Mediagazer: A look at London news startups, including Jim Waterson's London Centric, that launched since the Evening Standard's daily print edition closure in summer 2024 (Dominic Ponsford/Press Gazette)

12:55 PM ET, February 20, 2025

Top News:

Justin Kroll / Deadline:

Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli form a JV to house James Bond IP rights, under which Amazon gains creative control of the franchise — In news that will send shock waves through the industry, longtime James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli …

Discussion: Variety, CNN, Axios, The Hollywood Reporter, SlashFilm, About Amazon, Wall Street Journal, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, Screen Rant, IndieWire, Reuters, Entertainment Weekly, New Jersey Online, Business Insider, Fortune, GQ UK, Steve Siskind on LinkedIn, Yahoo Finance, Mirror, Financial Times, @mutarada.bsky.social, WPXI-TV, Town & Country, Bloomberg, CNBC, The Verge, @benschwartz.bsky.social, Rolling Stone UK, The Playlist, @nedraggett.bsky.social, GB News, The Information, Quartz, LADbible, @vinzenzhediger.bsky.social, FemaleFirst, @michaelthec@poweredbygay …, Carlo Bertucci on LinkedIn, Los Angeles Times, @richlightshed, WFAA-TV, NDTV, Media Play News, Comic Book, @mrfengi.bsky.social, Cord Cutters News, Gizmodo, BBC, @taraconlan.bsky.social, @mgsiegler, @joerussotweets, CBR, @ronmarz.bsky.social, @moviessilently.bsky.social, @deeketweak, @gigawattconduit.bsky.social, @jjdotbiz.bsky.social, @josie.zone, @bunndumm, LADbible, @gigawattconduit.bsky.social, Consequence, @caseym.org, @jacobkleinman, @benroyturner, @sonnybunch, Collider, World of Reel, @nextbestpicture and Just Jared

Oliver Darcy / Status:

40 news organizations signed a letter delivered to the White House this week, asking the White House to lift its AP ban immediately in support of press freedom — News outlets across the political spectrum have united behind the AP, signing a WHCA-backed letter urging the White House …

Discussion: Mediaite, Media Nation, @jeremymbarr, @jpmarthoz.bsky.social, @brianstelter, @mattgoerzen.bsky.social, @charliebeckett.bsky.social, @susangardner.bsky.social, @alansunderland.com, @chathamharrison.bsky.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, The Wrap, @sharonwaxman.bsky.social, The Atlantic, RADIO ONLINE, The Rio Times and Inside Radio

Financial Times:

Mathias Döpfner calls Trump's Politico attacks a “misunderstanding” and says many Europeans had “intentionally misunderstood” JD Vance's speech in Munich — Mathias Döpfner says many Europeans had ‘intentionally misunderstood’ the US vice-president's speech that caused widespread horror

Discussion: @Akshay@eupolicy.social, @shakeelhashim, @jonworth.eu, @lilouzovert.bsky.social and @jeffjarvis.bsky.social

Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:

Substack adds the ability to post videos from its app and lets creators monetize videos, and plans to add more video tools like trimming and enhanced analytics — As TikTok's future in the U.S. remains uncertain, Substack tries to lure creators to its platform by doubling down on video.

Discussion: On Substack

Alex Sherman / CNBC:

Sources: ESPN plans to add some user-generated content to its flagship streaming service, which will debut later in 2025 and could be priced at $25 or $30/month — In an attempt to court younger audiences, Disney's ESPN is planning to add some user-generated content to its yet …

Discussion: Awful Announcing, @dannygroner.bsky.social and Barrett Media

Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:

Apple says Severance has become the most-viewed series on Apple TV+ globally, surpassing Ted Lasso; the series also helped bump subscription signups in January — According to the streamer, Severance has broken Apple TV+ records, launching as the platform's #1 series in history based on number …

Discussion: Forbes, CBR, Deseret News, Decider, Collider, MacRumors, Inverse, Dexerto, @carlquintanilla.bsky.social, @benstiller.redhour.com, BGR, Comic Book, 9to5Mac, Screen Rant and Just Jared

Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:

A look at London news startups, including Jim Waterson's London Centric, that launched since the Evening Standard's daily print edition closure in summer 2024 — Two upmarket London news start-ups are finding a growing (albeit small so far) market for paid online news about the UK capital.

