Top News:
New York Times:
Sources: Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix bid in the first round for WBD; Comcast and Netflix are seeking just the studio and streaming parts of WBD — The outcome of the sale could alter the trajectory of the entertainment business. — The heavyweights of Hollywood made their cases …
Discussion:
Broadcast, BMI, RTÉ, Puck, TrekMovie.com, @richlightshed, @ndhapple.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, CNBC, @benmullin.bsky.social, Media Play News, The Wrap, Business Insider, Deadline, Awful Announcing, TVNewsCheck, Cord Cutters News, Bloomberg Law, World of Reel, Quartz, Los Angeles Times, Business Standard, Adweek, Wall Street Journal and MediaPost
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Wall Street Journal:
A look at CBS News under Bari Weiss: plans for a makeover of the CBS Evening News, concerns among veterans about her outspoken support of Israel, and more — The new editor in chief is personally recruiting potential anchors, booking guests herself and asking staff what they do
Hugo Lowell / The Guardian:
Sources: a White House official discussed with Larry Ellison cutting CNN hosts that President Trump loathes and running CBS shows like 60 Minutes on CNN — Senior officials indicated favorability toward Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros Discovery — Senior White House officials …
Discussion:
@freedomofpress, The Independent, Wall Street Journal, The Information, @drrenemd.bsky.social, @wajali.bsky.social, RADAR, @mattgertz, @rbreich, @davidclinchnews, American Prospect, @catbutlersr.bsky.social, Breitbart, Status, Washington Examiner, @brentosaur.bsky.social, Nieman Lab, @marklemley.bsky.social, Mediaite, Straight Arrow News, @callyson.bsky.social, @mmeadway.bsky.social, @keithboykin.bsky.social, @jonathancohn.bsky.social, TV Insider, @karlbode.com, Raw Story, The Wrap, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @karaswisher.bsky.social, @freedom.press, @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com, @punkonbuslives.bsky.social, @vidiot.bsky.social, @stevereddog.bsky.social, @zjmontague.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, New Republic, Alternet.org and Daily Caller News Foundation
John Buckley / Capital Brief:
Sources: US officials raised concerns with Australia over its streaming content quotas that the government is trying to push through the Senate before year end — The US Embassy has directly raised concerns about the policy in Canberra, raising the stakes for the Albanese government as it pursues an aggressive tech reform agenda.
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Antenna: Fox One paying subscribers hit 2.3M by the end of October, after rising by 1.1M during the month; a $40 bundle with ESPN Unlimited launched on Oct. 2 — The number of streamers paying for a version of Fox Corporation's nascent streaming service Fox One has surpassed 2 million subscribers since …
Discussion:
Antenna
Dominic Patten / Deadline:
California awards over $313M in tax credits to 17 TV shows, in the second batch of TV awards since an expansion of TV/film credits to $750M annually — Along with the third season of blockbuster Fallout, and a second season of Netflix's Forever, the postponed second season of the Amazon spy couple series …
Discussion:
NBC Los Angeles, @maryscottoconnor.com and Los Angeles Times
Renju Jose / Reuters:
Australia adds Twitch to teen social media ban; Twitch plans to deactivate accounts for 16-and-under users from Jan. 9 and bar new underage users from Dec. 10 — Australia's internet watchdog on Friday said it would include Amazon.com-owned (AMZN.O) live streaming service Twitch …
Discussion:
ABC, Dexerto, Agence France-Presse, BBC, 9News, Breitbart, The Independent and Mumbrella
Matt Donnelly / Variety:
Q&A with Variety's new publisher and co-president, Dea Lawrence, on her career, on AI and digital creators being “crucial” for the outlet, and more — Dea Lawrence has assumed the top business role at Variety, succeeding Michelle Sobrino Stearns as publisher and also becoming co-president …
Lachlan Cartwright / Vanity Fair:
A look at Rupert Murdoch's California Post, which will focus on LA, Silicon Valley, and Sacramento when it launches in 2026; Ian Mohr will lead CA Page Six — California is a veritable news feast—politicians with national ambitions, climate disasters, the twin industries of Hollywood and tech.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter
Sophie Culpepper / Nieman Lab:
A look at the “explosion” of LA media upstarts, like the LA Local News Initiative, which has $18M in funding, SFGate's Southland, and nonprofit LA Public Press — A well-funded coalition building out neighborhood news, a new newsletter from an expanding for-profit site …
Matt Hughes / The Guardian:
Paramount wins UK rights to show most UEFA Champions League games from 2027 to 2031; sources say its bid was much higher than TNT's current £1B per year deal — - US network made largest bid at this week's auction — Amazon Prime will have first pick of Tuesday matches
Ivan L. Nagy / Columbia Journalism Review:
An ex-Pentagon press corps member says Pentagon day pass requests now require an hour-by-hour activity summary and a list of people they plan to speak to — While veteran national security reporters can't get their calls answered, members of the new, MAGA-friendly press corps have a hotline to the Department of War.
Discussion:
@columjournreview.bsky.social
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
The White House sends out a press release calling ABC News “a Democrat spin operation masquerading as a broadcast network” and cataloging perceived offenses — A day after President Donald Trump blew up at ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce and called for the network to lose …
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Reuters:
The FCC opens a review of agreements between national networks and local TV stations, including about rules controlling how stations preempt network programs
The FCC opens a review of agreements between national networks and local TV stations, including about rules controlling how stations preempt network programs
Discussion:
Federal Communications Commission, Inside Radio, The Wrap, Truth on the Market, PCMag, @michaelnaphys.bsky.social, Bloomberg, The Hill, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, @brendancarrfcc, TheDesk.net, @diversetechgeek.bsky.social, GB News, NewsMax.com and Cybersecurity Dive, more at Techmeme »
