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:
Variety, The Verge, Financial Times, Mediaite, Sports Media Watch, Puck, SlashFilm, @tvgrimreaper, CNBC, @alexhcranz@threads.net, The Information, Douglas Montgomery on LinkedIn, @SPAM@infosec.exchange, The Wrap, TrekMovie.com, @Newmy@writing.exchange, Marin Independent Journal, @loudmouthjulia, @jscalzi@threads.net, @ralter, @loudmouthjulia, @sherman4949, @bradybrendan1, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, @factcheckjeff@threads.net, @mattbelloni, @Ductos@mastodon.social, Nate Norrish on LinkedIn, @fredsmith914, @eriqgardner, @brianstelter, @chx_rliex, @loudmouthjulia, @imdavidpierce@threads.net, @LinuxAndYarn@mastodon.social, Gizmodo, @mattzollerseitz, @bristei, New York Post, Jo Redfern on LinkedIn, @mgsiegler@threads.net, Andrew Cannizzaro on LinkedIn, @sherman4949, The Desk, Los Angeles Times, @ernie@writing.exchange, @ernie.tedium.co, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, @aagave, The A.V. Club, @lachstep.com, @gracegfreud, @sarafischer, @bristei, @itsmeglinehan, Business Insider, IndieWire, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, CNN, Front Office Sports, @tomgara, Graphic Policy, @richlightshed, ComingSoon.net, UPROXX, @stevenrosenthal …, The Streamable, @dylanbyers, Next TV, Media Play News, TVLine, ScreenRant, The Hill, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, Consequence, Bloomberg, NBC 7 San Diego and Cord Cutters News
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 …
Discussion:
Deadline, The Wrap and Cord Cutters News
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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.
Katherine Blunt / Wall Street Journal:
Rebecca Smith, a longtime Wall Street Journal reporter who exposed Enron's financial deceit and co-wrote a book about the energy company's collapse, dies at 68 — Smith worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 20 years covering the electricity industry
Morgan Sung / TechCrunch:
A look at the first annual VTuber Awards, a five-hour, live awards show for virtual YouTubers, hosted from an enclosed green box in WePlay's LA studio — Anime cat girls are at the forefront of tech innovation — On stream, Filian took the stage at the center of a colossal arena …
Discussion:
The Messenger, Anime Trending, @origamisdh, @munshipremchnd, Anime News Network, @beemportugal and Sportskeeda
Will Sommer / Washington Post:
A reporter's departure from The Dallas Morning News and a front-page retraction prompt a union grievance and suspicion that managers bowed to political pressure — At the Morning News, a sarcasm-drenched email interview with the county district attorney led to a rare and humiliating front-page retraction of a story.
Patrick Coffee / Wall Street Journal:
Most big brands haven't yet created AI-specific roles despite many marketers fearing AI will change their jobs; Coca-Cola promoted two execs to new AI roles — Many marketers believe artificial intelligence will change their jobs forever. But most big brands haven't created roles to oversee that process …
Sonia Faleiro / Rest of World:
A look at high-profile Indian journalists who left mainstream outlets for YouTube and other social media platforms as Prime Minister Modi cracks down on media — As Narendra Modi's government clamps down on the free press, top journalists are going solo to report unbiased news. — • NEW DELHI, INDIA
Discussion:
@restofworld@restof.social and @sushubh@mastodon.social
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
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, New York Post, 6abc, The Charlotte Observer, Newser, Radio & Television …, New York Daily News, UPI, Forbes, CBS News, NewsNation, WKYC-TV, Fox News and Associated Press
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:
Federal Trade Commission, The Drum, The Verge, MediaPost and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
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:
@ashleyrcarman, @seyitaylor, @ashleyrcarman, @dada_drummer, @kirbyslastsnack, @jaycodon and Radio Ink
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