Top News:
Dylan Byers / Puck:
Sources: David Ellison tentatively agreed on a deal to acquire The Free Press for between $100M-$200M, with Bari Weiss taking an editorial position at CBS News — With Paramount securely in his pocket, David Ellison is on the verge of acquiring Bari Weiss's The Free Press and tossing her the keys to CBS News.
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Katie Arcieri / Bloomberg Law:
Newsmax Broadcasting files an antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corp and Fox News in a Florida federal court, alleging Fox has deliberately blocked Newsmax' growth — Fox News Corp. was sued Wednesday in federal court by conservative news rival Newsmax Broadcasting LLC, with claims …
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US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, The Guardian, CNN, CNBC, Newsmax, Deadline, Washington Examiner, Cord Cutters News, @bselena.bsky.social, TheDesk.net, KSTP-TV, The Daily Caller, Wall Street Journal, The Virginian-Pilot, Gizmodo, Washington Post, NPR, Raw Story, New York Times, Axios, Salon, Mediaite, Newser, Hackwhackers, NBC News, Barrett Media, @nywonk.bsky.social, Daily Kos, The Hollywood Reporter, Business Insider, TVNewsCheck, Courthouse News Service, MSNBC and The A.V. Club
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The NFL strikes a licensing deal with Front Office Sports, the first time the NFL has partnered with a sports business-focused news outlet to share content — The National Football League has struck a content licensing deal with sports business news outlet Front Office Sports, FOS founder and CEO Adam White told Axios.
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Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:
NBCUniversal says it has already sold 90% of its Sunday Night Football ad spots for the upcoming season and all of its Super Bowl spots for February
Discussion:
Adweek, The Wrap, MediaPost, Variety, Front Office Sports, Fortune, Barrett Media, TVNewsCheck, Deadline, Benzinga, RADIO ONLINE, Sportico, Bloomberg, Sports Business Journal and NBC Bay Area
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
C-SPAN, a nonprofit network supported by license fees from cable and satellite companies since 1979, lands distribution deals with YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV — C-SPAN also said that YouTube TV would sponsor the network's coverage of America250 celebrations, and C-SPAN's presence on YouTube will be boosted.
Adam Leventhal / The Athletic:
Anti-piracy organization ACE says a joint operation with Egyptian law enforcement shut down Streameast, the world's largest illegal sports streaming platform — Streameast — the world's largest illegal sports streaming platform — has been shut down after a year long investigation …
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Sportico, SlashGear, The Sun, Hunter Paletsas on LinkedIn, Charles Rivkin on LinkedIn, Dexerto, Media Play News, TheDesk.net, CyberScoop, Variety, Aftermath, The Record, Mashable, BleepingComputer, Los Angeles Times, Engadget, New York Post, Awful Announcing, Breitbart, The Streamable, Cord Cutters News, TorrentFreak, Barrett Media, Deadline, Alliance for Creativity …, al.com, KSTP-TV, The Verge, New York Daily News and Sports Business Journal, more at Techmeme »
Molly Schuetz / Bloomberg:
WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says the company is considering selling a 20% stake in its studio and streaming business before its planned separation in Q2 2026 — Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., which is splitting itself in two, could sell a 20% stake in its studio and streaming business before the planned separation next year.
Discussion:
Deadline, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck and Media Play News
Ronan Shields / Digiday:
Some ad industry executives express anger and disappointment at the US v. Google ruling, and say it will do little to alter Google's dominance of the ad market — “Even when they lose, they win.” — That summarizes the response to yesterday's remedies ruling in Google's antitrust trial …
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Jennifer Elias / CNBC:
US v. Google: a US federal judge rules that Google will not be required to divest Chrome or Android, but it must share Search data with rivals; GOOG jumps 6%+
Discussion:
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Wall Street Journal:
A US judge bars Google from paying to be the exclusive search engine on devices and browsers, but allows payments for product distribution, including to Apple
Discussion:
CNN, Gizmodo, Inc, 9to5Mac, New York Times, Verdict, CNBC, Bloomberg, @marklemley.bsky.social, @marklemley.bsky.social and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Semafor announces an expansion of its live journalism business, led by the growth of its World Economy Summit, and says events account for 50%+ of its revenue — The news publisher Semafor is doubling down on live journalism, unveiling four senior hires on Wednesday as part of a broader bid …
Sophie Culpepper / Nieman Lab:
High Plains Public Radio plans to expand rural coverage with a “contributors network” of part-time and volunteer community members after receiving a $750K grant — To expand regional coverage while keeping costs down, HPPR aims to build out a “contributors network” …
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
Jean Prewitt, president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, plans to step down at the end of 2025 after 25 years with the trade organization — Her departure at the end of 2025 will end a 25-year stint at the trade association behind the American Film Market.
Ali Lerman / Los Angeles Times:
Q&A with Greg Gutfeld about Gutfeld! becoming the most-watched show in the 10pm ET slot, showing mainstream media “that they don't own the culture”, more — Late night has a new tone in 2025, and Greg Gutfeld is the one setting it, one unpredictable quip at a time.
Discussion:
LateNighter, @alinotalli and @greggutfeld
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
An internet hoaxer claims responsibility for creating fake freelance journalist Margaux Blanchard, whose AI-generated articles were published by six outlets — An internet hoaxer calling themselves Andrew Frelon has claimed responsibility for the fake (likely AI-generated) freelance journalist Margaux Blanchard.
Discussion:
Pixel Envy and @pinemikey.bsky.social
Daniel Tilles / Notes From Poland:
Poland says state energy company Orlen is preparing to sell off Polska Press, the media group that it controversially purchased under the former government — Poland's state assets minister has confirmed that state energy firm Orlen is preparing to sell off Polska Press …
Discussion:
@notesfrompoland.bsky.social
Chris Sutcliffe / Media Voices:
How The Economist and Financial Times are leveraging personality-driven newsletters to strengthen reader relationships, while keeping the brand front-and-center — Newsletters led by star writers and editors are proving an effective tool for publishers to supercharge loyalty …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News and @simonowens.bsky.social
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