Mediagazer: TiVo to merge with technology licensing company Xperi; the combined company will have a fully diluted equity value of $2.4B, with TiVo owning ~53.5% of it (Todd Spangler/Variety)

Megan Graham / CNBC:

Ad exchange Rubicon Project agrees to merge with video advertising management platform Telaria, to better compete with Google and Facebook — - Public ad tech companies Telaria and Rubicon Project have agreed to merge as they try to make a stronger play in the growth of connected television …

Discussion: Digiday, AdExchanger, ir.tivo.com, @rubiconproject, Business Wire, Marketing Land, @tkawaja, Broadcasting & Cable, @cnbctech, @davemorgannyc and @sarahsluis

Tripp Mickle / Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Apple executives met with MGM representatives and the Pac-12 Conference this year to find ways to broaden the appeal of Apple TV app and TV+ — Tech giant is considering ways to broaden the appeal of its Apple TV app and TV+ service that launched with nine original programs

Discussion: The Streamable, CNET, @stevekopack, @sportstvratings, @lamonicabuzz, @trippmickle, @jyarow, @edmundlee and 9to5Mac

Tamar Lapin / New York Post:

Cooper Hefner joins the US Air Force, putting on hold his earlier plans to launch a media company separate from Playboy — Hugh Hefner's son Cooper has joined the Air Force. — The youngest child of the late Playboy founder departed for basic training Tuesday, his wife, “Harry Potter” actress Scarlett Byrne, posted on Instagram.

Discussion: Fox News, @whatthebit and @noonanjo

Kayleigh Barber / Digiday:

Snopes to launch a new membership model in early 2020 with access to Snopes editors via a community board; prices start at $30 per year — Fact-checking site Snopes is hoping to transition away from its dependence on advertising. So it is asking its supporters to help the brand grow in 2020.

Discussion: @snopes

COALITION OF 125+ SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH …:

Research and publishing orgs pen letter against proposed policy to mandate free distribution of peer-reviewed journal articles reporting on govt-funded research — MORE THAN 125 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND PUBLISHING ORGANIZATIONS JOIN TOGETHER IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED ADMINISTRATION POLICY …

Carly Page / Inquirer:

Incisive Media to shut down The INQUIRER; the site will remain live until end of March, but no new content will be published after Thursday — We came, we Inquired, we're off to the pub — IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART we must announce that The INQUIRER has reached end-of-life.

Discussion: Press Gazette, @christhedj, @pandasecurityuk and @rquandt

Trey Williams / The Wrap:

TikTok rival Triller announces investments from notable music industry figures totaling $10M+, source says; Triller says it has 26.5M MAUs in the US — Triller, a music-focused social video platform rivaling TikTok, has secured strategic investments from major music industry figures amounting to more than $10 million.

Todd Spangler / Variety:

TiVo to merge with technology licensing company Xperi; the combined company will have a fully diluted equity value of $2.4B, with TiVo owning ~53.5% of it — TiVo has scrapped plans to split itself into two separate companies, and instead announced a $3 billion merger with Xperi …

Discussion: MediaPost, Bloomberg, The Verge, TechCrunch, Multichannel News, Radio & Television …, Broadcasting & Cable, @harrymccracken, Broadband TV News, MarketWatch, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Aminda Marqués González / Miami Herald:

Miami Herald to drop Saturday print edition starting March 21 in favor of expanded Friday and Sunday editions — To our readers: — The Miami Herald is changing to meet the needs of our readers and the communities we serve long into the future. Providing the news that's essential to your life …

Discussion: Poynter, MediaPost and Talking Biz News

Quartz:

Quartz names Katherine Bell as editor-in-chief, succeeding Kevin Delaney; Bell has served as EIC of Barron's magazine and worked at Harvard Business Review — Quartz announced today the appointment of Katherine Bell as editor-in-chief. Bell brings a wealth of business journalism and leadership experience …

Discussion: @felixsalmon, @zseward, @oliviagoldhill, @davegershgorn, @raju, @kirabind, @davidbauer and @katherineabell

Colin Stutz / Billboard:

Billboard parent company Valence Media to acquire media consumption analytics platform Nielsen Music, which fuels its charts data — Billboard parent company Valence Media is acquiring the Nielsen Music insights and product suite that fuel its charts data, it was announced Wednesday (Dec. 18).

Discussion: @aureliaot7, @britenation and RAIN News

Bloomberg:

Sources: Fox declined to run ads for Bombshell on its network, though Lions Gate did not attempt to advertise directly on Fox News — - Lions Gate sought to promote the film on Fox network — Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corp. declined to run advertisements for “Bombshell,” …