Mediagazer: Sources: Barry Diller's IAC hires an investment firm to explore selling The Daily Beast, which Diller launched in 2008; the sale process is in the early stages (Benjamin Mullin/New York Times)

3:45 PM ET, January 13, 2023

Top News:

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

Sources: Barry Diller's IAC hires an investment firm to explore selling The Daily Beast, which Diller launched in 2008; the sale process is in the early stages — The tech mogul's company has hired Whisper Advisors, an advisory firm, to find potential buyers for the digital publication.

Discussion: @benmullin, Observer, The Hill, New York Post, @noahshachtman, @benmullin, @edmundlee, @sarahnrogers, @nytimesbusiness and @sherman4949

Linda Codega / Gizmodo:

Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast reveals details of its revised game license and says charitable use, livestreams, and more will be unaffected — After facing a week of constant backlash online, the Hasbro subsidiary finally breaks their silence. — Alerts

Discussion: TechCrunch, D&D Beyond, @wizards_dnd, @umbral_knightx, @zarawesome, @danielhkwan, @tyschalter, @umbral_knightx, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Polygon, @tabiwritesstuff, Reason, ScreenRant, New Republic and Kotaku

Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:

Over 66,000 people sign a letter objecting to a new planned Dungeons & Dragons game license, which it says would tax some creators at 25% and stifle innovation — More than 54,000 fans signed an open letter in protest of a new game license — Once a game on the periphery for the nerdiest of nerds …

Wall Street Journal:

YouTube is testing a hub of free, ad-supported streaming channels with select media partners, looking to compete with Roku, Paramount's Pluto TV, and Fox's Tubi — Tech company's effort could rival Roku, Fox in fast-growing area of streaming business — Created with sketchtool. — 1x

Discussion: The Streamable, Engadget, @cityofthetown, @cordcuttersnews and @jtoonkel, more at Techmeme »

Connie Guglielmo / CNET:

After a report that it is using AI for writing articles, CNET explains its test, changes the byline on AI-written posts, and makes disclosures more prominent — For over two decades, CNET has built our reputation testing new technologies and separating the hype from reality.

Discussion: Platformer, Press Gazette, Talking Biz News, @techledes, @hiddensmallcaps, @raywongy, The Shortcut, @raehodge, Boing Boing, Shelly Palmer and Futurism, more at Techmeme »

Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:

Memo: News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson says the company must revive its culture with in-office staff attendance and asks managers to “ensure compliance” — News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson sent out the following to staff, including journalists at The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and MarketWatch.com:

Discussion: @alisonbrower, @jeffrey_cane, Fortune, @rafat, Insider and Bloomberg

TechCrunch:

Sources: Tokyo-based aggregator website and app SmartNews, valued at $2B in 2021, laid off ~120 people, or 40% of US and China staff, with more coming in Japan — SmartNews, a Tokyo-headquartered news aggregation website and app valued at $2 billion as of 2021, today announced a 40% reduction …

more at Techmeme »

Morning Brew:

Morning Brew acquires Our Future, a short-form video startup founded in 2020, with 1B views and 1M followers across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube — The rise of short-form video has changed the way people consume content. … Earlier this year, Morning Brew signaled its ambitions …

Discussion: Press Gazette

Yuvraj Malik / Reuters:

WWE retains Kirkland & Ellis as legal adviser for its strategic alternatives review, The Raine Group as financial adviser, and August as communications adviser — World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE.N) said on Thursday it has retained bankruptcy and restructuring powerhouse Kirkland & Ellis LLP …

Discussion: corporate.wwe.com, @chriswelch, @pkafka, @sherman4949, @mattbelloni, CNBC, Bloomberg Law, Sportico and Quartz

Natalie Kitroeff / New York Times:

A profile of Denise Maerker, Mexico's most-watched TV news anchor, as she steps down from her on-air role and faces criticism for impartial restrained coverage — As a crucial presidential election approaches, a newswoman's resignation has raised a crucial question: Is her restrained approach also on its way out?

Discussion: @nytimes, @laurabruges and @tmattiacehrw

Oregonian:

Oregon's Medford Mail Tribune, bought in 2017 from GateHouse Media by Rosebud Media with financing help from Sinclair Broadcast Group, ceases operations — Medford's Mail Tribune, one of Oregon's oldest operating news organizations, said Wednesday it would shut down by the end of the week.

Jack Neff / Ad Age:

Samba TV divests its ad sales division to programmatic platform MiQ under a multiyear agreement, sidestepping conflicts with its audience measurement business — Samba sells its ad sales division to MiQ as it looks to sidestep conflicts with its measurement efforts

Discussion: The Wrap, MediaPost, Deadline and Samba TV

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China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — Reuters

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