Source: Runway, a startup focusing on generative AI video for Hollywood and other filmmakers, is in talks to raise $450M at about a $4B valuation (Stephanie Palazzolo/The Information)

Mediagazer: Source: Runway, a startup focusing on generative AI video for Hollywood and other filmmakers, is in talks to raise $450M at about a $4B valuation (Stephanie Palazzolo/The Information)

Top News:

New York Times:

Sources: Barry Diller is exploring a bid to take control of Paramount; his digital media conglomerate, IAC, has signed NDAs with National Amusements— Mr. Diller, a digital media pioneer, lost a bidding war for Paramount Pictures decades ago. Now, he's making a run at its parent company.
Discussion:

Dan Primack /
Axios: Report: Barry Diller is circling Paramount

David Satin /
The Streamable: Billionaire Former Paramount Pictures Head Barry Diller Is in Talks to Buy Paramount Global

Lillian Rizzo /
CNBC: Media mogul Barry Diller weighs a bid to gain control of Paramount

Michael P. Hill /
NewscastStudio: Barry Diller, Paramount Global in acquisition talks: Report

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: scoop w/@LaurenSHirsch: Barry Diller makes a run at Paramount https://www.nytimes.com/... $PARA

Jason Miller /
@jbmp51: Memories....of deals of the past Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of Paramount https://www.nytimes.com/...

Alexei Barrionuevo /
The Wrap: Over 3 Decades Later, Barry Diller Takes Another Swing at Paramount

David Gura /
@davidgura: Barry Diller scrambles the Sun Valley agenda.

David Poland /
@davidpoland: Ha. Diller has been saying studios are dead for years. But this is pretty much why Redstone dumped Ellison. If the company is being sold for parts, Diller is more skilled than most at that. Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of Paramount - NYT https://www.nytimes.com/...

Susan Li /
@susanlitv: Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of #Paramount Diller tried to acquire Paramount Pictures in early '90s Also head of Paramount Pictures in 1974 at the age of 32 Day of interest in $para after Zaz & #WarnerBrosDiscovery explore a streaming tieup https://www.nytimes.com/...

Antonio Pequeño IV /
Forbes: Billionaire Barry Diller In Potential Takeover Talks With Paramount Following Skydance's Failed Bid, Report Says Los Angeles Times: Barry Diller expresses interest in Redstone family firm (and Paramount controlling shareholder)

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: The Latest Contender for Paramount Is Its Former CEO Who Once Let the Studio Slip Away

Erik Pedersen /
Deadline: Barry Diller Kicking Tires On Paramount Bid - Report

Hannah Miller /
Bloomberg: Barry Diller Explores Possible Paramount Bid, NY Times Says

RELATED:

CNBC:

Sources: Paramount Global is in discussions with other companies about merging Paramount+ with their streamers; WBD is interested in merging Max and Paramount+— Paramount Global is holding talks with other entertainment companies about merging its Paramount+ streaming service with an existing platform.

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Skydance Reportedly Wanted to Break Up Paramount+'s Library to Create Multiple Streamers

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Could Max and Paramount+ Merge? Warner Bros. Discovery Open to Exploring Paramount Streaming Joint Venture @cynicalfate: @DiscussingFilm I want to be happy for more content in one place but they just always get way more expensive as a result.

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Could Warner Bros Discovery's Max be the partner Paramount+ is looking for? There's interest from David Zaslav's company in a deal. And it could jumpstart a “streaming 2.0” re-rationalization of the industry that could help all players. https://www.cnbc.com/... @culturecrave: @CNBC Combined the companies carry nearly $60B in debt, with a substantial part due to the aggressive pivot to streaming Paramount also confirms they're looking at partnering with a technology platform https://www.cnbc.com/... @cnschedules: https://www.cnbc.com/... Should note Paramount has been kinda wishy-washy so who knows what the hell is gonna happen. They passed merger talks with WBD, Sony, and Skydance for Paramount as a whole. Paramount is also considering partnering with a technology platform.

