Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

TheDesk.net

@thedesk.net

8.1K followers 430 following 2.3K posts

Interesting stories that won’t waste your time. TheDesk.net covers the business of media (broadcasting, streaming) and tech. Posts by @matthewkeys.net, and probably others, too. Read our stuff: https://thedesk.net Send us tips/pitches: [email protected]

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · Oct 17

Woah. Hello, Bluesky!

We're excited to be here.

May we introduce ourselves?

We cover business and policy matters involving the tech, media and telecom industries, how they're disrupting from within, and how they're influencing your lives — in a way that aims to not waste anyone's time.

👋

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1h

NBC News will no longer have journalists dedicated to certain DEI-focused teams like NBC BLK, NBC OUT and NBC Latino.

NBC News eliminates DEI-focused news teams amid layoffs

NBC News has dissolved a number of teams that were focused on reporting centered around DEI topics as part of a broader restructuring of its editorial operation.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2h

During an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, leading New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said it's "too early" to give President Donald Trump credit for brokering a ceasefire agreement between the Israeli government and Hamas that led to the release of hostages this week.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2h

You can now stream podcasts from Spotify's The Ringer on Samsung smart TVs, phones and tablets thanks to a dedicated channel within Samsung TV Plus.

Samsung TV Plus, Spotify partner on streaming podcast channel

Samsung TV Plus has launched a new channel that offers video-based versions of podcasts from Spotify's production unit The Ringer.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2h

NBC News is moving forward with layoffs that will affect nearly 150 workers across its business units, including teams that provide news to MSNBC (soon MS NOW) and CNBC, which are being separated into Versant.

Layoffs impact NBC News staffers ahead of Versant spin-out

NBC Universal is moving forward with pink slips at NBC News, weeks before the spin-off of its cable networks business into Versant is expected to move forward.

Reposted by TheDesk.net

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

These are the news organizations that have refused to sign the new Pentagon press access policy, which prohibits the solicitation of non-public information from military employees.

Read more: thedesk.net/2025/10/abc-...

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 8h

"The Pat McAfee Show" reached 1 billion social media views in September, ESPN said on Wednesday, citing data from Nielsen and YouTube.

ESPN: Pat McAfee Show grabs 1 billion views on socials in September

ESPN says its simulcast of "The Pat McAfee Show" helped the topical sports program earn more than 1 billion social media views in September.

Reposted by TheDesk.net

UK Media Changes @ukmediachanges.bsky.social · 1d

thedesk.net/2025/10/tivo...

End of an era: TiVo stops manufacturing, selling DVRs

TiVo, the company behind those famous television DVRs, says it no longer sells the device that helped it build its brand.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

These are the news organizations that have refused to sign the new Pentagon press access policy, which prohibits the solicitation of non-public information from military employees.

Read more: thedesk.net/2025/10/abc-...

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

Fox already confirmed they're not signing the order. We posted their statement earlier.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

Fox already confirmed they're not signing the order. We posted this earlier.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

Exclusive: NewsNation, The Hill won't sign Pentagon press access order, but won't make public statement on the matter.

Exclusive: Nexstar's NewsNation, The Hill won't sign Pentagon press order

The outlets join a growing list of broadcasters and news operations that are rejecting the compromise in order to maintain access to the U.S. military's headquarters.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

#BREAKING: A source confirms to us that NewsNation and The Hill, both owned by Nexstar Media Group, will NOT sign the new Pentagon access policy. Neither organizations will be making public statements.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

The list of news outlets refusing to sign the Pentagon's new access policy continues to grow by the day. These are among some of the outlets that have rejected the order:

• Fox News
• Newsmax
• ABC News
• CBS News
• NBC News
• CNN
• Washington Times
• Reuters
• AP
• The Guardian
• Washington Post

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN won't sign new Pentagon access policy

In a joint statement, executives at ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News rejected the proposed policy, which makes it tougher to get information from military employees.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

The inclusion of Fox News is particularly notable because the current Secretary of Defense ("Secretary of War"), Pete Hegseth, is a former Fox News personality.

Matthew Keys @matthewkeys.net · 1d

#BREAKING: Fox News Channel, ABC News, CBS News and NBC News say they will NOT sign the Pentagon's new policy that requires journalists to not solicit information from military employees.

“Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the U.S. military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.”

- Joint statement from ABC News, CBS News, CNN, FOX News Media, NBC News

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

NEW: WPSU, the non-profit public broadcast outlet operated by Penn State University, has been sold to WHYY for $1.

The transaction, which requires FCC approval, will allow WPSU to continue operating beyond next year.

