Top News:
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Paramount reports Q4 revenue up 2% YoY to $8.15B, a net loss of $573M, and DTC revenue up 10% YoY to $2.213B; Paramount+ subscribers rise 4% YoY to 78.9M — But the David Ellison-led media giant posted an overall loss of $573 million in its fourth quarter — Paramount+'s revenue grew 17% …
Corbin Bolies / The Wrap:
At Semafor's media summit, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said too much of the national news media is “drastically out of touch with where the American people are” — The FCC chairman speaks at Semafor's “Restoring Trust in Media” summit in Washington, D.C.
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Nexstar lays off on-air staffers at LA's KTLA and New York's WPIX, after similar cuts at WGN in Chicago, as the company pursues a merger with Tegna — Nexstar Media Group has issued layoff notices to around a dozen on-air workers at television stations in the country's two biggest TV markets.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Orange County Register, @thedesk.net, Variety, The Wrap, @matthewkeyslive, @joshsternberg.com, New York Post, @sagaftra.org, Deadline, Variety, Cord Cutters News, @agomezfcc.bsky.social, @thedesk.net, Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune and r/SFV
Committee to Protect Journalists:
A record 129 press members were killed in 2025, the second consecutive YoY record; Israel was responsible for two-thirds of killings in 2025 and 2024 — Key findings — More journalists and media workers were killed in 2025 than in any other year since the Committee to Protect Journalists …
Minho Kim / New York Times:
Sources: in a draft funding agreement, the Trump administration seeks to limit editorial freedom safeguards for two US-funded overseas news outlets — Two federally funded newsrooms received a draft funding agreement that could give President Trump's appointees the power to veto their new hires …
Discussion:
@newsguyusa@flipboard.social
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.
Discussion:
Deadline, ago.nebraska.gov, @lucas_shaw, Newsmax, The A.V. Club, @cgasparino, Office of the Attorney General, Nebraska and Montana, Alaska Department of Law, The Hill, Morningstar, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Washington Examiner, Reuters, mxdwn Television, Gizmodo and Wrestling Inc.
RELATED:
Yasmin Khorram / Politico:
Sources: Netflix's Ted Sarandos plans to attend White House meetings Thursday, amid the WBD bid battle and after Trump's demand that Netflix fire Susan Rice
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:
@lindseygrahamsc, AdExchanger, Fox News, Variety, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Business Journal, UPI, Gamereactor UK, Newsmax, The Ankler, @laurenshirsch, CNN, Deadline, Instapundit, The Daily Upside, New York Post, The A.V. Club, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., Awful Announcing, The Movie Blog, Screen, World of Reel, NBC News, Screen Rant, Bloomberg, New York Sun, Reuters and Axios
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.
The Walt Disney Company:
Disney+ subscribers now get access to ABC local news feeds from eight US cities including NYC and LA; the streams join national shows such as World News Tonight — Beginning today, Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. will have access to ABC Owned Television Station's eight local market 24/7 livestreams …
Discussion:
@scottgustin, Cord Cutters News and What's On Disney Plus
The Guardian:
A Hong Kong appellate court overturns fraud convictions against Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, a rare legal victory for the prominent pro-democracy activist — Appellate court quashes convictions linked to lease violations but Lai may still spend rest of his life in prison
Discussion:
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, Reuters, Le Monde, Al Jazeera, NBC News, New York Times and WTOP News
Zack Whittaker / ~this week in security~:
A reporter writes about a visit from the FBI in 2020, following his story about a hack, and the long-term personal impact, along with eroding press freedoms — Mexico formally requested the FBI's help in seeking answers about one of my stories. Having federal agents on my doorstep sparked …
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:
crypto.news, Dexerto, @kalshi, The Information, Tubefilter, @onthemedia.bsky.social, Fortune, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, Blockhead, Inc.com, Axios, @shadow.hedgie.social, The Atlantic, CBS News, cftc.gov, The Wrap, @smtuffy.bsky.social, @csfrayer.bsky.social, Gizmodo, CoinGape, Aftermath, NewsNation, New York Sun, @carnage4life@mas.to, Bloomberg, Benzinga, CoinDesk, Engadget, TechCrunch, Futurism, The Verge, Newser, Cointelegraph, The Block, @passantino.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal, Front Office Sports, @knibbs.bsky.social, Decrypt, Kalshi, @bobbyallyn.bsky.social, Wired, Forbes, Dave Lee, Just Jared and Politico, more at Techmeme »
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Broadcaster Sinclair reports Q4 revenue of $836M, down 17% YoY, and net income down 38% YoY to $109M, core advertising revenue up 14% to $354M — Television broadcaster Sinclair, Inc. reported sharply lower fourth quarter and full-year earnings this week, as the broadcast television owner lapped …
Discussion:
Sinclair, TVNewsCheck and Canadian Press
Sophie Culpepper / Nieman Lab:
The Tampa Bay Times starts monthly “article clubs” for news stories, to discuss the substance of a chosen story and look at the reporting process — The idea is not just to discuss a story's substance, but to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at the reporting process …
Discussion:
@pacoseoaneperez and @niemanlab.org
