Top News:
Financial Times:
WBD tells Paramount to make its “best and final offer” within seven days, or get out of the way of Netflix's agreed $83B deal; Netflix granted a weeklong waiver — Netflix grants weeklong waiver to rival bidder in high-stakes battle for control
Discussion:
The Hill, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, Associated Press, Barron's Online, @tvgrimreaper, Advanced Television, The Verge, @sherman4949, City A.M., New York Times, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, @sarafischer, Bloomberg, EasternEye, International Business Times, The Sun Malaysia and Cord Cutters News
RELATED:
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Netflix says Paramount has caused “ongoing distraction” and “mischaracterized the regulatory review process”, and its WBD bid raises national security concerns — The streamer said that its $83 billion deal is “the only certain path to delivering value to WBD's stockholders”
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
WBD says Paramount informed WBD on February 11 that it would pay $31 per share, up from $30, if the sides engaged, and that $31 was not its best and final offer — Warner says that the Ellison camp had verbally agreed to boost its bid to $31 or higher if two the sides engaged, which WBD today has agreed to do.
Discussion:
Straight Arrow News, Cord Cutters News and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
WBD sets March 20 as the date for a special shareholder meeting to vote on the proposed $83B Netflix deal, which its board “continues to unanimously recommend” — WBD board ‘seeks clarity’ on David Ellison-led company's ‘best and final offer’ in hostile takeover effort
Discussion:
Advanced Television, The Streamable, CNBC, Screen Rant, CNN, UPI, Yahoo Finance, Dow Jones Newswires, ZeroHedge News, Screen, Livemint, New York Times, Netflix, Inc., Deadline, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, Axios, Channel NewsAsia, Deadline, Sherwood News, The Guardian and Sharecast
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Stephen Colbert says CBS lawyers blocked an interview with Democratic US Senate candidate James Talarico, citing the FCC's equal time guidance for TV talk shows — Colbert and ‘The Late Show’ posted the interview with James Talarico on the show's YouTube page to bypass the FCC's oversight.
Discussion:
YouTube, YouTube, New York Times, Deadline, The Wrap, The Hill, Mediaite, Mediaite, Mediaite, Forbes, LateNighter, The Wrap, Mediaite, TVNewsCheck, The Texas Tribune, USA Today, The Independent, The A.V. Club, Axios, The Boston Globe, Us Weekly, @adamscochran, @jamestalarico, Variety, @adamscochran, @kurtbardella, @repdarrensoto, @noahshachtman.bsky.social, @davidsirota, The Daily Beast, @kylegriffin1, @schmittnyc, MS NOW, @mollyjongfast, @chrismurphyct, @adamwren, @mikenellis, Townhall, Scripps News, Politico, TV Insider, @timodc, @chriso_wiki, @j_g_allen, HuffPost, Newser, @therickwilson, @wjcarter, @terrymoran, @meidastouch, @mehdirhasan, Raw Story, @nathanleamerdc, @adamscochran, @nick_field90, @richardhanania, @hissgoescobra, @ronfilipkowski, @farhip, @redsteeze, Mashable, @redsteeze and Just Jared
Lachlan Cartwright / Breaker:
Anderson Cooper is leaving 60 Minutes after almost 20 years; sources say he has decided to pass on a renewal offer with CBS — Legendary Newsman Will Focus on CNN And Family … Welcome to a special edition of Breaker, as we mark our first birthday, we thought what better way to celebrate than to give all of our subscribers a scoop.
Discussion:
Reuters, HuffPost, Variety, TV Insider, Associated Press, Poynter, The Hollywood Reporter, @brianstelter, PinkNews, New York Daily News, NOTUS, The A.V. Club, @brianstelter, Reuters, @keitholbermann, @brianstelter, @lachcartwright, Newser, People, Daily Mail, Washington Post, TVLine, @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social, Raw Story, IJR, Joe.My.God., The Wrap, Barrett Media, @olbermann.bsky.social, @ernie.tedium.co, Mediaite, Advocate, Fox News, Plain Dealer and Just Jared
RELATED:
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Sources: Anderson Cooper grew increasingly uneasy with the rightward direction of CBS News under Bari Weiss, a factor in his decision to leave 60 Minutes — On Monday evening, as the media class wrapped up its three-day Presidents' Day weekend, a bombshell development sent shockwaves across the industry.
Discussion:
The Hill, Breaker, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Mediaite, Financial Times, Lawyers, Guns & Money, KING-TV, Mediaweek, Washington Examiner, HELLO!, New York Post, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, @bubbaprog.xyz, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, New York Times, Us Weekly, RADAR, E! Online, Business Insider, Deadline and Just Jared
Chris Quinn / Plain Dealer:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer says it has removed “writing” from some reporters' workloads; an “AI rewrite specialist” turns info gathered by reporters into drafts — A college student withdrew from consideration for a reporting role in our newsroom this week because of how we use artificial intelligence.
