Mediagazer: Amazon and Tastemade sign a multi-year first-look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content, including 15 new shows for Prime Video and Amazon Freevee (BreAnna Bell/Variety)

8:25 PM ET, January 17, 2024

Top News:

Isabella Simonetti / Wall Street Journal:

Memo: CNN CEO Mark Thompson plans to combine newsgathering into one TV-and-digital unit, and outlines his vision for subscriptions and improving mobile video — New CNN Boss Shakes Up News Operations, Explores Digital Subscription Model One combined unit will serve TV, streaming and digital platforms …

Discussion: New York Post, @carlquintanilla, @simondowens@threads.net, The Messenger, The Verge, @asharma, @david_marcelis, @thesimonetti, @dankennedy_nu@journa.host and The Wrap

Sara Fischer / Axios:

CNN names longtime executive Virginia Moseley as the network's first executive editor; CNN's international news chief Mike McCarthy will be managing editor — Months after being named the new CEO of CNN Worldwide, Mark Thompson on Wednesday unveiled his strategy for bringing the decades-old cable new network for the digital era.

Discussion: Associated Press, The Hollywood Reporter, @abigailmarone, @davidclinchnews, @sarafischer, Reuters and The Wrap

Sara Fischer / Axios:
Alex MacCallum, who transformed the NYT's subscription business and helped launch CNN+, rejoins CNN as executive VP of digital products and services

Discussion: Mediaite, Variety, CNN, @thewrap and Next TV

Nico Grant / New York Times:

Email: Google plans to cut 100 employees from YouTube's operations and creator management teams; a source says YouTube employs 7,173 people — The layoffs are part of efforts by the video platform's parent company, Google, to trim costs and bureaucracy as it embraces artificial intelligence.

Discussion: The Wrap, TechCrunch, MediaPost, The Hill, @jjackyliang@threads.net, The Information, The Verge, @alexeheath and 9to5Google

James Hale / Tubefilter:

Internal memo: YouTube is restructuring its creator management teams, including consolidating various sports, media, film, and TV teams into a single team — YouTube's partnerships side is undergoing its first corporate restructuring in a decade-one that'll see changes to the creator management …

Discussion: Variety, The Information and Fox Business, more at Techmeme »

Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:

David Smith's purchase of The Baltimore Sun raises concerns about the paper's future, considering Sinclair's political influence and controversial actions — Its new owner, Sinclair executive chairman David D. Smith, has pushed local TV news hard to the right.

Discussion: Baltimore Brew, Poynter, @sarah_mearhoff, @jbenton, @gmarkham, @dylanbyers, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, @mikeorren, Adweek, MediaPost, Media Nation, Observer, Hollywood Reporter, Newser, Washington Post and Baltimore Sun

David Folkenflik / @davidfolkenflik:
[Thread] In a meeting with staffers, The Baltimore Sun's new owner claims he paid nine figures, had read the paper just four times, and the Sun was profitable

Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:

The EU Parliament adopts a nonlegislative resolution proposing sweeping changes to music streaming, including fair compensation and promoting smaller artists — The EU has proposed sweeping changes within the music streaming industry to promote smaller artists and make sure underpaid performers are being fairly compensated.

Discussion: Music Technology Policy, European Parliament, TechCrunch, @reckless1280@threads.net, @simondowens@threads.net, @thisismissem@hachyderm.io, @diligiant@threads.net and CMU

Ellen Huet / Bloomberg:

Fairly Trained, a nonprofit founded by ex-Stability AI VP Ed Newton-Rex, will give certification labels to AI companies that get consent for their training data — New system seeks to create a sort of ‘organic’ or ‘fair trade’ label for AI. — A new initiative will evaluate …

Discussion: @neilturkewitz, @ednewtonrex, Antony Demekhin on LinkedIn, Vibhav Mithal on LinkedIn, Mansoor Rahimat Khan on LinkedIn, Publishing Perspectives, Wired, Fairly Trained, The Information, The Verge and Publishers Weekly

Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:

Amazon now lets US users create AI-generated backgrounds using Alexa prompts on the second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the Fire TV Omni QLED Series — Amazon is officially rolling out the ability to create AI-generated images on Fire TV devices. Starting today, the feature is available …

Discussion: Joshua Danovitz on LinkedIn, 9to5Google, Cord Cutters News and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

BreAnna Bell / Variety:

Amazon and Tastemade sign a multi-year first-look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content, including 15 new shows for Prime Video and Amazon Freevee — Amazon and Tastemade have signed a multi-year first look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content.

