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:
Variety, The Verge, Business Insider, TVLine, Mediaite, CNBC, The Streamable, New York Post, Next TV, Financial Times, IndieWire, The Hill, Puck, New York Times, UPROXX, SlashFilm, Douglas Montgomery on LinkedIn, The Information, @sherman4949, CNN, ScreenRant, Marin Independent Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, Gizmodo, ComingSoon.net, The Desk, Sports Media Watch, @tvgrimreaper, @alexhcranz@threads.net, @SPAM@infosec.exchange, TrekMovie.com, @Newmy@writing.exchange, @loudmouthjulia, @jscalzi@threads.net, @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, Jo Redfern on LinkedIn, @mgsiegler@threads.net, Andrew Cannizzaro on LinkedIn, @sherman4949, @ernie@writing.exchange, @ernie.tedium.co, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, @aagave, The A.V. Club, @lachstep.com, @gracegfreud, @sarafischer, @bristei, @itsmeglinehan, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, Front Office Sports, @tomgara, Graphic Policy, @richlightshed, @stevenrosenthal …, @dylanbyers, Media Play News, The Hollywood Reporter, Consequence, Bloomberg, NBC 7 San Diego and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
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.
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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
Katherine Blunt / Wall Street Journal:
Rebecca Smith, a longtime Wall Street Journal reporter who exposed Enron's financial deceit and co-wrote a book about the energy company's collapse, dies at 68 — Smith worked at The Wall Street Journal for more than 20 years covering the electricity industry
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
Sonia Faleiro / Rest of World:
A look at high-profile Indian journalists who left mainstream outlets for YouTube and other social media platforms as Prime Minister Modi cracks down on media — As Narendra Modi's government clamps down on the free press, top journalists are going solo to report unbiased news. — • NEW DELHI, INDIA
Discussion:
@restofworld@restof.social and @sushubh@mastodon.social
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
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
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, New York Daily News, Radio & Television …, CBS News, 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, The Verge, The Drum, MediaPost 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, Variety, Financial Times, The Guardian and Mediaite
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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