Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
BuzzFeed has agreed to acquire Verizon Media's HuffPost in a stock deal, as part of a larger agreement to syndicate content on each others' platforms — New-media companies have been exploring mergers as they try to jumpstart growth — BuzzFeed Inc. has agreed to acquire Verizon Media's HuffPost …
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, The Guardian, Axios, @howardkurtz, Vox, CNN, Talking Biz News, Reuters, New York Times, Variety, HuffPost, Poynter, @digiphile, The Week, @andybcampbell, Digiday, @brianstelter, Yahoo, @shereeny, @jimwaterson, @mikeelk, @pbump, @joshsternberg, @jennygzhang, @froomkin, @justinbaragona, @emilybell, @justinjm1, @akbarsahmed, @ceciliakang, @ryanjreilly, @sivavaid, @mdudas, @xpangler, @megan, @maxberger, @doctoryasmin, @bafeldman, @theferocity, @mikkipedia, @bmorrissey, @mbaram, @lauraolin, @kerrymflynn, @willoremus, @jeffjarvis, @benyt, @barry, @ariannahuff, @kerrymflynn, @adamamin, @alexkotch, @mathewi, @laurenstrapa, @mjenkins, @levynews, @olifranklin, @c_davies, @donie, @thekenyeung, @pkafka, Flashes & Flames, @mehdirhasan, @maxwelltani, @emilybell, @anja_popp, @essexcanning, @keithrhernandez, @jeremymbarr, @mathewi, @jeremymbarr, @jimwaterson, @jem_collins, @laurenpelley, @johannabarr, @thekenyeung, @yashar, @craigsilverman, @jbenton, National Review, TechCrunch, Verizon, The Media Nut, Press Gazette, Fast Company, Adweek, Newser, MediaPost, Talking Points Memo, The Verge, Mediaite, The Desk, Bloomberg, The Wrap, The Hill, CNBC, Business Insider, TheStreet, Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
New York Post:
Sources: DOJ is investigating Penske Media's deal to acquire 80% of The Hollywood Reporter's parent, MRC; Penske also owns Variety, Deadline, and other outlets — The Department of Justice is investigating antitrust concerns surrounding Penske Media's deal to buy The Hollywood Reporter, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Mike Fleming Jr / Deadline:
Sources: Disney weighs plans to release three films on Disney+ instead of as theatrical releases, following news that Wonder Woman 1984 will stream on HBO Max — EXCLUSIVE: No final decision has been made, but Deadline hears that the uncertainty of the future theatrical marketplace …
Discussion:
What's On Disney Plus, @filmupdates, The A.V. Club, GameSpot, @mousterpiece, @kyletague, ScreenRant and Hollywood Reporter
RELATED:
Julia Alexander / The Verge:
Wonder Woman 1984, originally to be released in June, will simultaneously be released on Dec. 25 in US theaters and on HBO Max, with no added fee on HBO Max — One of 2020's last big movies will also be streamed — One of 2020's last big blockbusters, Wonder Woman 1984 …
Discussion:
Guerra do Streaming, @jasonkilar, Medium, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, @frankpallotta, CNN, @trengriffin, @hunterwalk, Seth Tower Hurd's The Five, @joshelman, @ser_jon_arryn, @brianstelter, @rfaughnder, @rfaughnder, @rfaughnder, @variety, @lamarrwilson, @mikeryan, @lanceulanoff, @starfire2258, @harrymccracken, @mcbiggitty, @loudmouthjulia, @lucas_shaw, @loudmouthjulia, @reckless, The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, Game Rant, Adweek, io9, The A.V. Club, Polygon, Collider, ScreenRant and IGN
Noam Scheiber / New York Times:
An influx of celebrities as podcast contractors at The Ringer raises concerns among staff; some say Bill Simmons has shown signs of trying to weaken their union — The influx of star podcasters looms over a dispute between the union and managers at the Spotify-owned digital media company founded by Bill Simmons.
Discussion:
Podcast Movement, @harry_houdini, @timfernholz, @nytimesbusiness, @drewunga, @trentonjocz, @defectormedia, @davidfucillo, @noamscheiber, @cianaf, @scottcelestre, @patcaldwell, @hshaban, @mangiotto, @cassieceleste, @madisonarm, @viajoshhunt, @hshaban, Defector, Front Office Sports and Awful Announcing
Mathieu Rosemain / Reuters:
Google says it has signed copyright agreements with six French newspapers and magazines, involving a way to pay publishers through Google News Showcase — PARIS (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google GOOGL.O has signed copyright agreements with six French newspapers and magazines …
Discussion:
Le blog officiel de …, Pat White, @blmohr and @benyt
BBC:
YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter say they will join forces with fact-checkers, governments, and researchers to tackle COVID-19 vaccine conspiracies from January — Three of the largest social networks have said they will join forces with fact-checkers, governments and researchers to try to come …
Adrianne Jeffries / The Markup:
Google says it will end preferential search rankings for AMP pages in the spring, but remains “fully committed” to the technology — Targeting Trump Fans, QAnon Ad Slips Through Facebook's Filters — How Private Is My Pay App?
Mark Jacob / Local News Initiative:
National digital networks are entering local media markets, including Open Campus, which helps fund higher ed reporters and has seven partners in six states — Axios, ProPublica, The Athletic and Chalkbeat Take Different Approaches to Going Local — National digital news organizations …
Discussion:
American Press Institute
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
Source: Discovery Networks' upcoming streaming service, Discovery+, is expected to cost $8/month for an ad-free version and $5/month for an ad-supported tier — Subscribers will be able to remove the ads for an extra $2 a month, according to information obtained exclusively by The Desk
Discussion:
@scottporch, @tracytran, @matthewkeyslive and Discovery Communications, Thanks:@matthewkeyslive
Bloomberg:
Taiwan's broadcast regulator refuses to renew TV license for pro-China Chung T'ien News, citing interference from a major shareholder and failure to fact check — - NCC says Chung T'ien News violated broadcast regulations — TV station says its closure is politically motivated
Discussion:
@dimartinobooth, Reuters, The Guardian and New Bloom Magazine
Eben Novy-Williams / Sportico.com:
Bally's acquires naming rights to Sinclair's 21 regional sports networks in a 10-year deal that will integrate Bally's content into Sinclair's 190 TV stations — Bally's Corp. has acquired naming rights to 21 of the regional sports networks purchased last year by Sinclair Broadcast Group …
Discussion:
The Streamable, New York Post, @novy_williams, Awful Announcing and TheStreet