Top News:
Jeremy W. Peters / New York Times:
Fox News host Sean Hannity and others say they doubted 2020 claims of a voting fraud plot, as Dominion Voting lawyers try to show Fox knew it aired false claims — On Wednesday, lawyers for Dominion Voting Systems shared some of the strongest evidence yet that some Fox employees knew what they broadcast about the claims was false.
Wall Street Journal:
Sources detail steps Netflix may take to reduce US password sharing, like charging account owners an extra sharing fee at just below the $6.99 ad-supported tier — Putting a stop to the practice without alienating customers will be a challenge — The end of password sharing is coming to Netflix soon …
Discussion:
MacRumors, @wsj, @danrayburn, @asharma, The Streamable, @jtoonkel, AppleInsider, The Sun and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Tom Gerken / BBC:
The UK's IPO says sharing passwords for online streaming services such as Netflix breaks the law if the intent is to access copyright works without payment — Sharing passwords for online streaming services such as Netflix is against the law, according to a government agency.
Discussion:
The Guardian and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »
NPR:
Freelance ABC News producer Kristen Hentschel worked for a consulting firm hired by utility companies; sources: she traded on her false ABC work at least thrice — NPR's David Folkenflik reported this story with Mario Ariza and Miranda Green of Floodlight, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates …
Discussion:
@mirandacgreen, @mirandacgreen, @edmundlee, @dceiver, @lailaalarian, @joshmankiewicz, Floodlight, @sunnyright, @davidfolkenflik, @4lisaguerrero, @cliffschecter, @jrovner, @marioarizabaez, @marioarizabaez, @tcblume, @jbarro, @grace_panetta, @alexkleeman, @draperrobert, @byrontau, @johnarchibald, @mirandacgreen, @mirandacgreen, @taitdl, New York Post, @jeffweineros, @floodlightnews, @lindaholmes, @johnson_carrie and @emilygorcenski
Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Justin Bieber is close to selling some of his music rights to Blackstone-backed Hipgnosis Songs Capital in a ~$200M transaction, Hipgnosis' largest yet — Expected deal for star's publishing and recorded music includes hit songs ‘Love Yourself’ and ‘Baby’
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
New Jersey names Lionsgate a “studio partner”, increasing its tax credits for wage and salary costs as the company anchors a $125M film studio complex in Newark — The major studio will earn new bonuses from the state's tax break program as an anchor tenant in a $125 million …
Discussion:
Variety and Media Play News
NBC News:
Infotainment blogs such as NoJumper and Hollywood Unlocked are spreading misogyny and misinformation against Megan Thee Stallion, Amber Heard, and other women — Megan Thee Stallion isn't on trial. The man charged with shooting her in both feet, the Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, is.
ProPublica:
Google's Display Network, which places ads on 2M+ websites, lets site owners stay anonymous while putting ads beside pirated content, porn, and disinformation — In late 2021, the right-wing site Conservative Beaver published a story falsely claiming the FBI had arrested Pfizer's CEO for fraud.
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix plans to invest ~$850M in a production hub at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, with 12 sound stages and a backlot, pending due diligence and local approvals — The streaming giant plans to build one of the largest fully-integrated production facilities in the world on a former military base.
Chris Stokel-Walker / Nature:
How Twitter played a major role in research and science communication, especially during the pandemic, and the impact of researchers and scientists now leaving — In November, Vince Knight decided he'd had enough of Twitter. After more than a decade on the social-media platform, Knight …
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
Vox Media plans to return nearly all of a $200K grant from Sam Bankman-Fried's foundation; Semafor, The Intercept, and others will wait for official guidance — ProPublica and Vox Media plan to give back journalism grants from the indicted crypto tycoon. Other newsrooms have been less clear.
Discussion:
@joeconchatv, New York Magazine, @raylong, @mcelarier, @rwpusa, @jeremymbarr, New York Post, Observer and Axios
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
The Guardian says a “serious incident”, believed to be a ransomware attack, hit the company's IT network and systems; online publishing is largely unaffected — Incident has hit parts of media company's technology infrastructure, with staff told to work from home
Discussion:
BBC, Newser, @yonettejo, TechCrunch, @janlemnitzer, @pressgazette, @tomphillipsin, Engadget, @profwoodward, @dangainor, @jackinpogform, MediaPost, The Register, Financial Times and Bloomberg