Mediagazer: Condé Nast Tries to Emulate YouTube With Web Series “73 Questions” (Mike Shields/Wall Street Journal)

9:40 AM ET, December 29, 2014

Top News:

BBC:

Egypt urged to free al-Jazeera staff on arrest anniversary — The parents of one of the three al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt are optimistic they will soon be released. — Speaking to the BBC on the first anniversary of their arrest, Peter Greste's father said he was confident their convictions would be overturned.

Discussion: The Age, Sky News, Agence France-Presse, @sara__firth, TheAustralian and Al Jazeera English

James Regan / Reuters:

Australian foreign minister says Egypt is sending mixed signals, hopes fading for Peter Greste's release — Hopes dim Egypt to release Australian Al Jazeera journalist soon — (Reuters) - Hopes are fading for the release of Australian journalist Peter Greste, who has been in jail in Egypt for a year …

Discussion: BBC, Toronto Star, The Independent, Voice of America, Middle East Eye, Huffington Post UK and CTVNews

Peter Kafka / Re/code:

Apple Starts Streaming “The Interview”, Too — It took Apple a few days, but it's joining the club: Starting today, iTunes users in the U.S. and Canada and rent and purchase “The Interview”, Sony's controversial comedy. — The movie became available at Apple's store at 1pm eastern today.

Annys Shin / Washington Post:

Homicide Watch D.C. will shut down Wednesday after failing to find a local partner or owner — The death of Homicide Watch D.C.: Bloggers take their last case — Homicide Watch D.C., a much-praised combination of true crime blog, case log, document dump and victim memorial …

Discussion: @phscoop, @rafat, @lauranorton, @derekwillis, @antderosa, @kev097, @chanders, @lisabonos, @walldo, @palewire, @derekwillis, @gregorykorte, @amlwhere, @raju, @aschweig, @mdhecker and @eyeseast

Mike Shields / Wall Street Journal:

Condé Nast Tries to Emulate YouTube With Web Series “73 Questions” — 2014 has been the year of many things, including the Year That Traditional Media and Advertising Found Out There Are YouTube Stars. — Meanwhile, it's also been the year that everybody in traditional media …

Discussion: FishbowlNY, @digitalshields and @condenast

Jeff John Roberts / Gigaom:

Comcast-TWC merger looks less likely amid growing opposition, concern over state of US broadband — As Comcast merger enters final phase, deal may be on thin ice — When telecom giant Comcast announced plans in February to swallow its largest rival, Time Warner Cable …

Nicole Levy / Capital New York:

Buzzfeed gets $4 M. tax credit to expand (and stay) in New York — New York's chief economic development agency has entered an agreement with Buzzfeed that gives the company $4 million in tax credits to promote the creation and retention of in-state jobs, the agency said in a statement today.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal

Reuters:

Court allows Aereo to auction TV streaming technology assets — A bankruptcy court has allowed defunct video streaming company Aereo Inc to auction its TV streaming technology assets, according to court papers published on Friday. — The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan ruled on Wednesday …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, VatorNews, Deadline and Engadget

Wall Street Journal:

Facebook, Twitter, and Google resist Russian regulator's orders to remove information on rally supporting opposition leader Navalny — U.S. Social-Media Giants Are Resisting Russia Censors — Facebook, Twitter, Google Wrestle With Kremlin Orders to Erase Content

Discussion: @darrellissa, @mathewi and Engadget

Michelle Moghtader / Reuters:

Iran to expand Internet “smart filtering” to censor content without banning entire websites — Iran expands ‘smart’ Internet censorship — (Reuters) - Iran is to expand what it calls “smart filtering” of the Internet, a policy of censoring undesirable content on websites without banning …

Discussion: RT and Trend.Az

Mike Shields / Wall Street Journal:

NFL to post game highlights and other video clips on Facebook with Verizon Wireless ads, share ad revenues with Facebook — Facebook Scores NFL Video Clips With Ads From Verizon — Facebook has scored a big partner as it ramps up its online video ambitions: the National Football League.

Jim Romenesko:

Claim: New York Observer story on the Times is ‘innuendo-laden’ and ‘laughably wrong’ — Warning: I am about to indulge in a long screed. If you don't care about media covering media (and I wouldn't blame you), look away. — The New York Observer's recent article on The New York Times Company …

Discussion: @howardweaver and @joehagansays

Voice of America:

Radio Free Europe Bureau Raided by Azerbaijan Authorities — State prosecutors in Azerbaijan raided the offices of a U.S.-government funded media outlet on Friday, saying they have a court order to close the facility. — Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said Friday at least 10 prosecutor's …