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, IndieWire, SlashFilm, CNN, CNBC, The Hill, New York Times, ScreenRant, The Wrap, The Desk, Bloomberg, The Information, Gizmodo, ComingSoon.net, @bristei, @bradybrendan1, Andrew Cannizzaro on LinkedIn, Sports Media Watch, @ralter, @fredsmith914, @chx_rliex, @gracegfreud, @itsmeglinehan, @mattzollerseitz, @richlightshed, @sherman4949, Media Play News, 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
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.
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, Radio & Television …, Newser, New York Daily News, 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 …
Erik Larson / Bloomberg:
New York's AG sues Sirius XM for allegedly making canceling subscriptions to its online radio services hard, including via 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
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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