Top News:
Michelle Gao / CNBC:
Discovery to launch its streaming service, Discovery+, in Jan. 2021, with a $4.99 per month ad-supported tier and a $6.99 per month ad-free tier — - Discovery will launch its streaming service, Discovery+, in Jan. 2021. — The service will include a $4.99 per month ad-supported tier and a $6.99 per month ad-free tier.
Discussion:
Variety, The Streamable, @sherman4949, The Verge, @lanceulanoff and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
J. Clara Chan / The Wrap:
After Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe called in to a morning CNN editorial call with Jeff Zucker, CNN says it has referred the incident to law enforcement — CNN said it is involving “law enforcement” after James O'Keefe, the founder of the right-wing group Project Veritas …
Discussion:
@cnnpr, @cnnpr, @superwuster, @levinejonathan, @tuckercarlson, @donaldjtrumpjr, The RFAngle, The Daily Beast, The RFAngle and Mediaite
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
YouTube upgrades Premieres, which gives scheduled videos a landing page, with trailers, themes, and live stream pre-shows that later redirect to the main event — YouTube today is launching three new features designed to improve its “Premieres” experience, including trailers, themes …
Suzanne Vranica / Wall Street Journal:
GroupM expects marketers to spend $110.1B on digital ads in the US this year, accounting for more than half of the year's total ad spend for the first time — Digital ads to account for more than half of year's U.S. advertising expenditures for first time — For the first time …
Discussion:
@lindseyboylan, @alecmacgillis, @joshsternberg, @jamesvgrimaldi, @raju, @leimer, @david_marcelis and @emilyglazer
Matthew Cunningham-Cook / The Intercept:
The Intercept publishes a statement of principles for its freelancers, facilitated by the Freelance Solidarity Project of the National Writers Union — The Intercept is committed to producing journalism that exposes abuses of power and treating all who contribute to the news outlet with fairness and respect.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @hamiltonnolan, @ashponders, @rmc031, @eoinhiggins_, @fsp_nwu, @coracurrier, @alexbkane, @aribrostoff, @fsp_nwu, @jbwashing and bookforum.com
Ashley Carman / The Verge:
Spotify says Anchor powered 80% of its new podcasts, or 1M+ shows, in 2020; overall, Anchor powers 70% of Spotify's total podcast catalog of over 1.9M shows — Anchor powered more than 1 million show launches in 2020 — Spotify's $100 million-plus Anchor acquisition is seemingly paying off.
Discussion:
Spotify, @backlon, @mattnavarra, @alexwolfco, @tinacanthony, @simonowens, TechCrunch, @ashleyrcarman and Spotify for Podcasters, more at Techmeme »
Anthony Ha / TechCrunch:
Google says News Showcase will soon add free access to select paywalled articles, and it has doubled publisher partners to ~400 since its launch in October — Google News Showcase visitors will soon be able to read select paywalled articles at no extra charge.
Discussion:
9to5Google and The Keyword
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
Hodinkee, a site featuring news and reviews about watches, raises $40M from LVMH Luxury Ventures, TCG, Tom Brady, and others, source says at a $100M+ valuation — As Tom Brady, LVMH Luxury Ventures and TCG step in, Hodinkee founder Benjamin Clymer will cede CEO duties after more than a decade at the center of the watch world
Discussion:
@seangriffey, @jackmarshall, @benmullin, @wsjmag, @bmorrissey, @mylestanzer and @benmullin
Shirley Zhao / Bloomberg:
Netflix is planning to double spending on original content in Asia in 2021 to stay ahead of Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and regional challengers Viu and WeTV — - U.S. giant facing stiff competition in crowded Asian market — Streaming companies luring Asian viewers with cheap packages
Discussion:
CNBC
Tony Romm / Washington Post:
Trump threatened in a tweet on Tuesday to veto the annual defense bill, authorizing nearly $1T in military spending, unless Congress repeals Section 230 — President Trump on Tuesday threatened to veto an annual defense bill authorizing nearly $1 trillion in military spending unless Congress opens …
Etan Vlessing / Hollywood Reporter:
WarnerMedia names Jennifer Biry as CFO, replacing Pascal Desroches, who will be moving into the role of CFO at AT&T — She succeeds Pascal Desroches at the Hollywood conglomerate as it focuses more on its HBO Max streaming service. — Jennifer Biry has been named as the new chief financial officer for WarnerMedia.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety and WORLD SCREEN
Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
ABC accuses Morrison government of using News Corp to attack its journalism after the Australian received government questions for ABC before it received them — Government tactics criticised after the Australian newspaper briefed about a series of Coalition questions meant for the ABC before the broadcaster even received them
Discussion:
@kloussikian, @margokingston1 and @earleyedition