Top News:
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
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:
Vox, @maxwelltani, CNN, @howardkurtz, Axios, The Guardian, New York Times, Digiday, Variety, Reuters, @digiphile, HuffPost, @brianstelter, Talking Biz News, Poynter, @emilybell, Columbia Journalism Review, @justinbaragona, The Week, @akbarsahmed, @ryanjreilly, @andybcampbell, Flashes & Flames, @mikkipedia, @jeremymbarr, @emilybell, @jimwaterson, @justinjm1, @doctoryasmin, @c_davies, @thekenyeung, @jeffjarvis, @shereeny, @mikeelk, @joshsternberg, @jennygzhang, @ceciliakang, @theferocity, @mbaram, @adamamin, @laurenstrapa, @mjenkins, @levynews, @olifranklin, @mehdirhasan, @anja_popp, @essexcanning, @keithrhernandez, @bmorrissey, @kerrymflynn, @sivavaid, @kerrymflynn, @alexkotch, @pkafka, @donie, @benyt, @xpangler, @pbump, @mathewi, @megan, @willoremus, @ariannahuff, @maxberger, @froomkin, @maxwelltani, @bafeldman, @lauraolin, @barry, @mdudas, @jeremymbarr, @mathewi, @jimwaterson, @jem_collins, @laurenpelley, @johannabarr, @thekenyeung, @yashar, @craigsilverman, @jbenton, Yahoo, National Review, TechCrunch, Verizon, The Media Nut, Press Gazette, The Verge, Fast Company, Adweek, Newser, MediaPost, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite, The Desk, Bloomberg, The Wrap, The Hill, CNBC, Business Insider, TheStreet, Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and Boing Boing
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 …
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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:
Variety, The Streamable, @jasonkilar, Medium, @frankpallotta, @trengriffin, @hunterwalk, Variety, Seth Tower Hurd's The Five, @joshelman, CNN, @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
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:
@localnewsini, @terabithia4, @timafranklin, @dicktofel, @localnewsini and American Press Institute
Brandon Katz / Observer:
Universal signs deal with Canada's Cineplex shortening theatrical window to 17 days; films with North American opening weekend box office of $50M get 31 days — Cineplex, Canada's largest film exhibitor, and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group today announced a multi-year agreement …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, @great_katzby, Variety and Media Play News
Ashley King / Digital Music News:
With Twitch enforcing DMCA takedowns, CD Projekt Red is releasing its Cyberpunk 2077 game with a “streamer-friendly” mode that disables copyrighted music — The games industry is tackling DMCA takedowns on streaming platforms with a new ‘streamer-friendly mode.’
Discussion:
GameByte, Polygon and ScreenRant
Michael Paulson / New York Times:
Stage actors' union has settled a dispute with SAG-AFTRA and will represent performers, as theaters have pivoted to streaming play productions — Actors' Equity and SAG-AFTRA's agreement clears the way for more entertainment during the pandemic winter. — Two major entertainment industry unions …
Discussion:
@nytimesarts, @wendellpierce, @rkgwork, @jetscott and RightsTech Project
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 …, American Press Institute, @rasmus_kleis, Pat White, @blmohr, @benyt and RightsTech Project
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, @cianaf, @mangiotto, @defectormedia, @nytimesbusiness, @drewunga, @noamscheiber, @patcaldwell, @harry_houdini, @scottcelestre, @hshaban, @davidfucillo, @timfernholz, @trentonjocz, @cassieceleste, @madisonarm, @viajoshhunt, @hshaban, Front Office Sports, Defector and Awful Announcing
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
Anna Nicolaou / Financial Times:
Condé Nast plans to hire ~300 people for engineering and product roles to reach profitability by 2022; sources: Bon Appétit to launch an app like NYT Cooking's — Owner of world's most influential fashion bible and The New Yorker aims to reverse years of losses
Discussion:
@condenast and @annaknicolaou
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