Mediagazer: Comcast adds YouTube TV to Xfinity Flex, the cable giant's video platform for broadband-only customers, offering 85+ channels for $65/month (Todd Spangler/Variety)

8:40 PM ET, December 9, 2021

Top News:

Michael Conte / CNN:

US Secretary of State Blinken announces a “liability fund” for news outlets sued over their work and financial support for independent international journalism — (CNN)The US will provide new funding to protect reporters targeted because of their work and support independent …

Discussion: The White House, Columbia Journalism Review, @apmassaro3, @usambbelarus, @holewinskisarah, @thesentry_org, @vanguardafrica, @holewinskisarah, @digiphile, @penamerica, @usaid, @mcfaul, @nishantlalwani, @sarcasmstardust, @cjcmichel, @jamesmdeane and @holewinskisarah

The Quad City Times:

Lee Enterprises' board of directors unanimously rejects Alden's unsolicited, nonbinding takeover offer for $24 per share as it “grossly undervalues Lee” — Lee Enterprises, the owner of The World-Herald and numerous other Nebraska newspapers, on Thursday announced that its board …

Discussion: Lee Enterprises, Inc., CNN, Axios, Newser, New York Times, @john_p_carvalho, @sarafischer, Poynter, @marydleonard, @dkiesow, @timeslandguild, @mcallguild, @brynstole, @owhguild, @lukedecock, @lincolnbizbuzz and Fingerlakes1.com

Arlene Getz / Committee to Protect Journalists:

The global number of jailed journalists reached a record of 293 in 2021 so far, up from 280 in 2020; at least 24 journalists were killed over their coverage — The number of journalists jailed around the world set another record in 2021. Invoking new tech and security laws …

Jim Milliot / Publishers Weekly:

The Association of American Publishers sues Maryland, saying a new e-book law requiring publishers to offer reasonable terms to libraries violates copyright law — The Association of American Publishers filed suit December 9 to stop a new library e-book law in Maryland from taking effect on January 1 …

Discussion: AAP and Library Futures

Mia Galuppo / Hollywood Reporter:

Netflix announces Tudum, a website for consumer news about renewals and release dates, adding to social channels like Strong Black Lead and its magazine Queue — A new website, Tudum, will host news like renewals and consumer content about series and films, marking the latest editorial effort by the streaming giant.

Discussion: TechCrunch, @netflix, Gawker, @andrewcurryla, @mcwm, @freeblackgirl and @miagaluppo

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Comcast adds YouTube TV to Xfinity Flex, the cable giant's video platform for broadband-only customers, offering 85+ channels for $65/month — It's another case of the streaming wars making strange bedfellows: Comcast announced that starting today, Google's YouTube TV is now available on Xfinity Flex …

Discussion: thestreamable.com, The Verge, Engadget, The Streamable, @richlightshed and TV Technology

Ryan Faughnder / Los Angeles Times:

Universal Pictures plans to stream most of its 2022 films on Peacock 45 days after debuting in theaters; existing deals with theater chains remain unchanged — Streaming service Peacock is hoping to get a boost from movies made by its corporate sibling, movie studio Universal Pictures.

Discussion: The Wrap, ScreenRant, Variety, The Verge, Media Play News and Decider

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Paramount+ launches 18 themed channels streaming 24 hours per day, akin to Pluto TV, initially without ads, even for its ad-supported Essential tier — Paramount Plus is taking a page from ViacomCBS's Pluto TV streaming service with the launch of 18 linear channels that let subscribers surf through always …

Discussion: The Streamable

Digiday:

Study: 92.6% of websites with tier-one ad spend place at least one tracker on users' devices before gaining their consent, suggesting they may be violating GDPR — European Union law on cookie consent is clear: a person should be given a simple choice to accept or reject being tracked by advertisers on publisher sites.

Discussion: @opeyemioab, @chronotope and What's New in Publishing

@wirecutterunion:

The Wirecutter Union files an unfair labor charge with the NLRB after learning that the NYT withheld holiday pay from striking workers — 🚨UNION BUSTING ALERT🚨: We learned this morning that @wirecutter/@nytimes illegally withheld holiday pay in retaliation for striking. We're filing an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB to right this wrong immediately.

Discussion: Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At, @rweingarten, @kvanaren, @nytimesguild, @hunterboone, @samred, @samitsarkar, @thomdunn, @runasand, @galeabrewer, @poniewozik, @kimberstreams, @cwaunion, @mckinneykelsey and bookforum.com

Sam Kille / Report for America:

Report for America adds nearly 70 new host newsroom partners, expanding into more rural communities and continuing its focus on education beats — Nonprofit service program looks to grow reporting corps to 325 in 2022 — (See the newly-selected newsrooms and beats here)

Discussion: @report4america, @stevenwaldman, @haley_samsel, @sjspotlight, @alexanderrusso, @nicdawes, @kevinloker and The Rural Blog

Mark Stenberg / Adweek:

Starting in early 2022, video clips from Vox Media's Pivot podcast will air exclusively on Salesforce+ for 72 hours; Salesforce will sponsor Pivot video in 2022 — The tech podcast Pivot will share four exclusive clips weekly on the ‘Netflix for business content’

Discussion: Salesforce News, hotpodnews.com, @bmorrissey, @karaswisher, @stevegoldbloom and @vincenzolandino

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Richard J. Tofel / Second Rough Draft:
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Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
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Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
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Sara Fischer / Axios:
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Helen Davidson / The Guardian:
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From Techmeme:

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is working on a smart doorbell system with advanced facial recognition that can wirelessly connect and unlock third-party smart locks

Wall Street Journal:
Gina Raimondo says holding back China in the chips race is a “fool's errand”, and investment, more than export controls, will keep US ahead of Beijing

Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge:
The US NHTSA suggests easing rules allowing for fully driverless cars and urges companies operating driverless cars to share more data for greater transparency

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