The US SEC sues former DWAC CEO Patrick Orlando for allegedly misleading investors about his company's plans for a SPAC merger with Trump's social media company (Bloomberg)

Mediagazer: The US SEC sues former DWAC CEO Patrick Orlando for allegedly misleading investors about his company's plans for a SPAC merger with Trump's social media company (Bloomberg)

Top News:

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:

Kurt Badenhausen /
Sportico: WNBA Players Union Questions New $2.2 Billion Media Deal

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

Kenny Smith /
@kennysmith.bsky.social: $200 million a year, plus some other deals pending. Now you can pay the players and have equal footing and ... [embedded post]

Mike D. Sykes /
USA Today: The 2024 MLB All-Star game wasn't that interesting but Paul Skenes sure was

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

Nick Cottongim /
Black America Web: New WNBA Media Rights Deal Is Worth Quadruple The Amount Of The Previous Deal

Chelsee Washington /
Chelsee Washington on LinkedIn: Just released: The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) has just landed a massive $2.2B, 11 year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon (The Athletic). …

Jon Lewis /
Sports Media Watch: WNBA said to be in line for as much as $260m per year in new NBA deal

RELATED:
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:
New York Times, @sherman4949, Sportico, The Information, @mikevorkunov, NBA.com, TVNewsCheck, The Desk, Puck, New York Times, Awful Announcing and The Streamable

Discussion:

New York Times:
NBA will turn to ‘consideration of expansion’ after media rights deal complete, Adam Silver says

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.

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

Jill Goldsmith /
TVNewsCheck: Warner Bros. Discovery Intends To Match Amazon's NBA Rights Deal

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

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

Discussion:

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

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

Eric Wishart /
Eric Wishart on LinkedIn: The Wall Street Journal has fired Selina Cheng, the newly elected chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

Timothy McLaughlin /
The Atlantic: When the Press Turns Its Back on Press Freedom

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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/...

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.

Diego Mendoza /
Semafor: Wall Street Journal fires reporter who led Hong Kong Journalist Association

Deadline:

Emmy nominations numbers: Netflix took top spot with 107; FX, 93; HBO/Max, 91; Apple TV+, 72; ABC and CBS, 38 each; Prime Video, 37; Hulu, 26; and Disney+, 19— The revolving door of Emmy nominations leader continues to swing. — Netflix has taken top spot with the most Emmy nominations …

Discussion:
Variety, SlashFilm, The Hollywood Reporter, Quartz, The Wrap, Variety, GoldDerby, The Daily Beast, The Ringer, Variety, ComingSoon.net, Los Angeles Times, SWAMY WORLD, AppleInsider, Next TV, Forbes, Associated Press, BGR, Vanity Fair, Variety, The Playlist, 9to5Mac, Media Play News, NPR, Rolling Stone and Screen Rant

Discussion:

Clayton Davis /
Variety: Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis Make Emmys History as First Indigenous Women Nominated for Acting

Valerie Ettenhofer /
SlashFilm: 2024 Emmy Nominations: Shōgun Leads The Pack, But The Bear Broke An Emmys Record

Mikey O'Connell /
The Hollywood Reporter: Dana Walden on Disney's Emmy Noms, ‘Shogun’ Future and Giving Kimmel a Hosting Break

Kayla Cobb /
The Wrap: Emmy Nominations 2024: Updating Live Variety: Emmys Snubs and Surprises: Emma Stone and Kate Winslet Shut Out as Idris Elba and ‘Reservation Dogs’ Land Big Nods

Matthew Stewart /
GoldDerby: 2024 Emmy nominations: ‘Shogun,’ ‘The Bear,’ ‘Only Murders’ score more than a score each

Miles Surrey /
The Ringer: The Winners and Losers of the 2024 Emmy Nominations

Aramide Tinubu /
Variety: Apple and FX's Diverse Storytelling Leads to Historic Emmy Nominations Success

Brandon Schreur /
ComingSoon.net: 2024 Emmy Nominations Announced for Upcoming Awards Ceremony

Meredith Blake /
Los Angeles Times: Emmy 2024: FX's ‘Shogun,’ ‘The Bear’ dominate nominations as Indigenous artists break out SWAMY WORLD: Emmy nominees 2024: ‘Shogun’ and ‘The Bear’ clinch nominations in overwhelming race for FX

William Gallagher /
AppleInsider: Apple TV+ shows get 72 nominations for the 76th Emmy Awards

R. Thomas Umstead /
Next TV: FX Series ‘The Bear,’ ‘Shōgun’ Dominate Emmy Nominations

Jacob Siegal /
BGR: All 35 Netflix shows, movies, and specials nominated for Emmys

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Emmy Nominations 2024 Scorecard: Netflix on Top, FX Makes History and Apple TV+ Packs a Punch

Gregory Ellwood /
The Playlist: Emmy Nominations Reactions: Donald Glover, Lily Gladstone, Brie Larson

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Apple TV+ scores Emmy nominations in every major 2024 category

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Streamers Score Big on 76th Emmy Awards Nominations, Led by Hulu's ‘Shōgun,’ ‘The Bear’

Eric Deggans /
NPR: 6 takeaways from the 2024 Emmy nominations

Alan Sepinwall /
Rolling Stone: Emmys Nominations 2024: Biggest Snubs and Surprises

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:
@glenngabe, TechCrunch, Music Business Worldwide, Axios, Spotify, Digital Trends and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

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/...