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Paramount Seeks More Aggressive Streaming Merger Deal: CNBC

Martin Peers /
The Information: Meta Falls Afoul of Europe's Regulators

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: WBD expresses interest in unifying Max, Paramount Plus

Alex Sherman /
Alex Sherman on LinkedIn: Paramount Global is looking for a partner for Paramount+. Warner Bros Discovery has interest in a deal. …

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Paramount+ & Max Are Reportedly In Talks to Merge Streaming Services

Deadline:

VFX company DNEG raised $200M from Abu Dhabi's UASG at a $2B+ valuation to expand its Brahma division, which is developing an AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator— London-based The DNEG Group has secured a $200M capital injection from Abu Dhabi investment firm United Al Saqer Group (UASG).

Discussion:
The Wrap, @dneg, Business Standard, Financial Times, Proactive, DNEG, @malhotra_namit and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: DNEG Group Secures $200 Million Investment From Abu Dhabi's United Al Saqer Group @dneg: The DNEG Group is pleased to announce a $200 million investment from @UnitedSaqer , valuing the DNEG Group at over $2 billion. With this investment, the DNEG Group will accelerate its strategy of innovation & diversification. More: https://www.dneg.com/...

Namit Malhotra /
@malhotra_namit: Excited about the partnership with @UnitedSaqer. This strategic investment will accelerate our plans to redefine our business model & position our Group as a global provider of the highest-quality solutions across media, entertainment, and gaming. #AI #PrimeFocus #DNEG

Variety:

Following Paramount's takedown of MTV News, the Internet Archive has assembled a searchable index of 460,575 web pages earlier published at MTV.com/news— MTV News lives! Well, sort of. … You can search the MTV News archive on the organization's Wayback Machine at this link.

Discussion:
Rolling Stone, @jillpantozzi, @center4popmusic, @internetarchive, @variety, Internet Archive Blogs and POP!

Discussion:

Jill Pantozzi /
@jillpantozzi: More of this please!!! @center4popmusic: Huge kudos to @internetarchive for saving this valuable source of online popular music research. @variety: Internet Archive has assembled a searchable index of 460,575 web pages previously published on MTV's website. You can search the MTV News archive on the organization's Wayback Machine. https://variety.com/... [image]

Allysa Fernandez /
POP!: ‘Digital preservation under threat’: Internet Archive battles legal challenges

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Imagine Entertainment, led by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, is seeking a buyer after receiving some inbound interest from a potential suitor— Production company behind ‘Apollo 13’ is working with bankers to explore a sale — Imagine Entertainment, the Hollywood production company known …

Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, The Wrap, Deadline and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Umberto Gonzalez /
The Wrap: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer Look to Sell Imagine Entertainment

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Imagine Entertainment Enlists J.P. Morgan to Field Sale Offers

Umberto Gonzalez /
The Wrap: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer Look to Sell Imagine Entertainment | Report

Mike Fleming Jr /
Deadline: Imagine Partners Brian Grazer & Ron Howard Tap JP Morgan To Explore Possible Sale

The Information:

Source: Runway, a startup focusing on generative AI video for Hollywood and other filmmakers, is in talks to raise $450M at about a $4B valuation— Runway, already the best funded among a cluster of startups developing artificial intelligence software to generate videos for Hollywood …

Discussion:
@steph_palazzolo

Discussion:

Mastodon Blog:

Mastodon adds clickable bylines under article links, pointing to the author's fediverse account; The Verge and MacRumors are among the pubs using the feature— A new feature for media organizations, journalists and bloggers — To reinforce and encourage Mastodon as the go-to place for journalism …

Discussion:
TechCrunch, @buddiesofbudgie@floss.social and J. Nathan Matias on LinkedIn

Discussion:

Sarah Perez /
TechCrunch: Twitter/X alternative Mastodon appeals to journalists with new ‘byline’ feature @buddiesofbudgie@floss.social: The blog posts on our website now support the recently announced #Fediverse creator meta tag by @Mastodon 🎉 — https://blog.joinmastodon.org/ ... If you have a news site or blog, be sure to add this support as well. That way we can highlight more awesome folks in the Fediverse.

