Sources: Spotify plans to launch a higher-priced premium monthly plan later in 2024, charging $5+ more for better audio, playlist and library tools, and more (Bloomberg)

Mediagazer: Sources: Spotify plans to launch a higher-priced premium monthly plan later in 2024, charging $5+ more for better audio, playlist and library tools, and more (Bloomberg)

Top News:

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: ex-Warner Music head Edgar Bronfman Jr. looks to offer $2B to $2.5B for National Amusements, which is already in advanced talks to sell to Skydance— Bronfman, backed by Bain Capital, has expressed interest in Shari Redstone's National Amusements, which is already in advanced negotiations to sell to Skydance Media
Discussion: Financial Times, @fhoro, Variety, Cord Cutters News, @jbflint, The Wrap, @lowrytom, @tvgrimreaper, Bloomberg, @jtoonkel and Reuters

Discussion:

Frances Horodelski /
@fhoro: For me, this is a name from the past Edgar Bronfman. $PARA https://www.wsj.com/...

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Paramount M&A Saga Continues: Edgar Bronfman Jr., Bain Capital Mulling up to $2.5 Billion Bid for Shari Redstone's National Amusements

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Edgar Bronfman Jr., Bain Capital Eyeing $2 Billion Bid for Shari Redstone's National Amusements | Report

Tom Lowry /
@lowrytom: Where's Edgar? For media folks asking this question: Edgar Bronfman Jr. returns to the spotlight as a possible suitor for the Redstones' Paramount Global https://www.wsj.com/...

Jessica Toonkel /
@jtoonkel: SCOOP: Edgar Bronfman Eyes $2 Billion-Plus Bid for Company That Controls Paramount w/⁦@laurenthomas⁩ ⁦⁦@JeffreyT1⁩ $PARA https://www.wsj.com/...

Bloomberg:

Sources: Spotify plans to launch a higher-priced premium monthly plan later in 2024, charging $5+ more for better audio, playlist and library tools, and more— The plan will cost at least $5 more per month and include access to high-fidelity audio and new playlisting tools

Discussion:
Music Business Worldwide, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Murray Stassen /
Music Business Worldwide: Spotify to launch pricier music tier that includes high-fidelity audio (report)

Punchbowl News:

Punchbowl News announces a tech policy vertical as part of its Premium Policy membership, which will launch in early 2025— Punchbowl News is taking on tech coverage. Let us tell you why. — How Washington tackles the perils and promises of technology is one of the biggest questions of the day.

Discussion:
@davecclarke, @mpetricone and @jakesherman

Discussion:

Dave Clarke /
@davecclarke: 🚨 GREAT JOB ALERT 🚨 @PunchbowlNews is hiring two reporters as we expand into covering tech policy. Learn more about what we're up to: https://punchbowl.news/... And apply here: https://punchbowl.news/... Reach out with any questions: daveclarke@punchbowl.news

Michael Petricone /
@mpetricone: Terrific news! Tech issues are complex, nuanced, and absolutely vital to our nation's success. Looking forward to @PunchbowlNews increasing public and policymaker understanding of these critical topics.

Sky News:

Sources: Cineworld is exploring a sale or restructuring of its UK business, which includes ~100 theaters; the Regal parent exited bankruptcy in August 2023— The multiplex giant is working with AlixPartners on options for its UK business which could lead to a sale or restructuring …

Discussion:
@ozseekerview, @pixieglas, @neilramjee, @elliot_grove, The Wrap, Reuters and Deadline

Discussion:

John Sullivan /
@ozseekerview: This has been a long time coming - throws up interesting possibilities and Challenges as 👌#Cineworld plots blockbuster sale of British cinema operations | Business News | Sky News ⁦@RobArthur⁩ ⁦@myelbacha⁩ ⁦@vuecinemas⁩ https://news.sky.com/... @pixieglas: Thinking of Cineworld colleagues today as more uncertainty looms. Cineworld truly strive to be more progressive in thinking about audiences and for their staff, so hope this situation doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. https://news.sky.com/...

Neil Ramjee /
@neilramjee: Not seen any mention of this - ‘disposal of UK operations’ sounds like the Greidigers are generating income to shore up the Regal brand. And yes, thoughts are with all the pawns who will inevitably have to deal with all the fallout from on high. https://news.sky.com/...

Elliot Grove /
@elliot_grove: More trouble in movie town! https://news.sky.com/...

