Top News:
Rob Golum / Bloomberg:
A group of 11 state AGs, led by two Republicans, send a letter to the DOJ opposing Netflix's proposed acquisition of WBD, saying it will harm consumers — State attorneys general led by two Republicans are raising concerns about the proposed takeover of the Warner Bros. studios by Netflix Inc., saying it will harm consumers.
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Lauren Hirsch / New York Times:
WBD says Paramount's new $31-a-share offer could lead to a better deal than Netflix's, potentially triggering a four-day period for Netflix to revise its bid
WBD says Paramount's new $31-a-share offer could lead to a better deal than Netflix's, potentially triggering a four-day period for Netflix to revise its bid
Discussion:
The Hill, The Ankler, CNN, Variety, @lindseygrahamsc, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, UPI, Los Angeles Business Journal, Gamereactor UK, Newsmax, @laurenshirsch, The Daily Upside, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., New York Post, The A.V. Club, Awful Announcing, The Movie Blog, Screen, World of Reel, NBC News, Screen Rant, Bloomberg, Instapundit, New York Sun, Axios, Reuters, Wall Street Journal and Financial Times
Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:
Edison Research's Share of Ear survey: podcasts have overtaken talk radio for the first time in the US, capturing 40% listening time vs. 39% for radio — Podcasts have officially overtaken AM/FM talk radio as the more popular medium for spoken-word audio in the United States, according to Edison Research's Share of Ear survey.
Discussion:
Edison Research, Radio & Television …, Awful Announcing, Inside Radio and Barrett Media
Gary Baum / The Hollywood Reporter:
Source: Paramount is probing allegations that president Jeff Shell leaked details about its $7.7B deal with UFC a month before its August 2025 announcement — The studio has brought on an outside law firm to investigate the allegations, which have also been alerted to the SEC.
Discussion:
@eriqgardner, The Wrap and Deadline
Bobby Allyn / NPR:
Kalshi says it has suspended an editor for MrBeast and a former GOP California gubernatorial candidate for insider trading, its first public enforcement action — An editor who works for YouTube's biggest creator, MrBeast, has been suspended from the prediction market platform Kalshi …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal, Benzinga, Bloomberg, CoinDesk, Engadget, The Verge, The Block, Newser, @kalshi, @passantino.bsky.social, Axios, Front Office Sports, Wired, Forbes, @bobbyallyn.bsky.social, @knibbs.bsky.social, Kalshi, Decrypt, CoinGape, Dave Lee and Politico, more at Techmeme »
Scott Nover / Washington Post:
Some Iranian dissidents say USAGM has systematically censored mentions of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, Iran's best-known dissident, from VOA broadcasts — The U.S. government broadcaster, overseen by Kari Lake, hardly mentions the name of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's deposed shah.
Discussion:
@savevoa.bsky.social, @liamjscott, @scottnover and Politico
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
Q&A with Bostopia's Evan George on his TikTok and Instagram videos under @bostopianews, summarizing Boston local news while offering his own opinions — “You don't need to pretend to [to be neutral] or be worried about [what people think]. Because now it just sounds like you're hiding things …
Discussion:
@niemanlab.org
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk says creators on the platform are generating nearly $5M in collective annual earnings from subscriptions and its ad network — The CEO of Substack rival Beehiiv says the growing platform has a key philosophical difference from its more established rival.
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
UK weekly street newspaper Big Issue promotes Deputy Editor Steven MacKenzie to editor, succeeding Paul McNamee, who led the publication for 19 years — Weekly street newspaper Big Issue has promoted deputy editor Steven MacKenzie to editor. — MacKenzie will succeed Paul McNamee, who has led the publication for 19 years, in March.
Discussion:
Steven MacKenzie on LinkedIn
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Jasmine Crockett ejected an Atlantic reporter from an event and called police on a CNN reporter; the Atlantic's editor called the ejection unacceptable — The Scoop — Rep. Jasmine Crockett is taking a harder line on the political journalists covering her Texas Senate campaign …
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
MS Now names Ali Velshi its chief data reporter, which will see him lead election results and polling on election nights for the cable channel — The veteran journalist will lead election results and polling on election nights for the cable channel. — MS NOW has named Ali Velshi …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Deadline, @grynbaum and Barrett Media
Ed Pilkington / The Guardian:
Senate Democrats launch an investigation into the FCC and Paramount's “partisan censorship scheme” over blocking Stephen Colbert's interview with James Talarico — Richard Blumenthal seeks records from FCC and Paramount Global amid claims of political censorship
Discussion:
Inside Radio, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social, TV Tech, Fox News, Mediaite, LateNighter and Status
