Top News:
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Tech startup Channel 1, which debuted a newscast hosted by AI-generated anchors in 2023, unveils AI tools to improve the production and distribution processes — The products, First Cut and Prism, help automate workflows and put videos into different formats.
Discussion:
@kevinerb.bsky.social
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
The Economist, WaPo, the NYT, and Wired are embedding vertical video carousels in news stories and featuring them on homepages to cater to mobile users — “It's a much better experience if you're not turning your phone. And people don't turn their phones."
Nilay Patel / The Verge:
The Verge unveils a $7/mo. or $50/year “dynamic metered paywall”; some content like the social feed-like homepage, live blogs, and core news posts will be free — Okay, we're doing this. — Today we're launching a Verge subscription that lets you get rid of a bunch of ads …
Discussion:
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Bloomberg:
Sources: David Ellison plans sweeping changes at Paramount after merger, including consolidation of its TV networks; co-CEO Brian Robbins is expected to leave — - CBS Chief George Cheeks is expected to stay after deal closes — Plans include consolidation of the company's TV networks
Discussion:
New York Post, The Wrap, The Desk and Deadline
Marc Schneider / Billboard:
Stephen King will close his three radio stations in Bangor, Maine, on New Year's Eve, citing financial losses and his advancing age as reasons for the shutdown — A desire to “get his business affairs in better order” leads the 77-year-old horror author to shutter his trio of stations in the Bangor area.
Kendall Tietz / Fox News:
Forbes editorial staffers walk off the job, saying that management has been stalling at the bargaining table for nearly three years — The annual launch of Forbes' 30 Under 30 list is a significant day for the company — FIRST ON FOX— The Forbes Union, which represents the magazine's editorial staffers …
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sean Hannity will debut a new monthly longform interview program on Fox News Media's streaming service Fox Nation, with the first episode premiering today — The longtime Fox News opinion host will debut a new monthly longform interview program on Fox Nation, the subscription-backed streaming outlet …
Discussion:
Adweek, TVNewsCheck, The Real Deal, The Desk, @seanhannity, @bristei, Fox News, Media Play News and Deadline
Mediapart:
Investigation: the US government funds about half the budget of OCCRP, which reports on corruption in places like Russia, and has veto power over key personnel — The OCCRP, the largest organised network of investigative media in the world, hid the extent of its links with the US government, this investigation can reveal.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Walmart completes its $2.3B acquisition of TV maker Vizio, saying the purchase will let it offer new ways for advertisers to reach customers via Walmart Connect — Walmart announced the completion of its $2.3 billion all-cash acquisition of TV maker Vizio, a move by the retailing giant to expand its advertising business.
Peter Kafka / Business Insider:
BuzzFeed is $123.5M in debt with interest payments due, and a plan to cut debt will likely come soon; it earlier tried to sell Hot Ones' parent company for $70M — - A few years ago BuzzFeed was supposedly worth close to $2 billion. — Now it's worth much less, and it has been scrambling …
Discussion:
@katienotopoulos.bsky.social
Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar / Science:
India plans to pay ~$715M over three years to let ~18M students, faculty, and researchers access ~13K journals for free, under a scheme launching on January 1 — Deal allows scholars to read paywalled articles for free and will cover open-access fees — India was the third largest producer …
Discussion:
@shalinsshah, Tuhin A. Sinha on LinkedIn, @nikomccarty, @nileshtrivedi, @narendramodi, pib.gov.in, The Hindu, The Hindu, NDTV, India Today, Research Information, NDTV, DD News and Slashdot
Noor Nanji / BBC:
The BBC pulls MasterChef Christmas specials following allegations of inappropriate behavior against host Gregg Wallace, after initially saying it would air them — The BBC is pulling its MasterChef Christmas specials after the allegations against presenter Gregg Wallace.
Discussion:
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