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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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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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
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:
The Wrap, New York Post, Daily Mail, The Hill, AOL, Newsweek, Week Facts, Fortune, ABC News 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, The New York Observer, Engadget, Fortune, @jank0 and @iankarmel
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:
Multichannel News, Decider, The New York Observer, MacRumors, TechCrunch, Engadget, 9to5Google, Fast Company 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, @jeremymbarr and @seyitaylor
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 …
Discussion:
BBC, PEN America, South China Morning Post, Reuters, BostonGlobe.com, Brisbane Times, The Local, @chubailiang, Voice of America, @hk_watch, RFA, @austinramzy and The Standard
Lucia Moses / Digiday:
Google's decision to use page speed to rank sites in mobile search results is likely to negatively impact the WSJ, Mail Online, Reuters, CNN, and NBC News — Google has been using page speed to rank sites for desktop search results, and now it's getting ready to do the same for mobile.
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.
Pavlena Todorova / Press Gazette:
Journalist James O'Brien steps down from role at BBC Newsnight, citing reluctance to stop criticizing Brexit and Trump — James O'Brien has parted ways with BBC's Newsnight. — The broadcaster is an open critic of Brexit and US President Donald Trump, views which he airs on his daily LBC radio show.