Mediagazer: Paramount and YouTube cut a new carriage deal that will keep Paramount channels available on the YouTube TV video service; terms of the deal were not disclosed (Alex Weprin/The Hollywood Reporter)

8:30 PM ET, February 16, 2025

Top News:

Paramount and YouTube cut a new carriage deal that will keep Paramount channels available on the YouTube TV video service; terms of the deal were not disclosed — Channels like CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV were at risk of going dark if the companies were unable to reach a new deal.

Discussion: Engadget, @youtubetv, The Desk, Streaming Better, Cord Cutters News, TechCrunch, CBS News, The Streamable, New York Post, 9to5Google, Awful Announcing, The Verge, TV Tech, Broadband TV News, Radio & Television …, Forbes, Front Office Sports and The Wrap

Washington Post:

How Elon Musk used a contract signed by a Reuters division during Trump's first term to promote “deep state” conspiracies and justify cuts to federal agencies — Trump's DOGE chief mischaracterizes a contract as he marshals “deep state” conspiracy theories to justify cuts to federal agencies.

Jeff Gluck / New York Times:

A survey of NASCAR fans shows frustration, anger, and often acceptance of the fragmented system for watching races over broadcast, cable, and streaming channels — As NASCAR enters the first year of a new seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights deal, its fans are the latest to face …

Discussion: Awful Announcing and @jeff_gluck

Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:

While Hollywood has shown resistance to AI use, the tech has already become a standard tool to aid in dubbing and subtitling in international and indie films — Recent mini-scandals surrounding ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘The Brutalist’ illustrate the fear of the tech in Hollywood …

Discussion: Jim Rivera on LinkedIn

Katie Campione / Deadline:

WGA West President Meredith Stiehm asked studios to “stand up and fight back on AI” and said the guild recovered $78M in late pay and residuals owed in 2024 — WGA West President Meredith Stiehm sought to reassure members that the guild is doing its best to work in their favor during …

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:

Kadrey v. Meta: Meta paused some AI-related book licensing efforts in April 2023 after contacting publishers and seeing “slow uptake” and logistical setbacks — New court filings in an AI copyright case against Meta add credence to earlier reports that the company “paused” …

Discussion: @markriedl.bsky.social

McKay Coppins / The Atlantic:

James and Kathryn Murdoch detail the succession battle that has pitted James and Lachlan Murdoch against each other, leaving the family empire's future unclear — James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire — James murdoch was seated …

Dan Whateley / Business Insider:

Maryland-based Uscreen, which helps creators launch apps, engage fans, monetize memberships, and more, raised $150M from PSG Equity, giving PSG a majority stake — - Uscreen, a startup that helps creators make apps, scored a $150 million investment from PSG Equity.

Discussion: PJ Taei on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »

Sara Fischer / Axios:

The White House says it will bar AP from events in the Oval Office and on Air Force One over AP's refusal to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” — - “The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America.

Discussion: Washington Post, @taylor47, Reason, Breitbart, The Independent, @kellyo, @reuterspr, Fox News, The Hill, @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social, @kevinmkruse.bsky.social, CNBC, PoliticusUSA, @daralind.bsky.social, The Wrap, @helenkennedy.bsky.social, @jamellebouie.net, Pravda EN, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, @clarajeffery.bsky.social, @evansutton.bsky.social, @clarajeffery.bsky.social, The Guardian, @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social, @davelevitan.bsky.social, @axioscomms, @lisafung.bsky.social, @augieray@mastodon.social, @stuartpstevens, @sykescharlie, @ron_fournier, @nealrubin_fp, @ron_fournier, @ron_fournier, Press Watch, The Hill, @carlquintanilla.bsky.social, @mcbridetd.bsky.social, Michael D Pendleton on LinkedIn, Public Notice, @peterbakernyt, @erikwemple, @kutalik.bsky.social, @sarafischer, @presssec, Daily Mail, Mediaite, National Press Club, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Convulsions, Daily Kos, Politico, Associated Press, @dangillmor.bsky.social, Justin's Political Corner, People, Bloomberg, New York Times, One America News Network, CBS News, @matthewkeys.net, @eborian.bsky.social, The Daily Wire, Deadline, @brianstelter.bsky.social, New York Daily News, The Post Millennial, KIFI-TV, TVNewsCheck, @atrupar.com, Variety, Vanity Fair, Tennessee Star, New Republic, HuffPost, E&E News, PEN America, Daily Caller News Foundation, Associated Press, Al Jazeera and r/Journalism

