Top News:
Samidh Chakrabarti / Facebook:
Facebook says social media has mixed effect on democracies: it gives many a voice but paves way for false news, foreign interference, echo chambers, harassment — Around the world, social media is making it easier for people to have a voice in government — to discuss issues, organize around causes, and hold leaders accountable.
News Corp:
Rupert Murdoch suggests Facebook pay carriage fees similar to the cable TV model to recognize trusted publishers — News Corp today issued the following statement from Executive Chairman, Rupert Murdoch: — “Facebook and Google have popularized scurrilous news sources through algorithms …
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Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Netflix says it recorded a $39M non-cash charge in Q4 over unreleased material with at least some related to Hollywood's sexual harassment scandal — Netflix Inc. is lifting the curtain on just how much the sexual harassment controversy is going to cost Hollywood.
Discussion:
The Wrap
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Netflix beats in Q4 with 8.3M new worldwide subs, vs 5M est., and almost 2M in US, vs 1.28M est.; revenue of $3.29B meets expectations; stock up 8%+ after hours — Netflix reeled in 8.3 million new streaming subscribers — including almost 2 million in the U.S. — handily beating Wall Street estimates for the fourth quarter of 2017.
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CNBC, Forbes, Broadcasting & Cable, @lanceulanoff, VentureBeat, The Wrap, TechCrunch, ZDNet, Reuters, Hollywood Reporter, Barron's Online, Business Insider, Recode and Fast Company, more at Techmeme »
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Tronc confirms that New York Daily News managing editor Robert Moore is under investigation over sexual harassment complaints — A top editor at the New York Daily News has been accused of sexual harassment and is now under investigation by the paper's parent company after inquiries by NPR.
Discussion:
@tinamoorereport, The Daily Beast, @davidfolkenflik and thecut
Ashley Parker / Washington Post:
Howard Kurtz, host of Fox News show “Media Buzz”, is releasing a tell-all book on chaos inside the White House, to hit stores January 29 — In late July, the White House had just finished an official policy review on transgender individuals serving in the military and President Trump …
Discussion:
Fortune, The Wrap, ABC News, Daily Mail, The Hill, New York Post, Week Facts, AOL, Newsweek and Mediaite
Jesse David Fox / Vulture:
Netflix Will Release a Series of 15-Minute Stand-up Specials in 2018 — A few months ago, New York and L.A.'s comedy communities were abuzz. It seemed like every stand-up was putting themselves on tape. Sure, every once in a while you might see a couple of folks taping for late-night submissions …
Discussion:
Deadline, Fortune, The New York Observer, Engadget, @iankarmel and @jank0
Chris Buckley / New York Times:
Hong Kong book publisher Gui Minhai taken by police while on Beijing-bound train and accompanied by Swedish diplomats, months after his 2-year detainment ended — BEIJING — A Hong Kong-based book publisher with Swedish citizenship who was secretly spirited to China and held in custody for two years …
Melinda Newman / Billboard:
Apple launches Apple Music for Artists, a dashboard to provide musicians with insights into their fans' listening and purchasing habits, currently in beta — Today Apple launches Apple Music for Artists, a dashboard designed to provide acts with hundreds of data points giving deep analytical insight …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Engadget, MacStories, MacRumors and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Sources: YouTube Live has ~300,000 subs, and Hulu's Live TV service has ~450,000; both services trail DirecTV Now and Dish Sling, which have millions of subs — - Hulu and YouTube both launched live TV services last year, in an effort to take on cable channels.
Discussion:
BGR, Decider, 9to5Google, The New York Observer, Engadget, Multichannel News, MacRumors, Fast Company, TechCrunch and Seeking Alpha, more at Techmeme »
Etan Vlessing / Hollywood Reporter:
Canada's Rogers Communications has terminated a $100M joint venture with Vice Media, which includes a Viceland Canada 24-hour cable channel — The Canadianized TV channel from New York City-based Vice Media has been bleeding revenue and subscribers. — Canadian cable and mobile giant …
Discussion:
CBC News, The Daily Caller, Business Insider, @seyitaylor and @jeremymbarr
Jon Levine / The Wrap:
Vice Media will investigate allegations by ex-TV host Billie Porter that her then boss at Vice gave her alcohol and drugs as a minor, requested sexual act — Vice Media is investigating new accusations of sexual misconduct from former British TV Host Billie JD Porter.