Discussion: Alexander Smith on LinkedIn, LinkedIn and @pressgazette

Michel Rose / Reuters:

A French court upholds TV channel C8's shutdown for failures to protect human rights and protect minors, as right-wing politicians claim a free speech violation — France's top administrative court has upheld a decision to shut down popular TV channel C8 for repeated failures to respect human rights …

CNBC Press Releases:

CNBC International appoints Spriha Srivastava to oversee digital content, starting from May; Srivastava left BI as its executive editor & UK bureau chief — LONDON, February 20, 2025 - CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, today announced the appointment of Spriha Srivastava as Vice President …

Discussion: Spriha Srivastava on LinkedIn

Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:

Spotify will begin accepting AI-narrated audiobooks recorded using ElevenLabs software; Spotify already allows AI-recorded audiobooks, with several restrictions — A new ElevenLabs partnership aims to help authors bring AI-narrated audiobooks to Spotify listeners.

Discussion: TechCrunch and Spotify, more at Techmeme »

BBC:

BBC News says it made the “reluctant decision” to close its office in Azerbaijan after the government ordered the suspension of its operation in the country — The Azerbaijani government has ordered the suspension of BBC News' Azerbaijani operation in the capital city, Baku.

Discussion: Reuters, Bloomberg, news.am and APA.AZ

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

A+E Networks launches a digital division to unify its digital efforts, including YouTube channels and SVOD platforms, and plans a History.com relaunch — Ann McGowan will join the company as its digital GM, with a relaunch of History.com as the first big project.

Discussion: Adweek, Variety, The Wrap and WORLD SCREEN

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:

TelevisaUnivision reports Q4 revenue down 1% YoY to $1.3B, operating expenses flat at $892M, and says its DTC business generated $1B in annual revenue — “2024 was a year of continued momentum for TelevisaUnivision, and my early days at the helm have reinforced the tremendous opportunity ahead of us," says CEO Daniel Alegre.

Discussion: MediaPost, TVNewsCheck, Variety, Deadline and TelevisaUnivision

Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:

Twitch plans to implement a 100-hour storage cap for Highlights and Uploads from April 19, automatically deleting content from streamers who exceed the limit — Streamers who have exceeded this limit will have their content automatically deleted until it meets the threshold.

Discussion: TechCrunch, TOS.gg, Cord Cutters News, Dexerto, Engadget, @helloitskolo, @realcouri, @scifichicktv, @ravsy_, @shiftposting, @metalman_20, @notenglishben, @twitchsupport, @thefiz_, @zisteau, @amaliasolaris and @iateyourp1e, more at Techmeme »

Abid Rahman / The Hollywood Reporter:

MPA: Max added 1.4M subscribers in Q4 2024 in Southeast Asia, capturing 26% of net customer additions for streaming services, while Netflix accounted for 48% — A new report from Media Partners Asia reveals that Warner Bros. Discovery's streamer added 1.4 million subscribers in Q4 2024 in five key SEA markets.

Discussion: WORLD SCREEN, Decider, Deadline and Variety

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Business Editor, CA — TheWrap

Executive Ed. - Tech & Electronics, AZ — AspenCore

Economy & Industry Reporter, TX — Texas Tribune

Deputy Editor - Health Care, VA — Politico

Political Enterprise Editor, DC — Guardian US

Housing & Real Estate Reporter, ME — BDN

Associate Reporter - Yahoo Finance — Yahoo

Senior Editor, Remote — Raw Story

Deputy Politics Editor, CA — Sacramento Bee

Alphaville Reporter, London — FT

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More News:

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Gallery Media Group says it made $50M in 2024 revenue from its women's media title PureWow and 50+ social-only brands on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix commits to invest $1B in Mexico for the production of series and films over the next four years, including $2M for the iconic Churubusco Studios

Discussion: The Ankler, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, Reuters, Variety, Media Play News and Deadline, more at Techmeme »

