Top News:
Megan Graham / CNBC:
Ad exchange Rubicon Project agrees to merge with video advertising management platform Telaria, to better compete with Google and Facebook — - 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 …
Stanford Internet Observatory:
Microsoft's Bing appears to return an alarming amount of disinformation for user queries, far more than Google does, based on a test of 13 queries — Bing's importance in the information landscape of the U.S. shouldn't be overlooked. While its share of the search market in the U.S. might …
Discussion:
The Keyword, @alexstamos, @whatthebit, @mathewi, @brendannyhan, Search Engine Land, Softpedia News, @majorhayden and @welhai
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:
The Streamable, TheStreet, CNET, @stevekopack, @sportstvratings, @lamonicabuzz, @trippmickle, @edmundlee, 9to5Mac and @jyarow
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, @whatthebit and @noonanjo
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.com, MediaPost and @snopes
Association of American Publishers:
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 135 scientific research and publishing organizations join together in opposition to proposed Administration policy …
Discussion:
Publishers Weekly, @raphaelwimmer, @petersuber, @brembs, @fredericjacobs, @jeffbigham, @gkalinkat, @sxbegle, @ginasue, @mathewi, @cfiesler, @peterpur, @annemariebridy, @wilbanks, @libskrat, @andreawiggins, @syardi, @syardi, @andreawiggins, @terrainsvagues, @heycori, @jeffbigham, @msphelps, @guyvdb, Bookseller News and Personanondata
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, @christhedj, @pandasecurityuk and @rquandt
Quartz:
Quartz names Katherine Bell as editor-in-chief, succeeding Kevin Delaney; Bell has served as EIC of Barron's magazine and worked at Harvard Business Review — Quartz announced today the appointment of Katherine Bell as editor-in-chief. Bell brings a wealth of business journalism and leadership experience …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, Adweek, @yan0, @jolshan, @felixsalmon, @zseward, @oliviagoldhill, @sarahlizchar, @davegershgorn, @raju, @kirabind, @davidbauer and @katherineabell
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.
Gavin Bridge / Variety:
Analysis: Netflix has released 371 original TV shows and movies in the US in 2019, a 54.6% increase over 2018 and more than the entire US TV industry in 2005 — 371 series, movies represents over 50% increase in streaming service's content volume vs. 2018 — Netflix averaged …
Discussion:
@emilylongeretta, @pkedrosky, @nickatfp, @marisaroffman, @danielletbd, @entstrategyguy, @margeincharge, @awallenstein and MediaPost
Sara Fischer / Axios:
NBC News forms a team to report on US election security issues, led by SVP Janelle Rodriguez, and has created a dedicated landing page called Vote Watch — NBC News has created a new editorial team to report on issues related to U.S. election security and voting called “Vote Watch.”
Discussion:
@ajvicens, @ajvicens, @cynthiamcfadden, @byjacobward, @oset and @nbcnewspr
Todd Spangler / Variety:
TiVo to merge with technology licensing company Xperi; the combined company will have a fully diluted equity value of $2.4B, with TiVo owning ~53.5% of it — TiVo has scrapped plans to split itself into two separate companies, and instead announced a $3 billion merger with Xperi …