Top News:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: WBD CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on December 19 to discuss a possible merger; Zaslav also has spoken with Shari Redstone — Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on Tuesday in New York City to discuss a possible merger …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, The Desk, The Verge, Bloomberg, ComingSoon.net, The A.V. Club, @tomgara, @sherman4949, @tvgrimreaper, @sarafischer, @mgsiegler@threads.net, @imdavidpierce@threads.net, @mattbelloni, @aagave, @eriqgardner, @ernie.tedium.co, @bristei, @factcheckjeff@threads.net, @alexhcranz@threads.net, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, @brianstelter, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @dylanbyers, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, @loudmouthjulia, The Hollywood Reporter, Consequence, NBC 7 San Diego, Cord Cutters News and Puck
John Herrman / New York Magazine:
OpenAI's deals with publishers, like the one the company recently inked with Axel Springer, offers a glimpse of how AI and the media might eventually intersect — This past week, Axel Springer, the German media conglomerate that owns Politico and Business Insider, signed a “multiyear licensing deal” …
Discussion:
@jjvincent, @ednewtonrex, @jwherrman, @jwherrman, @intelligencer, @jwherrman, @jwherrman, @alexgraveley, @ianbetteridge@writing … and The Verge
Bloomberg:
Sources: Paramount Global is in talks to sell its BET network to a management-led investor group that includes BET CEO Scott Mills, for a little under $2B — Paramount Global is in talks to sell its Black Entertainment Television network to a management-led investor group, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.
Tom Kludt / Vanity Fair:
A look at the decline of Sports Illustrated amid management upheaval, layoffs, low editorial staff morale, and revelations about AI-generated content — Staffers are eyeing the exits after a year that began with layoffs and is closing with an AI scandal and the firing of top executives.
Discussion:
@tvgrimreaper and @civex
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
After Spotify began offering complimentary audiobooks to subscribers in October 2023, authors demand more transparency about how they will be paid — - Bradley Tusk, an investor and author, is backing new US effort — Coalition of Concerned Creators is demanding more transparency
Discussion:
@ashleyrcarman, @seyitaylor, @ashleyrcarman, @dada_drummer, @kirbyslastsnack and @jaycodon
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Prince Harry's and Hugh Grant's lawsuits against News Corp's UK papers accuse new Washington Post CEO Will Lewis of phone hacking coverups between 2010 and 2012 — When Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos wanted an assured hand to right the newspaper's shaky finances, he turned to Will Lewis …
Discussion:
@sdkstl, @deggans, @davidfolkenflik, @nkulw, @themeredish and @philipsturner
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Ofcom: almost 10% of all complaints sent to the regulator in 2023 were about Israel-Hamas war coverage; GB News had the most-complained about TV show of 2023 — GB News had the most-complained about TV programme of 2023. — Almost one in ten of all complaints sent to broadcast regulator Ofcom …
Discussion:
Ofcom, Financial Times, Variety, The Guardian, Mediaite and The Desk
Cristiano Lima / Washington Post:
The US FTC proposes more data protections for kids, including making targeted ads for under-13s opt-in and banning using select data for kids push notifications — The agency proposes new limits on targeted advertising and push notifications directed at kids.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Federal Trade Commission, Reuters and The Drum, more at Techmeme »
Hannah Murphy / Financial Times:
Sources: X set up a 10-person team to help hit $100M in US political ad spend in 2024 to offset revenue losses, a goal that industry executives are skeptical of — Plans for new political ads team to hit $100mn in sales ahead of US presidential election are met with industry scepticism
Discussion:
@crumbler@threads.net, @mshannahmurphy@threads.net and @gergelyorosz, more at Techmeme »
Erik Larson / Bloomberg:
New York AG sues Sirius XM over allegedly making canceling subscriptions to its online radio services harder, including a “frustrating” six-part conversation — A probe by the AG's office found that Sirius trains employees to keep customers seeking to cancel on the phone or in a chat for a …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Radio & Television …, Radio Ink, WFLA-TV, @newyorkstateag, @mrvangriffin and CNN
Knight First Amendment Institute:
The Knight First Amendment Institute sues a US Treasury office, fighting a decision banning a group from including government-sanctioned speakers in its events — Say agency's interpretation of regulations impedes the exchange of ideas and violates the First Amendment
Discussion:
The Intercept, @knightcolumbia@mastodon … and Knight First Amendment …
Benjy Sarlin / Semafor:
Substack writers Matthew Yglesias and Brian Beutler plan to launch politics podcast Politix on January 3, covering the 2024 US election from the center-left — In a shock Tuesday night decision, Colorado's Supreme Court booted Donald Trump from the state's Republican primary ballot for his role …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, The Hill, Bloomberg, Fox News, Politico, Mediaite, Colorado Public Radio, The Daily Beast, Media Matters for America, Talking Points Memo, Digital Journal, Associated Press, Forbes, CNN, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, The Nation, @brianbeutler, The Indian Express, Washington Post and NPR
Alicja Ptak / Notes From Poland:
Poland's new government dismisses the management of TVP, Polskie Radio, and the Polish Press Agency; TVP's website and news channel TVP Info are now offline — Controversy has erupted around Poland's public media, with members of the conservative former ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party …
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