Top News:
Reuters:
Nexstar agrees to acquire Tegna for $3.54B in a deal valued at $6.2B including debt, expected to close by H2 2026; Nexstar plans to pay $22 per share — Nexstar Media has agreed to buy smaller rival Tegna for $3.54 billion, creating a local-TV powerhouse that seeks to compete better …
Discussion:
Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Variety, Broadband TV News, FTVLive, @agomezfcc, TheDesk.net, Atlanta Business Journal, NewsMax.com, Seattle Business Journal, Associated Press, Multicast News, @kyleclark, Plain Dealer, Inside Radio, @matthewcappucci, @jeremyjojola, @brianstelter, @kevinbuffalo, @brianstelter, @eriqgardner, @reporterashley, @bethfinellowx, Dallas Innovates, Adweek, StreamTV Insider, @amandamatwell, @sarafischer, @tylerhugheswx, @markmaxwelltv, @nxstmediagroup, @tegna, @jerodnbc4, Portland Business Journal, New York Post, Poynter, Columbus Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, Free Press Action Fund Feed, New York Times, Reuters, NCS | NewscastStudio, Dallas Business Journal, TV Tech, Los Angeles Times, UPI, MediaPost, The Streamable, CBS News, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, CNN, Washington …, Denver Post, Radio & Television …, Awful Announcing, Investigative Post, Axios, The Wrap, Bloomberg, al.com, Baltimore Business Journal, Cord Cutters News, KWES, Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Advanced Television, WTOP News and Barrett Media
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
Newly unredacted documents in the Smartmatic-Fox News defamation case show former host Jeanine Pirro, now a US attorney, bragging about aiding Trump and the GOP — The former Fox host complained of “CENSORSHIP” by Fox over her coverage of the 2020 election, according to newly unredacted documents in the Smartmatic defamation case.
Discussion:
New York Times, Mediaite, @amyewest.bsky.social, @farhip, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @jenhayden.bsky.social, @nasaisright.bsky.social, @kylegriffin1.bsky.social, @Nonilex@masto.ai, @washingtonpost.com, @justinbaragona.bsky.social, @mattortega.com, @emptywheel.bsky.social and The Independent
Andrew Marchand / The Athletic:
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro bets big on streaming after eight years of planning, calling the new DTC app launch “the first inning” with more features to come — ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro's big bet is not all-or-nothing. — On Thursday, Pitaro and the sports media behemoth …
Discussion:
Sportico, Sports Business Journal, ESPN, @andrewmarchand, Awful Announcing, Awful Announcing, Barrett Media and Cord Cutters News
Molly White / Citation Needed:
A look at Justin Sun's lawsuit against Bloomberg for publishing his holdings, which he claims he provided confidentially to qualify for its Billionaires Index — A crypto billionaire who once feared arrest in the US is now a Trump business adviser and White House guest.
Discussion:
@pinemikey.bsky.social, @molly.wiki, Talking Biz News and Molly White, more at Techmeme »
Tom McArthur / BBC:
Kick says it is “urgently reviewing” the circumstances of the death of a French livestreamer who was subjected to violence and sleep deprivation during streams — An investigation has been launched into the death of a French streamer known for extreme challenges.
Discussion:
Metro.co.uk, Le Monde, @dexertonox, @louispisano, @louispisano, @63grussell63, @seandablack, @springbris, @brndxix, @harrynotaverage, LADbible, Kotaku, Distractify, Dexerto, New York Post, Mirror, The Sun, People, r/LeftoversH3 and r/Fauxmoi, more at Techmeme »
Nicole Acevedo / NBC News:
A researcher found 88 TikTok accounts that used AI-generated versions of Jorge Ramos and other Spanish-language journalists to spread misinformation for profit — The accounts point to the challenge of stopping or controlling the surge in fake images and misinformation targeting Spanish speakers in the U.S. as AI technology advances.
Discussion:
Reuters, Agence France-Presse, The Verge, KEYE, @mantzarlis.com and @mantzarlis.com
Claire Atkinson / The Media Mix:
A look at Swerve Sports, a FAST TV channel for women's sports launched by veteran TV executive Christy Tanner, as FAST TV grows despite data challenges — Christy Tanner is ready for a FAST fight to get more data from the platforms and put women's sport on the map. Plus streaming is almost half of all viewing now.
Discussion:
nScreenMedia
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Sling TV launches Sling Select, a smaller bundle with Fox News, FX, and FS1, for $20/month in some places and rising to $25-$30/month with ABC, Fox, and NBC — Sling TV has added a new low-cost option to its streaming lineup with the launch of Sling Select, a smaller television package …
James B. Stewart / New York Times:
Interviews with Shari Redstone and others detail her decision to sell her family's empire, Paramount's settlement with President Trump, her reputation, and more — The media mogul spoke at length for the first time about selling her family's empire, Paramount's settlement with President Trump …
Discussion:
Business Insider, Mumbrella, The Washington Free Beacon, Fox News, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @danprimack, @mediaevan, @jpodhoretz, @loudmouthjulia, @alexthomp, @aidnmclaughlin, @pkafka, New York Sun, @collinconnors, The Gateway Pundit, @benmullin, HotAir, Daily Caller News Foundation, Media Play News, Deadline, Mediaite, The Wrap, Fortune, New York Post, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, @paulthedogman.bsky.social, Instapundit and TVNewsCheck
Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
Matt and Ross Duffer officially sign a four-year exclusive deal with Paramount for theatrical films, TV, and streaming projects, starting in April 2026 — The ‘Stranger Things’ creators will create movie, TV and streaming projects for the studio, with a focus on tentpole films.
Discussion:
Variety, CNBC, FemaleFirst, Hypebeast, CinemaBlend, mxdwn Television, Benzinga, Screen, Nerdist, The Wrap, Deadline and Screen Rant
Sara Merican / Deadline:
Chinese media conglomerate COL launches a global content distribution division, offering over 1,000 microdramas in both English and Chinese — Chinese media conglomerate COL today announced the launch of its global content distribution division, seeking to become the world's largest reseller of micro-dramas.
Discussion:
PRovoke Media and Variety
Steve Holland / Reuters:
The White House launches an official TikTok account, aiming to communicate President Trump's policies; the first video shows Trump declaring “I am your voice” — The White House launched an official TikTok account on Tuesday, taking advantage of its more than 150 million U.S. users …
Discussion:
Engadget, Mashable, Tech Times, Arabian Business, Anadolu Ajansı …, The Independent, Ukrainian National News, @justinling.ca, Newsweek, @toasterposey.art, Economic news, Fox News, New York Times, Times of India, @bselena.bsky.social, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Hindustan Times, @gayguycandleco.bsky.social, India Today, Benzinga, Telegraph, The Hill, The Post Millennial, BERNAMA and GMA News Online, more at Techmeme »
