Sources: the WNBA's media rights deals mirror the NBA's, and the league is set to get at least $2.2B over 11 years or $200M/year, up from the current ~$50M/year (Mike Vorkunov/New York Times)

Mediagazer: Sources: the WNBA's media rights deals mirror the NBA's, and the league is set to get at least $2.2B over 11 years or $200M/year, up from the current ~$50M/year (Mike Vorkunov/New York Times)

Top News:

Associated Press:

The NBA's Board of Governors approves the league's next media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video; WBD could still match one of the deals— The NBA's Board of Governors approved the league's next media rights deals with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video at its meeting Tuesday …
Discussion: The Information, NBA.com, @sherman4949, Sportico, @mikevorkunov, The Desk, Puck, New York Times, Awful Announcing and The Streamable

Discussion:

Steve Aschburner /
NBA.com: Commissioner Adam Silver breaks down state of NBA at Summer League in Las Vegas

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Adam Silver says he doesn't have a sense yet of how difficult getting the media rights deal finalized will be if Warner Bros Discovery matches and/or sues. “We'll see.”

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: TNT on the Clock as NBA Board of Governors Approves Media Deals

Mike Vorkunov /
@mikevorkunov: Adam Silver says the NBA's new media deals were discussed at today's Board of Governors meeting. “We did approve this stage of media proposals,” Silver said, but cautioned that the process is not done and there's some things he can't say now.

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: NBA Board approves telecast deal with ESPN, Prime Video, NBC

John Ourand /
Puck: Zaz & YouTube's Failed NBA Marriage

Ben Axelrod /
Awful Announcing: Warner Bros. Discovery will reportedly attempt to match Amazon's NBA package

David Satin /
The Streamable: With Five Days to Exercise Contractual Rights, How Is Warner Bros. Discovery Going to Try to Keep Its NBA Rights?

RELATED:
New York Times:

Sources: the WNBA's media rights deals mirror the NBA's, and the league is set to get at least $2.2B over 11 years or $200M/year, up from the current ~$50M/year— The WNBA's next national media rights package has come into shape. The league is set to receive roughly $2.2 billion …

Discussion:
Mediaite, The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, Next TV, New York Post, Awful Announcing, Sportico, Front Office Sports and Sports Media Watch

Discussion:

Ahmad Austin Jr /
Mediaite: WNBA Set to Receive a Staggering $2.2 Billion in New Media Rights Deal: Report

Daniel Frankel /
Next TV: WNBA More Than Quadruples Its Current National TV Contract with 11-Year, $2.2 Billion

Kurt Badenhausen /
Sportico: WNBA's $2.2B Media Rights Deal Marks 6x Jump for League

Hong Kong Free Press:

Hong Kong-based reporter Selina Cheng says she was fired by The Wall Street Journal for taking up the position of chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association— American newspaper The Wall Street Journal has fired Hong Kong-based reporter Selina Cheng weeks she was elected chair …

Discussion:
Washington Post, The Guardian, Reuters, @selina_cheng, Associated Press, Sheila Coronel on LinkedIn, @jenvalentino_nyt@threads.net, @semaforben, @jonamorem, @jfsteinfeld, @lewispants, @lilahass, @missanabeem, @maryhui, @usa_baozilover, Dr. Eric Yan-ho Lai on LinkedIn, @selina_cheng, @tomgrundy, @compliancememe, @mike_hixenbaugh, @dancow, @tulikabose_, @moorehn, @nate_dicamillo, @debbychan_hk, @feliciasonmez, @sharp_writing, @johnsimpsonnews, @laurengoode, @_karenhao, @wesleylowery and Talking Biz News

Discussion:

Shibani Mahtani /
Washington Post: Wall Street Journal fires Hong Kong reporter who headed embattled press club

Amy Hawkins /
The Guardian: Wall Street Journal fires new chair of Hong Kong Journalists Association

Selina Cheng /
@selina_cheng: Today I was fired from the Wall Street Journal. This is my statement: [image]

Associated Press:
Head of Hong Kong journalist group says she lost WSJ job after refusing to drop role

Sheila Coronel /
Sheila Coronel on LinkedIn: This is how press freedom dies—in seemingly minor accommodations and compromises that add up over time. …

