Top News:
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Substack launches Substack Reader, an RSS reader for tracking newsletter subscriptions and other feeds, in beta — Substack Reader is now available in beta — If you're worried about all your newsletter subscriptions getting lost in your inbox, Substack may have a solution.
Discussion:
Substack Blog, @substackinc, @hshaban, @samueljscott, @charlesflehman, @nathanblawrence, 9to5Mac, @jaredbkeller, @luca, Engadget, @rklau, @film_girl, @pratikpoddar, @jackmarshall, @caseynewton, @davewiner, @lukeoneil47, @can, @chrismessina, @carnage4life, @badastronomer, @grayblue, @alexeheath, @alexlmiller, @stammy, @michaelroston, @jamievaron, @aripap, @davidcho, @pjvogt, @pierce and @mylesudland, more at Techmeme »
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Jacob Cohen Donnelly / A Media Operator:
A publisher of newsletters on digital media discusses the product and philosophical reasons he is leaving Substack, including lack of control over email lists — It was almost a year ago that I wrote a piece about me getting ready to leave Substack. I was spending the holiday season rebuilding the site on WordPress.
Discussion:
@jryedinak, more at Techmeme »
Axios:
Texas AG says the state and nine others have filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming Google illegally hurt competition in the ad tech market — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that he's leading a lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of taking illegal actions …
Discussion:
@txag, nexttv.com, Business Insider, The Wrap, TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal, MediaPost, Reuters, @pkafka, Engadget, The Verge, CNBC, @joshsternberg, @mikebaz, @matthewstoller, @karlbode, @russellbrandom, @lutherlowe, @kantrowitz, @jasonabbruzzese, @tonyromm, @tonyromm and Skift, more at Techmeme »
Ryan Mac / BuzzFeed News:
At an end-of-year, company-wide meeting, Facebook said it is working on TLDR, an AI tool that would summarize longform articles in bullet points — Facebook told employees on Tuesday that it's developing a tool to summarize news articles so users won't have to read them …
Discussion:
@rmac18, @rmac18, @rmac18, @emilybell, @bmorrissey, @jackmarshall, @mattlynley, @mattlynley, @mattlynley, @mattlynley, @mattlynley, @mattlynley, @mattlynley, @johnbattelle, @joshconstine, @_richardhall, @bendwalsh, @nathanblawrence, @audreyhasnews, @krisgoldsmith85, @edzitron, @maxkriegervg, @xpatriciah, @tomscocca, @sarahjeong, @jamespmcleod, @msamymacpherson, @ericuman, @ackocher, @lessismoh, @0dansmith, @ryan_lr, @clancynewyork, @ericlach, @jamespmcleod, @mslopatto, @dalerussellfox5, @dlind, @ryandeto, @hondanhon, @bendreyfuss, @brooklynmarie, @briannawu, @vogon, Medianama, @jzheel, @mike_conley, @surlybassey, @j0ncampbell, @colincampbellx, @megankstack, @johnperetti, @hoffprof, @consultingcso, @michaelgendron, @thesupermikey, Business Insider, @walldo, @samitsarkar, @kevinroose, @danielwinlander, @meese_james, @carlnatale, @korlis, @seanhecht, @josh_posts, @graceclarke, @charles_gaba, @craigawelch, @rmac18, @weischoice, @bportseasoning, @jimray, @rmac18, @mccarthyryanj and @rmac18, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Facebook attacks Apple in full-page newspaper ads, claiming upcoming iOS 14 changes that limit data gathering and targeted ads are bad for small businesses — - Ads criticize Apple's plan to require opt-in for ad tracking — Facebook placed ads in the NYT, WSJ and Washington Post
Discussion:
Variety, AdExchanger, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Media Nut, CNBC, @kurtwagner8, MediaPost, Breitbart, Business Insider, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, @johngidding, Mashable, @petersterne, @johnjannuzzi, @kentgoldman, @konistehrad, MacRumors, @lordstras, @wolfiechristl, Fast Company, @jeremiahjw, @_harshilshah, Protocol, Forbes, @tonyromm, @kantrowitz, 9to5Mac, @flyosity, @larakiara, @pkafka, The Verge, New York Post and Raw Story, more at Techmeme »
Tatiana Siegel / Hollywood Reporter:
Sources: Biden is considering Bob Iger for a key ambassadorship, either to China or the UK, and Jeffrey Katzenberg is also being considered — The Disney executive chairman is at the top of the president-elect's wish list for a diplomatic assignment with the DreamWorks and Quibi mogul also in the mix.
Discussion:
The Hill, @jrubinblogger, @joshrogin, @alexsalvinews, @jacobdfilm, @stanyeahman, @jaxalemany, @swanniontv, @sepinwall, @beijingpalmer, @matthewstoller, @robillard and The Week
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Fox News says it has extended Laura Ingraham's contract with a “multi-year deal” — Fox News characterized the new pact as a “multi-year deal.” Ingraham joined Fox News Channel full-time in October of 2017 after establishing herself with a long-running radio program.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Mediaite, The Hill, nexttv.com and TVNewser
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify signs a deal with NPR to distribute 26 podcasts in most of its 92 markets outside the US, with exceptions like Turkey and India — The streaming-audio company inked a deal with NPR to distribute 26 podcasts — including “NPR News Hour,” “Planet Money,” “Car Talk” and “Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!”
Discussion:
The Verge, MediaPost, Engadget and TechCrunch
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Digital Content Next, a representative for NYT, NPR, Vox, WaPO, and others, joins the Coalition for App Fairness, which is pushing for regulation of app stores — A group of major U.S. news publishers have joined the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), the advocacy group pushing …
Discussion:
About Facebook, Forbes, @carnage4life, 9to5Mac, @jeffjarvis, MacRumors and @appfairness, more at Techmeme »
Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge:
Google says its new Chromecast with Google TV will get an Apple TV app in early 2021, giving users access to TV+ originals and iTunes purchases — Coming in early 2021 to the Chromecast with Google TV — Google's latest Chromecast with Google TV is filling in one of its biggest missing apps …
Discussion:
The Keyword, The Streamable, The Desk, @richlightshed, Variety, Bloomberg, @richlightshed, 9to5Google, @cgartenberg, @joemaring1 and @chriswelch, more at Techmeme »
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
BBC Studios will launch an ad-free streaming channel, BBC Select, on Amazon Prime Video and the Apple TV app in early 2021 for US and Canadian users — BBC Studios, the commercial subsidiary of U.K. broadcaster BBC, is launching ad-free streaming channel BBC Select on Amazon Prime Video Channels and the Apple TV app in early 2021.
Discussion:
The Streamable, @xpangler and Cord Cutters News
Manuel Vonau / Android Police:
Netflix is rolling out a Video Off button at the top of the full-screen video player and an audio only mode in settings for its Android app — Netflix might not be playing nicely with Google TV for some reason, but the company is pouring tons of resources into its Android app.
Discussion:
Variety, io9, @bjhiddenjokes, @derekmross, 9to5Google, Engadget and CNET, more at Techmeme »
Jason Gurwin / The Streamable:
Hulu + Live TV drops Sinclair's 23 local CBS affiliates, after failing to reach a deal in the latest carriage dispute — After being unable to reach a deal, Sinclair-owned CBS affiliates are no longer available on Hulu + Live TV. — Sinclair owns 23 local CBS affiliates, which tend to be outside the largest markets.