Nancy Tartaglione /
Deadline: Cineworld Exploring Sale Of UK Cinemas

Press Gazette:

The UK's Future launches Elevate, which offers ad-serving tech to publishers and helps them sell their online ad inventory through programmatic and direct sales— Future plc has launched a new brand called Elevate based around selling its own advertising technology to other publishers.

Discussion:
@futureplc, Future, Ad Age and Digiday

Discussion:
@futureplc: Today we've unveiled Future Elevate, a suite of premium services aimed at expanding the revenue streams of publishers by leveraging Future's deep expertise in operating, growing and monetizing a diverse portfolio of specialist content! Learn more here: https://futureplc.com/... [image]

Garett Sloane /
Ad Age: How Hearst Magazines is using first-party data and AI for post-cookie ad targeting

Pew Research Center:

Survey: 88% of Black Americans say they sometimes come across news about Black people they think is inaccurate; 72% say the inaccuracies were created on purpose— Table of Contents Table of Contents — Most Black adults say they experience racial discrimination

The Hollywood Reporter:

Yahoo Sports hires Olympic gold medalists as correspondents for the 2024 Paris Olympics and partners with USA Swimming on a content distribution deal— The digital brand has tapped Olympians Allyson Felix, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Shawn Johnson East, Missy Franklin and Katie Hoff to be correspondents from the games.

Discussion:
USA Swimming, Ryan Spoon on LinkedIn and Awful Announcing

Discussion:
USA Swimming: USA Swimming Partners with Yahoo Sports to Distribute Swimming Content Ahead of Olympic Trials and Olympic Games

Ryan Spoon /
Ryan Spoon on LinkedIn: The Paris Olympics are less than 50 days away, and we are thrilled to announce our incredible team joining Yahoo Sports. …

Press Gazette:

The Sun, The Telegraph, The Times, and other UK publishers raise concerns after press regulator IPSO ruled against open court reporting by the Aberdeen Live— Publishers including The Sun, The Telegraph and The Times have raised the alarm over a ruling from the UK's biggest press regulator that …

Discussion:
Telegraph

Press Gazette:

How the AP is diversifying its revenue streams, including services, ads, AI licensing, and philanthropy; 82% of its 2023 revenue came from content licensing— AP revenue boss says “not all” diversification efforts will work but “we have to experiment”. — The Associated Press has revealed …

Discussion:
Media Voices

Variety:

Ampere: SVOD services' spending is set to hit €10B in Europe's major TV markets by the end of 2024, surpassing public and commercial broadcasters' investment— Spending by subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms is set to hit €10 billion ($10.7 billion) …

Discussion:
Media Play News, Broadband TV News, WORLD SCREEN, Advanced Television, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Ampere: Europe's Pay-TV Operators Must Embrace Streaming Video to Remain Competitive

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Ampere: Europe's commercial broadcast groups must embrace streaming

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: Ampere: Europe's Broadcasters “Must Resist Content Cuts”

Max Goldbart /
Deadline: Streamers Set For Major European Spending Landmark In 2024 - Ampere Research

Reuters:

Israel extends a ban on Al Jazeera's operations in the country for another 45 days, citing a security threat, after a court upheld an initial 35-day ban— A ban on Al Jazeera's operations in Israel was extended for another 45 days by Israel's telecoms regulator on Sunday after the cabinet agreed …

Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review

Discussion:

Los Angeles Times:

Lawmakers amend the California Journalism Preservation Act to make platforms pay into a fund and base payments on the number of journalists an outlet employs— California lawmakers have revived legislation to charge online platforms for the news articles they publish …

The Verge:

Google lets advertisers serve targeted ads across Google TV's 125+ free channels, and reports 20M+ US monthly active Google TV and Android TV OS devices in 2023— Google is launching a new advertising network that serves targeted ads to Google TV-powered streaming boxes and smart TVs.

Discussion:
StreamTV Insider, 9to5Google, The Desk, Cybernews.com, Cord Cutters News, The Keyword and Android Central, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Bevin Fletcher /
StreamTV Insider: Google TV introduces FAST advertising options

Andrew Romero /
9to5Google: Google TV network opens, expands advertiser resources to reach free TV viewers

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Google TV launches new FAST advertising option

Ernestas Naprys /
Cybernews.com: Google TV introduces non-skippable in-stream ads across 125 channels

James Guttman /
Cord Cutters News: The Rise of Connected TV and Google TV's New Advertising Opportunities

Amit Ghorawat /
The Keyword: Meet the Google TV network

Nickolas Diaz /