Jennifer Valentino-DeVries /
@jenvalentino_nyt …: This just makes me sad. From her statement: “The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in a place like Hong Kong.” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: Huge media story out of Hong Kong, where news organizations (not just WSJ) have been backing away from journalist organizations

Jonathan Moremi /
@jonamorem: This is utterly shocking, @WSJ! Bad enough that the #UK and the rest of the world don't care that #China is violating all contracts in #HongKong. But to provide cover for that and attack your own journalists is beyond despicable. Full solidarity with the colleague(s). #EpicFail

Jemimah Steinfeld /
@jfsteinfeld: “It is obvious to me that the fear and unease the press in Hong Kong have been facing for years now has equally affected the Journal's management, even though they're far away on different continents”

Lewis Raven Wallace /
@lewispants: This is a truly absurd, painful, and telling example of the inconsistent standard created by claims of “objectivity” in mainstream press. What is uncontroversial in the U.S. (fighting for press freedom) is not permissible for a journalist in Hong Kong. Bananas.

Lila Hassan /
@lilahass: Disturbing that @WSJ holds press freedom to double standards, and in the process endanger reporters and itself. It campaigns for Evan in Russia, with its whole staff, but not in Hong Kong. Selina is right. Press freedom isn't controversial anywhere, it's essential everywhere.

Annalisa Merelli /
@missanabeem: Solidarity with @selina_cheng and journalists standing for press freedom everywhere, especially where it's most threatened (including by their employers).

Mary Hui /
@maryhui: Thank you, @selina_cheng, for your unwavering work in defending & expanding the space for press freedom in Hong Kong. As she says: “The right for reporters to work w/o fear must be protected not just by the law, but more crucially, by ourselves: reporters, editors, & publishers” @usa_baozilover: If you think China is an evil totalitarian dictatorship then you were knowingly endangering your journalist colleagues

Dr. Eric Yan-ho Lai /
Dr. Eric Yan-ho Lai on LinkedIn: This is clearly a breach of local labour law and Basic Law in Hong Kong and international law, including the ILO Conventions. …

Selina Cheng /
@selina_cheng: Below is HKJA's statement: [image]

Tom Grundy /
@tomgrundy: JUST IN: The Wall Street Journal have fired the head of the embattled #HongKong journalists association, @HKJA_Official says - 24 days after she took the position. Press con at 5.30pm. @wsj. Stay tuned to @HKFP.

Matt Kelly /
@compliancememe: Seems a bit nuts that @WSJ is (rightly) fighting for press freedom for Evan Gershkovich, but firing another reporter for same because it might ruffle Beijing's feathers.

Mike Hixenbaugh /
@mike_hixenbaugh: “The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom.”

Dan Nguyen /
@dancow: “The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom” 🤯

Tulika Bose /
@tulikabose_: Devastated to continue to see attacks on female journalists of color in mainstream news outlets. This is unethical and wrong — advocating for press freedom does not make you biased if you're not white

Heidi N. Moore /
@moorehn: The WSJ firing reporters for joining a union for press freedom. Incredible. Particularly disgraceful of the paper to do this as WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich is imprisoned in Russia.

Nate DiCamillo /
@nate_dicamillo: This looks like the @WSJ is willing to bend the knee to the CCP which is extremely disturbing

Debby Chan /
@debbychan_hk: Wall Street Journal has pressured a reporter not to stand for the HK Journalist Association's election. It then dismissed her after she was elected as the union's chair.

Felicia Sonmez /
@feliciasonmez: “The right for reporters to work without fear must be protected not just by the law, but more crucially, by ourselves: reporters, editors, and publishers.”

Andy Sharp /
@sharp_writing: Unprecedented (at least in my knowledge) for a reporter to hold a press conference after being fired. I think we all need to hear the @WSJ 's side of this story.

John Simpson /
@johnsimpsonnews: The Wall Street Journal @WSJ has sacked @selina_cheng, who is chair of the Hong Kong Journalists' Association. The HK authorities don't like the HKJA. You'd hope a big Western news organisation would stand up to Chinese pressure and defend its own. Not, it seems, in this case.

Lauren Goode /
@laurengoode: “The right for reporters to work without fear must be protected not just by the law, but more crucially, by ourselves: reporters, editors, and publishers.” https://x.com/...

