Top News:
Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Apple and Google restore TikTok to their US app stores after its January 18 removal, following Trump admin assurances that a ban won't immediately be enforced — - Companies had removed the app to abide by US legislation — Trump signed executive order to delay a potential ban
Discussion:
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube TV says it has “reached a short term extension” to keep Paramount's content, including CBS and Nickelodeon, “as we work toward a deal” — YouTube TV and Paramount Global, still haggling over a new distribution deal, have reached a short-term extension …
Discussion:
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New York Times:
Court documents reveal the Murdochs' family succession drama in which Rupert Murdoch failed, so far, to lock in his media empire's right-wing bent — Part 1: ‘These companies are my legacy’ — In early December 2023, Rupert Murdoch flew into London to see his two oldest daughters, Prudence and Elisabeth.
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Melania Trump's cut of her $40M documentary licensing deal with Amazon is 70%+, and her agents are selling “sponsorships” for the film starting at $10M — First lady's documentary deal with Amazon, president's legal settlements and other transactions near $80 million so far; Trump library a major beneficiary
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
The White House blocked AP reporters from official events for the third day in a row, after the organization decided to keep using the name Gulf of Mexico — For the third day in a row, the White House barred an AP reporter from attending official events because the organization won't use the name Gulf of America.
Discussion:
@ericldaugh, @igorbobic, Al Jazeera, @jisraelbalderas, Bloomberg, @eugenedaniels2, @billrehkopf, Associated Press, @brianstelter, @davidfolkenflik, @davidhenshaw025, @jason_kint, @curtishouck, @cahnemily, @rakeshsfnyc, @redsteeze, Deadline, @paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange, @maxtani.bsky.social, Political Wire, @freedom.press, USA Today, CBS News, KIFI-TV and Breitbart
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Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Bloomberg, The New York Times, Reuters, The Washington Post, and other major US news outlets say they don't plan to switch completely to “Gulf of America”
Discussion:
Status, Poynter, @lisafung.bsky.social, @jon_allsop, The Wrap, Techdirt, @froomkin.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @mediaevan.bsky.social, Breitbart, The Atlantic, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @scottleadingham.bsky.social, @joshuabenton.com, al.com, Associated Press, Voice of America, TMZ.com, Reason, Deadline, MobileSyrup, Android Central, Mediaite and New York Magazine
David Cohen / Adweek:
DoubleVerify announces steps to further prevent clients' ads from appearing on sites hosting CSAM, after Adalytics found major brands appearing on unsafe sites — The platform had added new exclusion categories and reached out to agencies dedicated to child safety
Discussion:
DoubleVerify, DoubleVerify, Ad Age and The Media Leader
The Indian Express:
JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar officially merge to launch JioHotstar, a new streaming service in India that brings together content from the two platforms — Jio Cinema and Disney+ Hotstar have officially merged as JioHotstar, making it one of the biggest streaming platforms in India.
Discussion:
Advanced Television, TechCrunch, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, JioHotstar helpdesk and Deadline, more at Techmeme »
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Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
The Paramount-Skydance merger receives approval from the US SEC, following the EU's nod earlier this week; the FCC's approval is still pending — Paramount Global moved a step closer to a deal, technically anyway, as the Securities and Exchange Commission made effective its registration statement outlining the transaction.
Discussion:
The Wrap and Associated Press
Kendra Barnett / Adweek:
Reddit says content licensing deals with Google and OpenAI account for ~10% of its revenue, but its primary focus is on ad revenue, which grew 60% YoY in Q4 — Despite this new revenue, Reddit remains focused on its growing advertising business, its COO says
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @kendrabarnett.bsky.social, Kiplinger, MediaPost, The Information, Yahoo Finance and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
Jon Lewis / Sports Media Watch:
Report: ESPN chose not to renew its US F1 media rights package expiring in 2025; F1 executives met with Netflix and NBC during Super Bowl week in New Orleans — The following article “ESPN reportedly dropping F1” originally appeared on Sports Media Watch. — After indications to the contrary …
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Awful Announcing and New York Times
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Roku reports Q4 revenue up 22% YoY to $1.2B, vs. $1.15B est., a net loss of $35.5M, and streaming households up 12% YoY to 89.8M; ROKU jumps 10%+ after hours — Roku overdelivered for the fourth quarter of 2024, boosting revenue 22% and narrowing its net loss to top Wall Street expectations.
Dan Primack / Axios:
Slow Ventures raised $60M+ for a fund to invest in creators who are authorities on niche areas like automotive; the fund appears to be the first of its kind — “When we go to VCs now about creators, they say the same thing. Which means they're going to miss out again."
Discussion:
@business, Business Insider, Bloomberg and Tubefilter, more at Techmeme »
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