Mediagazer: The UK's countrywide ban on TV junk food ads before the 9pm watershed and an online ban for high fat and sugar products officially takes effect (Mark Sweney/The Guardian)

12:20 PM ET, January 5, 2026

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Max Tani / Semafor:

Sources: NYT and WaPo learned of the Venezuela raid soon before it was scheduled to begin but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops — The Scoop — The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled …

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Brian Steinberg / Variety:

Tony Dokoupil began anchoring CBS Evening News on Saturday night, two days earlier than expected, after US military action in Venezuela — This probably wasn't the kickoff to a run on “CBS Evening News” that Tony Dokoupil — or his bosses — envisioned. — The anchor, a veteran …

@cbseveningnews:
Announcing the new CBS Evening News, anchor Tony Dokoupil says people lost trust in legacy media in part due to a focus on “the analysis of academics or elites”

Discussion: The Guardian, @cbseveningnews, TV Insider, Variety, Barrett Media, The Wrap, Semafor, Deadline, CBS News, Mediaite, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, @scottnover, CBS News, @davebondytv, @802_indy, @speechboy71, @eric_adelson, @schultzmedia, @davebondytv, @gelliottmorris.com, @peterjukes, @nickriccardi, @stealthygeek, @kylehunter, @queensofbravo, @broadwaybabyto, @dougeyolfson, New York Post, @arkenor.bsky.social, @megynkelly, @karaswisher.bsky.social, @mcjulie.bsky.social, @ecmclaughlin.bsky.social, @cwarzel.bsky.social, @lendami.co, @krasdale.bsky.social, @cwebbonline.com, @shanembailey.com, @samthielman.com, @jamellebouie.net, @3fecta.bsky.social, @jamellebouie.net, @jamellebouie.net, @jamellebouie.net, ROB SHUTER'S Naughty But Nice, Dallas Express, RADAR, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, @swin24.bsky.social, Deadline, @ericcolumbus.bsky.social, @jayrosen.bsky.social, @ashtonpittman.bsky.social, @karaswisher.bsky.social, Hollywood in Toto, Wonkette and r/Journalism

Justin Baragona / The Independent:
Sources: CBS Evening News staffers expressed concern about the planned 10-day, multicity US reboot tour, citing Bari Weiss' last-minute changes and jet charters

Barrett Media:

Newsmax asks the FCC to block the proposed $6.2B merger between Nexstar and Tegna, saying the deal is an unprecedented consolidation that Congress prohibits — “This merger would create an unprecedented and dangerous consolidation within the broadcast TV industry, giving them immense control …

Discussion: @karlbode.com, @jbflint, TheDesk.net, Federal Communications Commission, Newsmax and Radio & Television …

Dan Perry / MediaPost:

The US federal government's role in merger approvals gives the Trump administration an easy way to coerce big media companies, and other industries may be next — The Trump administration has discovered a nifty new trick: It is using federal merger authority to pressure news organizations into compliant coverage.

Discussion: @thefarce.org

Mark Sweney / The Guardian:

The UK's countrywide ban on TV junk food ads before the 9pm watershed and an online ban for high fat and sugar products officially takes effect — Watchdog will also monitor online ban for high fat and sugar products as part of wider effort to tackle childhood obesity

Discussion: Metro.co.uk, Mirror, RTÉ, The Standard, The Independent and Retail Times

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Dish files counterclaims against Disney and ESPN over the launch of limited-time passes for Sling TV and alleges antitrust violations and breach of contract — Dish Network is firing back at Disney and EPSN in a legal dispute over its launch of limited-time passes for Sling TV …

Discussion: The Streamable, The Wrap, Media Play News and Cord Cutters News

Patrick Brzeski / The Hollywood Reporter:

Universal Music India acquires a 30% equity stake in Mumbai-based Excel Entertainment in a deal valuing the Indian production house at $290M — As part of the deal, which values Excel at $290 million, Universal Music Group will receive global rights to all future original soundtracks attached …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Billboard, Hindustan Times, MediaNews4U, NDTV Profit, Variety, Deadline, BMI, Music Business Worldwide and VCCircle

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:

Amazon unveils a Fire TV UI redesign that puts more focus on the content, including Alexa+, and launches the $899+ Ember Artline TV series with colorful frames — Amazon is rolling out a Fire TV redesign that puts more focus on the content, while also simplifying the navigation and layout.

Discussion: Deadline, Variety, The Wrap, T3, GB News, PCWorld, How-To Geek, About Amazon, PCMag, Engadget, The Verge, Bloomberg, Cord Cutters News, Pocket-lint and Telecompaper, more at Techmeme »

Drew Millard / Bloomberg:

The music industry is racing to replace an aging pool of engineers, programmers, and technicians essential to concerts, a primary driver of industry revenue — With concerts now one of music's main revenue engines, the industry is racing to replace an aging labor pool of skilled engineers, programmers and technicians.

Discussion: @drewmillard and @drewmillard

Ian Hodgson / Financial Times:

US immigration lawyers, talent managers, and creators say influencers and OnlyFans models now dominate O-1B visas, which are reserved for “exceptional” artists — Work permits increasingly being awarded on basis of online reach, favouring content creators

Discussion: ARTnews, @karenho.bsky.social, @poppyhaze.bsky.social and @helenbarrett.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »

Naman Ramachandran / Variety:

Maoyan: China's box office reached $7.41B in 2025, up 20%+ YoY after a 23% drop in 2024, driven by animated films and IP franchises like Ne Zha 2 and Zootopia 2 — In 2024, the China box office plummeted 23% to $5.8 billion. The 2025 rebound was fueled primarily by animated titles …

Discussion: South China Morning Post and The Hollywood Reporter

Michael Savage / The Guardian:

Ofcom: Reddit surpasses TikTok as the fourth most-visited social media service in the UK, likely driven by changes to Google's search algorithms and AI deals — Platform is now Britain's fourth most visited social media site as users seek out human-generated content

Discussion: Adweek, Mary Diamond on LinkedIn, Dave Earley on LinkedIn, The Economic Times and EasternEye

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