Mediagazer: Disney's SOAPnet channel ends after 14-year run (Meg James/Los Angeles Times)

4:15 PM ET, December 31, 2013

Top News:

Netflix hikes CEO salary by 50 pct for 2014 — Netflix Inc raised the salary of its Chief Executive Reed Hastings by 50 percent to $6 million for 2014, a regulatory filing showed, as its stock quadrupled in value this year amidst new programming and a growth in subscriber base.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Motherboard, Mashable and Wall Street Journal

Ryan Faughnder / Los Angeles Times:

Netflix tests new price tiers, including $6.99 for single-stream — Netflix is trying out new prices for its online video service, including a tier that costs customers $6.99 a month — $1 less than its standard version — to play content on just one screen at a time.

Discussion: Adweek, Bloomberg, Variety, MediaPost, The Wire, The Next Web, TIME and BGR

Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter: Netflix Gets Wall Street's Silver Medal in 2013

jessica lessin:

The Information's transcript of Paul Graham's interview and methodology — On The Information and How We Operate — I wanted to share some thoughts about Paul Graham's allegations that he was misquoted and misled in this recent interview in the Information.

Eric P. Newcomer / The Information:

YC's Paul Graham: The Complete Interview — Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham isn't your typical startup guru. For eight years he's been at the helm of what's now the industry's most prominent accelerator and a lightning rod for frustrations with entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley.

Discussion: Kirk LaPointe's …, Business Insider and @jessicalessin

Michael Arrington / Uncrunched:
The Information committed three journalistic sins in interview with Paul Graham

Discussion: Valleywag, @binarybits, @alexia, @mattyglesias, @digiphile, @simonkhalaf, @jessicalessin, @digiphile, @mathewi, @jessicalessin, @arrington, @nkohari, TechCrunch, @qhardy, @samfbiddle, @jokeocracy, @karaswisher and Daring Fireball

Tim Appelo / Hollywood Reporter:

First Woman Time Inc. Editor Dies: ‘She Generated Shock Waves to the Male-Dominated Hierarchy’ — Colleagues remember pioneering, influential People magazine editor Pat Ryan, who called Mel Gibson “the sexiest man alive.” — Pat Ryan, managing editor of People magazine (1982-87) and Life …

Discussion: BuzzMachine, @jeffjarvis, FishbowlNY and Capital New York

Janko Roettgers / Gigaom:

Starting January 6 only Hulu Plus and cable subs will have next-day online access to ABC shows — Bad news for cord cutters: ABC starts restricting access to full TV show episodes — Fans of Modern Family, Scandal, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Revenge just got another item to add to their list …

Discussion: Variety, TVbytheNumbers and @alexweprin

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

Baker lays out 2014 plans for Wall Street Journal — As the clock ticks down on 2013, The Wall Street Journal is gearing up for a New Year that will bring a new platform for technology coverage, a new iPad edition, a revamp of its website and additional newsroom hires.

Discussion: @raju and @joepompeo

Megha Rajagopalan / Reuters:

Chinese recycling tycoon says he wants to buy the New York Times — (Reuters) - An eccentric Chinese recycling magnate said on Tuesday he was preparing to open negotiations to buy the New York Times Co.. — Chen Guangbiao, a well-known philanthropist, is something of a celebrity in China.

Discussion: New York Times, Mediaite, New York Magazine and FishbowlNY

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:

Disney's SOAPnet channel ends after 14-year run — Walt Disney is pulling the plug on the SOAPnet cable channel, which has played repeats of such soaps as “General Hospital,” above. (Carol Kaelson / SOAPnet) — SOAPnet, the cable TV channel loved by legions of loyal soap opera fans, is taking its final bow.

Anthony Ha / TechCrunch:

Makers Of Oscar-Shortlisted Documentary “The Act Of Killing” Turn To BitTorrent For Promotion — BitTorrent has been pitching itself as a legitimate way for content creators to promote their works, and now the company is announcing what may be its most noteworthy partnership yet …

Discussion: The Wrap, VentureBeat and The Official BitTorrent Blog

Jim Milliot / PublishersWeekly.com:

Regnery Parent In Talks to Sell Company — Jeff Carneal, president of Eagle Publishing, has confirmed reports that the company is in talks to sell the company following the decision of founder Tom Phillips to retire. In a statement, Carneal said that “several qualified groups” …

Christopher M. Matthews / Wall Street Journal:

Apple Feud Deepens With Court-Appointed Monitor — A feud between Apple Inc. and a lawyer appointed by a federal court judge to monitor the company's e-book pricing reform became even more acrimonious Monday. — Michael Bromwich, the lawyer picked as Apple's monitor …