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 has also 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:
The Verge, Variety, The Streamable, New York Post, Next TV, IndieWire, SlashFilm, The Hill, CNN, CNBC, New York Times, ScreenRant, The Wrap, The Desk, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, The Information, Gizmodo, ComingSoon.net, @bristei, @bradybrendan1, Andrew Cannizzaro on LinkedIn, Sports Media Watch, @ralter, @fredsmith914, @chx_rliex, @gracegfreud, @itsmeglinehan, @mattzollerseitz, Media Play News, @richlightshed, @sherman4949, The A.V. Club, @tomgara, Nate Norrish on LinkedIn, @sherman4949, @tvgrimreaper, @sarafischer, @LinuxAndYarn@mastodon.social, @Ductos@mastodon.social, @mgsiegler@threads.net, @imdavidpierce@threads.net, @mattbelloni, @aagave, @lachstep.com, @eriqgardner, @ernie.tedium.co, @bristei, @factcheckjeff@threads.net, @alexhcranz@threads.net, @ernie@writing.exchange, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, @Newmy@writing.exchange, @brianstelter, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @dylanbyers, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, @loudmouthjulia, The Hollywood Reporter, Consequence, NBC 7 San Diego, Cord Cutters News and Puck
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Bloomberg:
Sources: Paramount Global is in talks to sell its BET network to a management-led investor group that includes BET CEO Scott Mills and Chinh Chu, for 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.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Sources: Byron Allen offers Paramount $3.5B to acquire BET Media Group, including the BET cable channel, VH1, BET Studios, and BET+; he offered $2.7B earlier — On Tuesday, Allen, who is founder and CEO of Allen Media Group, emailed Paramount Global senior executives and board …
Victoria Arancio / ABC News:
A helicopter pilot and a photographer for TV station WPVI in Philadelphia died on December 19, following a helicopter crash in Washington Township, New Jersey — The two were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore, the station said. — A news helicopter, operated …
Discussion:
The Desk, The Charlotte Observer, 6abc, Newser, New York Daily News, Radio & Television …, UPI, CBS News, Forbes, WKYC-TV, NewsNation, Fox News and Associated Press
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
Tom Kludt / Vanity Fair:
A look at Sports Illustrated's decline, amid C-suite upheaval, several rounds of 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 millions of 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:
Radio Ink, @ashleyrcarman, @seyitaylor, @ashleyrcarman, @dada_drummer, @kirbyslastsnack and @jaycodon
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 episode 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
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
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 »
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, The Verge and The Drum, more at Techmeme »
Knight First Amendment Institute:
The Knight First Amendment Institute sues a US Treasury office over its decision to restrict 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:
@knightcolumbia@mastodon …, The Intercept and Knight First Amendment …
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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