Karen Hao /
@_karenhao: The @WSJ today fired my former colleague for STANDING UP for press freedom. Words cannot describe how twisted & abhorrent this is, at a time when journalists around the world are being intimidated, detained & killed into silence. In awe of Selina's bravery, strength & leadership.

Wesley /
@wesleylowery: today brings us a new greatest hits in “the appearance of objectivity” cannon: newspaper that is currently running an international press freedom campaign - directly involving its reporters and editors - fires a reporter for being elected to run a press freedom group.

Bloomberg:

The EU's General Court says TikTok is large enough to fall under the DMA, rejecting ByteDance's challenge; ByteDance can appeal to the European Court of Justice— - TikTok attempt to avoid EU's Digital Markets Act is dismissed — Chinese-owned social media giant also risks ban in the US

Discussion:
Reuters, Digital Music News, Courthouse News Service, @eucourtpress, Euractiv, @lewis_crofts, @beuc, 9to5Mac, @samuelstolton, The Register, Engadget and Semafor, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: TikTok Sees Hope in Second Trump Presidency While Fighting Potential U.S. Ban Courthouse News Service: European Union court says TikTok owner can't avoid bloc's law cracking down on digital giants @eucourtpress: #EUGeneralCourt dismisses #Bytedance (@TikTokComms) action brought against the @EU_Commission decision designating it as a gatekeeper #DigitalMarketsAct 👉 https://curia.europa.eu/...

Lewis Crofts /
@lewis_crofts: Huge win for EU in fight against Big Tech. EU judges just upheld a decision to designate TikTok (ByteDance) under #DMA. TikTok said it was a “challenger” service to the big platforms. Court said EC was right to find it was a “gatekeeper.” @vestager & @breton will be happy. @beuc: We welcome the decision by the @EUCourtPress today concluding that Bytedance (TikTok) is indeed a gatekeeper under the #DMA! The social medium needs to get consent from millions of TikTok users before their personal data can be used for personalised ads.

Samuel Stolton /
@samuelstolton: Big win for for the European Commission's Digital Markets Act #DMA this morning at the EU General Court, as it survives a first legal assault against the rules from TikTok: https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Laura Dobberstein /
The Register: TikTok's Asian e-commerce haul quadrupled in a single year

Sarah Fielding /
Engadget: TikTok will still be a ‘gatekeeper’ under the Digital Markets Act, EU rules

The Wrap:

MSNBC insiders accuse executives Cesar Conde and Rashida Jones of pulling Morning Joe off the air to “coddle” Trump and avoid tensions if he wins the election— Tension skyrocketed at MSNBC this week as network news insiders accused NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde …

Discussion:
Adweek, @blackamazon, @jmktvshow, Fox News, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @ecosexuality, CNN, Raw Story, The Daily Beast and Mediaite

Discussion:

Ethan Alter /
Adweek: Joe Scarborough Says the Morning Joe Team was ‘Very Disappointed’ by Monday's Absence @jmktvshow: Of course. It's the smart business move unfortunately. CNN's reporting on Trump winning in a landslide after Zaslav hinted at wanting more consolidation and John Malone basically runs things (and is probably the reason Trump has agreed to CNN's debate and town hall) has also been Fox News: NBC bosses get thrashed on MSNBC again as ‘Morning Joe’ criticizes circumstances of show's benching

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: New reporting from The Wrap's Natalie Korach on the clusterf inside MSNBC (I'm in this). — MSNBC Insiders Accuse Cesar Conde of ‘Coddling Trump’ by Pulling Hosts off the Air — https://www.thewrap.com/...

Stefanie Iris Weiss /
@ecosexuality: Execs at @MSNBC like @RJonesNews and Cesar Conde have not just pissed off staff. These dishonest Trump coddlers have given the finger to the viewers - we're FURIOUS that they sidelined our most trusted hosts. Want a boycott? Try us. We'll go to @zeteo https://www.thewrap.com/...

