Top News:

Elon Musk appears to confirm that posts containing links in their main text are deprioritized on X, saying it is to stop “lazy linking” — Elon Musk confirmed that posts containing links in their main text are deprioritized on X in a revelation that renews criticism that the platform …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Business Insider, City & State New York, @markbrooks, @stevesi, @almostmedia, @seyitaylor, @stuartbuck1, New Republic, @designationsix.bsky.social, @paulg, @romansphoto.bsky.social, @mikeshenderson.bsky.social, @elonmusk, @paulg, @kwanza.bsky.social, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social, @deadendgg.bsky.social, @andrewlseidel.bsky.social, @ernie@writing.exchange, @mattnavarra.com, @alicekeeler.com, Althouse and Benzinga, more at Techmeme »

Trade body data: copyrighted music revenue was $45.5B in 2023, above cinema box office spending of $33.2B in 2023 and $41.9B in 2019; record labels made $28.5B — Annual revenues from copyrighted music hit almost $46bn last year, against $33.2bn for cinema
Discussion:
Pivotal Economics, Music Business Worldwide, CMU, Music Ally, Billboard and Will Page on LinkedIn

Sources: CVC Capital Partners and a major European broadcaster, thought to be France's Groupe TF1, are among those considering a takeover of the UK's ITV — The commercial broadcaster is back on alert for takeover approaches as financial and industry players evaluate offers which could lead …
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Times, Deadline, City A.M., Bloomberg, Advanced Television and RTÉ

As Elon Musk posts memes about buying MSNBC, sources say one liberal billionaire expressed interest in buying the channel; Comcast is not looking to sell MSNBC — Elon Musk has called MSNBC “the utter scum of the Earth.” He has said the channel “peddles puerile propaganda.”

The US DOJ and Google made their closing arguments in the ad-market antitrust case before Judge Leonie Brinkema, who expressed some skepticism toward both sides — Federal prosecutors say Google's dominance of online advertising illegally hurts consumers and small businesses, while the company says it earned its place by being better.
Discussion:
Adweek, New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, Digiday and Benzinga, more at Techmeme »

IMAX partners with Dubai-based startup Camb.ai to use its AI speech models to translate original content, including documentaries — With global content consumption rising and demand for non-English content surpassing that for English movies and shows, IMAX is leveraging AI to scale localization on its original content.

Sources: NBC's new deal with Macy's to keep the Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC and Peacock has an average annual fee of $60M+, up from ~$20M in the current deal — Macy's and NBC near pact that would raise the spectacle's annual average price to $60 million.
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, @bsdtectr.bsky.social and Just Jared

The music industry is entering a cycle of consolidation, driven by a slowdown at the major labels, the growing market for independents, and the rapacity of PE — The music industry is entering new era, one driven by a slowdown at the major labels, the growing market for independents and the rapacity of private equity.
Discussion:
@lucas_shaw, @lucas_shaw and @lucas_shaw

Internal email: the UK's Reach plans to merge staff at The Daily Mirror and celebrity magazine OK! to cut costs, but the move won't result in cutting of roles — Merging of daily newspaper and celebrity magazine employees is latest move by owner, Reach, to cut costs

Sources: CNN is considering making network anchor Kaitlan Collins its chief White House correspondent and relocating her show from New York to DC — The Scoop — CNN's leadership says it doesn't want to go back to its wall-to-wall 24-hour coverage of Donald Trump when he returns to the White House in January.
Discussion:
New York Post and TVNewsCheck

An interview with Alsu Kurmasheva of RFE/RL, a seasoned editor and broadcaster who spent months in a Russian prison before being released in a prisoner swap — Russian authorities put Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Alsu Kurmasheva behind bars, but they couldn't outsmart her.
Discussion:
Kathleen Moore on LinkedIn, Voice of America and Freedom of the Press …

Investigation: how hack-for-hire Appin tried silencing 15+ outlets since 2022 over articles, newsletters, and podcasts covering Appin's “ethical hacking” — Whether based in the US, Switzerland, France or India, any media outlet investigating the “ethical hacking” of Appin …
Discussion:
@rsf_inter and Reporters Without Borders on YouTube