Top News:
Bloomberg:
Sources: Netflix is working on revised terms for its WBD acquisition and has discussed making its offer all cash for the studios and streaming businesses — Netflix Inc. is working on revised terms for its Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. acquisition and has discussed making its offer all cash …
Discussion:
Variety, Wall Street Journal, Awful Announcing, The Information, Investing.com, @annmlipton@esq.social, Barron's Online, The Wrap, @carlquintanilla.bsky.social, Sports Media Watch, The Streamable, The Indian Express, GeekTyrant, PocketGamer.biz, Media Play News, The Verge, Tech in Asia, MediaNews4U, BMI, mxdwn Television, Telecompaper, Benzinga, Wrestling Inc., Advanced Television, GamesIndustry.biz, Dow Jones Newswires, TechCrunch, HotAir, Sharecast, Financial Times, Cord Cutters News and Realscreen, more at Techmeme »
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Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:
In a letter to WBD shareholders, David Ellison says Paramount filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court seeking information in its hostile takeover attempt
In a letter to WBD shareholders, David Ellison says Paramount filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court seeking information in its hostile takeover attempt
Discussion:
The Motley Fool, The Wrap, VICE, AfroTech, The Movie Blog, The Post Millennial, Variety, @cgasparino, Tech Times, Barron's Online, Hypebeast, Benzinga, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, Times of India, @lucas_shaw, Communicate Online, ANI News, TVNewsCheck, Irish Independent, Ars Technica, Los Angeles Business Journal, @johnhudgens.bsky.social, WebProNews, New York Sun, GameSpot, The Information, Deseret News, Gizmodo, CNN, Mediaite, The Hollywood Reporter, Washington Examiner, Variety, Vulture, The Guardian, Engadget, New York Post, Paramount, Front Office Sports, Awful Announcing, Axios and Associated Press
Corbin Bolies / The Wrap:
Source and memos: Politico is laying off 3% of staff, plans buyout offers for Magazine staffers, and more, and plans a subscription service for investment pros — While “change is uncomfortable,” global editor-in-chief John Harris tells staff, the moves “also represent continuity”
Discussion:
The Wrap and @maxwelltani
Jessica Testa / New York Times:
A group of five journalists reboots Gourmet as a worker-owned newsletter, after discovering that Condé Nast had let its trademark on the name lapse in 2021 — The defunct food publication is re-emerging as a newsletter, with new leadership and zero approval from its original owner.
Discussion:
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @harrymccracken.com, The Wrap, @kimmaicutler, @inaeoh.bsky.social, @benmullin, Gourmet and kottke.org
Scott Nover / Washington Post:
A bipartisan bill agrees to provide $653M to USAGM, down from $867M in 2025, but over Trump's $153M request, as part of a package needing Congressional approval — The Trump administration has tried to eliminate funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
US BLS data: video and videogame subscriptions and rentals saw inflation of 19.5% in December; cable, satellite, and livestreaming rose 1.1%, same as music subs — Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Tuesday showed that overall inflation cooled in December ... but streaming video prices soared by nearly 20 percent.
Maya Perez / WebProNews:
Bandcamp bans music and audio that is “generated wholly or in substantial part by AI”, hoping to build trust with fans that the music they find was human-made — Bandcamp has banned music substantially generated by AI to uphold human artistry and authenticity, amid rising concerns over AI flooding platforms like Spotify.
Discussion:
PC Gamer, @mwl.io, @ripridermusic.bsky.social, @bandcamp.com, @negativeagent.bsky.social, @lesterlee.bsky.social, @danielraffel, @future_of_music, @lauramarie.bsky.social, Stereogum, @n8dly@mastodon.social, @2mello.net, @davidgerard.co.uk, Bandcamp Updates, @colinhemphill.com, @mmmmmmuhh.bsky.social, @dallin@writing.exchange, @nowplaying.cool, Consequence, @rrrrroseazerty …, BrooklynVegan and @logicalnuisance.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
Analysis: YouTube surpassed the BBC in monthly audience reach in the UK for the first time in Q4 2025, with 51.9M viewers in December, above the BBC's 50.8M — In an unprecedented moment, YouTube passed the BBC in monthly audience reach figures published by Barb, the UK's official ratings body.
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, @pimlicat.bsky.social, @scottygb.bsky.social, Telegraph and Cord Cutters News
Erik Hayden / The Hollywood Reporter:
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson plans to invest $124M on venue space and a production campus in Louisiana; the state agreed to provide $50M in infrastructure funding — The ‘Power’ producer's G-Unit Film & Television has finalized a deal with the state on a development plan for three entertainment venues.
Discussion:
Digital Music News and Los Angeles Times
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
Matthew McConaughey has secured eight trademarks of himself from the USPTO in the past several months to protect his likeness and voice from unauthorized AI use — Actor plans to use trademarks of himself saying ‘Alright, alright, alright’ and staring at a camera to combat AI fakes in court
Discussion:
E! Online
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Lionsgate has sold its South Asian and Southeast Asian streaming operation Lionsgate Play to Rohit Jain, the executive who built the service over eight years — Lionsgate has sold its South Asian and Southeast Asian streaming operation Lionsgate Play to Rohit Jain, the executive who developed …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Business Today, BMI, MediaNews4U, The Hollywood Reporter, Media Play News and Deadline
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fanatics, the Michael Rubin-led sports company, partners with OBB Media to launch Fanatics Studios, starting with a Tom Brady docuseries — The joint venture with OBB Media is launching with a Tom Brady docuseries, a deal to produce the ESPY Awards and deals with LA28, MLB and the WWE.
New York Times:
Sources: Bari Weiss has privately been deeply frustrated by the negative reaction to her CBS tenure and has blamed subordinates for not stanching the criticism — Her reimagining of “CBS Evening News” is under heavy scrutiny, and even became a punchline on her own network on Sunday at the Golden Globes.
Discussion:
Variety, @jtes, @nkulw, @premthakker.bsky.social, @callyson.bsky.social, @fraying.bsky.social, @gelbach.bsky.social, @paulrudnickny, The Independent, @knownforms.bsky.social, @doncomer.bsky.social, @vincemancini.bsky.social, @axellycan.bsky.social, @philjamesson.com, @tktk.bsky.social, @waldo.net, @thejeffreport.bsky.social, @dirigojoe.bsky.social, @philjamesson.com, @eclecticbrotha1.bsky.social, @faduda.bsky.social, Wonkette, @karlbode.com, @derek.bsky.social, New York Sun, @sarahweinman.com, @dylanbyers, @jjschroden.bsky.social, @d500998.bsky.social, @andrewhsowards.bsky.social, Mediaite, @dumplingmenace.bsky.social, @blakeau19.bsky.social, @sjkamin.bsky.social, @grissallia.bsky.social, @cesarsantiago.net, @andreapitzer.bsky.social, @skateintraffic.bsky.social, @isaacgantwerkmayer …, @adamzherman.bsky.social, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @cavskermit.bsky.social, @mikecaulfield.bsky.social, @alexshephard.bsky.social, @bostonjerry.bsky.social, @carlquintanilla.bsky.social, @petestaiano.com, @ndhapple.bsky.social, @imnotahrhitter.bsky.social, @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social, @josephzucker.bsky.social, @gwbiscuit.bsky.social, @celebrityhottub.bsky.social, @lons.bsky.social, @snmrrw.bsky.social, @brendelbored.bsky.social, @aklingus.bsky.social, @shuchancellor.online, @katelynburns.com and @whoa-magic.lol
