Mediagazer: 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 (Jessica E. Lessin/The Information)

1:05 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: The Wrap, Axios, The Hollywood Reporter, @sarafischer, @dankennedy_nu@journa.host, @thesimonetti, @david_marcelis and @asharma

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 — Alex MacCallum, the digital news product veteran known for transforming the New York Times' subscription business and helping to launch CNN+ …

Discussion: Reuters, Variety, The Wrap, Next TV, CNN and @thewrap

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 — The Baltimore Sun's new owner, David D. Smith, met with staffers today for more than two hours. Many left on edge. He claimed he had read the paper just four times. He grew up here; his family's local TV empire - Sinclair - is based in Baltimore Co. Other highlights:

Discussion: The Baltimore Banner, @kyoshino, @pdavis_llc, @skamidi, @tysonbrody, @willoremus, @jamesebriggs, @davidfolkenflik, @clarajeffery, @bgrueskin, @bencjacobs, @davidfolkenflik, The Wrap, @jayrosen_nyu, @karaswisher@threads.net, @travismayfield@threads.net and Axios

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.

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: CBS News, Politico, The Daily Beast, @vulgareconomics.bsky.social, @maxwelltani, New York Post, CNN, New York Times, The Hill, The Messenger 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 Desk, Associated Press, Poynter, Washington Post, New York Times, @gartenberg, @lizchar, @shelbytalcott, @benjysarlin, New York Post, Adweek, Newser, Rolling Stone, ABC News, Mediaite, CNBC, New Hampshire Bulletin, The New Arab, Fox News, Axios, Deadline, Reuters, The Desk, TVLine, The Hill, The Messenger and Politico

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

Louis Menand / New Yorker:

Generative AI is just the latest innovation to put pressure on the copyright system but might be the one that brings the whole legal structure of copyright down — Generative A.I. is the latest in a long line of innovations to put pressure on our already dysfunctional copyright system.

Discussion: @artsjournalnews and @newyorker

Will Nelson / PCGamesN:

Ned Luke, who voiced Michael De Santa in GTA 5, calls out WAME over using his voice in an AI chatbot, saying there is “nothing cool about ripping people off” — GTA 5 star Ned Luke has called out the use of his voice as part of an unofficial and now-removed Grand Theft Auto 5 AI chatbot from WAME.

Discussion: @mickmellamphy, @ned_luke, @ned_luke, IGN, Video Games Chronicle and Eurogamer.net

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: @reckless1280@threads.net, European Parliament and CMU

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:

Diamond Sports unveils a restructuring plan with creditors: Amazon will make a minority investment and become streaming partner, and Sinclair will pay $495M — Prime Video will become the primary partner through which consumers can purchase streaming services from the largest U.S. operator …

Discussion: The Streamable, MediaPost, The Wrap, Variety, Business Wire, The Desk, Awful Announcing, Reuters, Baltimore Sun, Barrett Media, Associated Press, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, @dgoold, Radio & Television …, Next TV, New York Post and Sportico

Reuters:

A Malaysian court charges two local filmmakers for intentionally “wounding the religious feelings of others” via their Mentega Terbang movie, released in 2021 — A Malaysian court on Wednesday charged two local filmmakers for intentionally “wounding the religious feelings of others” …

Discussion: Associated Press

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

The BBC names Paul Royall, who led the launch of the merged UK-focused and global news channels, as the permanent executive news editor for the BBC News Channel — Royall has held the role on an interim basis for almost a year. — Paul Royall has been named the permanent executive news editor for the BBC News Channel.

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: Bloomberg, The Messenger, @laurenshirsch, @alexweprin, Financial Times, 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, @joerussotweets, CNN, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap and US Securities and Exchange Commission

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More News:

Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
Nielsen: the Emmy Awards drew their smallest audience ever with 4.3M viewers, down 27% YoY, hitting a low in viewers for the fifth time in the past six years

Discussion: Variety, TVNewsCheck, @jbflint, @tvmojoe, @tvmojoe, @theinsneider, @tzmorsy, @dylanbyers, @lucas_shaw, @lucas_shaw, The A.V. Club, Adweek, Los Angeles Times, IndieWire, Deadline, New York Times and The Wrap

Winston Cho / Hollywood Reporter:
FilmLA: Los Angeles film and TV production fell 36.4% YoY to 5,520 shoot days in Q4 amid the Hollywood strikes, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly drop

Discussion: The Wrap, Deadline, Variety, Los Angeles Times, FilmLA and Bloomberg

Brian Steinberg / Variety:
TelevisaUnivision plans to launch an ad-supported tier of its Spanish-language streamer, ViX, later in 2024 “at a lower price point with a moderate ad load”

Discussion: WORLD SCREEN, TelevisaUnivision, Next TV and The Hollywood Reporter

Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney and 20th Century settle a lawsuit from TSG, which accused them of withholding profits and self-dealing to boost sub numbers for their streaming services

Discussion: The Wrap

Earlier Picks:

The Wrap:
Sources: the LAT suffers from its owner meddling in editorial decisions and from a lack of vision without a CEO; a former editor estimates it's losing $50M/year

Discussion: Columbia Journalism Review, Poynter, @sharonwaxman, @sharonwaxman, @paulimeth, @zpleat, @ckrewson, @dicktofel, @dabeard, @jayrosen_nyu, The Objective and Simon Owens's Media Newsletter

Emma Roth / The Verge:
Google is cutting “a few hundred roles globally” on its advertising sales team, mainly affecting a unit that sells ads to large businesses

Discussion: Computerworld, @carnage4life, Mashable India, @lauren@mastodon …, Mumbrella, Business Insider, MediaPost, The Hill, New York Post, The Messenger and Reuters

Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: Red Ventures has approached buyers about selling CNET for at least $250M, after acquiring the outlet and other sites for $500M in 2020

Discussion: @tim_stevens, @weareyourfek, @saschasegan, The Overspill, @bmorrissey, @samantharmeller, @thezedwards, @mediaevan, @afillari, @andrewkrok, @ashleyesqueda, @alex, @thekenyeung@threads.net, @ernie@writing.exchange, @ernie.tedium.co, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn and Talking Biz News, more at Techmeme »

Kenneth Li / Reuters:
Thomson Reuters acquires World Business Media, a subscription-based, 25-person outlet providing news and analysis on the insurance market

Discussion: American Press Institute, Press Gazette, PR Newswire and Talking Biz News

From Techmeme:

Kent Walker / The Keyword:
Google says the DOJ's “wildly overbroad proposal goes miles beyond the Court's decision”, would hurt US consumers, and jeopardize the US' global tech leadership

Paige Smith / Bloomberg:
The CFPB will supervise tech companies with digital wallets, like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo, with 50M+ annual transactions, treating them more like banks

Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Cybersecurity startup Wiz acquires Dazz, a specialist in security remediation and risk management; sources say the cash-and-stock deal is valued at $450M

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