Top News:
New York Times:
Penske Media announces a strategic investment in Vox Media; sources: Penske acquired a ~20% stake for $100M, becoming the largest shareholder of Vox Media — The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions and investments made by Penske Media, the owner of a swath of entertainment …
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Variety, @benmullin, The Wrap, @bmorrissey, @devancoggan, @miarsato, @tvgrimreaper, @bydankadar, @lmoses, @jackmirkinson, Deadline, @nytimes, @imranzomg, @benmullin, @samitsarkar, @jayasax, IndieWire, @rafat, @laurabockov, The Information, @opheligarcia, @katierosman, The Hollywood Reporter and Axios
Carrie Blazina / Online News Association:
The Online News Association appoints LaSharah S. Bunting as its CEO and Executive Director, effective March 13; Bunting was most recently a Simon & Schuster VP — Journalist, transformational leader, equity advocate will lead organization — The Online News Association …
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@lasharah, @webjournalist, @ashleyalvarado, @irvwashington3, @wendi_c_thomas, @ona, @avqueenbenet, @iiwrites, @cande313, @kelseyproud, @bylarrygraham, @jkealing, @jeffjarvis and @carrieblazina
Jason Koebler / VICE:
Twitch suspends an AI version of Seinfeld for 14 days after Larry Feinberg, a Jerry Seinfeld clone, made transphobic and homophobic statements in a standup bit — “Nothing, Forever,” has been banned for at least 14 days. — Jason Koebler — “Nothing, Forever,” the infinitely-generating AI version …
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Ars Technica, @jasonschreier, The Register, IndieWire, @sir_superhero, Mediaite, @timmarchman, Engadget, Garbage Day, @merrittk, The Guardian, Mashable, Insider, @heerjeet, The A.V. Club, New York Post, @samleecole, @craigfaycomedy, TechCrunch, @nikostratis, BroBible, The Verge, Fox News and Screen Rant, more at Techmeme »
James Vincent / The Verge:
Getty Images sues Stability AI in the US for allegedly copying 12M+ images without permission or compensation for training data used to create Stable Diffusion — Getty Images has filed a lawsuit in the US against Stability AI, creators of open-source AI art generator Stable Diffusion, escalating its legal battle against the firm.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Tom Brady says he plans to join Fox Sports as lead NFL analyst in the fall of 2024, “take some time to really learn” the job, and tend to his personal life — The quarterback signed a deal with Fox Corp. last year to become an NFL broadcast analyst.
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Rebecca Rubin / Variety:
AMC Theatres introduces ticket prices based on seat location with seats in the middle of the theater priced higher, rolling out to all US locations by year end — At your next visit to AMC Theatres, getting a prime seat may cost you a little extra. — The country's largest exhibition chain …
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James Rainey / Los Angeles Times:
Ken Doctor says his local digital outlet Lookout Santa Cruz is on track to make a profit in 2023 and hopes to expand, probably within California, by early 2024 — Over many years as a leading media analyst, Ken Doctor spoke out repeatedly about the disintegrating American newspaper business.
Discussion:
@raineytime, @raineytime, @david_sommers, @jbenton and @sammy_roth
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Vinco Ventures and Icon Publishing acquire The National Enquirer from A360 Media for “a little less” than $100M, the price announced in a collapsed 2019 sale — The publication has come under scrutiny in recent years over its suppression of stories about Donald Trump in the 2016 campaign.
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John Ourand / Sports Business Journal:
The Super Bowl won't have crypto ads in 2023 as FTX and others back out after buying several spots early; crypto companies had around five spots in 2022's game — Fox Sports officially sold out Super Bowl LVII inventory, selling its final in-game spot in the week before the NFL conference championship games.
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Adweek, The Verge, New York Post, Awful Announcing and Insider, more at Techmeme »
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Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Fox Sports EVP Mark Evans says the outlet sold all its Super Bowl LVII ad inventory the week of January 23, with some peak 30-second spots selling for $7M+
Discussion:
MediaPost, Sportico, Associated Press, Insider, @rachyljones, Front Office Sports, @ericjackson, Fortune, @larakiara, @parkerdelrey, @ourand_sbj, Variety, Ad Age, The Big Lead and Barrett Media
William Turvill / Press Gazette:
GB News' CEO says the channel will be “pivoting sharply” toward profit by trimming “wasteful costs” and aims to become the UK's top news channel by 2028 — Chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos told staff GB News is entering “phase three” of its development.
Discussion:
@gentclassical
RELATED:
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
GB News presenter Mark Steyn quits after the channel told him he has to pay Ofcom fines for breaches of the broadcasting code over his COVID-19 vaccine comments
Discussion:
@davideledingue, @shentonstage, @rj_abel, @vexwerewolf, @eddierobson, @troyliss, @juwanthewriter and @john_castlevale
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
After Twitter said free API access would end on February 9, Elon Musk promises “a light, write-only API for bots providing good content that is free” — Last week, Twitter said it is shutting down free access to its APIs starting February 9. Now, days before the deadline …
Amudalat Ajasa / Washington Post:
A look at the Black women fighting for years to claim top TV meteorologists roles in the US, some of whom face waves of backlash and hate from viewers — For decades, broadcast meteorology has been dominated by White men — leaving out women, and particularly women of color.
Discussion:
@tevinwooten, @stellakafka, @brynnecraig, @drshepherd2013 and @bhensonweather
The Daily Beast:
Sources: ex-The Hill owner Jimmy Finkelstein plans to name former People EIC Dan Wakeford as the editor of The Messenger, a “Washington Post-Daily Mail hybrid” — This reporting is one of several scoops featured in this week's edition of Confider, the newsletter pulling back the curtain on the media.
Discussion:
@justinbaragona, @scottnover and @lachcartwright
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
DirecTV says the satellite broadcaster dropped Newsmax since the channel demanded tens of millions in licensing fees, not for “political or ideological” reasons — Satellite broadcaster DirecTV said money, not politics or social ideology, was the element that provoked …
Discussion:
The Streamable and Next TV, Thanks:@matthewkeyslive
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