Top News:
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
In written evidence to the Prince Harry privacy trial, ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre says allegations of phone hacking are “grave and sometimes preposterous” — Ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre has described allegations of phone hacking, tapping and illegal newsgathering levelled …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Dominic Ponsford on LinkedIn, The Guardian, Financial Times and Reuters
RELATED:
Michael Savage / The Guardian:
In written testimony, a private investigator says Mail titles remained his “best customers” for two years after his 2005 conviction for disclosing private info — Steve Whittamore says Mail and Mail on Sunday remained his best customers for two years after conviction in 2005
Andy Sheehan / CBS News:
Local efforts to keep the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette operating appear to have stalled; one potential buyer blames owner Block's unwillingness to speak with buyers — Add CBS News on Google — In less than three months, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is scheduled to go out of business.
Discussion:
@jayrosen.bsky.social and @cpotterpgh.bsky.social
Wall Street Journal:
The Office producer Ben Silverman's Propagate Content raised $50M from Ares Management at a $200M valuation, up 33% from 2023, as part of a creator-economy push — Before they were stars on Hulu, the women of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” were best known from #MomTok, a community of mostly millennial Utah-based mothers on TikTok.
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline
The Hollywood Reporter:
Cable TV networks canceling daytime talk show staples The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri show how they are now struggling to compete with video podcasts — Sky-high production costs and waning audiences are pushing hosts off the dial. Video podcasts may be the final blow to the format.
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
An interview with Dave Jorgenson, who launched WaPo's TikTok channel in 2019, about taking WaPo's video audience with him, launching long-form content, and more — The Washington Post's former face of Tiktok has said his decision to launch his own company was because video was not …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
TikTok launches an opt-in Local Feed in the app's US version, including content related to travel, news, events, shopping, and dining near the user's location — TikTok on Wednesday announced the launch of a new “Local Feed” in the U.S. version of the app, which displays content related to travel …
Discussion:
Engadget, 9to5Mac and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
K.J. Yossman / Variety:
Sky and Disney sign a multiyear deal to offer Disney+ to Sky customers in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost, and Sky will bundle HBO Max, Netflix, and Hayu — Sky and Disney have inked a multi-year distribution deal that will see the broadcaster offer Disney+ to Sky customers in the U.K …
Discussion:
Advanced Television, TVBEurope, Deadline, The Streamable, Los Angeles Times, Daily Star, WebWire, The Sun, Metro.co.uk, Sky News, Mirror, UK Press, LADbible, Digital Spy, The Irish Times, Broadcast, Shortlist, Media Play News, GB News, @maxwelltani, @scottygb, The Times, ISPreview UK, Broadband TV News, Business Plus, The Hollywood Reporter, Radio Times, T3 and Telecompaper
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fox-owned podcasting company Red Seat Ventures acquires subscription monetization company Supercast, as it ramps up its podcasting efforts — The Fox-owned podcasting company bought monetization company Supercast. — Red Seat Ventures has acquired another company as it ramps up its podcasting efforts.
Discussion:
Podnews, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, Barrett Media, The Wrap and Bloomberg
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Sources: 11 CBS Evening News employees, or about 25% of the staffers eligible for buyouts, have chosen the option ahead of impending layoffs — About a quarter of “CBS Evening News” staffers eligible for buyouts have chosen the option ahead of impending layoffs under editor in chief Bari Weiss, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, Breitbart, TV Insider and Zeteo
Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:
Meta launches an AI feature that lets Threads users temporarily personalize their feed by specifying topics in a public post that begins with “Dear Algo” — Meta on Wednesday debuted an AI feature called “Dear Algo” that lets Threads users personalize their content-recommendation algorithms.
Discussion:
MediaPost, TechCrunch, Meta Newsroom, The Register, Fast Company, The Verge, Android Central and Digital Trends, more at Techmeme »
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
BBC Studios promotes BritBox President Robert Schildhouse to CEO of the newly-renamed BBC Studios DTC business, which runs multiple streamers outside the UK — BritBox International President Robert Schildhouse has been promoted to run multiple BBC Studios streamers outside of the UK.
Discussion:
Variety and The Hollywood Reporter
Carmen Arroyo / Bloomberg:
Google told advertisers that it is integrating direct shopping into Search's AI Mode and Gemini; users can now buy items from Etsy and Wayfair within Gemini — Google is adding a way for consumers to buy things while seeking artificial intelligence-powered answers on search and in its Gemini chatbot …
Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:
Paramount sweetens its WBD bid with a “ticking fee” worth ~$650M/quarter if the deal isn't closed by year-end and offers to fund WBD's $2.8B Netflix breakup fee — Paramount Skydance said Tuesday it has sweetened its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, adding a so-called “ticking fee” …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Variety, ExchangeWire.com, International Business Times, The American Bazaar, Business Wire, BMI, MediaNews4U, Financial Times, ANI News, Telecompaper, Deadline, Mediaweek, The Movie Blog, Washington Examiner, The Hollywood Reporter, The Hill, Paramount, The Times, StreamTV Insider, UPI, Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, Barron's Online, Yahoo Finance, Newsmax, Media Play News, Financial Times, Bloomberg, The Wrap, Reuters and Dow Jones Newswires
RELATED:
Lauren Thomas / Wall Street Journal:
Activist investor Ancora Holdings has built a roughly $200M stake in WBD and is planning to oppose the Netflix-WBD deal, favoring a deal with Paramount
Activist investor Ancora Holdings has built a roughly $200M stake in WBD and is planning to oppose the Netflix-WBD deal, favoring a deal with Paramount
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Variety, Awful Announcing, TVBEurope, The Times, mxdwn Television, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, Proactive, The Streamable, New York Post, The Hollywood Reporter, @danprimack, Yahoo Finance, Reuters, Barron's Online, New York Times, Benzinga, Newsmax, Reuters, Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg, New York Post, The Wrap, Financial Times and r/MediaMergers
