Top News:
Bloomberg:
Sources: Comcast is looking to merge NBCUniversal, including NBC TV, studios, and theme parks, with WBD, whose shareholders would get cash and stock — Comcast Corp. is looking to merge its NBCUniversal division with Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., according to people familiar with the company's plans.
Discussion:
The Wrap
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Sources: Comcast, Netflix, and Paramount submitted second-round WBD bids on December 1; Paramount's includes financing from Apollo and Middle East wealth funds
Discussion:
TVBEurope, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Sports Media Watch, Yahoo Finance, The American Bazaar, Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn, Blockonomi, Sports Business Journal, Cord Cutters News, @nitishpahwa.com, Broadband TV News, The Hollywood Reporter, Proactiveinvestors UK, Advanced Television, Awful Announcing, NewsMax.com and informitv
Bloomberg:
Sources: Netflix files a new bid for Warner Bros. Discovery that is mostly cash, and is working on a bridge loan that totals tens of billions of dollars
Sources: Netflix files a new bid for Warner Bros. Discovery that is mostly cash, and is working on a bridge loan that totals tens of billions of dollars
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, Axios, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News, The Movie Blog, New York Times, International Business Times, The Streamable, Decode TV, Barrett Media, Tech Times, Forbes Middle East, Communicate Online, Fortune, @lucas_shaw, @sherman4949, @sherman4949, Hindustan Times, TVNewsCheck, Media Play News, The Japan Times, @zacthompson.bsky.social, Reuters, World of Reel, The Ringer, Screen Rant, @radiodeadair.com, Bitcoin Insider, Seeking Alpha, @discussingfilm.net, IndieWire, Los Angeles Times, Benzinga, Bloomberg Law, Newsmax and New York Post
Sara Fischer / Axios:
CNN partners with Kalshi to use its real-time prediction data in TV, digital, and social channel reporting, on-air data tickers, analysis, and fact-checking — CNN has stuck a partnership with Kalshi, the world's largest global prediction market company, bringing Kalshi's data …
David Bauder / Associated Press:
The Pentagon denied the AP and others access to a few news briefings, claiming they're orientation events for the new press corps, which now includes Matt Gaetz — Outlets that reach millions of news consumers are being denied access to rare briefings by Pentagon officials this week …
Discussion:
Mediaite, New York Times, @lauraloomer, Associated Press, Bloomberg, The Hill, Joe.My.God., The List, Alternet.org, @atnj.org, @quakerorts.bsky.social, Mirror US, @seth_hettena and IJR
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
YouTube launches Recap, which lets users review their most notable video habits over the past year, in the US on desktop and mobile, arriving globally next week — The new annual insights feature lets you review your top channels, interests, and other viewing habits.
Discussion:
Deadline, YouTube Official Blog, NPR, The Daily Dot, KHOU-TV, PCMag, Android Authority, Dexerto, Thurrott, 9to5Google, Destructoid, TechCrunch, Pocket-lint, MakeUseOf, Search Engine Journal, Android Police, DNYUZ, TechRadar, iPhone in Canada, Variety, Chrome Unboxed, MacRumors, CNET, WeRSM, The Keyword and YouTube, more at Techmeme »
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Former Paramount streaming exec Jeff Shultz is named CEO of Radial Entertainment, which was formed last summer from the merger of FilmRise and Shout! Studios — Paramount Global alum Jeff Shultz is taking the helm of Radial Entertainment, the recently formed entertainment company encompassing FilmRise and Shout!
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, StreamTV Insider, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, Jeff Shultz on LinkedIn, Deadline, Media Play News and Realscreen
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
Google is conducting a small test for some Discover users, replacing original news headlines with short AI-generated ones that are sometimes misleading or inane — Google tells us it's a “small UI experiment for a subset of Discover users”. … If we wrote those misleading headlines …
Discussion:
@gigawattconduit.bsky.social and @seanhollister.bsky.social
Jessica Hammers / Marketing Dive:
Snapchat launches the Winter Village, a shoppable AR experience that includes Chopard, Lancome, and Boss virtual shops, available through December 31 — Chopard and other luxury brands are featured in the Snapchat Winter Village, a digital activation meant to mimic the in-person shopping experience.
Discussion:
Snap Newsroom, Your Source for Retail, MediaPost, @naomishambles.bsky.social and Social Media Today
Zac Ntim / Deadline:
Netflix says Southeast Asian content on the platform grew nearly 50% from 2023 to 2024 and 40+ Southeast Asian titles were in its Global Top 10 in 2025 — Netflix has said global viewership of Southeast Asian content on its platform grew by nearly 50% from 2023 to 2024.
Sam Gutelle / Tubefilter:
Acast, with Little Dot Studios, is launching a UK-based program to boost ad opportunities for podcasters on YouTube; a beta version launches in January — In the US, podcast ad revenue is projected to soar to $2.5 billion this year. Meanwhile, across the pond, podcaster fortunes are improving as well …
Discussion:
Journalism.co.uk, Acast, Advanced Television and Podnews
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: as Disney prepares to name Bob Iger's successor in early 2026, parks chief Josh D'Amaro and TV head Dana Walden met with Disney's board this summer — Company is expected to promote from within, with parks chief Josh D'Amaro and TV head Dana Walden considered leading contenders
Discussion:
National Legal …, Cord Cutters News, @benfritz, @nick_field90, GameSpot, Fortune, TVNewsCheck and Axios
Rachel Scharf / Billboard:
Warner Music Group sues PacSun for copyright infringement, claiming PacSun used at least 290 recordings by WMG artists in posts on Instagram and TikTok — The apparel company is accused of using unlicensed music in social media advertisements and influencer videos.
Discussion:
Bloomberg Law and Music Business Worldwide
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
TelevisaUnivision creates a shoppable “microdrama” series for JCPenney, with five 90-second scripted episodes, and plans to expand its microcontent production — JCPenney is betting on short stories — and hoping for long-term benefits. — Spanish-language media giant TelevisaUnivision …
Ben Jiang / South China Morning Post:
Chinese short-video company Kuaishou launches Kling Video O1, saying it is the first multimodal AI model to unify video generation, editing, and post-production — Kuaishou expects the new model's abilities to drive its adoption by filmmakers, production studios, advertisers and influencers
