Top News:
Megan Graham / CNBC:
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
Kayleigh Barber / Digiday:
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.
Discussion:
@snopes
Tamar Lapin / New York Post:
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 and @whatthebit
Carly Page / Inquirer:
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
COALITION OF 125+ SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH …:
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
Todd Spangler / Variety:
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 …
Trey Williams / The Wrap:
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.
Aminda Marqués González / Miami Herald:
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
Colin Stutz / Billboard:
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
Tripp Mickle / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Apple executives met with MGM representatives and the Pac-12 Conference this year to find ways to broaden the appeal of Apple TV app and TV+ — Tech giant is considering ways to broaden the appeal of its Apple TV app and TV+ service that launched with nine original programs
Discussion:
9to5Mac
Bloomberg:
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,” …
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
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 »
Raissa Robles / South China Morning Post:
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:
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