and Deadline

RELATED:

Axios:
Source: Edgar Bronfman Jr. has raised $5.5B for a bid for National Amusements, and plans to submit a bid higher than his initial $4.3B offer in the coming days

Discussion:
Advanced Television, Broadband TV News, The Wrap, Commercial Observer, @sarafischer, AV Club, Front Office Sports, New York Post, Reuters, Gordon Geist on LinkedIn, Financial Times, Deadline, The Guardian, The Streamable, The Media Leader, The Hill, Quartz, Ad Age, Los Angeles Times, Music Business Worldwide, New York Times, The Desk, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Robert Briel /
Broadband TV News: Edgar Bronfman Jr increases last-minute bid for Paramount Global to $5.5 billion

Tess Patton /
The Wrap: Paramount Shareholder Mario Gabelli Doesn't See a Negative in Granting Potential Bronfman Bid Extension

Astaropoli /
Commercial Observer: Edgar Bronfman Jr. Challenges Skydance-Paramount Merger With $4.3B Bid

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: Scoop: Edgar Bronfman Jr. has raised more $ for his @Paramount bid. Now has up to $5.5B raised —He's hoping to submit new bid if “go-shop” window extended —Money coming from indivs & fam offices like Fortress, BC Partners Advisors, others More on @axios https://www.axios.com/...

Mary Kate Carr /
AV Club: A rogue billionaire enters the Paramount sale conversation

Eric Fisher /
Front Office Sports: New $4.3 Billion Paramount Bid Puts Future of CBS Sports in the Balance

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: Bidding war erupts over Paramount as Edgar Bronfman submits $4.3B competing offer

Gordon Geist /
Gordon Geist on LinkedIn: Read this to remind yourself that in the world of M&A there is good money and there is not so good money. …

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Edgar Bronfman Backers, More Details Emerge In Bid For Paramount That Seeks To Unseat Skydance

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: Bronfman challenges Skydance for Paramount control

Dominick Mastrangelo /
The Hill: Edgar Bronfman Jr. makes multi-billion dollar bid for Paramount

Rocio Fabbro /
Quartz: Edgar Bronfman wants to buy Paramount for $4.3 billion — and take it away from Skydance

Mandy Dalugdug /
Music Business Worldwide: Former Warner Music Group boss Edgar Bronfman Jr. makes $4.3bn bid for Paramount

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Edgar Bronfman, Jr. submits bid for Paramount Global

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Edgar Bronfman Jr. Makes $4.3 Billion Bid to Take Control of Paramount Global in Challenge to Skydance Deal

The Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount and Canal+ unveil an updated deal under which Canal+ subscribers in France get Paramount+ at no additional cost— Under the updated deal, Canal+ subscribers can access Paramount+ at no additional cost, no matter which subscription plan they have.

Discussion:
Advanced Television, Media Play News, WORLD SCREEN, Broadband TV News and Engadget

Discussion:

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Paramount+ Expands French Streaming Access With Canal+ Partnership

Kristin Brzoznowski /
WORLD SCREEN: Paramount+, CANAL+ Strengthen Partnership In France

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Paramount+ added to Canal+ packages

Lawrence Bonk /
Engadget: Paramount+ annual subscriptions are half off right now

The Nevada Independent:

WBD commits $500M+ annually for productions in Nevada over 17 years as part of a UNLV film studio partnership, if the state expands its film tax credits in 2025— The entertainment studio promised $8.5 billion in investments over 17 years, contingent upon the expansion of film tax credits in the Silver State.

Discussion:

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: WBD Eyeing $8.5 Billion Las Vegas Studio Investment Pending State Tax Credits

Jon Ralston /
@ralstonreports: BREAKING: Warner Bros. pledges massive Nevada expansion if lawmakers expand film tax credit, will compete with SONY for supremacy in the coming Vegas film market. Hollywood East is for real! via @tabitha_mueller https://thenevadaindependent.com/ ...

Steve Sebelius /
@stevesebelius: You didn't think the film tax credits idea was dead, did you? Not by a long shot! Dueling sequels are coming to Carson City in 2025, reports @tabitha_mueller in @TheNVIndy: https://thenevadaindependent.com/ ...

Jeremy Renner /
@jeremyrenner: Let's make this real @warnerbros and @SonyPictures Hey @Disney where you at ?

Jarah Wright /
Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV: Warner Bros. Discovery partners with UNLV to lease, operate Las Vegas film studio

Isabelle Durso /
Commercial Observer: Warner Bros. Pledges $8.5B in Long-Term Lease at Nevada Studio

McKenna Ross /
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Warner Bros. says it would run Las Vegas film studio — with tax credits

Stephanie Overton /
KLAS: Warner Bros. commits to $8.5B for Nevada Studios, but there's a condition

John Gittelsohn /
Bloomberg: Warner Bros. Ties $8.5 Billion Vegas Production Plan to Tax Deal

Rachel Zalucki /
Fox 5 Las Vegas: Warner Bros. reveals proposal for $8.5B Las Vegas film studio

Financial Times:

Ofcom says it has 460+ people working on enforcing the Online Safety Act and plans to grow that by 20% to 550+ by March 2025, or 33% of its 1,500 total staff— Online safety rules in the spotlight after violent unrest sparked by spread of misleading news on social media

Discussion:
@paulmarsha11 and @jakdaw09

Discussion:
@paulmarsha11: Some good news and hopefully real. UK media watchdog starts hiring spree amid pressure to curb misinformation https://www.ft.com/...

