Top News:
Charles Gasparino / New York Post:
Sources: Paramount Skydance is in talks with private equity firms including Apollo Global Management to join its potential $60B bid for Warner Bros. Discovery — Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison is in talks with major private equity firms to join his possible bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, @golikehellmachine.com, Barron's Online and Business Insider
CNN:
The Pentagon Press Association formally objects to Defense Department rules “that appear designed to stifle a free press” and “further isolate reporters” — Military officials are pushing forward with new restrictions on the Pentagon press corps despite objections from news organizations and watchdog groups.
Discussion:
Washington Post, @phildstewart, @natashabertrand, Bloomberg, The Hill, @karyncaplan, Deadline, @nedprice, @brianstelter.bsky.social, Newser, @mwilsonmusic07, @brettbruen, @franklinh3000, @ktoropin, @jeremymbarr, @scottnover, @jamiedupree, @halbritz, @scottnover, The Independent, @huntclancy, Mediaite, @ktoropin, TVNewsCheck and NewsMax.com
Rob Waugh / Press Gazette:
A UK PR agency is offering a £250/month AI tool called Olivia Brown, which creates press releases and expert quotes, and “relentlessly” emails journalists — ‘Olivia Brown’ reads websites, writes press releases then ‘relentlessly’ sends emails.
Discussion:
Tom Chivers on LinkedIn, Alex Lopez on LinkedIn and @josiah.writes.news
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Leonard Blavatnik injects $587M into DAZN, taking his total investment above $7B in under a decade; DAZN losses narrowed last year to $936M from $1.4B in 2023 — Sports streamer expects to be profitable next year and looks to potential listing or private investors for more capital
Discussion:
Australian Financial Review, Mediaweek, City A.M., TV Blackbox, Advanced Television and Telegraph
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Analysis: Google Search favored global news brands like CNN and Al Jazeera over Manchester Evening News coverage, following an attack on a Manchester synagogue — SEO expert explains why local news providers can “miss out” amid major news events. — Google search results favoured coverage …
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Rachel Tashjian, most recently the fashion critic for The Washington Post, joins CNN as a senior style reporter for a new digital product — CNN treads regularly in the halls of government, but now it's getting ready for a stroll on the catwalk. — Rachel Tashjian, most recently …
Glenn Peoples / Billboard:
Live Nation plans to offer $1.3B of convertible senior notes with 2031 due dates, seeking to repay existing debt and possibly fund concert venues — As of June 30, the concert giant had $6.48 billion of debt on its balance sheet. … Live Nation plans to offer $1.3 billion of convertible senior notes …
Discussion:
Yahoo Finance, Music Business Worldwide and Digital Music News
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr:
[Thread] Filings in the Fox News/Smartmatic case show internal criticism from Fox employees about coverage, including their condemnation of opinion hosts — Some filings made public yesterday in the Fox News/Smartmatic case include some internal criticisms from Fox employees about coverage (I BELIEVE from an internal 2020 company survey) One said: “The content we produce has made the world, and especially our country, a worse [image]
Discussion:
Alternet.org, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr and @jeremymbarr
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
Lemonade Stand, a business podcast launched seven months ago by three Twitch streamers, grows to over 16,000 Patreon subscribers, generating $58K+ per month — The business show Lemonade Stand has an audience that is 91% male and 60% Gen Z — Welcome back to Soundbite.
Colby Hall / Mediaite:
On his two-year anniversary as CNN CEO, Mark Thompson talks about the core value proposition of CNN, cable news, CNN's alleged left-leaning bias, and more — Since taking the helm of CNN two years ago, Sir Mark Thompson—both a British Knight and American citizen—has been something …
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Sources: WaPo plans to launch video podcasts, one hosted by columnist Megan McArdle next month and a flagship show led by Opinion Editor Adam O'Neal in January — Mentioned in this edition: Bari Weiss, Tom Cibrowski, Rebecca Blumenstein, Lachlan Murdoch, Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer, Paul Beckett …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Filing: PA Media Group reports 2024 revenue up 3% YoY to £116.3M, its eighth consecutive year of revenue growth, but profit before tax declined by 4% to £8.6M — Accounts for 2024 are first under new CEO Emily Shelley. — PA Media Group has grown its revenue for the eighth year in a row …
