Top News:
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney, Fox, and WBD say they have agreed to discontinue their Venu Sports streaming joint venture and will focus on existing products and distribution channels — The sports-focused streaming service will not move forward, the companies said Friday. — Venu is dead.
Discussion:
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RELATED:
Peter Kafka / Business Insider:
Sources familiar with Fubo's plans say it's likely that Fox will end up licensing its sports programming to the Fubo-Disney JV streaming bundle — - Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery have canceled Venu, a would-be sports streaming service. — The decision was announced days after announcing plans to launch the service.
Discussion:
The Hill, Forbes, @andrewmarchand, @tvgrimreaper, @pkafka, WORLD SCREEN and Reuters
CNBC:
Sources: Venu's cancellation came after the companies decided it was better to avoid the risk of an extended lawsuit that could jeopardize bundling in general — - News Tips — Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. — CNBC Newsletters
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The Desk, Advanced Television, Latest from Tv Technology, Reuters, New York Post, Axios, Media Play News, @lionelhutz_esq, SportsPro, @sherman4949, @morningbrew, Streaming Better, @sherman4949, Front Office Sports, The TV Answer Man!, USA Today and Radio & Television …, more at Techmeme »
Nate Silver / Silver Bulletin:
Fact-checking has long been a part of every journalist's job, and having some journalists designated as misinformation experts hasn't benefited journalism — “Fact-checkers” as the high priests of journalism had a political beginning at Facebook — and have met a political end.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Apple releases season 1 of Severance, one of its biggest TV shows, on the free Roku Channel to lure new Apple TV+ subscribers; the promotion ends on January 19 — Apple is using the Adam Scott thriller to try and drive new subscribers to its streaming service, following a number of moves …
Discussion:
The Streamable, Deadline, TechRadar, Decider, @simonowens, @burritoprophet, @mlsmoves, @moviemediax, @deadline, @lionesspike, @sum1saiditinnit, @hannahhamspoon, ComingSoon.net, @er0ckr@threads.net, The Manual, @selinaknope, Collider, @maxisntheree, Pocket-lint, MovieWeb, @tvgrimreaper, Just Jared, Screen Rant, Deadline, Gizmodo, @Taweret@octodon.social, AppleInsider, 9to5Mac, BGR, r/television and r/tvPlus
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Court docs: Mark Zuckerberg approved the Meta team that trains AI Llama models to use data from LibGen, a “links aggregator” to pirated, copyrighted material — Counsel for plaintiffs in a copyright lawsuit filed against Meta allege that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave the green light …
Discussion:
Engadget, The Guardian, The Register, @kortizart, Evan Winston on LinkedIn, AV Club, MEDIANAMA, @brianfung.me, @elanderson.bsky.social, @ncweaver.skerry-tech.com, @benkline.bsky.social, @lilithsaintcrow.com, @donmoyn.bsky.social, David Atkinson on LinkedIn, Nina George on LinkedIn, @brunojnavarro.bsky.social, @alextecplayz@techhub.social, @jwharris.bsky.social, Bloomberg Law, Neowin, Wired, @botwiki@mastodon.social, Reuters, @the-jaguarr.bsky.social, @kortizart.bsky.social and @SuffolkLITLab@esq.social, more at Techmeme »
Wired:
Live blog: The US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in TikTok's appeal against the divest-or-ban law — We're tuning in live as the justices consider what could be one of the most consequential First Amendment rulings of the past several decades. — The US Supreme Court is expected …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Associated Press, Politico, New York Times, New Republic, @willoremus.com, @wired.com, @jason_kint, @drewharwell.com, @mikesacksesq, @swiftstories, @drewharwell.com, @swiftstories, @davelee.me, Supreme Court of the United States, The Verge, @mikesacksesq, @drewharwell.com, @mikesacksesq, @mikesacksesq, @mikesacksesq, @mikesacksesq, @mikesacksesq, @davelee.me, @mikesacksesq, @mikesacksesq, @mikesacksesq, Poynter, CBS News, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg and USA Today, more at Techmeme »
Denny Jacob / Wall Street Journal:
Former WWE boss Vince McMahon reaches a $1.7M settlement with the SEC over his failure to properly disclose payments linked to sexual misconduct allegations — Wrestling entrepreneur settles charges he failed to properly disclose payments to women alleging sexual misconduct
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: Amazon is exploring news show concepts, probably tied to events, such as Brian Williams' election special on Prime Video that drew ~4M viewers — As the results of Election Night 2024 became known, Brian Williams looked to the future. “Our country is about to change again,” …
Discussion:
The Streamable, @peterschorschfl, @martinez_a, @evanhandler, AV Club, @bristei, The Information and Adweek
Cecilia D'Anastasio / Bloomberg:
More than half a dozen celebrity video game streamers returned exclusively to Twitch in 2024, after their multimillion-dollar YouTube and Kick contracts expired — YouTube, Kick offered multimillion-dollar deals but viewers didn't necessarily follow. — Video-game influencers are returning …
Discussion:
@cecianasta
Ben Smith / Semafor:
Vogue Arabia's publisher Nervora filed a US lawsuit last summer claiming Condé Nast improperly terminated their licensing arrangement — The Scoop — Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch will host local partners on Jan. 30 at a party in Dubai ("Dress: A touch of gold!")
Discussion:
MediaPost and The Business of Fashion
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
Internal data: Spotify had ~55M US subscribers as of Q3 2024, of which only ~607,000 had switched to the cheaper “basic” plan that doesn't include audiobooks — Until now, no specifics have been shared publicly about the company's new ‘basic’ plan — Hello, and welcome back to Soundbite.
Discussion:
Music Ally, more at Techmeme »
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