Wired:
Investigation: Google's Display & Video 360 ad platform lets users target Americans' sensitive personal data, despite Google's rules against such practices

Discussion: @cdarwin@c.im, @johnnyryan@eupolicy.social, @jshermcyber.bsky.social, @couts.bsky.social, @dmehro.bsky.social, @johnnyryan.bsky.social, @timmarchman.bsky.social and @wired.com, more at Techmeme »

PEN America:
The DOD's schools for children in US military families are flagging some books, including Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, for “compliance review” after Trump's EOs

Discussion: @kma500@sfba.social, @penamerica.bsky.social, Cele|bitchy and Mock Paper Scissors

Lawrence Bonk / Engadget:
Twitch rolls out changes to its violation enforcement system: minor infractions expire after 90 days and serious ones, like hateful conduct, in one or two years

Discussion: Game Rant, Dexerto, Tech Times and Twitch Safety Center, more at Techmeme »

Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
A US federal judge declined to dismiss an investor lawsuit alleging Bob Chapek aimed to hide Disney+ costs and make forecasts it would be profitable by 2024

Discussion: TVNewsCheck

Deadline:
The BBC added a clarification to its documentary Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone and apologized, after failing to declare the narrator was a Hamas leader's son

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, One America News Network, The Guardian and New York Post

Matt Tamanini / The Streamable:
FanDuel Sports, the renamed regional sports network that succeeded Bally Sports, is now available on Amazon Prime Video, offering channels for $19.99/month

Discussion: Business Wire, Barrett Media, Awful Announcing, TVNewsCheck, Bloomberg, The TV Answer Man! and Cord Cutters News

Earlier Picks:

Suzanne Vranica / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: top X executives hinted to Interpublic and other ad firms that not spending on X could lead to legal woes, due to X's lawsuit against some advertisers

Michael Levenson / New York Times:
A Mississippi judge has ordered a local newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing Clarksdale city officials; the paper's owner plans to challenge the order

Tom Wheeler / Brookings:
FCC Chair Brendan Carr should clarify the vague “public interest standard”, as his politicization of FCC's processes against CBS goes against legal precedent

Discussion: Status, The Hill, Mediaite, TVNewsCheck, The Hill, Truth on the Market and The Wrap

Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
SiriusXM expands its $5.99 per month podcast subscription offering to Spotify, YouTube Music, and more, after launching it on Apple Podcasts in August 2024

Discussion: Inside Radio

Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Filing: CBS plans to seek financial information from Trump, Truth Social, TMTG, and more if Trump's $20B lawsuit against CBS goes to a discovery phase

Discussion: The Root, Mediaite, Poynter, The Washington Free Beacon and People

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
ABC: 50%+ of 164 audited UK magazines saw their print circulation decline by 10%+ in 2024; 13 increased their print circulation, with Homes & Gardens up 8%

Discussion: Press Gazette and ABC

The Guardian:
Italy's national journalist union launches legal action after Giorgia Meloni's government refused to answer questions about allegedly using spyware on critics

Discussion: Engadget, @vaspanagiotopoulos.com, @fabiochiusi.bsky.social, Bloomberg and European Federation …

Austin American-Statesman:
Gannett signs a deal to sell the Austin American-Statesman and related publications to Hearst Corporation; the sale is expected to close by March 31

Discussion: Gannett Co., Inc., TVNewsCheck, mikemcguff.com, @mcpli.bsky.social, @caseyseiler.bsky.social, Houston Business Journal, @abigailrosenthal.bsky.social, @jswatz.bsky.social and MediaPost

From Techmeme:

John Hudson / Washington Post:
Sources: WH national security adviser Michael Waltz and other National Security Council members have conducted government affairs over personal Gmail accounts

CNBC:
Circle files for a US IPO, with plans to list on the NYSE under CRCL; Circle, which issues the USDC stablecoin, is reportedly seeking a $4B to $5B valuation

Reuters:
Sources: Arm decided not to pursue a deal after recently seeking to acquire Alphawave, a UK-listed supplier of semiconductor IP that is exploring a sale

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