Top News:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Sources: WBD plans to reject Paramount's revised takeover bid at a board meeting next week, viewing the $30-a-share cash bid as still inferior to Netflix's bid — Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. plans to once again reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance Corp. after the rival media company amended …
Brent Lang / Variety:
George Clooney criticizes CBS and ABC for settling lawsuits with President Trump and says Bari Weiss “is dismantling CBS News as we speak” — When George Clooney was preparing to make his Broadway debut appearing as CBS news correspondent Edward R. Murrow in “Good Night …
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Michael Schneider / Variety:
Nielsen: CBS was 2025's most-watched network in primetime despite a 12% YoY drop in average viewers, followed by NBC, ABC, and Fox, up 10% due to the Super Bowl — Complete Broadcast, Cable and Pay TV Ratings Primetime Ranker for 2025 in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 — What a difference a Super Bowl makes.
Discussion:
@nemalki.bsky.social, @xpangler, @variety, TV Series Finale and The Daily Signal
New York Post:
Leaked letter: a group of “prominent journalists” at CBS News are preparing a petition urging David Ellison to uphold editorial independence at the network — CBS News journalists are preparing a petition urging Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison to uphold editorial independence …
Discussion:
The Independent, Fox News, RedState, Mother Jones, Mediaite, @alexsteigrad, twitchy.com and The Hill
Charles Ornstein / ProPublica:
ProPublica reporters on three recent stories were ignored by federal or state workers when seeking comment, and then were accused of stalking or intimidation — This summer, my colleagues were reporting out a story about the Department of Education's “final mission,” its effort …
Will Sommer / The Bulwark:
The Trump administration helps Tenet Media's Lauren Chen return to the US; she lost her visa after a 2024 indictment alleging illicit funding from Russia's RT — Tenet Media's Lauren Chen is back—even though the illegal-influence and money-laundering investigation remains open.
Discussion:
@zguz, @sarahlongwell25, @reichlinmelnick, @timodc, @therickwilson, @chrismurphyct, @matthew_kupfer, MS NOW, @ruthbenghiat, Gizmodo, @themainewonk, @hissgoescobra, @emptywheel, @willsommer, @toddzwillich, @scarylawyerguy, @KimPerales@toad.social, @ryano_chosencoy, @luismorenolg, @jaynordlinger, @thelaurenchen, @jodysaigs.bsky.social, @overlord26, Lauren Chen on Instagram, Raw Story and Alternet.org
Zac Ntim / Deadline:
Angel Studios says Angel Guild, its program through which members are given a say on which projects the studio produces, has two million paid subscribers — The Angel Guild is the studio's grassroots membership program. Members pay a monthly fee and serve as virtual co-producers on every project …
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, Arthur Van Wagenen on LinkedIn and Ryan Svendsen on LinkedIn
Bloomberg:
Nielsen streaming data: none of 2025's 10 most-watched shows were new, Tubi and Roku are almost twice the size of HBO Max and Peacock, and more — When it comes to entertainment, we live in an era of asymmetrical information. Technology companies are sitting on more data than they know how to use …
Discussion:
Motley Fool, @remixtures@tldr.nettime.org, @lucas_shaw, @lucas_shaw, TV Insider, Tubefilter, Barrett Media, 9to5Mac, The Streamable and Reality Tea
RELATED:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
A profile of NPR CEO Katherine Maher, who has taken an unyielding approach to NPR's biggest battles, causing rifts with the right and her public media allies — Katherine Maher knew that running NPR was going to be difficult. But since taking over as chief executive last year, she has confronted one crisis after another.
Summer Ballentine / The Detroit News:
The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press ended their joint operating agreement, which began in 1989; The News plans to launch a Sunday print edition January 18 — A nearly four-decade-long business partnership between The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press ended Sunday …
Josh Funk / Associated Press:
Lee Enterprises stabilizes its finances as investors buy $50M in new stock, led by $35M invested by David Hoffmann, who will become chair of the company — Lee Enterprises announced a compromise Tuesday with billionaire investor David Hoffmann, who offered to take over the nation's third …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Hoffmann Family of Companies, The Missourian and St. Louis Business Journal
Jordy Fee-Platt / The Athletic:
Kalshi and Polymarket have partnered with social media accounts purporting to be breaking news reporters, some of which have repeatedly posted false information — Unknown just a few years ago, the prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket have gained wider recognition in recent weeks.
Discussion:
Front Office Sports, @cooperlund.online, Event Horizon, New York Post, Decrypt and The Intercept, more at Techmeme »
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