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Fox EVP of Ad Sales Mark Evans says there is an increase in Super Bowl ad buys from AI companies, while ad buys from movie studios and streamers are down — AI-focused ads are up, and movie spots are down, Fox says, as 30-second ads hit an eye-watering $8 million.
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Gizmodo, The US Sun, Awful Announcing, @mousterpiece.bsky.social, Ad Age, The Verge and Adweek
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Sources: Fox has sold at least ten 30-second Super Bowl ad spots for $8M+, a record; pre and post-game ad prices have also increased, reaching $4.5M and ~$4M — Super Bowl LIX is still days away, but someone has already scored a key Big Game touchdown.
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CNBC, Sports Business Journal, CNN, Associated Press, Bloomberg, The Mirror US, Awful Announcing, Us Weekly, @alexweprin, Deadline, Forbes, TVNewsCheck, @jason_kint, The Wrap, Adweek and Just Jared
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Meta agrees to pay ~$25M to settle a 2021 lawsuit that Trump brought against Meta and Mark Zuckerberg after it suspended his accounts following the Jan. 6 riot — The president had sued the social-media company after his accounts were suspended following Jan. 6 riot
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New York Times, The Desk, Variety, The Wrap, CNN, The Guardian, CNBC, ABC News, Washington Post, The Atlantic, Associated Press, The Hill, The Information, Axios, The Gateway Pundit, The Post Millennial, NBC4 Washington, Business Insider, @mattgertz, @rebeccaballhaus, @documentingmeta@threads.net, ZeroHedge News, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, The Independent, @noupside.bsky.social, @brianfung.me, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social, Deadline and CBS News, more at Techmeme »
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The US Copyright Office says using AI tools to assist in creative processes doesn't compromise copyright protections as long as the content has human authorship — The U.S. Copyright Office declared Wednesday that the use of artificial intelligence tools to assist in the creative process does not undermine the copyright of a work.
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The co-founder of the nonprofit National Trust for Local News, Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, is stepping down as the organization's CEO after four years — Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, who co-founded the National Trust for Local News four years ago, is stepping down as the organization's CEO.
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Press Herald, The Maine Wire, NTLN and @dankennedy.net
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Trump Media unveils fintech brand Truth.Fi with an investment of up to $250M, which can be allocated to various investments, like BTC and other cryptocurrencies — Truth Social parent Trump Media and Technology Group (DJT.O) said on Wednesday its board of directors has approved the launch …
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Meta reports Q4 revenue up 21% YoY to $48.4B, net income up 49% YoY to $20.8B, and family daily active people up 5% YoY to 3.35B on average for December 2024 — Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META) today reported financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.
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Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley says his US investor group vying to buy TikTok has secured $20B+ and recruited the CEOs of Roblox and Anchorage as investors — - Tinsley's group has recruited Roblox CEO among investors — Unclear if TikTok parent ByteDance will consider Tinsley bid
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The NFL plans to let retired players use official game footage on their YouTube channels, part of its strategy to draw in younger, more diverse audiences — - NFL, YouTube expand partnership ahead of Superbowl LIX — Brandon Marshall, Cam Newton to use league footage on YouTube
Discussion:
Tubefilter and Fast Company
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US Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduces the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act that would require US ISPs to make “a good faith effort” to block foreign-run piracy sites — U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Dem-CA) has introduced H.R. 791, the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (or FADPA) …
Discussion:
Ars Technica, @misctakes.com and CMU
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Disney+ agrees to invest 25% of annual sales in France into French and European shows; in return, it can access new films nine months after theatrical release — As a payoff for this commitment, the streamer will be allowed to access newly released films nine months after their theatrical release …
Discussion:
@revan.social and Deadline
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Apple partners with DirecTV and Comcast to offer the MLS Season Pass through their platforms, starting with the 30th season kickoff on February 22, 2025 — Apple is aiming to reach more Major League Soccer fans by bringing live games to cable and satellite platforms this year, the company announced on Wednesday.