Haroon Siddique / The Guardian:

UK-based lawyers for Apple Daily founder and activist Jimmy Lai say they are being targeted by the Chinese state and its supporters in an intimidation campaign — Exclusive: Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers say they have been subject to surveillance, hacking and rape threats

Discussion: @icarszoey.bsky.social, @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social, @aoifenolan.bsky.social, @mbrooker.bsky.social, @andyscollick.bsky.social, @amfchina.bsky.social and @sensehofstede.nl

Henry Larson / 404 Media:

YouTube has taken down a “true crime” channel with millions of views for 150+ AI-created videos about fake, lurid crimes, for breaking community guidelines — Elizabeth Hernandez found out about the decade-old murder from a flurry of tips sent to her newsroom in August last year.

Discussion: Futurism, @hemrylarson, @hemrylarson, @paul@oldfriends.live, @josephcox@infosec.exchange, Fast Company, Tubefilter, @pensadorlouco@kolektiva …, Gizmodo, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @agasramirez@freeradical.zone and @ubiquity75.bsky.social

Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Paramount execs weigh risks of settling Trump's lawsuit against CBS News, concerned about potential shareholder litigation or criminal bribery charges — Media company executives fear liability from potential settlement paid before Skydance merger

Discussion: Yahoo Finance, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Raw Story, @katiefallow.bsky.social, @annmlipton.bsky.social, @annmlipton.bsky.social and @davidenrich.bsky.social

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Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
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Jordan Novet / CNBC:
Filing: Trump Media reports 2024 revenue down 12% YoY to $3.6M and a $400M net loss, up from $58.2M in 2023; the company has a $6.6B market cap

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Sanjai P R / Bloomberg:
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Joe Castaldo / Globe and Mail:
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Andrew Liszewski / The Verge:
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Discussion: @sethanikeem.bsky.social, @jasondashbailey.bsky.social, @jenreadsromance.bsky.social, @mariabustillos.bsky.social, @leokitty.bsky.social, @tkristinwilson@mas.to, @papapishu.bsky.social, Android Police and Gizmodo

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Scharon Harding / Ars Technica:
In an AMA, Steve Huffman says Reddit is planning to roll out paid subreddits in 2025 and is “laying the foundation” to monetize commerce within subreddits

Discussion: KTVU-TV, Business Insider, @glenngabe@mas.to, @paul@oldfriends.live, @bastardsheep.com, SFist, Gizmodo, @flwwhtrbt@mastodon.social, Engadget, @redditff.bsky.social, @drahardja@sfba.social, @autumnwolff.bsky.social, @stefan@stefanbohacek.online, @karlbode.com, @JessTheUnstill@infosec …, @arstechnica@mastodon.social and r/RDDT

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
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Sean Burch / The Wrap:
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Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
Australia's ABC Chair Kim Williams calls News Corp's claims that the public broadcaster costs taxpayers more than Netflix “unbalanced and agenda-driven”

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From Techmeme:

CNBC:
OpenAI closes a $40B round, the most raised by a private tech company, at a $300B post-money valuation; SoftBank led with $30B; source: ~$18B is for Stargate

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
OpenAI's new GPT-4o-powered image generator is now available to all users; Sam Altman last week mentioned a limit of three images per day for free-tier users

Sean Endicott / Windows Central:
Microsoft expands Copilot+ PC features exclusive to Snapdragon, like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator, to PCs with AMD or Intel chips

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