Top News:


Sources: CNN is considering hiring a comedian to host a prime time show; executives have floated Bill Maher, Trevor Noah, Jon Stewart, and others — CNN is considering hiring a comedian to host one of its prime time shows. — The “news entertainment” personality could fill the primetime 9 …
Discussion:
Fox News, @ourand_sbj, New York Post, @susanbordson, @jeffjarvis, @nkulw, @the_moviebob, @steven_strauss, @schneider_cm, @arlanwashere, Mediaite, @justschmeltzer, @mattdavis, @bencjacobs, @phil_rosenthal, @ameshiacross, @johnnydollar01, @neontaster, @cenksidar, @armandondk, @tvgrimreaper, @greenfield64 and Variety


A trio of artists sue Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt over AI art copyright; a firm suing Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI over Copilot filed the lawsuit — A trio of artists have launched a lawsuit against Stability AI and Midjourney, creators of AI art generators Stable Diffusion and Midjourney …


Sources: Amazon Prime Video plans to part ways with Jeremy Clarkson after his remaining commissioned shows air in 2024, following his comments on Meghan Markle — Amazon Prime Video is likely to be parting ways with Jeremy Clarkson mere weeks after his comments about Meghan Markle were published in British tabloid The Sun.
Discussion:
Jeremy Clarkson, Deadline, The Wrap, The Guardian, Press Gazette, Daily Mail, NME, @mrjamesob, @droid254, @royal_suitor, @sangitamyska, @nancyleegrahn, @meralhece, @kevin_maguire, Daily Mail, The Sun, Sky News, @ledbettercarly, @simonharris_mbd, @rupertmyers, @factsand2cents, @manori_r, @henrymance, @nadine_writes, @danwootton, @tudorchick1501, Dailystar.co.uk, @ryanjl, LBC, @number10cat and @richardaeden


A look at the role a CoinDesk story played in FTX's fall, as the outlet covers parent DCG's problems; CoinDesk had 17M page views in November, up 96% on October — The parent company of CoinDesk, one of the first news sites focused on the industry, faces questions about the operations and financial health of some of its subsidiaries.
Discussion:
@benmullin, @mikejcasey, @rafat, @emilydparker, The New York Times Company and Davis, Wright, Tremaine LLP


Warner Bros Discovery and the European Broadcasting Union win an auction for Olympic Games broadcasting rights between 2026 and 2032 in 49 European territories — Warner Bros Discovery and the European Broadcasting Union have won the auction for Olympic Games broadcasting rights between 2026 and 2032.
Discussion:
Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Discovery, Broadband TV News, The Guardian and Media Play News


Q&A with MGM+ head Michael Wright on rebranding from Epix, plans for eight original series per year under Amazon's ownership, and more — The top-to-bottom rebrand of the service that debuted in October 2009 (as a joint venture among MGM, Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate) …
Discussion:
MediaPost and Media Play News


As the number of shows and movies depicting real events has grown, screenwriters are taking liberties with the facts, often leading to public spats and lawsuits — The entertainment genre of historical drama is flourishing — and riddled with inaccuracies. The untrue parts are leading to more public spats and lawsuits.
Discussion:
@nytimes, @marshacollier, @mikeaztec28, @bubbaprog and @stormmela


Comcast-owned Sky plans to offer free Discovery+ access to subscribers in the UK and Ireland, saving them £6.99 per month — “We know value is incredibly important right now,” Comcast-owned Sky says. … “Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers can now sign up for Discovery+ as part …
Discussion:
Deadline, Daily Express, Broadband TV News and Media Play News


The UK's Reach told The Sunday Mirror and Sunday People staff that the two Sunday tabloids will begin sharing most of their content under new cost-saving plans — The Sunday People and Sunday Mirror have been under the same editor since 2014. — The Sunday Mirror and Sunday People newspapers look set …
Discussion:
One Man & His Blog


Singapore's The Straits Times said last week it overstated daily circulation by 85K-95K copies, or 10%-12% of reported numbers, from Sept. 2020 to March 2022 — SPH Media, Singapore's dominant news organization, has been derided for many failings — being too stodgy, too pro-government …
Discussion:
@newley, @semafor, @byjasonng, @benplatt1023, @incoherentboy and The Straits Times


A look at the costs of reporting on Iran for BBC Persian journalists: death threats, online harassment, and threats to family members who remain in the country — In Iran, the anti-government protests of 2022 have continued into the new year. Reporting on one of the biggest international stories …


Reliance and Paramount's Viacom18 buys five-year rights to the new women's Indian Premier League cricket tournament for ~$116M after buying the men's IPL rights — Viacom18 Media Pvt., backed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, scooped up the television and digital broadcasting rights …