Discussion:
@kevinbankston, @bailardejesus, @fedsoccermom, @patrickdehahn, @mollytaft, @braden_keith, @meganmmenchaca, @mikeisaac, @mikedrucker, @jaybsauceda, @fitzonsportsbsr, @arijitdsen, @newsmanben, @jacob_denobel, @raleighreporter, @ioangrillo, @alexbgault, @lionelbarber, @marybethgahan, @jeffarnold_, @aresef, @ben_baby, @phil_lewis_, @asymmetricinfo, @milligansusan, @christiancaple, @jeremymbarr, @lahavharkov, @moorehn, @benfritz, @adamjohnsonchi, @jmonkatthestate, @royalpratt, @stephenwhitty, @rickyreports, @pwoodreporter, @michaelsocolow, @alecmacgillis, @stenspin, @benfritz, @glennthrush, @scenesallard, @meganmmenchaca, David Cohn on LinkedIn, @mattrosoff.bsky.social, @mmorsch35.bsky.social, Michael Hewlett on LinkedIn, @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social, @joepatrice.bsky.social, @mikehixenbaugh.com, @amandabecker.bsky.social, @mcnees.bsky.social, @nkalamb.bsky.social, @4nsmiley.bsky.social, @meganmenchaca.bsky.social, @ryanjhaas.bsky.social, @janerosenzweig.bsky.social and @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Apple says it will bring “advanced video capabilities” to Apple Podcasts this spring, including allowing users to switch between watching and listening to shows — Apple Podcasts is finally giving video a full embrace. — The tech giant, which pioneered the podcast audio format …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Advanced Television, The Hollywood Reporter, Apple, HotHardware, Cult of Mac, Deadline, WinBuzzer, Android Authority, Podnews, Broadband TV News, Benzinga, Android Police, iThinkDifferent, Mateusz Sojka on LinkedIn, Digital Trends, TV Blackbox, Beamly, 9to5Mac, Mediaweek, Max Cutler on LinkedIn, Mumbrella, MacTech.com, TheDesk.net, Business Insider, Digital Music News, iClarified, Thurrott, The Mac Observer, AppleInsider, Bloomberg, The Wrap, MacStories, iPhone in Canada, The Verge, MacRumors, CNBC, Engadget, Barrett Media and Six Colors, more at Techmeme »
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
MPA: Japan's premium VOD sector hit a revenue of $7.2B in 2025, up 15% YoY; Netflix leads with 22% of revenue; Prime Video has the most subscribers at 19.3M — The growth reflects platforms' increasing reliance on diversified revenue models, including ad-supported subscription options …
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
Mexico announces a 30% tax incentive for film and TV productions in Mexico, even as the Trump administration pressures studios to shoot more films in the US — Mexico unveils a series of incentives to support local cinema and attract international productions, just as the Trump government is threatening tariffs.
Discussion:
SF.gov, Screen, Dow Jones Newswires, Mexico News Daily, Economic news and Deadline
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
Manchester-based local newsletter publisher Mill Media plans to expand to Leeds as its seventh brand if it gets 500 paying subscribers for the unnamed title — Mill Media is set to expand to Leeds on the condition that it hits 500 paying subscribers for the new, unnamed title.
Discussion:
HoldtheFrontPage
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
Future launches Future Optic, a commercial Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO, service that aims to boost brand visibility on AI platforms like ChatGPT — Future has began offering LLM optimisation as a commercial product across its media brands. — The move means Future offers …
Correspondent - Russia, Berlin — 
Editorial Manager - MENA, Dubai — 
Digital Managing Editor, Mumbai — 
Breaking News Editor, TX — 
Money Writer - Underscored, NY — 
Multimedia News Reporter, SD — 
Copy Editor, IL — 
Associate News Editor, NY — 
Transportation/GA Reporter, CA — 
Reporter, WI — 
Reporter - Private Equity, NY — 
Sr. Immigration & Courts Reporter, IL — 
Community News Reporter, FL — 
Senior Editor, Johannesburg — 
Content Editor - Consulting, London — 
Foodie Beat Reporter, WA — 
News Reporter, CA — 
Executive Editor, SC — 
Retail & Consumer Reporter, MA — 
Managing Editor, FL — 
Executive Editor - Forbes Wine, NJ — 
Tech News Writer - Yahoo Tech — 
Data Journalist - Lifestyle, WA — 
National Trending News Reporter — 
Deputy Social Media Editor, DC — 
Reporter - Beauty & Wellness, NY — 
Community Reporter, NC — 
Night Editor, CA — 
Govt. Affairs Reporter, MA — 
Reporter - Politics, CA/NY/DC — 
Tech Reporter - AI — 
Night & Weekend News Writer, Remote — 
US Justice Correspondent, DC — 
Writer - Mobile, NY or Remote — 