Penn State board approves sale of WPSU to WHYY

The Board of Trustees at Penn State University has approved the sale of its college-run public broadcast outlet to its larger peer.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

INBOX: Martha MacCallum of Fox News will interview New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday.

Press release:

FOX NEWS CHANNEL’S MARTHA MACCALLUM TO PRESENT AN INTERVIEW WITH NEW YORK CITY DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15

NEW YORK — October 14, 2025 — FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Martha MacCallum will present an interview with New York City Democratic mayoral candidate and New York State assemblymember Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday, October 15th. The interview, which is Mamdani’s first appearance with the network, will air on The Story with Martha MacCallum at 3 PM/ET and encompass the state of the race less than three weeks out from Election Day.

MacCallum currently serves as anchor and executive editor of The Story with Martha MacCallum, co-anchor of the network’s election coverage and host of FOX News Audio’s The Untold Story with Martha MacCallum podcast. The Story closed the third quarter of 2025 with nearly 2 million viewers, and routinely outpaces broadcast news programs including NBC’s Today Third Hour, Today with Jenna and Friends and ABC’s GMA3.

Throughout her tenure with the network, MacCallum has played a role in every major political event since the 2004 presidential election through co-anchoring election coverage of the 2024 presidential election alongside Bret Baier. In 2025, MacCallum covered the Papal Conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV. She also conducted an interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the U.N. General Assembly. In addition, she interviewed President Donald Trump during his September state trip to the United Kingdom. In January 2024, MacCallum co-moderated three back-to-back town halls with Bret Baier featuring 2024 GOP presidential candidates: former President Donald Trump, former Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In August 2023, MacCallum and Baier co-moderated the first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 1d

End of an era: TiVo stops selling the DVRs that made it famous.

End of an era: TiVo stops manufacturing, selling DVRs

TiVo, the company behind those famous television DVRs, says it no longer sells the device that helped it build its brand.

Reposted by TheDesk.net

T Dog Media @tdogmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Now on T Dog Media: So long, PTC: The conservative watchdog that terrorized Hollywood, TV execs, and free speech advocates for years files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy:

www.tdogmedia.com/2025/10/so-l...

So long, PTC: Conservative TV watchdog group files for bankruptcy - T Dog Media

Rose to fame due to Nippelgate After a three-decade run, the infamous Parents Television Council is no more. Known more recently as The Parents Television and Media Council, the watchdog group that te...

www.tdogmedia.com

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

The NBA has taken full control of NBA TV, its cable network that was programmed and distributed by Warner Bros Discovery; WBD is losing live games to Prime Video and Comcast's NBC Sports this month, though it will continue to produce studio shows, including "Inside the NBA," for itself and others.

NBA takes full control of cable network from Warner Bros Discovery

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is controlling the destiny of its eponymous cable network moving forward.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

OpenAI is trying to make ChatGPT less woke.

OpenAI aims to make ChatGPT less woke

The company says it is developing its current and future iterations of the popular chatbot to return results with less political and social bias.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

Senator Ted Cruz says he wants to work on a bipartisan bill that will allow private citizens and organizations to sue agencies and officials — and collect monetary damages — in cases involving government-influenced censorship.

Senator Ted Cruz to introduce bill allowing lawsuits over government censorship

The measure would allow private citizens and corporations to sue the government over violations of free speech and expression.

Reposted by TheDesk.net

Matthew Keys @matthewkeys.net · 2d

You'll be able to watch Apple TV within the Apple TV app on a wide number of devices, including Apple's own streaming video hardware called the Apple TV.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

NEW: Apple is dropping "Plus" from its Apple TV streaming service, and will simply call it "Apple TV" after December.

Apple to rename streaming video service "Apple TV"

Apple is doing away with the "Plus" from its streaming video service, and will market the platform as "Apple TV" moving forward.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

The integration of The Free Press into CBS News has begun.

Some NYPD officers worry about Mamdani becoming the NYC mayor, The Free Press reports

The Free Press spoke to several New York City Police Department officers who are worried about Zohran Mamdani becoming mayor. Olivia Reingold joins CBS News with more.

www.cbsnews.com

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

A rumor circulated over the weekend that President Donald Trump's teenage son, Barron Trump, could take on a significant role at the social media app TikTok when its U.S. business is evolved later this year. [The Telegraph via Yahoo! News]

Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job

Barron Trump is being eyed for a top role at the streaming app TikTok.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

NEW: Apple is dropping "Plus" from its Apple TV streaming service, and will simply call it "Apple TV" after December.

Apple to rename streaming video service "Apple TV"

Apple is doing away with the "Plus" from its streaming video service, and will market the platform as "Apple TV" moving forward.