Top News:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: WBD CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on December 19 to discuss a possible merger; Zaslav has also spoken with Shari Redstone — Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on Tuesday in New York City to discuss a possible merger …
Discussion:
Business Insider, The Verge, TVLine, CNBC, Mediaite, The Streamable, Next TV, New York Post, Variety, SlashFilm, IndieWire, CNN, ScreenRant, The Hill, Puck, New York Times, The Information, The Wrap, @sherman4949, The Desk, Marin Independent Journal, Graphic Policy, Los Angeles Times, Front Office Sports, TrekMovie.com, @sherman4949, Bloomberg, @jscalzi@threads.net, @SPAM@infosec.exchange, Gizmodo, ComingSoon.net, Jo Redfern on LinkedIn, Sports Media Watch, @tvgrimreaper, @alexhcranz@threads.net, @Newmy@writing.exchange, @loudmouthjulia, @ralter, @loudmouthjulia, @sherman4949, @bradybrendan1, @sherman4949, @factcheckjeff@threads.net, @mattbelloni, @Ductos@mastodon.social, Nate Norrish on LinkedIn, @fredsmith914, @eriqgardner, @brianstelter, @chx_rliex, @loudmouthjulia, @imdavidpierce@threads.net, @LinuxAndYarn@mastodon.social, @mattzollerseitz, @bristei, @mgsiegler@threads.net, Andrew Cannizzaro on LinkedIn, @ernie@writing.exchange, @ernie.tedium.co, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, @aagave, The A.V. Club, @lachstep.com, @gracegfreud, @sarafischer, @bristei, @itsmeglinehan, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, @tomgara, @richlightshed, @stevenrosenthal …, @dylanbyers, Media Play News, The Hollywood Reporter, Consequence, NBC 7 San Diego and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
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Bloomberg:
Sources: Paramount Global is in talks to sell its BET network to a management-led investor group that includes BET CEO Scott Mills and Chinh Chu, for under $2B — Paramount Global is in talks to sell its Black Entertainment Television network to a management-led investor group, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Sources: Byron Allen offers Paramount $3.5B to acquire BET Media Group, including the BET cable channel, VH1, BET Studios, and BET+; he offered $2.7B earlier — On Tuesday, Allen, who is founder and CEO of Allen Media Group, emailed Paramount Global senior executives and board …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline and Cord Cutters News
Tom Kludt / Vanity Fair:
A look at Sports Illustrated's decline, amid C-suite upheaval, several rounds of layoffs, low editorial staff morale, and revelations about AI-generated content — Staffers are eyeing the exits after a year that began with layoffs and is closing with an AI scandal and the firing of top executives.
Discussion:
@tvgrimreaper and @civex
John Herrman / New York Magazine:
OpenAI's deals with publishers, like the one the company recently inked with Axel Springer, offers a glimpse of how AI and the media might eventually intersect — This past week, Axel Springer, the German media conglomerate that owns Politico and Business Insider, signed a “multiyear licensing deal” …
Discussion:
@ednewtonrex, @alexgraveley, @jwherrman, @intelligencer, @jjvincent, @jwherrman, @jwherrman, @jwherrman, @ianbetteridge@writing … and The Verge
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
After Spotify began offering complimentary audiobooks to millions of subscribers in October 2023, authors demand more transparency about how they will be paid — - Bradley Tusk, an investor and author, is backing new US effort — Coalition of Concerned Creators is demanding more transparency
Discussion:
@ashleyrcarman, @seyitaylor, @ashleyrcarman, @dada_drummer, @kirbyslastsnack, @jaycodon and Radio Ink
Victoria Arancio / ABC News:
A helicopter pilot and a photographer for TV station WPVI in Philadelphia died on December 19, following a helicopter crash in Washington Township, New Jersey — The two were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore, the station said. — A news helicopter, operated …
Discussion:
The Desk, New York Post, The Charlotte Observer, Newser, 6abc, CBS News, New York Daily News, Radio & Television …, UPI, Forbes, WKYC-TV, NewsNation, Fox News and Associated Press
Cristiano Lima / Washington Post:
The US FTC proposes more data protections for kids, including making targeted ads for under-13s opt-in and banning using select data for kids push notifications — The agency proposes new limits on targeted advertising and push notifications directed at kids.
Discussion:
Federal Trade Commission, MediaPost, The Verge, The Drum and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
Knight First Amendment Institute:
The Knight First Amendment Institute sues a US Treasury office over its decision to restrict a group from including government-sanctioned speakers in its events — Say agency's interpretation of regulations impedes the exchange of ideas and violates the First Amendment
Discussion:
@knightcolumbia@mastodon …, The Intercept and Knight First Amendment …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Ofcom: almost 10% of all complaints sent to the regulator in 2023 were about Israel-Hamas war coverage; GB News had the most-complained-about TV episode of 2023 — GB News had the most-complained about TV programme of 2023. — Almost one in ten of all complaints sent to broadcast regulator Ofcom …
Discussion:
Ofcom, Advanced Television, Financial Times, Variety, The Guardian, Mediaite and The Desk
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Prince Harry's and Hugh Grant's lawsuits against News Corp's UK papers accuse new Washington Post CEO Will Lewis of phone hacking coverups between 2010 and 2012 — When Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos wanted an assured hand to right the newspaper's shaky finances, he turned to Will Lewis …
Discussion:
@sdkstl, @deggans, @davidfolkenflik, @nkulw, @themeredish and @philipsturner
Hannah Murphy / Financial Times:
Sources: X set up a 10-person team to help hit $100M in US political ad spend in 2024 to offset revenue losses, a goal that industry executives are skeptical of — Plans for new political ads team to hit $100mn in sales ahead of US presidential election are met with industry scepticism
Discussion:
@crumbler@threads.net, @mshannahmurphy@threads.net and @gergelyorosz, more at Techmeme »
Alicja Ptak / Notes From Poland:
Poland's new government dismisses the management of TVP, Polskie Radio, and the Polish Press Agency; TVP's website and news channel TVP Info are now offline — Controversy has erupted around Poland's public media, with members of the conservative former ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party …
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