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Mark Thompson previews CNN's paid streaming service, says CNN plans to launch a subscription in 2025 for “lifestyle” content, and cuts ~200 jobs in its TV unit — Mark Thompson has promised to reinvent CNN since he arrived in 2023. Now, he is remaking the network's TV lineup and its work force.
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Mark Thompson says CNN aims to reach $1B in digital revenue by 2030; memo details $70M to be invested in digital plans, a modernized ad sales approach, and more — - That was an important message, considering years-long speculation that WBD may look to sell the network someday to pay down its debt.
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Milwaukee TV station WDJT-TV drops meteorologist Sam Kuffel after she criticized Elon Musk's gesture at the inauguration on her personal Instagram account — Daniel Bice Mary SpicuzzaMilwaukee Journal Sentinel — A Milwaukee TV weather forecaster has been dropped by her station …
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Pakistan's parliament passes a controversial bill giving the government sweeping controls on social media, including prison terms for spreading “disinformation” — Pakistan's lower house of parliament on Thursday passed a controversial bill that will give the government sweeping controls …
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Lionsgate renews its film licensing deal with Starz to bring ~20 studio films annually to Starz's services, ahead of the formal separation of the companies — The third installment of ‘Now You See Me,’ ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,’ the Michael Jackson biopic and 'Ballerina …
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Luminate: TV production declined 7% YoY in 2024, Netflix produced 22% fewer US series in 2024 than in 2022 but remains far ahead of its competitors, and more — TV production was still down last year, albeit decreasing at a slower rate than the year prior, down 7% from 2023 …
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Advanced Television, The Hollywood Reporter and Luminate

Donald Trump nominates Media Research Center founder L. Brent Bozell III to lead the US Agency for Global Media; the post requires Senate confirmation — L. Brent Bozell III, founder of the conservative watchdog group Media Research Center, is Donald Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media …

Arizona State University launches NEWSWELL, a nonprofit that acquires local news outlets to provide operational support, backed by a $5M Knight Foundation grant — The nonprofit NEWSWELL, a project of Arizona State University, offers an innovative approach for giving newsrooms the support they need

A look at growth of sponsorships and ads for independent newsletters on platforms like Substack and Beehiiv: rates, formats, and management tools vary widely — Authors are using DIY methods to moonlight as media sellers as ads begin to infiltrate their newsletters
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Former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan joins Vice Media's board of directors; Vice Media launched a sports division in December 2024 — Deadline was the first to report last December on the creation of a sports division at Vice, which has a number of unscripted projects in the pipeline.

Sean “Diddy” Combs files a defamation lawsuit against NewsNation parent Nexstar Media, a man who claims to have illicit tapes of Combs, and the man's attorney — The suit, filed today in New York, names Courtney Burgess, who was subpoenaed for grand jury testimony in Combs' case …
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Comcast launches a $70/month “Sports & News TV” streaming bundle, featuring 50+ news and sports channels and access to Peacock, available to Xfinity customers — Comcast is launching a $70 per month “Sports & News TV” streaming bundle featuring live games from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and NCAA.
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