Top News:
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Sources: WBD is no longer pursuing a merger with Paramount, Skydance is doing due diligence, and Comcast is exploring commercial partnerships with Paramount — - Warner Bros. Discovery is no longer pursuing a merger with Paramount Global as its shares trade near a 52-week low, according to people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
The Streamable, The Desk, The Hill, The Wrap, Forbes, Reuters, @lucas_shaw, NBC 7 San Diego, Cord Cutters News and Bloomberg
Wes Davis / The Verge:
Netflix confirms that it has started removing Apple iTunes billing for longtime subscribers, and now requires them to pay directly on its website — Netflix confirms to The Verge that it has begun booting longtime subscribers off their Apple iTunes billing plans, and will require …
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Desk, BGR, CNN, 9to5Mac, The Streamable and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The FT launches a venture arm to invest in media and tech startups, starting with $1M for Charter, a media and insights company focused on the workplace — - The company has made several strategic minority investments to date, including one in the Business of Fashion.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Alexandra Topping / The Guardian:
The BBC says it will bolster its procedures for dealing with non-editorial complaints, after finding shortcomings in dealing with a complaint about Huw Edwards — Corporation launched review into complaints procedure after scandal about presenter last year
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Blake Brittain / Reuters:
Filing: OpenAI asks a US federal judge to dismiss parts of NYT's copyright suit, alleging it “paid someone to hack OpenAI's products” and violated OpenAI's TOS — OpenAI has asked a federal judge to dismiss parts of the New York Times (NYT.N) copyright lawsuit against it …
Discussion:
The Hill, New York Times, United States District Court, @benjaminjriley and @eriqgardner, more at Techmeme »
Dan Rys / Billboard:
UMG buys a majority stake in Nigeria-based record label Mavin Global in a deal expected to close by Q3; Mavin was reportedly valued at north of $125M in October — The company, home to artists like Rema and Ayra Starr, is at the forefront of Africa's Afrobeats movement, which has been exploding across the globe.
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Docs: Google is paying a handful of independent publishers a five-figure sum for one year to use an unreleased suite of generative AI tools to post stories — In exchange for a five-figure sum, publishers must use the tool to publish 3 stories per day — Google launched a private program …
Inside Radio:
Kagan: in 2023, radio industry revenue totaled $15.15B, down 1.5% from $15.39B in 2022, and there were $212.5M worth of radio deals, down 35.6% YoY from $329.9M — Faced with a pullback in advertiser spending last year, radio's hustle paid off. Thanks to a mix of revenue streams …
Discussion:
S&P Global, RADIO ONLINE and Radio & Television …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Digital TV ad service Madhive launches a marketplace for political and issue advertisers to buy CTV ads; Fox Television Stations is its first major client — - Connected TV also offers campaigns more video inventory to target voters when local broadcasters run out of space.
Discussion:
Radio & Television …
Jon Passantino / CNN:
The New York Times says Donald Trump has paid $392,000 to the paper to cover the legal costs from his failed lawsuit over disclosure of his tax documents — Donald Trump has paid $392,000 to The New York Times to cover the legal costs from his failed lawsuit against the newspaper …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast
Nilay Patel / The Verge:
Q&A with Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini about the streamer's focus on anime, working with creators in Japan, competing with Netflix, future plans, and more — The head of the fast-growing streaming service discusses the Funimation merger and shutdown and where he sees growth in anime.
Discussion:
The Streamable, Gizmodo and Ars Technica, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
A profile of influencer Jessica Reed Kraus, as Trump, RFK Jr., and other campaigns court her to reach her 1M Instagram followers and 300K Substack subscribers — The News — One week in January, Jessica Reed Kraus attended Donald Trump's Iowa victory afterparty at the Hotel Fort Des Moines …
Discussion:
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