Discussion: The Desk, Next TV, Cord Cutters News, Nate Rea on LinkedIn and Media Play News

Nick Vivarelli / Variety:

A group of 20 prominent screen trade organizations ask governments around the world to enact regulations ensuring that streamers invest more in local content — The joint plea — hailing from production bodies in Europe, Canada, Australasia and Latin America — comes as streaming services …

Discussion: The Guardian

Jessica E. Lessin / The Information:

The Information unveils a new logo and a redesign of its website, as the outlet expands its reporting in key areas, including semiconductors, outside the US — Today marks a significant milestone for us at The Information. I am thrilled to unveil a redesign of our site and a new logo.

Discussion: @jessicalessin

Ted Johnson / Deadline:

CNN drops plans to hold a GOP primary debate in New Hampshire, after only Ron DeSantis agrees to participate; CNN will instead hold a town hall with Nikki Haley — CNN has dropped plans to hold a New Hampshire Republican debate on Sunday, after former UN ambassador Nikki Haley …

Discussion: Washington Post, CBS News, Politico, The Hill, NPR, Slate, CNN, @vulgareconomics.bsky.social, @maxwelltani, The Daily Beast, New York Times, New York Post, The Messenger, Newser and Associated Press

Shelby Talcott / Semafor:
ABC News and WMUR-TV cancel their scheduled Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire after Nikki Haley and Donald Trump refused an invitation

Discussion: The Hill, Vanity Fair, The Messenger, Poynter, Associated Press, The Desk, @gartenberg, @lizchar, @shelbytalcott, @benjysarlin, Adweek, New York Times, Washington Post, New York Post, NPR, Rolling Stone, ABC News, Mediaite, Fox News, The New Arab, New Hampshire Bulletin, Axios, Deadline, Reuters, The Desk, CNBC, TVLine and Politico

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:

Netflix is not planning to launch a native Apple Vision Pro app or allow its iPad app on the platform, and says users can watch Netflix on the web browser — Netflix Inc. isn't planning to launch an app for Apple Inc.'s upcoming Vision Pro headset, marking a high-profile snub of the new technology …

Discussion: BGR, The Verge, AppleInsider, @ipedro@threads.net, 9to5Mac, @marcslove@threads.net, @mysk_co, @apollozac, @parkerortolani@threads.net, MacRumors, @tomwarren and @markgurman, more at Techmeme »

Dade Hayes / Deadline:

Paramount announces two new branded hub partners for Paramount+, Tap DMV in the Philippines and JioCinema in India, after launching hubs in Greece and Belgium — With its streaming operations facing scrutiny as 2024 gets under way, Paramount Global continues to pursue a diversified approach to distributing its flagship, Paramount+.

Discussion: WORLD SCREEN and Media Play News

Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:

Disney does not endorse the nominations of Nelson Peltz and James Rasulo put forth by Peltz's Trian Fund, nor does it endorse the nominations made by Blackwells — Disney CEO Bob Iger's compensation totaled about $31.6 million for the company fiscal year ended Sept. 30. It includes most of the year.

Discussion: Benzinga, The Messenger, @laurenshirsch, @alexweprin, Financial Times, Bloomberg, The Information, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, The Walt Disney Company and The Hollywood Reporter

Todd Spangler / Variety:
Filing: Disney CEO Bob Iger's compensation was $31.6M in 2023, down from $45.9M in 2021, his last prior full year of employment at the company

Discussion: New York Post, Fox Business, @joerussotweets, CNN, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap and US Securities and Exchange Commission