Top News:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
A look at the financial pressures on National Amusements and Paramount, as Shari Redstone weighs a sale of her family's controlling stake in National Amusements — She fought to keep control of her family's media empire. Now she's considering an exit as financial pressures mount.
Discussion:
Financial Times and TrekMovie.com
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Reuters:
Some analysts say a WBD and Paramount merger would likely leave the companies worse off, billions deeper in debt, and saddled with dying traditional TV assets — Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) and Paramount Global (PARA.O) are likely to be “worse off” together as a merger will leave …
Discussion:
Variety, Fast Company, The Wrap, CNBC and The A.V. Club
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
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, Adweek, The Streamable, CNN, Financial Times, The Guardian, New York Times, Adriana Waterston on LinkedIn, Insider Intelligence, The Verge, Mike Allen on LinkedIn, Vanity Fair, Forbes, @joaquincastrotx, Caroline Giegerich on LinkedIn, Front Office Sports, Broadband TV News, @joaquincastrotx, Inverse, New York Post, The A.V. Club, @joaquincastrotx, Awful Announcing, @nicoleoking, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, @bristei, @bradybrendan1, @chx_rliex, @ralter, @fredsmith914, @gracegfreud, @itsmeglinehan, @mattzollerseitz, @richlightshed, @sherman4949, @tomgara, @sherman4949, @tvgrimreaper, @sarafischer, @mattbelloni, @aagave, @eriqgardner, @bristei, @brianstelter, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @dylanbyers, @loudmouthjulia, CNBC, Financial Times, Advanced Television, UPROXX, Douglas Montgomery on LinkedIn, Business Insider, Puck, The Information, Barrett Media, Graphic Policy, TVLine, Marin Independent Journal, Mediaite, TrekMovie.com, @jscalzi@threads.net, @SPAM@infosec.exchange, Los Angeles Times, Jo Redfern on LinkedIn, Next TV, IndieWire, SlashFilm, Andrew Cannizzaro on LinkedIn, @stevenrosenthal …, WHDH 7News, Sports Media Watch, Gizmodo, Media Play News, The Hill, Nate Norrish on LinkedIn, ComingSoon.net, @LinuxAndYarn@mastodon.social, @Ductos@mastodon.social, @mgsiegler@threads.net, @imdavidpierce@threads.net, @lachstep.com, @ernie.tedium.co, @factcheckjeff@threads.net, The Desk, @alexhcranz@threads.net, @ernie@writing.exchange, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, ScreenRant, @Newmy@writing.exchange, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, Chris Palmeri on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, Consequence, worlds enough and time, Bloomberg, NBC 7 San Diego and Cord Cutters News
Arlene Getz / Committee to Protect Journalists:
At least 68 journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Hamas war, more than have been killed in a single country over an entire year — More journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Gaza war than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year, according to CPJ data.
Richard Lawler / The Verge:
Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie doubles down on not moderating Nazi content, after 200+ authors criticize the company for “platforming and monetizing Nazis” — More than 200 Substack authors asked the platform to explain why it's “platforming and monetizing Nazis,” …
Discussion:
Substack, @gerryconway, @davezatz, @gartenberg, @tchambers@indieweb.social, @matt@matthewbogart.com, @darylbaxter@mastodon.social, @A_C_McGregor@topspicy.social, @idoubtit@mstdn.social, @overholt@glammr.us, Substack, Substack, @dougiec3@libretooth.gr, @ernie.tedium.co, @jessdkant.bsky.social, @drskyskull.bsky.social, @jessdkant.bsky.social, @kevinnewburn.bsky.social, @bextraordinary.bsky.social, @hankgreen@threads.net, @wfnycraig@threads.net, @grantmcconnaughey@threads.net, @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social, @reckless1280@threads.net, @paul@oldfriends.live, @jessdkant.bsky.social, Reason, @jkottke@threads.net, @sepinwall.bsky.social, @foglandia@threads.net, @marisakabas.bsky.social, Writing Exchange, @leavittalone.bsky.social, @sethcotlar.bsky.social, @sethcotlar.bsky.social, @quillmatiq@threads.net, @glecharles@zirk.us, @runwithskizzers.bsky.social, @cmfederico.bsky.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @melissagiragrant.com and @sethcotlar.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Emily Schmall / New York Times:
A look at the hurdles for women in journalism in India, where they face family resistance, harassment, and increasingly, legal threats under the Modi government — Journalists have been targeted for harassment, and some women are only allowed to speak to the press if they have a male chaperone.
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Trei Brundrett / American Journalism Project:
A look at the American Journalism Project's Product & AI Studio, launched with OpenAI in summer 2023 to explore how to apply emerging tech in local journalism — This summer, the American Journalism Project launched our new Product & AI Studio, a new program to explore the smart application …
Discussion:
@journalismproj and @openai
Reuters:
Analysis: ABBA Voyage, the London show performed by 3D avatars of the band created using motion capture, made £322.6M in revenue in the 12 months since May 2022 — Thank you for the music, London's authorities might say, after Swedish pop group ABBA's digital concert residency raked …
Business Insider:
Ozy Media sues Ben Smith, Semafor, and BuzzFeed, alleging Smith used the failed BuzzFeed/Ozy merger to sabotage Ozy and steal its business model for Semafor — - A dishy lawsuit from Ozy accuses Ben Smith of killing the company only to steal its business model for Semafor.
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, New York Post, Dr. Nehemiah J. Mabry on LinkedIn, @jeremymbarr, @bgrueskin, @bmorrissey, @jayshams and Reuters
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Slow news outlet Tortoise Media reports a £4.6M loss before tax in 2022, up 45% YoY, revenue up 15% YoY to £6.24M, and 73 employees — The company said the loss represented the costs of investing in the business. — “Slow news” outlet Tortoise Media made a £4.6m loss …
Christopher Dring / GamesIndustry.biz:
Sony reaches an “updated licensing agreement” with Warner Bros to keep Discovery content on PlayStation “for at least the next 30 months” — There's a new licensing agreement between Warner Bros and Sony — News by Christopher Dring Head of Games B2B
Discussion:
The Verge, @cawlins_corner, @nick_marseil, @mjarbo and Cord Cutters News
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Medallion, a blockchain platform for artists to connect with fans, raised a $13.7M Series A, after launching music NFTs in the UK, Australia, and Germany — Medallion is a platform for artists to have a dedicated digital hub for promoting album releases, tour dates and merch drops …
Discussion:
Billboard and Nick Vivion on LinkedIn
Elsa Keslassy / Variety:
French TV network TF1 plans to launch AVOD TF1+ on January 8; the service will include Top Chrono, an AI-powered feature that creates summaries of sports games — As CEO of Canal+ for more than a decade, Rodolphe Belmer pushed the pay TV giant to make original scripted content …
Discussion:
Broadband TV News and Advanced Television
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