Top News:


Netflix publishes its first What We Watched report, detailing the most-watched content from January to June 2023; The Night Agent was #1 with 812M+ hours viewed — Netflix is going to start publishing a new report twice a year that details the most popular shows and movies on the platform.
Discussion:
About Netflix, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, The Streamable, Variety, CNBC, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, Media Play News, @netflix and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »


The New York Times hires Quartz co-founder Zach Seward to work with its newsroom's leadership to establish principles around using and not using generative AI — Quartz co-founder Zach Seward tasked with establishing principles for how the Times will and won't use generative AI


On November 17, YouTube removed code that said if a channel is in the YouTube Partner Program, which gives a cut of ad revenue, leaving researchers in the dark — YouTube removed a snippet of code that publicly disclosed whether a channel receives ad and subscription payouts, obscuring which creators benefit most from the platform.


Sources: Paramount Global is considering laying off more than 1,000 staffers in early 2024, after paring down its head count since earlier this year — Shari Redstone considers sale of controlling stake in National Amusements amid pressures from Paramount's cable business, ad market
Discussion:
Variety, The Desk, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, The Wrap, Bloomberg, Madison and Wall, The Messenger and New York Post


Russian state media: in a new case, Russia accuses RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, in Russian custody since October, of spreading fake news about its army — Russian investigators have reportedly filed another case against veteran RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who is already being held …
Discussion:
Agence France-Presse, The Straits Times, The Moscow Times and Meduza.io


The Tiny News Collective announces the hiring of Amy L. Kovac-Ashley as its first executive director and says it has helped launch 25 newsrooms since 2021 — A Note from Kara Meyberg Guzman, Board Chair — Since 2020, the Tiny News Collective's board and staff have worked to build …
Discussion:
Chris Krewson on LinkedIn, @terabithia4, @terabithia4, Tiny News Collective and Tiny News Collective


The News Leaders Association's board approves members' vote to dissolve by June 2024 and distribute assets, including Sunshine Week, to journalism nonprofits — During its final meeting of the year, the News Leaders Association Board of Directors unanimously approved the NLA membership's November vote …
Discussion:
Poynter


As The New York Times prints its 60,000th issue, the newspaper explains how a news assistant discovered in 1999 a numbering sequence error dating back to 1898 — In 1999, a news assistant's number crunching revealed that The Times had gotten ahead of itself.
Discussion:
The Hill, @silvermanjacob, @peterbakernyt, @elwasson, @michaelstarobin, Marc Lacey on LinkedIn, @benhoffmannyt and @nytimespr


Liberty Media's LSXM combines with SiriusXM to form a new public company, called New SiriusXM, which will continue to operate under the SiriusXM brand — “This combination will create value for all stockholders by eliminating the tracking stock structure” and “enhancing liquidity.”
Discussion:
Inside Radio, RADIO ONLINE, Radio Ink, Radio & Television … and Cord Cutters News


Sources: RedBird IMI is in advanced talks with Warner Bros. Discovery and Liberty Global to acquire UK TV and film producer All3Media in a deal worth ~£1B — Zucker-Cardinale investment group leads rivals circling the ‘Fleabag’ and ‘Call the Midwife’ producer
Discussion:
Reuters, The Guardian and Variety


Sources: Disney and Reliance are expected to sign a non-binding pact as early as December 18 to merge their media operations in India in a cash-and-stock deal — - Ambani's group to own majority stake in the new media entity — Non-binding deal terms likely to be signed on Monday: sources
Discussion:
Times of India, @amit6060, Inc42 Media, India Today, Gadgets 360, Benzinga, The Economic Times and The Business Times


Spotify partners with Warner Bros. Discovery to host and distribute some podcasts from WBD, including CNN and HBO shows, and become a WBD monetization partner — Podcasts in the partnership include CNN's ‘All There Is with Anderson Cooper’ and HBO's ‘The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon.’
Discussion:
Observer, Media Play News, Radio Ink and Digital Music News