Mediagazer: Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, banned in the UK in February 2021, appears to have set up an agency to distribute free video news packages pushing China's goals (Bron Maher/Press Gazette)

2:55 AM ET, December 12, 2023

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David Shepardson / Reuters:

A US judge upholds Texas' TikTok ban on state devices, rejecting a lawsuit filed by The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in July 2023 — A U.S. judge on Monday upheld Texas' ban on state employees', including public university employees, using Chinese-owned short video app TikTok …

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Alex Sherman / CNBC:

Sources: Altice USA is in talks to sell Cheddar News to private equity firm Regent; Altice paid $200M for Cheddar in 2019 and may be compensated via an earn-out — - Altice USA is in discussions to sell Cheddar News to Los Angeles private equity firm Regent LP.

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Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:

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Todd Spangler / Variety:

Apple redesigns Apple TV in iOS 17.2 and tvOS 17.2 with a sidebar that unifies content; iTunes now redirects users searching for shows and movies to Apple TV — Starting Monday, the iTunes Store app on iPhone and iPad will redirect users searching for TV and film titles to the newly redesigned Apple TV app.

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:

Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, banned in the UK in February 2021, appears to have set up an agency to distribute free video news packages pushing China's goals — AMSP claims to have 600 partner newsrooms using its content. — Chinese state broadcaster CGTN is distributing free professional …

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Tucker Carlson launches the Tucker Carlson Network, or TCN, a $9-per-month streaming video service with access to “5 brand-new shows, speeches, films, and more” — The former Fox News host is promising a slate of programming for $6 per month. — Tucker Carlson is planning …

Ted Johnson / Deadline:

Sports Illustrated publisher The Arena Group announces the termination of CEO Ross Levinsohn and names 5-Hour Energy founder Manoj Bhargava as its interim CEO — - Anderson Cooper And Andy Cohen To Return For CNN's New Year's Eve Special; Sara Sidner and Cari Champion Tapped As Co-Hosts

Discussion: The Arena Group, The Guardian, Futurism, @benjstrauss, CNN, @2xaught7.bsky.social, Awful Announcing, @jbenton, The Wrap, MediaPost and @weareyourfek

Hannah Giles / @hannahmgiles:

Project Veritas CEO Hannah Giles quits after finding “evidence of past illegality and past financial improprieties”; Giles replaced James O'Keefe in June 2023 — [image]

Discussion: @willsommer, The Messenger, CNN, @matthewkeyslive, Mediaite, @ericspracklen, @dawsonsfield and @trumpstaxes

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Paramount Global plans to rebrand the linear Showtime cable network as Paramount+ With Showtime, the same name as its top streaming tier, on January 8, 2024 — The show is over for Showtime as a standalone brand. — As of Jan. 8, 2024, Paramount Global will rebrand the linear Showtime cable network …

Discussion: The Verge, Washington Post, The A.V. Club, The Hill, SlashFilm, The Streamable, Ad Age, Media Play News, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap and Cord Cutters News

Max Tani / Semafor:

Tel Aviv-based Investing.com, one of the most visited global financial news websites, uses AI to rewrite stories published just hours earlier by competitors — The Scoop — One of the most highly-trafficked financial news websites in the world is creating AI-generated stories that bear …

Discussion: Media Voices, Stephan A. Schwartz on LinkedIn, @joonian, Futurism, @pras_s, @mikeisaac, @knibbs, @clancyreports, @maxwelltani, @dannygroner and Talking Biz News

Jake Kanter / Deadline:

Sources: BBC News plans to hire its first royal editor to capitalize on soaring monarchy interest; royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell plans to retire in 2024 — - Sky Denies Hugh Bonneville Pilot ‘Forty Acres’ Is About Slavery Amid Backlash From Black Creatives

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Max Goldbart / Deadline:

A UK judge orders Prince Harry to pay The Mail on Sunday's legal costs of nearly £50,000 after trying to have part of the UK tabloid's libel defense thrown out — - ‘Prince Harry: The Interview’ Producer ITNP Details Scripted Ambitions Following Debut Order For Lifetime's ‘Girl In The Video’

Discussion: SheKnows, RTÉ, Mediaite, The Messenger and Reuters

Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:

HBO's Succession final season receives nine Golden Globe nominations, a record for a TV program, getting nominated in every category the show was eligible for — Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV — Bulgaria's Stephan Komandarev & Eli Skorcheva Want To Help Older People Get The Dignity They Deserve …

Discussion: The Hollywood Reporter, GoldDerby, Forbes, WWD, The Playlist, WORLD SCREEN, Global News, Rolling Stone, UPI, Media Play News, Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, IndieWire, TVLine, The Walt Disney Company, RTÉ, The Messenger, Axios and ScreenRant

Hilary Lewis / The Hollywood Reporter:
The Golden Globes announces the nominees for its 2024 awards, set to air on CBS, including new categories for stand-up and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Discussion: Variety, GoldDerby, @filmupdates, @ellysmelancholy, New York Post, Deadline, @filmupdates, Variety, The Messenger, AppleInsider, The A.V. Club, Deadline, New York Times, Business Insider and CBS News

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Earlier Picks:

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Shelby Talcott / Semafor:
Sources: NBC has demanded Donald Trump's campaign remove a video with audio deceptively edited to seem like it's from an NBC reporter after the third GOP debate

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