Top News:


A trio of artists sue Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt over AI art copyright; a firm suing Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI over Copilot filed the lawsuit — A trio of artists have launched a lawsuit against Stability AI and Midjourney, creators of AI art generators Stable Diffusion and Midjourney …


Sources: CNN is considering hiring a comedian to host one of its prime-time shows; executives have floated Bill Maher, Trevor Noah, Jon Stewart, and others — CNN is considering hiring a comedian to host one of its prime time shows. — The “news entertainment” personality could fill …
Discussion:
New York Post, @jeffjarvis, @nkulw, @the_moviebob, @susanbordson, Fox News, @ourand_sbj, @steven_strauss, @schneider_cm, @arlanwashere, Mediaite, @justschmeltzer, @mattdavis, @bencjacobs, @phil_rosenthal, @lionelmedia, @ameshiacross, @johnnydollar01, @davidbix, @neontaster, @cenksidar, @armandondk, @tvgrimreaper, @greenfield64 and Variety


Sources: Amazon Prime Video plans to part ways with Jeremy Clarkson after his already commissioned shows air in 2024, following his column about Meghan Markle — Amazon Prime Video is likely to be parting ways with Jeremy Clarkson mere weeks after his comments about Meghan Markle were published in British tabloid The Sun.
Discussion:
Jeremy Clarkson, Deadline, Screen Rant, UPI, E! Online, @mfwitches, IndieWire, CBS News, Daily Mail, Daily Mail, @ledbettercarly, @simonharris_mbd, NME, @rupertmyers, @tennisfanv3, @factsand2cents, The Sun, @manori_r, @henrymance, @sangitamyska, @nadine_writes, @danwootton, @kevin_maguire, @tudorchick1501, Dailystar.co.uk, @russincheshire, @ryanjl, @mrjamesob, LBC, The Wrap, Daily Mail, @royal_suitor, @thattimwalker, The Guardian, @number10cat, @nancyleegrahn, @droid254, @richardaeden, Sky News, @meralhece and Press Gazette


How a CoinDesk scoop caused FTX's collapse, sending the outlet's monthly page views up 96% to 17M in November, as CoinDesk covers parent company DCG's problems — The parent company of CoinDesk, one of the first news sites focused on the industry, faces questions about the operations and financial health of some of its subsidiaries.
Discussion:
@benmullin, @mikejcasey, @rafat, @emilydparker, The New York Times Company and Davis, Wright, Tremaine LLP


Warner Bros. Discovery and the European Broadcasting Union win an auction for Olympic Games broadcasting rights between 2026 and 2032 in 49 European territories — Warner Bros Discovery and the European Broadcasting Union have won the auction for Olympic Games broadcasting rights between 2026 and 2032.
Discussion:
Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Discovery, Broadband TV News, The Desk, The Guardian and Media Play News


Q&A with MGM+ President Michael Wright on rebranding from Epix, plans to increase to at least eight original series per year under Amazon's ownership, and more — The top-to-bottom rebrand of the service that debuted in October 2009 (as a joint venture among MGM, Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate) …
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, 9to5Google, MediaPost and Media Play News


As the number of shows and movies depicting real events has grown, screenwriters are taking liberties with the facts, often leading to public spats and lawsuits — The entertainment genre of historical drama is flourishing — and riddled with inaccuracies. The untrue parts are leading to more public spats and lawsuits.
Discussion:
@nytimes, @marshacollier, @mikeaztec28, @bubbaprog and @stormmela


Comcast-owned Sky plans to offer WBD's streaming service Discovery+ to its subscribers in the UK and Ireland for free, saving them £6.99 or €6.99 per month — “We know value is incredibly important right now,” Comcast-owned Sky says. … “Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers …
Discussion:
Deadline, Daily Express, Broadband TV News and Media Play News


The UK's Reach told The Sunday Mirror and Sunday People staff that the two Sunday tabloids will begin sharing most of their content under a new cost-saving plan — The Sunday People and Sunday Mirror have been under the same editor since 2014. — The Sunday Mirror and Sunday People newspapers look set …


A FIFA corruption trial set to start on Tuesday could implicate Fox Corp, as two ex-Fox executives accused of paying bribes to obtain broadcast rights testify — Two former executives are accused of paying bribes to obtain broadcast rights, including for the World Cup. Testimony could reveal what the company knew.
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, @dmihalopoulos, @kenbensinger, @cboehm and @tayredacted


Singapore's The Straits Times said last week it overstated daily circulation by 85K-95K copies, or 10%-12% of reported totals, from September 2020 to March 2022 — SPH Media, Singapore's dominant news organization, has been derided for many failings — being too stodgy, too pro-government …
Discussion:
@incoherentboy, @benplatt1023, @byjasonng, @newley, @semafor and The Straits Times


The Overwatch League's path to profitability remains unclear given dwindling viewership, recent upheavals inside Activision Blizzard, and dampening esports hype — Activision-Blizzard's ambitious, much-hyped initiative has stalled. Recent upheavals reveal the instability of esports—and a murky future for the league.