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:
The Guardian, New York Times, Axios, Variety, @maxwelltani, Adweek, MediaPost, HuffPost, CNN, Mediaite, The Desk, The Hill, Business Insider, Ad Age, The Wrap, TechCrunch, @digiphile, GlobeNewswire, @brianstelter, Talking Points Memo, @c_davies, @thekenyeung, Newser, The Verge, @jeffjarvis, @shereeny, @mikeelk, @theferocity, @mbaram, @joshsternberg, @jennygzhang, @adamamin, @laurenstrapa, @mjenkins, @ceciliakang, @levynews, @olifranklin, @mehdirhasan, @anja_popp, @essexcanning, @keithrhernandez, @bmorrissey, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @alexkotch, @sivavaid, @pkafka, CNBC, Verizon, @donie, @benyt, @xpangler, @pbump, @mathewi, @megan, TheStreet, @willoremus, @ariannahuff, @maxberger, @froomkin, @maxwelltani, @bafeldman, @lauraolin, @barry, @mdudas, @jeremymbarr, @mathewi, @jeremymbarr, @johannabarr, @jimwaterson, @jem_collins, @laurenpelley, @thekenyeung, @yashar, @craigsilverman, @jbenton, Reuters, Hollywood Reporter and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
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:
Medium, Variety, @jasonkilar, CNN, ScreenRant, The Wrap, @frankpallotta, Seth Tower Hurd's The Five, Hollywood Reporter, Reuters, @trengriffin, @hunterwalk, @joshelman, @ser_jon_arryn, @brianstelter, @rfaughnder, @rfaughnder, @rfaughnder, @variety, @lamarrwilson, @mikeryan, @lanceulanoff, @starfire2258, @harrymccracken, @mcbiggitty, @loudmouthjulia, @lucas_shaw, @loudmouthjulia, @reckless, Game Rant, Adweek, io9, The A.V. Club, Polygon, Collider and IGN
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 …, @blmohr and @benyt
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Linda Pizzuti Henry named CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners, the parent company of The Boston Globe, STAT News, and Boston.com that she owns with her husband — She takes the reins at a time of rising tensions between management and the paper's union. — Linda Pizzuti Henry on Wednesday became …
Discussion:
The Boston Globe, @bostonnewsguild, @elanazak, @nytmedia, @nytmedia, @mkarolian, wgbh.org and Media Nation
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:
New York Post, The Streamable, Awful Announcing, TheStreet and @novy_williams
Nate Rogers / Stereogum:
How a Spotify change in user preferences, setting autoplay to “on” by default, may have helped obscure songs become fan favorites, with algorithmic help — SOUNDING BOARD — A couple years ago, Stephen Malkmus walked into a shop and didn't recognize himself.
Discussion:
@caseynewton, @mountain_goats, @michellemanafy, @robmanuel, @jeremybmerrill, @elle_hunt, @mathewi, @frankie____, @eddierobson and musically.com
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Source: ViacomCBS has cut around 100 jobs in latest round of layoffs as part of a streamlining and cost-cutting push due to the merger — ViacomCBS has been hit with another round of job cuts as layoffs and restructuring continue across big media and entertainment companies.
Discussion:
Variety, Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap
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?
Discussion:
Official Google Webmaster …, more at Techmeme »
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:
Awful Announcing, Defector, @harry_houdini and @scottcelestre
Ben Mullin / @benmullin:
Vox Media will pay all employees, including temporary ones, a $1,000 end-of-year gift and restore merit and promotion increase budgets in 2021 — News: Vox Media employees are getting a $1,000 end-of-year gift: https://twitter.com/...
Discussion:
@rebekahentralgo and @karenyhan
Associated Press:
Peanuts Thanksgiving and Christmas specials will air on PBS after Apple, which owns the rights, teamed up with the broadcaster to air them ad free — NEW YORK (AP) — The “Great Pumpkin” never showed on broadcast television this year, but after a deal with PBS, the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving …
Jay Peters / The Verge:
T-Mobile to shut down TVision Home, its $90/month IPTV cable service, on December 30, following the November 1 debut of its live TV streaming service, TVision — TVision Home won't work after December 30th at 3AM ET — T-Mobile is shutting down TVision Home, its IPTV cable service …
Discussion:
Variety and Digital TV Europe