Mediagazer: Sources: Edgar Bronfman Jr. raises his Paramount bid to $6B, adding $1.7B to let non-Redstone, nonvoting Paramount shareholders cash out at $16 a share (Wall Street Journal)

8:26 PM ET, August 21, 2024

Top News:

Sources: Edgar Bronfman Jr. raises his Paramount bid to $6B, adding $1.7B to let non-Redstone, nonvoting Paramount shareholders cash out at $16 a share — The bid gives non-Redstone, nonvoting Paramount shareholders an option to sell shares at a premium — Edgar Bronfman Jr. has sweetened …

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, IndieWire, The Wrap, Variety, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, Bloomberg, Media Play News, Deadline, @marvwashere.bsky.social, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, Quartz, Ad Age, Lauren Thomas on LinkedIn and Next TV

New York Times:

Sources: Paramount extends its deadline for sales talks until early September to evaluate Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s new bid, which could shake up the Skydance deal — Edgar Bronfman Jr. and his bidding group now have until September to sell Paramount on their offer.

The Wrap:
Document: Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s Paramount bid is backed by a group of 19 investors including Fortress, Brock Pierce, and producer Steven Paul

Discussion: Gordon Geist on LinkedIn, TVNewsCheck, Deadline, The Guardian, The Hill and Axios

Peter White / Deadline:

Sources: Chick-Fil-A plans to launch a slate of original media productions for its own streaming platform and has worked with studios on family-friendly shows — Deadline understands that the fast-food firm has been working with a number of major production companies, including some of the studios …

Politico:

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Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Rotten Tomatoes debuts a Verified Hot badge for films that have a Verified Audience Score of 90% or higher, among other requirements — Movies that are ‘Verified Hot’ by filmgoers will join those that are ‘Certified Fresh’ from critics, in a move meant to give more weight to consumer opinions …

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Tommy Craggs / Bloomberg:

How the end of a federal ban on sports gambling transformed the way sports media is funded and changed what kind of stories get covered and published — The $10 billion industry transformed how sports media is funded—and written. — Few journalists embody the gambling industry's capture …

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Catherine Perloff / Adweek:

Sources and docs: Google sales reps have suggested advertisers target teens on YouTube via an “unknown” category, seemingly violating the company's policies — This activity is broader than the agreement between Google and Meta that the FT reported this month

Discussion: @researchbuzz@researchbuzz …, Catherine Perloff on LinkedIn, @marypcbuk.bsky.social and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Naomi LaChance / Rolling Stone:

Fact checkers' reviews of Democrats' statements about Trump have routinely botched the facts, earning one correction so far and an X Community Note — Fact checkers' reviews of DNC speeches about Trump have routinely botched the facts — earning one correction so far and a community note on X

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Naman Ramachandran / Variety:

Ormax Media estimates that India currently has 547M streaming users, or 38% of the population, up 14% YoY and driven by ad-supported streaming — The latest edition of Ormax Media's streaming audience research reveals significant growth in India's streaming landscape, albeit driven entirely by ad-supported viewership.

New York Times:

The FBI has raided the homes of two US commentators for Russian state media in an effort to blunt foreign influence on elections; more searches are expected — The F.B.I. raided the homes of two prominent commentators on Russian state television channels as part of an effort to blunt attempts to influence November's election.

Discussion: @michaelbishop.me, @KimPerales@toad.social, @researchbuzz@researchbuzz …, @GottaLaff@mastodon.social and Rappahannock News

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount and Canal+ unveil an updated deal under which Canal+ subscribers in France get Paramount+ at no additional cost — Under the updated deal, Canal+ subscribers can access Paramount+ at no additional cost, no matter which subscription plan they have.

Discussion: Advanced Television, Marco Nobili on LinkedIn, Media Play News, Broadband TV News, WORLD SCREEN and Engadget

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Disney's board names James Gorman, executive chairman of Morgan Stanley, as chair of a succession planning committee to identify Bob Iger's replacement as CEO — Gorman, who joined the Disney board earlier this year, oversaw the recent succession process at Morgan Stanley, where he had previously served as the firm's CEO.

Discussion: Reuters, The Desk, The Wrap, Radio & Television …, Next TV, TVNewsCheck, Los Angeles Times, The Information, Deadline and Bloomberg

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