Top News:


Ad tech companies Rubicon Project and Telaria have merged, creating a major independent sell-side ad platform — - Public ad tech companies Telaria and Rubicon Project have agreed to merge as they try to make a stronger play in the growth of connected television and bring an alternative to walled gardens like Google and Facebook.
Discussion:
Digiday, AdExchanger, ir.tivo.com, Business Wire, Broadcasting & Cable, Adweek, @sarahsluis, @cnbctech and @davemorgannyc


Snopes to launch a new membership model in early 2020 with access to Snopes editors via a community board; prices start at $30 per year — Fact-checking site Snopes is hoping to transition away from its dependence on advertising. So it is asking its supporters to help the brand grow in 2020.


Incisive Media to shut down The INQUIRER; the site will remain live until end of March, but no new content will be published after Thursday — We came, we Inquired, we're off to the pub — IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART we must announce that The INQUIRER has reached end-of-life.
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @rquandt and @christhedj


Research and publishing orgs pen letter against proposed policy to mandate free distribution of peer-reviewed journal articles reporting on govt-funded research — MORE THAN 125 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND PUBLISHING ORGANIZATIONS JOIN TOGETHER IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED ADMINISTRATION POLICY …
Discussion:
Publishers Weekly, @msphelps, @raphaelwimmer, @fredericjacobs, @gkalinkat, @sxbegle, @cfiesler, @peterpur, @libskrat, @andreawiggins, @syardi, @andreawiggins, @heycori, @jeffbigham, @guyvdb, Bookseller News, @jeffbigham, @syardi, @terrainsvagues, @petersuber, @brembs, @annemariebridy and Personanondata


TiVo announces a ~$3 billion merger with Xperi, a company that sells audio, imaging and computing tech, scrapping its plan to split into two companies — TiVo has scrapped plans to split itself into two separate companies, and instead announced a $3 billion merger with Xperi …


TikTok rival Triller announces investments from notable music industry figures totaling $10M+, source says; Triller says it has 26.5M MAUs in the US — Triller, a music-focused social video platform rivaling TikTok, has secured strategic investments from major music industry figures amounting to more than $10 million.


Miami Herald to drop Saturday print edition starting March 21 in favor of expanded Friday and Sunday editions — To our readers: — The Miami Herald is changing to meet the needs of our readers and the communities we serve long into the future. Providing the news that's essential to your life …
Discussion:
Poynter, MediaPost and Talking Biz News


Billboard parent company Valence Media to acquire media consumption analytics platform Nielsen Music, which fuels its charts data — Billboard parent company Valence Media is acquiring the Nielsen Music insights and product suite that fuel its charts data, it was announced Wednesday (Dec. 18).
Discussion:
@aureliaot7, @britenation and RAIN News


Cooper Hefner joins the US Air Force, putting on hold his earlier plans to launch a media company separate from Playboy — Hugh Hefner's son Cooper has joined the Air Force. — The youngest child of the late Playboy founder departed for basic training Tuesday, his wife, “Harry Potter” actress Scarlett Byrne, posted on Instagram.
Discussion:
Fox News


Sources: Fox declined to run ads for Bombshell on its network, though Lions Gate did not attempt to advertise directly on Fox News — - Lions Gate sought to promote the film on Fox network — Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corp. declined to run advertisements for “Bombshell,” …


Spotify is prototyping Tastebuds, a social feature that allows users to interact with and discover music by searching the people they follow — Spotify is prototyping a new way to see what friends have been listening to, called “Tastebuds.” Despite how discovering music is inherently social …
Discussion:
9to5Mac, @renkiger, Engadget, Digital Trends, Android Police and The Verge, more at Techmeme »


Philippine court finds an ex-mayor and four family members guilty of murder of 57 in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, which included a large group of journalists — Ampatuan political dynasty sought to quash an election challenge by rounding up rivals and journalists, killing them and dumping bodies …
Discussion:
RAPPLER, philstar.com, BBC, Inquirer News, ABS-CBN News, Agence France-Presse, Committee to Protect …, New York Times, cnn, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer News and cnn