Top News:
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Sources: The Independent is in talks to assume control of BuzzFeed in the UK and Ireland under a licensing deal for its brands, including HuffPost — British media group to take charge of local operations of start-up once seen as future of the industry — The Independent, the British media group …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Mediaite, Reuters, The Information and @janinegibson.bsky.social
Drew Harwell / Washington Post:
The SEC approves Truth Social's SPAC merger with DWAC; Trump's stake in the post-merger company would be valued at more than $4B at today's price — The former president's stake in the post-merger company would be valued, at today's share price, at nearly $4 billion.
Discussion:
The Hill, Axios, Reuters, CNN, Politico, CBS News, @gwynnion@mastodon.social, @drewharwell@mastodon.social and @Nonilex@masto.ai, more at Techmeme »
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Roku reports Q4 revenue up 14% YoY to $984.4M, vs. $968.2M est., and warns of a “challenging” environment for media and entertainment in 2024; ROKU drops 14%+ — Roku revenue came in above Wall Street forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2023 — and it touted new milestones …
Discussion:
Deadline, Roku and The Hollywood Reporter
Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Rod Stewart sold his music and publishing catalog for ~$100M to Iconic Artists Group, which says it has raised $1B+ for future catalog investments — Investors pour billions of dollars into companies pursuing music-rights deals — Rod Stewart, the star behind such hits as …
Discussion:
New York Post, Billboard, Axios, Forbes, Deadline, Music Business Worldwide, Music Week, Variety and Digital Music News
Bloomberg:
Sources: the US DOJ plans to scrutinize the streaming service proposal by Disney, Fox, and WBD over concerns it could harm consumers, rivals, and sports leagues — - Concerns likely focused on pricing, sports league negotiations — Antitrust enforcers have blocked cable bundles in past cases
Discussion:
Reuters, The Streamable, @tomselliott and Cord Cutters News
Emma Roth / The Verge:
Meta plans to start charging a 30% fee for boosting Facebook and Instagram posts on iOS later in February, after Apple extended its 30% cut to boosting in 2022 — Meta said Thursday that it will start charging a 30 percent fee when advertisers pay to boost the visibility of their posts in Facebook's and Instagram's iOS apps.
Discussion:
MediaPost, Facebook, TechCrunch, The Information, Engadget, Reuters, @AAKL@noc.social, BGR, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »
Alexandra Alter / New York Times:
The National Book Awards expand eligibility to noncitizens in the US, including immigrants and longtime residents who have made their home in the country — The awards, which celebrate the best of American literature, are expanding the definition of who qualifies.
Discussion:
Publishing Perspectives, Mother Jones and @mtaeckens
Todd Spangler / Variety:
WGA East says 26 of the 50 NowThis members represented by the union have been laid off; an internal memo says no additional layoffs are planned — In another heavy round of job cuts in the media biz, half of the editorial team of digital news outlet NowThis has been laid off, according to the union representing the staffers.
Discussion:
The Guardian, @benmullin, The Wrap, @jamjad_, @emilysullbarger, @pjayevans, @sebauyanet, @sebauyanet, @meghin_, @snmrrw, @snmrrw and @nowthisunion
Ben Mullin / @benmullin:
A memo to Intercept staff says EIC Roger Hodge is leaving and the outlet is laying off 15 people and cutting salaries for the leadership team — Scoop: @theintercept is cutting 15 positions, and EIC Roger Hodge is departing [image]
Discussion:
MediaPost, @froomkin, The Wrap, @danackerman, @themaxburns, @willyblackmore and NPR
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
How Swiss outlet Blick gained 16,000+ subscribers since June 2023 by using a registration wall and summaries teasing the content of some walled-off articles — A registration wall launched in the run-up to the premium offer was a “key element” to a strong launch.
Geert De Clercq / Reuters:
An EU study of 576 influencers finds that 97% posted commercial content but only 20% systematically indicated the content was advertising — Four out of five influencers on social media fail to disclose commercial content they post is advertising as required under EU law, a European Union study released on Wednesday showed.
Discussion:
European Commission, The Hill, The Information, RTÉ, Metro.co.uk, Adweek and Boing Boing
Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Meta seems unable to define political content, vaguely mentioning laws, elections, and social topics, after saying Threads would not amplify political content — What constitutes “political” content? — It's an important question that Meta has conspicuously left unanswered …
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Committee to Protect Journalists:
Senegalese police attacked, harassed, and tear gassed or detained over 25 journalists reporting on February 9 protests over the delayed presidential election — Senegalese authorities must identify and hold accountable police officers who attacked, harassed, and tear gassed or detained …
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