Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
BuzzFeed has agreed to acquire Verizon Media's HuffPost in a stock deal, as part of a larger agreement to syndicate content on each others' platforms — New-media companies have been exploring mergers as they try to jumpstart growth — BuzzFeed Inc. has agreed to acquire Verizon Media's HuffPost …
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, The Guardian, @howardkurtz, Axios, New York Times, TechCrunch, Variety, Press Gazette, CNN, Fast Company, Adweek, Crain's New York Business, MediaPost, HuffPost, Mediaite, @digiphile, @justinbaragona, Yahoo, Ad Age, @brianstelter, The Hill, The Desk, Business Insider, @mikkipedia, The Wrap, Verizon, The Media Nut, Talking Points Memo, @emilybell, Reuters, @shereeny, @jimwaterson, @mikeelk, @pbump, Newser, @thekenyeung, @joshsternberg, @jennygzhang, @yashar, @froomkin, @jimwaterson, @jeremymbarr, @justinjm1, @ceciliakang, @sivavaid, @mdudas, @jem_collins, @xpangler, @laurenpelley, @megan, @jbenton, @maxberger, @doctoryasmin, @bafeldman, @theferocity, @bmorrissey, @johannabarr, @mbaram, @lauraolin, @kerrymflynn, @willoremus, @jeffjarvis, @benyt, @barry, @ariannahuff, @kerrymflynn, @adamamin, @jeremymbarr, @alexkotch, @craigsilverman, @mathewi, @mathewi, @laurenstrapa, @mjenkins, @levynews, The Verge, @olifranklin, @c_davies, @donie, @thekenyeung, @pkafka, @mehdirhasan, @maxwelltani, @anja_popp, @essexcanning, @keithrhernandez, CNBC, TheStreet, Hollywood Reporter and Boing Boing, more at Techmeme »
Julia Alexander / The Verge:
Wonder Woman 1984, originally to be released in June, will simultaneously be released on Dec. 25 in US theaters and on HBO Max, with no added fee on HBO Max — One of 2020's last big movies will also be streamed — One of 2020's last big blockbusters, Wonder Woman 1984 …
Discussion:
Medium, Variety, Variety, @jasonkilar, CNN, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, @frankpallotta, Hollywood Reporter, @trengriffin, @joshelman, @hunterwalk, Seth Tower Hurd's The Five, @ser_jon_arryn, @brianstelter, @rfaughnder, @rfaughnder, @rfaughnder, @variety, @lamarrwilson, @mikeryan, @lanceulanoff, @starfire2258, @harrymccracken, @mcbiggitty, @loudmouthjulia, @lucas_shaw, @loudmouthjulia, @reckless, Game Rant, Adweek, io9, The A.V. Club, Polygon, Collider, ScreenRant and IGN
Mathieu Rosemain / Reuters:
Google says it has signed copyright agreements with six French newspapers and magazines, involving a way to pay publishers through Google News Showcase — PARIS (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google GOOGL.O has signed copyright agreements with six French newspapers and magazines …
Discussion:
Le blog officiel de …, @benyt and @blmohr
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Linda Pizzuti Henry named CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners, the parent company of The Boston Globe, STAT News, and Boston.com that she owns with her husband — She takes the reins at a time of rising tensions between management and the paper's union. — Linda Pizzuti Henry on Wednesday became …
Discussion:
The Boston Globe, @elanazak, @nytmedia, @mkarolian, @bostonnewsguild, @nytmedia, wgbh.org and Media Nation
Adrianne Jeffries / The Markup:
Google says it will end preferential search rankings for AMP pages in the spring, but remains “fully committed” to the technology — Targeting Trump Fans, QAnon Ad Slips Through Facebook's Filters — How Private Is My Pay App?
Discussion:
@dz, Official Google Webmaster …, @matthewstoller, @maxlynch, @waxy, @ow, @robinberjon, @beep, @triblondon, @thomasfuchs, @pat_garofalo, @stopsatgreen and @dphiffer, more at Techmeme »
Noam Scheiber / New York Times:
An influx of celebrities as podcast contractors at The Ringer raises concerns among staff; some say Bill Simmons has shown signs of trying to weaken their union — The influx of star podcasters looms over a dispute between the union and managers at the Spotify-owned digital media company founded by Bill Simmons.
Eben Novy-Williams / Sportico.com:
Bally's acquires naming rights to Sinclair's 21 regional sports networks in a 10-year deal that will integrate Bally's content into Sinclair's 190 TV stations — Bally's Corp. has acquired naming rights to 21 of the regional sports networks purchased last year by Sinclair Broadcast Group …
Discussion:
New York Post, The Streamable, @novy_williams, Awful Announcing and TheStreet
Nate Rogers / Stereogum:
How a Spotify change in user preferences, setting autoplay to “on” by default, may have helped obscure songs become fan favorites, with algorithmic help — SOUNDING BOARD — A couple years ago, Stephen Malkmus walked into a shop and didn't recognize himself.
Discussion:
@caseynewton, @jeremybmerrill, @elle_hunt, @eddierobson, @mountain_goats, @michellemanafy, @robmanuel, @mathewi, @frankie____ and musically.com
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Source: ViacomCBS has cut around 100 jobs in latest round of layoffs as part of a streamlining and cost-cutting push due to the merger — ViacomCBS has been hit with another round of job cuts as layoffs and restructuring continue across big media and entertainment companies.
Discussion:
Variety, Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Apple lowering its subscription revenue cut for those making under $1M/year in App Store will boost some news publishers' revenue; more details coming in Dec. — Instead of taking 30% of new subscribers' payments, it'll take 15%. The money's welcome, but it's also a reminder …
Discussion:
New York Times, Apple, Washington Post, Protocol, @dhh, Business Insider, @niemanlab, Engadget, ZDNet, American Press Institute, Wired, musically.com, @amlwhere, @sdw, @lucasgovatos, @glennf, @rakeshlobster, @philiprosedale, @eckoxsoldier, @baratunde, @scobleizer, @anildash, @tha_rami, @benedictevans, @jbenton, @jbenton and @dhh, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Taiwan's broadcast regulator refuses to renew TV license for pro-China Chung T'ien News, citing interference from a major shareholder and failure to fact check — - NCC says Chung T'ien News violated broadcast regulations — TV station says its closure is politically motivated
Discussion:
The Guardian, Reuters and New Bloom Magazine
Matthew Keys / The Desk:
Source: Discovery Networks' upcoming streaming service, Discovery+, is expected to cost $8/month for an ad-free version and $5/month for an ad-supported tier — Subscribers will be able to remove the ads for an extra $2 a month, according to information obtained exclusively by The Desk
Discussion:
@tracytran, @matthewkeyslive, @scottporch and Discovery Communications, Thanks:@matthewkeyslive