Top News:
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Comcast's board approves the spinoff of Comcast's cable TV networks and their digital platforms to create Versant Media Group, trading as VSNT as of January 5 — The spinoff has been a year in the making and comes as the Philadelphia-based media giant is bidding to acquire the studio …
Discussion:
The Wrap and Business Wire
Tim Miller / The Bulwark:
An interview with Olivia Nuzzi about her affair with RFK Jr., her book, and more; Nuzzi says “I did something wrong, like those ethics rules exist for a reason” — The author at the center of two major scandals—one roiling journalism, the other implicating Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—speaks with Tim Miller.
Discussion:
Feed Me, Slate, Variety, Semafor, RADAR, Mediaite, Fox News, @sarahjeong.bsky.social, Daily Mail, Showbiz411, Page Six, New York Post, KVIA-TV, DNYUZ, @bulwarkonline, @anthonymemerson, @bulwarkonline, @timodc, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Poynter, @moorehn, @peterawolf, @lizskalka, @nicksolheim, @a_picazo, @kennysmith.bsky.social, National Enquirer, @therickwilson, Us Weekly, @bulwarkonline, IJR, @msmilack75.bsky.social, The Independent, The Daily Beast, HotAir, New York Sun and Cele|bitchy
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify releases Wrapped 2025, which adds features like Wrapped Party, its first live interactive experience, Top Song Quiz, Listening Age, and Wrapped Clubs — Spotify Wrapped is back. After last year's widely criticized flop that included an AI podcast as its highlight …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Spotify, TheTruthAboutCars, SheKnows, Boston.com, Android Central, The Verge, New York Times, PCMag, Mirror, MobileSyrup, WPXI-TV, Billboard, Forbes, Axios, Mashable, BGR, WeRSM, The Tab, CNET, Trusted Reviews, GB News, Android Police, Beebom, StyleCaster, Thurrott, Android Authority, MakeUseOf, Windows Central, Pocket-lint, KnowTechie and Tom's Guide, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify unveils 2025's top 50 most popular US podcasts, led by The Joe Rogan Experience for the fifth consecutive year; 24 of the top 50 now offer video content
Spotify unveils 2025's top 50 most popular US podcasts, led by The Joe Rogan Experience for the fifth consecutive year; 24 of the top 50 now offer video content
Discussion:
Inside Radio, HuffPost, @teroterotero, Deadline, @sherman4949, @iheartnoise.bsky.social, @fos, Jordan Newman on LinkedIn and Spotify, more at Techmeme »
Jeremy Barr / The Guardian:
Smartmatic v. Fox News: a Smartmatic lawyer says Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch authorized a plan for Fox News to embrace Trump's 2020 claims to win back viewers — In key hearing in defamation case, Fox counters that network simply covered allegations by Trump associates
Discussion:
NPR, @robertscotthorton.bsky.social, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck and The Wrap
RELATED:
James Whitbrook / Gizmodo:
After an online backlash, Amazon Prime Video removes AI-generated English and Spanish dubs that it had quietly rolled out in beta for several anime titles — As quickly as they arrived, many of Prime Video's controversial generated dubs have been removed from the streamer. — READING TIME 2 MINUTES
Discussion:
Ars Technica, @otakuspirited, About Amazon, @vinlandworld, The A.V. Club, @kennysmith.bsky.social, Engadget, @tenbinzan, @saltydkdan, @real_kilometers, @zachtothefuller, Cord Cutters News, Inverse, Mashable, Polygon.com, Nerdist, Kotaku, Aftermath, DNYUZ and Comic Book, more at Techmeme »
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The Economist reports revenue up 4% YoY to £170.3M in the six months to September 2025 and pre-tax profit up 28% YoY to £19.7M; a 27% stake is up for sale — The Economist revealed revenue and profit growth for the six months to September as potential buyers expressed interest in a 27% stake in the business.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Minho Kim / New York Times:
A November 25 notice to Congress: Kari Lake said the Trump administration plans to close VOA's six overseas news bureaus, saving $30M+, despite a judge's order — The push to close the offices appears to contradict a federal judge's order from April, which required Trump officials to resume operations at V.O.A.
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, @newsguy.bsky.social, @savevoa.bsky.social, @MikeElgan@mastodon.social and Joe.My.God.
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Along with Spotify, The Joe Rogan Experience also topped Apple and YouTube's podcast charts in 2025, dominating all major platforms for the first time — His podcast topped Spotify's 2025 global list, released Wednesday, as well as Apple and YouTube. — Joe Rogan is now dominating on all podcast platforms.
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Awful Announcing, Front Office Sports, Los Angeles Times, Axios, Business Insider, Inc.com, Glamour, Billboard, Music Ally and Barrett Media
Dan Milmo / The Guardian:
AI Forensics: 354 AI-focused TikTok accounts pushed 43K posts made with GenAI tools that hit 4.5B views, including posts with anti-immigrant and sexual material — Researchers uncovered 354 AI-focused accounts that had accumulated 4.5bn views in a month — By Dan Milmo, Global technology editor.
Alex Forbes-Calvin / GamesIndustry.biz:
The Observer partners with Magicave to feature the game developer's Mindset Go puzzles every Sunday in the newspaper's print edition — The company's Mindset Go puzzles will be appearing in the publication every Sunday — Game developer Magicave has partnered up with UK newspaper, The Observer.
Discussion:
PocketGamer.biz
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill:
US Rep. Jamie Raskin demands CBS explain how it edited a recent Trump interview, saying Trump seems to be exercising “direct control” over editorial choices — Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is demanding that CBS, and its parent company Paramount, provide more information about how it edited …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline, TVNewsCheck, House Committee …, New York Sun, Axios, @jeremymbarr, NewsMax.com, The Independent, Joe.My.God. and NewsNation
Antonio Ferme / Variety:
A US federal trial of Carl Rinsch, accused of swindling Netflix out of millions when making sci-fi series White Horse, begins with an ex-Netflix exec testifying — “Our objective today is to figure out the nature of this project and what we must do to contain it.”
Discussion:
Business Insider
Reuters:
Sources: in talks with WBD, Netflix said a combination of its streaming service with HBO Max would benefit consumers by lowering the cost of a bundled offering — Netflix's (NFLX.O) proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD.O) studios and streaming unit is expected to reduce streaming costs …
Discussion:
MediaPost, @labuzamovies.com, Benzinga, Android Authority, Android Headlines, Media Play News, Digital Trends, T3, Dylan Jones on LinkedIn and Variety
RELATED:
Charles Gasparino / New York Post:
Sources: if Netflix wins the auction for WBD, Paramount plans to go directly to WBD shareholders to argue that Netflix's bid would face regulatory issues
Sources: if Netflix wins the auction for WBD, Paramount plans to go directly to WBD shareholders to argue that Netflix's bid would face regulatory issues
Discussion:
The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, StreamTV Insider, Business Insider, Los Angeles Times, @chrisyogerst.com, The A.V. Club, Mediaweek, Wall Street Journal, Realscreen, Yahoo Finance, The American Bazaar, The Movie Blog, TVBEurope, Cord Cutters News, International Business Times, Barrett Media, Axios, MediaPost, The Streamable, Decode TV, Sports Business Journal, Blockonomi, Broadband TV News, Advanced Television, NewsMax.com, Tech Times, Forbes Middle East and Proactiveinvestors UK
