Mediagazer: WarnerMedia can't launch HBO Max in the UK, Germany, or Italy because HBO content and some Warner Bros films are licensed exclusively to Sky until at least 2025 (Financial Times)

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Verizon Media Group plans to rebrand most media franchises as Yahoo products and group them together on Yahoo+, a subscription platform — Verizon Media Group, the media division within Verizon, has 3 million people that pay for subscriptions across its portfolio of Yahoo-related products …

Discussion: @sarafischer, @dtheblerd, @davidclinchnews, @alex, @mcwm, @richlightshed, @kerrymflynn and @alexweprin

Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:

Study of subscriber retention techniques at 526 news organizations across the US: just 41% “make it easy” for subscribers to cancel their subscriptions online — Bad news for people who hate using the phone: Just 41% of U.S. news publishers “make it easy” for subscribers to cancel …

Discussion: American Press Institute, @ampress, American Press Institute, @bryanmvance and @kerrymflynn

Reuters:

Cineworld, owner of Regal Cinemas, strikes multi-year deal with Warner Bros. guaranteeing a 45-day theatrical window in the US starting in 2022 — (Reuters) - Cineworld's U.S. chain Regal will reopen next month after prolonged closures caused by the pandemic, in time for big-budget release …

Discussion: Deadline, Observer, The Wrap, The Streamable, io9, Collider, @great_katzby, New York Times, IndieWire, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter and Engadget

Kate Kaye / Digiday:

As publishers adopt single ID systems to replace third-party cookies, they are falling short in asking for users' consent and transparency about data use — Publishers, advertisers and ad tech companies are rallying around identity tech such as Unified ID 2., a system developed …

Discussion: @acfou, @privacymatters, @katekayereports and Insider

Katharine Q. Seelye / New York Times:

Paul Brock, a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists, formed to promote better hiring practices and improve coverage of POC, has died at 89 — The National Association of Black Journalists was formed to promote more aggressive hiring practices in the news media and to improve how people of color were covered.

Discussion: @dashdecosta

Lindsay Peoples Wagner / The Cut:

Q&A with journalist Abby Phillip on her new CNN show Inside Politics, her upcoming book, covering Trump as a Black reporter, and the lesson of 2020 — As the new editor-in-chief of any publication, the first cover is always a big decision. But especially for the Cut …

Discussion: @abbydphillip, @thecut, The Supercreator and E! Online

Financial Times:

WarnerMedia can't launch HBO Max in the UK, Germany, or Italy because HBO content and some Warner Bros films are licensed exclusively to Sky until at least 2025 — WarnerMedia's streaming service cannot be launched in the UK, Germany or Italy due to agreement with Sky

Discussion: Digital TV Europe

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Roku has formed a branded content and advertising studio, which will create commissioned short-form TV programs and interactive ads — Roku has formed what it says is a full-fledged branded-content and advertising studio, after inking a deal with digital comedy producer Funny Or Die to hire several FOD execs and employees.

Discussion: Ad Age, MediaPost, FierceVideo, Hollywood Reporter, Cord Cutters News and @xpangler

Tom Jones / Poynter:

Interview with Katie Couric on hosting Jeopardy!, her upcoming memoir, and building a company to produce a newsletter, a podcast, and other original journalism — She has a daily newsletter. She has a podcast. She produces original journalism on her website. Is there anything Katie Couric isn't doing?

Discussion: New York Post, @poynter, @poynter, @poynter, @benmullin, @amberhutchins and @tomwjones

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:

As its share price surges, ViacomCBS says it will raise $3B in a stock sale to bolster its push into streaming — The sale of Class B common stock and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock comes the same month the company officially launched Paramount+, and as the company's share price surges.

Discussion: Axios, Variety, The Wrap and @alexweprin

Lucy Sherriff / Future Human:

Researchers translating text from Hawaii's 100+ forgotten native-language newspapers are discovering a treasure trove of historical climate data — Researchers translating the papers uncovered accounts of extreme weather that struck the islands in the past

Discussion: @yeahyeahyasmin, @sherrifflucy and @ozm

Jem Aswad / Variety:

Tencent Music and Warner Music to expand licensing agreement with a joint venture record label in China; Tencent became a 20% owner of Universal Music last year — Tencent Music Entertainment Group, part of the massive China-based Tencent media company, and Warner Music have announced …

Discussion: Complete Music Update, TechCrunch, Rolling Stone and Music Business Worldwide