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

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

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

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

Bloomberg:

The US SEC sues former DWAC CEO Patrick Orlando for allegedly misleading investors about his company's plans for a SPAC merger with Trump's social media company— - Patrick Orlando eyed Trump Media before IPO, SEC claim — SEC settled with DWAC for $18 million over similar issue

Discussion:
Reuters and @hugolowell

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

Discussion:
@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

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/...

Ethan Alter /
Adweek: Joe Scarborough Says the Morning Joe Team was ‘Very Disappointed’ by Monday's Absence

Matthew Chapman /
Raw Story: Comcast scrambling to ‘clean up’ mess made by booting Morning Joe off the air: report Fox News: NBC bosses get thrashed on MSNBC again as ‘Morning Joe’ criticizes circumstances of show's benching

On my Om:

The Apple News deal with Taboola is shocking and off-brand, calling into question Apple's commitment to good customer experience, including privacy— I've been a happy Apple One customer. It made perfect sense signing up for the package considering I was paying for Apple TV+, Apple Music and iCloud storage.

Discussion:
@ckrewson, @playon.bsky.social, Spyglass, @joejanecek, @simondowens@threads.net, @om, One Man & His Blog, @ianb@mastodon.well.com, AppleInsider, @thomholwerda@exquisite.social, @benedictevans@threads.net, @joesteel@duck.haus, Jay Friedman on LinkedIn, @ainemacdermot.bsky.social, @franksting@theblower.au, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, The Drum, The Verge, MediaPost, 9to5Mac, Reuters and Axios

Discussion:

Chris Krewson /
@ckrewson: This. I can't think of anything more inimical to Apple's carefully curated brand than ads showing people how shocked they should be by how much Jan from the Brady Bunch has changed or whatever crap is in the chum box

Joe Janecek /
@joejanecek: @om Bad move by Tim Apple

Simon Owens /
@simondowens@threads.net: Apple News has always undermonetized its large user base, mostly because Apple's always been hesitant to build out ad products. This Taboola partnership may supercharge its advertising sales and result in better revenue sharing for publishers. https://www.axios.com/... @om: @joejanecek Amen to that. This is such short-term thinking and devaluing customer experience for the sake of what won't even amount to a tenth of a penny per person. It is the problem when bonus-culture takes over a company.

Adam Tinworth /
One Man & His Blog: Bad News: Apple ❤️ Taboola

Ian Betteridge /
@ianb@mastodon.well.com: Quote of the day from Om — https://om.co/... [image]

William Gallagher /
AppleInsider: Apple News ads may get much worse with new Taboola deal @thomholwerda@exquisite.social: Speaking of Apple and sleaze, Apple struck a deal with Taboola, the ad company responsible for those bullshit clickbait ad boxes with fantastical, untrue, sleazy headlines. Taboola is going to run ads in Apple News on your iPhone. — Apple PR spokesperson @gruber has written extensively about how much he despises Taboola. …

Benedict Evans /
@benedictevans@threads.net: Taboola is the herpes of the internet - this seems a very strange decision from Apple. https://www.axios.com/...

Joe Rosensteel /
@joesteel@duck.haus: Apple News customers complaining about low quality ads in Apple News has finally moved the needle at Apple ... towards even worse ads. — A+ job, ad bros. High-fives all around. Bonuses for everyone. — https://www.axios.com/...

Jay Friedman /
Jay Friedman on LinkedIn: This feels like the equivalent of Louis Vuitton partnering with Goodwill to operate its retail outlets. What am I missing? — https://lnkd.in/...

Windy Frank /
@franksting@theblower.au: I already don't read Apple News, so this doesn't affect me directly, but what the every loving fuck is wrong with the business people at #Apple that they think partnering with whatever shit name they call Outbrain these days is a good idea? https://om.co/...

Simon Owens /
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter: Will Apple News finally generate meaningful revenue for publishers?

Kendra Barnett /
The Drum: Taboola shares surge as the adtech firm, known for clickbait, secures Apple ads deal

Laurie Sullivan /
MediaPost: Apple Strikes Deal With Taboola To Power Native Advertising

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Apple taps infamous Taboola as new ad seller for Apple News and Stocks

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:

Martin Peers /
The Information: Biden Chip Worries Send Stocks Plunging

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

Bill Bradley /
Adweek: What to Know About Warner Bros. Discovery's Latest Layoffs

Ryan Kilpatrick /
Ryan Kilpatrick on LinkedIn: When I speak to people in and out of the media business, they all ask one question: “How did we get here?” — https://variety.com/... …

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

Will McKinley /
@willmckinley@mstdn.social: Warner Bros. Discovery — whose stock has declined 70% since the merger — has started a new round of layoffs. — “the current composition as a consolidated public company is not working” media analyst Jessica Reif Erlich said. — https://deadline.com/... [image]

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

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

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:
Engadget and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Danny Gallagher /
Engadget: Meta gives researchers access to Instagram data for teen mental health study

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