The Moscow Times:

Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of pro-war Russian artists sanctioned by the EU; their profiles remain accessible on Apple Music and YouTube— Music streaming service Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of pro-war Russian artists sanctioned by the West, the Sweden-based company told The Moscow Times on Thursday.

Discussion:
Music Ally, @irgarner, @moscowtimes, Stereogum, Billboard, The Kyiv Independent, Consequence, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Digital Music News, Hotpress and Breitbart

Discussion:

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Spotify has removed music from some pro-war Russian artists

Dr. Ian Garner /
@irgarner: The fash pop is all gone from Spotify, what a shame https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ ... @moscowtimes: In a statement sent to The Moscow Times, Spotify said its “Platform Rules clearly state that we take action when we identify content which explicitly violates our content policies or local laws.” “Upon review, these artists met the threshold for removal,” the statement added.

Chris Eggertsen /
Billboard: Spotify Removes Music by Russian Artists Supportive of Ukraine Invasion

Nate Ostiller /
The Kyiv Independent: Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian singers

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: Spotify Reportedly Removes Russian Pro-War Artists, Raising Takedown Policy Questions

Caroline Kelly /
Hotpress: Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian artists

Tom's Guide:

Generative AI music service Suno launches its iOS app in the US, with plans for a global rollout and an Android app— An AI studio in your pocket. — You're in luck if you've ever wanted to make music using Suno while away from your computer. It is now available on iOS — at least, it is if you're in the U.S.

Discussion:
VentureBeat, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Axios:

CNBC launches a sports vertical as part of its broader plan to shift its editorial and business focus to cross-platform verticals led by subject-matter experts— - The company is expected to make more announcements about other topic areas soon. … - CNBC has hired sports valuation expert …

Discussion:
Talking Biz News, Variety, NewscastStudio, TVNewsCheck, @sherman4949, @bmccandless and CNBC Press Releases

Discussion:

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: CNBC to expand sports business coverage

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: CNBC Ramps Up Sports-Business Coverage

Michael P. Hill /
NewscastStudio: CNBC kicks off sports vertical

Sara Fischer /
TVNewsCheck: CNBC Launches Sports Vertical Amid Broader Biz Shift

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Excited for the opportunities that will come with this. I'm one step closer to my lifelong goal of becoming @darrenrovell

Bill McCandless /
@bmccandless: If you know you know but this idea is hilarious There are no new ideas there's only good press releases about old ideas @darrenrovell @jonathanwald @SandyCannold

Wired:

Some YouTube employees detail internal deliberations about content relating to the Israel-Hamas war and accuse the company of inconsistent moderation— Insiders have shared YouTube's playbook for handling the Gaza crisis. They argue that it shows inconsistent enforcement.

Discussion:
The Guardian, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

The Wrap:

Ampere Analysis: in Q1 2024, Netflix and Amazon commissioned 53% of all original streaming titles globally, spurred by increased investment outside of the US— The growth comes from increased investment in international territories, according to Ampere Analysis

Discussion:

Tony Maglio /
IndieWire: Netflix and Amazon Are Giving Us the World

John Koblin /
New York Times: Netflix and Amazon Drive Bump in TV Show Market

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Netflix, Prime Video commissioned most originals in Q1 2024

David Satin /
The Streamable: Netflix and Prime Video Are Investing More in Streaming Content as Global Strategies Shift to Forefront

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: Netflix & Prime Video Lead Streaming Originals

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Ampere: Netflix, Prime Again Dominate Original Streaming Content Production

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Netflix and Amazon dominate Originals production

Patrick Frater /
Variety: Netflix and Amazon Dominate Commissioning by Streamers, Tilting the Content Market Away From U.S., Towards Local - Study

Max Goldbart /