Top News:
About Amazon:
Amazon plans to acquire podcast network Wondery, which will join Amazon Music — We've signed an agreement to acquire Wondery, a top-rated podcast creator and producer that entertains and educates listeners. — We're pleased to announce that Wondery—an innovative podcast publisher …
Discussion:
The Wrap, New York Times, @benmullin, Amazon Chronicles, Variety, The Podcast Hub, @stevekovach, TechCrunch, Axios, The Verge, @dabeard, @simonowens, Engadget, @rebeccajarvis, @chrismessina, @besvinick, @karaswisher, @glenngabe, MacRumors, @joshsternberg, @evoterra, @baxiabhishek, @mattdsandler, @wonderymedia, @kintan, @tzm_tmt, IndieWire, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, Music Business Worldwide, CNBC, Business Insider, Gizmodo, Radio & Television … and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Boards of RFE/RL and Radio Free Asia and their chairman Michael Pack have added binding contractual agreements that they can't be removed for the next two years — Michael Pack's stormy tenure over the federal agency that oversees government-funded broadcasters abroad - including the Voice of America - appears to be coming to a close.
Discussion:
@digiphile, @npr and @davidfolkenflik
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Brian Schwartz / CNBC:
Letter signed by leaders of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's news division and editorial board says Michael Pack appointed a board of “inexperienced” partisans — - Leaders of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty blasted the Trump-appointed CEO of the U.S. federal media agency.
Discussion:
@ckummer, @nprinskeep, @nickschifrin, @schwartzbcnbc, @gkates, @schwartzbcnbc, @joshgerstein and @micheleberdy
Wall Street Journal:
Top nine streaming services to end 2020 with combined US subscribers up 50%+ YoY; US households now subscribe to 3.1 services on average, up from 2.7 in 2019 — From Hulu to Disney+, largest streaming services are expected to end the year with 50% more U.S. subscribers
Discussion:
@wsj, @jbflint, @drewfitzgerald, Fast Company, New York Post and Context is King
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
ESPN Plus is raising the annual subscription for new subscribers by 20%, from $49.99 to $59.99, and increasing the price of UFC pay-per-view events to $69.99 — UFC fans are going to pay more to catch the promoter's premiere fights on Disney's ESPN Plus streaming sports package next year.
Lisa Richwine / Reuters:
Nielsen: Fox News tops all news and basic cable channels for the fifth consecutive year, averaging 1.9M viewers/day; CNN had its most-watched year in history — LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Ratings for Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel topped all news and basic cable channels for a fifth straight year in 2020 …
Discussion:
TVNewser
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Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
Interviews with 15 longtime Fox News loyalists on why they switched to Newsmax, often seeking programming that denies Joe Biden's victory
Discussion:
@seanspicer, @dcdianadc, @kirktousaw, @evilgalprods, @kimmasters, @chessninja, @poniewozik, @elise_jordan, @donal_okeeffe, @ericbolling, @jayrosen_nyu and @jeremymbarr
Michael J. de la Merced / New York Times:
Alden says it is bidding for full control of Tribune Publishing, in which it has a ~32% stake, with an offer that values the newspaper chain at about $520.6M — Alden Global Capital, which is already Tribune's biggest shareholder, valued the company at about $520.6 million.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, @megreenwell, @scottshanenyt, @pwoodreporter, @marcatracy, @courantguild, @dicktofel, @kdoctor, @w_katz1, @robillard, @kbui1, @royalpratt and The Wrap
Reuters:
Reuters cameraman Kumerra Gemechu has been detained in Ethiopia without charge; police say they are investigating allegations of spreading false information — NAIROBI (Reuters) - Reuters cameraman Kumerra Gemechu has been held in solitary confinement for nearly a week without charge …
Discussion:
@reuterspr
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
Judge rules Viacom shareholders can pursue claims of fiduciary duty breach against Shari Redstone and board members representing Viacom in the merger with CBS — A Delaware Chancery judge rejects a motion to dismiss after reviewing Shari Redstone's role in the transaction.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @eriqgardner, Variety and Deadline
Byron Tau / Wall Street Journal:
Acting attorney general says WSJ reporter Daniel Pearl's accused killer could be prosecuted in the US if Pakistani courts fail to keep him in jail — If Pakistanis fail to keep suspect imprisoned, U.S. stands ready, acting attorney general says — The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday raised …
Discussion:
@bgrueskin, @rohded, USA Today, @alanmillernlp, @jessepesta, CBS News, @schoofsfeed, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Hill and Associated Press
Elizabeth A. Harris / New York Times:
Association of American Publishers: audiobooks revenue is up 17%+ YoY, e-book sales are up 16%+; NPD BookScan says US print book sales are up ~8% in 2020 — With people stuck at home and so many other activities shut down, a lot of reading — or at least a lot of book buying — happened this year.
Discussion:
@bobproehl, @sejorg, @jldelbourgo, @nytimesbooks, @mariskreizman, @scalzi, @pamelapaulnyt, @likaluca, @fidmart85, @magiciansbook and bookforum.com, more at Techmeme »
John Hopewell / Variety:
Comscore: global box office fell between 57%, in the Netherlands, and 76%, in UK, vs. 2019, depending on length of closure and strength of local movie industry — Savaged by COVID-19, global box office plunged between 57% and 76% in major markets outside the U.S., with the U.K. and Ireland leading the rout …
Discussion:
Variety
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