Top News:
Edmund Lee / Recode:
Sources: a Viacom-CBS merger could require that Shari Redstone vote her shares however CBS head Les Moonves prefers, so he can shore up a struggling Viacom — Les Moonves, the head of CBS, would need assurances on how owner Shari Redstone would vote her shares.
Discussion:
Forbes, Adweek, Bloomberg, @benfoxrubin, Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, @edmundlee, @recode, @edmundlee, @pkafka and Reuters
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Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Time Warner Inc. and Viacom Inc. bidding to aquire Argentine TV broadcaster Telefe in deal valued at up to $400M — Deal could be worth as much as $400 million, sources say — Time Warner Inc. and Viacom Inc. are among bidders circling Telefónica SA 's Argentine television …
Discussion:
Variety, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Deadline and Hollywood Reporter
Georg Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:
National Amusements, controlling shareholder of CBS and Viacom, publishes letter asking the boards of each company to consider a merger — Sumner Redstone's holding company says it is “not willing to accept or support any acquisition” of Viacom or CBS by a third party.
Bryan West / KPNX:
Arizona Republic says it has gotten death threats and cancelled subs over its endorsement of Clinton, the first time it's ever supported a Dem for president — The decision, impact and reasons for endorsing Hillary Clinton. … PHOENIX - The Arizona Republic says it has received death threats …
Discussion:
New York Times, USA Today, Mediaite, @nytimes, @romenesko, The Huffington Post, Infowars, Politico, Newser, @jeneps, @tusk81, @thetowncrier, @rexhuppke, @psbjroby, @patrickseitz, @donnamlarson, @kylegriffin1, @brentnyt, @melbournecoal, @indiecalp, @draperrobert, Arizona Republic, Shadowproof and The Daily Caller
David Bond / Financial Times:
Daily Mail owner DMGT says print advertising down 12%, digital up 17%, as it more than triples cost cutting from £15M to £50M amid challenging market conditions — Daily Mail and General Trust will make deeper cuts in staff and other operating costs as part of a strategic review …
Discussion:
Guardian, @dickwinchester, @marksweney, DMGT, RTTNews, @martinbarrow, Author stories, @jonathanhaynes, @charliebeckett, @bethrigby, campaignlive.co.uk and The Independent
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Joseph Lichterman / Nieman Lab:
INMA survey of 37 news executives from Europe and the US finds that Facebook accounts for about 30% of total visits to their websites on average — For publishers, Facebook is the proverbial 800-pound gorilla in the room: They know they have to deal with it, but they aren't always sure of the best strategy for approach.
Discussion:
INMA
Yuji Nakamura / Bloomberg:
Spotify launches in Japan with free ad-supported tier and an ad-free version at $9.70/month — Company will offer free service supported by advertising — Spotify has more than 40 million paying customers globally — Spotify Ltd. is bringing its popular online music service to Japan …
Discussion:
@vilavbhatt, @crtrud, @stanyee, MacRumors, Engadget and TechCrunch
Hadas Gold / Politico:
CNN's Corey Lewandowski no longer receiving severance payments from the Trump campaign; a source says the remainder of his contract was paid off in one lump sum — Former Donald Trump campaign manager and now CNN contributor Corey Lewandowski is no longer receiving severance payments from the campaign.
Ellen Nakashima / Washington Post:
Russian hackers harassed Bellingcat journalists who were investigating Malaysia Airlines crash — Russian government hackers began targeting a British citizen journalist in February 2015, eight months after he began posting evidence documenting alleged Russian government involvement …
Discussion:
@danlamothe, @nakashimae, @eliothiggins and Instapundit
Sami Main / Adweek:
Video Advertising Bureau report: 87% of streaming is done by only 6% of the US population — Hulu and Netflix have become the cereal aisle of streaming services. There are thousands of options for thousands of different tastes. And with the influx of original content available …
Discussion:
@mathewi
Peter Kafka / Recode:
YouTube hires Lyor Cohen as Global Head of Music; Cohen helped build Def Jam label, ran Warner Music, and founded 300 Entertainment in which Google invested $5M — He's going to hold on to his 300 label, which Google backed three years ago. — Apple Music has Jimmy and Dre. Spotify has Troy.
Associated Press:
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review to stop Pittsburgh print edition on November 30, laying off 106 — PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper plans to stop its print edition Nov. 30 and offer an online-only publication in a reorganization that will also require 106 layoffs, its publisher announced Wednesday.