Matthew Chapman /
Raw Story: Comcast scrambling to ‘clean up’ mess made by booting Morning Joe off the air: report

The Guardian:

Source: PE firm CVC Capital Partners is considering a bid for the Telegraph, ahead of a deadline for the first round of auction of the newspaper group this week— Potential bid by CVC Capital Partners believed to be structured to back newspaper group's management team

Discussion:
Telegraph

Discussion:

Christopher Williams /
Telegraph: Buyout giant CVC plots Telegraph takeover

Variety:

Sources: WBD will lay off ~1,000 employees across sectors including finance, business affairs, and production; source: fewer than 10 Max staffers are affected— Sources tell Variety that nearly 1,000 employees will be laid off across a few sectors in a new cost-cutting move at WBD …

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Top Wall Street Analyst Recommends Warner Bros. Discovery Spinoff Max Amidst New Round of Layoffs

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: Warner Bros. Discovery to lay off nearly 1,000 staffers amid calls from analyst to ‘explore stategic options’

Sahil Patel /
The Information: More Layoffs Hit Warner Bros. Discovery @tvgrimreaper: Cable bundle fees drive the entire legacy video entertainment business. Those fees are melting away, and there's nothing comparable to replace them with. The industry's future is smaller and less profitable. [image]

Minoti Vaishnav /
@minotimusic: Or. Zaslav can just pay himself 10 mil less. Let WB retain their employees and have roofs over their heads and food on their plates. He'd still be rich and ultimately lose nothing. But hey, what do I know right? https://variety.com/...

Peter White /
Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Starts New Round Of Layoffs

Jon Malone /
Jon Malone on LinkedIn: In the media industry, it's never a surprise... but always disappointing. For anyone whose life got flipped today or in the past, please let me know if I can make any introductions for you. …

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Warner Bros. Discovery Reportedly Lays Off Nearly 1,000 Employees Including From its Max Streaming Service

Bruce Gil /
Quartz: Warner Bros. Discovery ‘is not working’ and should make some big changes, analysts say

Tony Maglio /
IndieWire: Warner Bros. Discovery to Lay Off Fewer Than 1,000 Staffers in New Round of Job Cuts

Caitlin Huston /
The Hollywood Reporter: Layoffs Hit Warner Bros. Discovery Again

Raquel ‘Rocky’ Harris /
The Wrap: Warner Bros. Discovery Begins Layoffs Across Production, Business Affairs and Finance

Press Gazette:

GB News plans to add AI-generated, 30-second sports updates at the end of the main news bulletins on GB News Radio, as the broadcaster expands sports coverage— GB News says it will introduce AI-generated sports news bulletins to its radio station, promising they are “the tip of the iceberg” …

The Verge:

Spotify launches an AI DJ that speaks Spanish, in beta for Premium customers in markets where its English-language DJ is offered, and in Spain and Latin America— The new Spanish-language voice has been provided by Spotify's senior music editor, Olivia “Livi” Quiroz Roa …

Discussion:
TechCrunch, Axios, Engadget, @glenngabe, Digital Trends, Music Business Worldwide and Spotify

Discussion:

Sarah Perez /
TechCrunch: Spotify adds a Spanish-speaking AI DJ, ‘Livi’

Danny Gallagher /
Engadget: Spotify's AI music DJ can now speak Spanish

Glenn Gabe /
@glenngabe: Livi -> Spotify launches a new voice and language for its AI DJ “The new Spanish-language voice has been provided by Spotify's senior music editor, Olivia “Livi” Quiroz Roa, with users able to switch between hearing Livi or Xavier “X” Jernigan.” https://www.theverge.com/...

Sachin Bahal /
Digital Trends: Spotify's AI DJ now speaks Spanish

Mandy Dalugdug /
Music Business Worldwide: Meet ‘Livi,’ the new Spanish-speaking voice of Spotify's AI DJ

The Atlantic:

Meta launches a small pilot program to let some researchers access Instagram data for up to about six months to study the app's effect on teens and young adults— Meta, infamous for kicking researchers off its platform, flirts with slightly more transparency. — The teens are on Instagram.

Discussion:
The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Deadline:

BBC Head of Product for iPlayer and Video Ankit Kumar leaves; a source says he left abruptly, and the product team is having a “turbulent time” as execs leave— Ankit Kumar joined the BBC in October 2022 from Amazon and played a key role in making iPlayer a destination for more than 17M British viewers every week.

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Mark K. Miller /
TVNewsCheck: WPP Names InfoSum Chairman Brian Lesser Global CEO Of GroupM

The Guardian:

A UK judge rules that a sex offender's name can be published following an application by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and a freelance journalist— Bureau of Investigative Journalism applied to name father who wanted to have unsupervised contact with his child