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Source: Disney is in talks with AT&T to acquire WarnerMedia's 10% stake in Hulu to add to its existing 30% stake and the 30% Disney gains from 20th Century Fox — Disney wants to get even more control over Hulu: The company is in active discussions with AT&T to acquire the 10% stake …
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Arbitrator awards the team behind TV series Bones $179M after ruling that 21st Century Fox execs fraudulently hid profit info from stars and executive producer — In a long-running legal battle over profits from the David Boreanaz-Emily Deschanel hit, an arbitrator's stunning decision calls …
Discussion:
Observer, Deadline, @billsimmons, Wall Street Journal, @pareene, @eriqgardner, @jbflint, @thrmattbelloni and @jbflint


FTC settles with TikTok's Musical.ly for $5.7M over the app's violation of US child privacy laws; TikTok's app updates today with a new UX for those under 13 — A significant FTC ruling issued today will see video app TikTok fined $5.7 million for violating U.S. children's privacy laws …


White House excluded reporters from the AP, Reuters, and other outlets from covering Trump's dinner with Kim Jong Un because they had shouted questions earlier — HANOI — The White House abruptly banned four U.S. journalists from covering President Trump's dinner here Wednesday …
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Sinclair Broadcast Group's Q4 earnings: net income fell to $206.2M from $443.5M last year but revenue was up 25.4% YoY to $893M — Sinclair Broadcast Group reported lower fourth quarter profits despite big gains in revenue, including political advertising.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, TVWeek.com, PR Newswire, Baltimore Business Journal, StreetInsider.com, AllAccess.com and Deadline


The BBC and UK broadcaster ITV have confirmed plans to launch a joint, paid streaming service called BritBox by the end of 2019 — Streaming service to launch this year will feature archive shows and new commissions — The BBC and ITV have confirmed plans to join forces and launch a paid …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, @thr, @jimwaterson, WIRED UK, @elenacresci, @tommundaycs, @leahhather, @mrjkilcoyne and @quendergeer


Investments in podcasts like Spotify's Gimlet acquisition will allow artists to share their own narratives directly with fans and avoid traditional music press — In sidestepping media middlemen, artists are creating their own DIY music-media economy — Over the past few decades …
Discussion:
@digg, @sesmith, @bellocollective, @chartroommedia, @cheriehu42, Digg and MediaPost
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Study estimates 1,000-1,500 US newspapers, many owned by private equity and hedge fund investors, are “ghost newspapers” mainly filled with wire copy and ads — At the start of 2018, Denver Post journalists felt optimistic for the first time in years.
Discussion:
@mattdpearce, @nikkiusher, @empireburlesque, @jcstearns, @libsolomon, @micahmertes, @hilarykoss, @sarahkwiley, @tonyhoehner, @moorehn, @johnmrod, @saahil_desai, @amelscript, @mattdpearce, @nikkiusher, @tanarrowz, @cobillard, @annaknicolaou, @torrhl, @charlesornstein, @leahbecerra and @jlauck1941


Former LA Times CEO and publisher Ross Levinsohn claims allegations of inappropriate behavior made against him amounted to “character assassination” — - A year ago, Los Angeles Times publisher and CEO Ross Levinsohn was put on unpaid leave after the publication of an NPR article accusing him of …
Discussion:
@digitalshields, @lmoses, @nichcarlson and @nichcarlson


Oscar winners behind Free Solo on why documentaries are hot now: sophisticated audiences, a “psychotic” news cycle, and big budgets from streaming companies — On a bustling post-Oscar Monday, “Free Solo” co-directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin arrive …
Discussion:
Multichannel News and MediaPost


In late January, The Economist tightened its paywall to five articles per month from three per week, in hopes of increasing subscribers — The Economist has tightened its paywall so readers have access to five articles a month — rather than three a week — in order to nudge more registered users over into subscribing.


Twitter has permanently suspended Jacob Wohl for creating and operating fake accounts, after he shared plans to make deceptive accounts before the 2020 election — Twitter announced that it is permanently suspending Jacob Wohl, a 21-year-old Internet hoaxer and supporter of President Donald Trump …
Discussion:
Washington Post, USA Today, BuzzFeed News, NBC News, The Daily Beast, @oneunderscore__, @bradheath, @neeratanden, @amy_siskind, @leannewood, @clevertitletk, @rmac18, @willsommer, @clarajeffery, @oneunderscore__, @brendannyhan, @aravosis, @oneunderscore__, The Daily Beast and Engadget, more at Techmeme »