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 …
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 — 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, Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, Adweek, CNN, The Streamable, New York Times, Financial Times, Adriana Waterston on LinkedIn, The Guardian, The Verge, Insider Intelligence, Vanity Fair, Forbes, @joaquincastrotx, Caroline Giegerich on LinkedIn, Front Office Sports, Broadband TV News, Mike Allen on LinkedIn, @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 ever 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, Reason, @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, @marisakabas.bsky.social, Writing Exchange, @leavittalone.bsky.social, @sethcotlar.bsky.social, @sethcotlar.bsky.social, @quillmatiq@threads.net, @sepinwall.bsky.social, @glecharles@zirk.us, @foglandia@threads.net, @paul@oldfriends.live, @runwithskizzers.bsky.social, @cmfederico.bsky.social, @jessdkant.bsky.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @melissagiragrant.com, @jkottke@threads.net and @sethcotlar.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian:
Washington Post Guild says WaPo “seems to have exceeded its buyout goal”, and it's unclear if the Guild and management can reach a deal before the end of 2023 — Managers “are attempting to bribe some colleagues to stay,” the Washington Post Guild told members Tuesday.
Discussion:
CNN, New York Post, Poynter and Talking Biz News
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
Emily Schmall / New York Times:
A look at Indian women journalists fighting to be heard, trying to overcome family resistance, harassment, and the Modi government's increasing legal threats — Journalists have been targeted for harassment, and some women are only allowed to speak to the press if they have a male chaperone.
RELATED:
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 …
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Slow news outlet Tortoise Media reports a £4.6M loss before taxes 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. Discovery to keep over 1,300 Discovery TV shows 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
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
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Medallion, a blockchain platform for artists to connect with fans, raised a $13.7M Series A, after launching music album 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
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