Jeff Kaye /
@jakdaw09: The Online Safety Act will not be in force for 2 years and even then will be weak against online disinformation https://www.ft.com/... @Ofcom needs massive change beyond staff numbers to protect UK against @elonmusk/other online protagonists. IT works far faster than Government.

Associated Press:

Police in Pakistan charge a man with cyberterrorism, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the identity of the attacker in the Southport stabbing— Web developer in Lahore charged with cyberterrorism, after riots thought to have been fuelled by false reports online

Discussion:
Reuters, UPI, London Evening Standard and The Guardian

Discussion:

Mubasher Bukhari /
Reuters: Pakistan man charged with cybercrime linked to riots in Britain

Clyde Hughes /
UPI: Pakistan authorities arrest man for spreading disinformation on Southport stabbing London Evening Standard: Pakistani web developer charged over fake details spread about Southport accused

Press Gazette:

The UK's Evening Standard tells staff it will move to a weekly print publishing schedule, starting on Thursday, September 26, and rebrand as The London Standard— The Evening Standard print newspaper will rebrand as The London Standard when it goes weekly next month as it returns to a focus on news and analysis from the city.

Wired:

Condé Nast agrees a multiyear deal with OpenAI, letting ChatGPT and SearchGPT surface stories from The New Yorker, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Bon Appetit, and Wired— The media company joins The Atlantic, Axel Springer, Vox Media, and a host of other publishers who have partnered with OpenAI.

Discussion:
Shelly Palmer, @nyguild, @claremalone, Press Gazette, @goodbyealma, @clarajeffery, @bigblackjacobin, @claremalone, Business Insider, @knibbs, @ednewtonrex, @knibbs, Condé Nast, @acwardblueridge@threads.net, Neowin, The Guardian, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, Engadget, The Wrap, TechCrunch and Katie Drummond on LinkedIn

Discussion:
@nyguild: STATEMENT from President @susandecarava on today's announcement that @CondeNast has entered into a deal with @OpenAI: ‘We expect Condé management to be transparent with us about how this technology will be used and the impact it may have on our work.’ More here... [image]

Clare Malone /
@claremalone: In the words of one of my esteemed fellow “content”- makers, did AI write this (very vague) email? From Roger Lynch re: a partnership between Conde and OpenAI. Presumably this refers to some sort of multi-year licensing deal where they can use our content. 1/ [image]

Charlotte Tobitt /
Press Gazette: Who's suing AI and who's signing: Publisher deals vs lawsuits with generative AI companies

Alma ‘Union Hottie’ Avalle /
@goodbyealma: Condé vetoed every attempt at AI protections for workers during bargaining with our union, only offering members extra notice if their jobs are eliminated due to automation :)

Clara Jeffery /
@clarajeffery: Conde Nast just announced a deal it cut with OpenAI. Whereas @motherjones decided to sue them: https://www.motherjones.com/ ...

Edward Ongweso Jr /
@bigblackjacobin: this time will be different! last time, media companies inked deals for new revenue with tech firms that already ate their lunch. this time media companies are inking deals for new revenue with tech firms that hope to eat their lunch!!! https://www.wired.com/...

Clare Malone /
@claremalone: I'm not so naive to think that media companies wouldn't go the pragmatic route—cutting deals with OpenAI. But companies might have thought to band together and set some sort of going rate, rather than letting OpenAI pick us off one at a time. Just a thought! 2/2

Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert /
Business Insider: OpenAI snaps up another media partnership, this time with Condé Nast

Ed Newton-Rex /
@ednewtonrex: @Knibbs The announcement doesn't seem to say what the deal covers - presumably training on Condé Nast's articles? Is that info public?

AC Ward /
@acwardblueridge@threads.net: Audiences are not asking for publishers to stop paying writers and to instead use AI. He just doesn't want to pay for talent.

Pradeep Viswanathan /
Neowin: Condé Nast joins the growing list of OpenAI's content partners

Kenny Smith /
@kennysmith@mstdn.social: Condé Nast: Let's let the silicon bros eat our lunch! — From: @Mediagazer — https://mstdn.social/...

Pranav Dixit /
Engadget: OpenAI will now use content from Wired, Vogue and The New Yorker in ChatGPT's responses

Benjamin Lindsay /
The Wrap: Condé Nast Partners With OpenAI to Let ChatGPT Surface Work From Vanity Fair, Vogue

Kyle Wiggers /
TechCrunch: OpenAI signs deal to train on Condé Nast content, surface stories in ChatGPT

Tampa Bay Times:

Bala Sundaramoorthy, ex-GM of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will become president and COO of Tampa Bay Times' parent on October 1, succeeding Joe DeLuca— Bala Sundaramoorthy, former general manager of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will serve as the company's president and chief operating officer.

Discussion:
Conan Gallaty on LinkedIn, Editor and Publisher and MediaPost

Discussion:

Conan Gallaty /