Top News:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
SAG-AFTRA signs an agreement with Netflix covering The Pete Davidson Show as a podcast, after talks about whether it should be treated as a TV show or a podcast — Netflix has described its recently released “The Pete Davidson Show” as a “video podcast” — and now SAG-AFTRA has signed …
Discussion:
Barrett Media, Podnews, The Wrap, Deadline, The Atlantic, @theatlantic.com, Vulture and Motley Fool
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
The MPA urges ByteDance to curb its AI video model Seedance 2.0, saying the model engages in unauthorized use of US copyrighted material “on a massive scale” — The Motion Picture Association on Thursday denounced the newest AI video generator, Seedance 2.0 …
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Edith Hancock / Wall Street Journal:
The EU approves UMG's $775M acquisition of Downtown Music, a deal UMG expects to complete in the coming weeks after announcing it in December 2024 — The companies offered to sell Downtown's Curve royalty in an effort to win Brussels's blessing — The European Union approved Universal …
Discussion:
Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, Music Business Worldwide and Bloomberg
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
An interview with Chloe Rushmere, head of content for magazine and newspaper subscription app Readly, on future plans as Readly integrates with France's Cafeyn — “All you can read” magazine and newspaper app Readly's merger with a French equivalent is set to enhance its mobile app and support the business to increase investment.
Antonio Zappulla / Thomson Reuters Foundation:
The Thomson Reuters Foundation says its news brand, Context, will be “phased down”, some staffers will lose jobs, and the site will remain up as an archive — Over the past year, the world has fundamentally changed. — We are experiencing the most profound geopolitical shift in 50 years …
Bloomberg:
Meta and Snap report minimal impact from Australia's teen social media ban as it affects a small number of users who aren't high-value targets for advertisers — Move to restrict teens more likely to damage reputation than sales … Tech Across the Globe
Discussion:
WSVN-TV
Brendon Kleen / Awful Announcing:
Memo: The Banner in Maryland plans to expand sports staff to cover Washington, DC, teams, hiring beat reporters to cover the Nationals and Commanders, and more — Credit: Baltimore Banner; Washington Commanders; Washington Nationals — The Baltimore Banner is hoping it can fill …
Discussion:
The Banner and Sports Media Watch
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Roku reports Q4 revenue up 16% YoY to $1.39B, vs. $1.35B est., and an $80.5M net income, vs. a $35.5M loss in Q4 2024; ROKU jumps 9%+ after hours — The streaming hardware maker forecasts 16% revenue growth in 2026 — Shares of Roku climbed as much as 13% in after-hours trading on Thursday …
Discussion:
Deadline, MediaPost, TheDesk.net, Media Play News, Investor's Business Daily, Roku Inc., Variety, Benzinga and Associated Press, more at Techmeme »
New York Times:
Casey Wasserman will remain chair of the LA Olympics committee after a review of his ties to Epstein and Maxwell; multiple entertainers have left his agency — Casey Wasserman exchanged flirtatious messages over 20 years ago with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime companion of Jeffrey Epstein.
Jem Aswad / Variety:
Scott Borchetta, who founded Big Machine Records and signed Taylor Swift in 2006, is leaving Hybe America, which bought Big Machine in 2021; Hybe retains assets — Borchetta has served as the CEO of Big Machine Label Group since the acquisition. He founded Big Machine Records in 2005 …
Discussion:
Deadline, Rolling Stone, Digital Music News, Music Business Worldwide and Billboard
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Sources: Paramount CEO David Ellison met with Trump last week for two conversations; Trump has said he will stay out of Netflix-Paramount competition for WBD — Donald Trump Media Corporate news Tech news … Paramount CEO David Ellison returned to the White House last week to meet privately …
Discussion:
Variety, @deggans, @davidclinchnews, @tarpeianrock.bsky.social, NewsMax.com, Wall Street Journal, Techdirt and Axios
Samuel Stolton / Bloomberg:
Letter: the EU launched a new probe into Google for potentially “artificially increasing the clearing price” of ad auctions “to the detriment of advertisers” — Google, the target for billions of euros in European Union antitrust fines, has been hit by a fresh EU probe …
Discussion:
Android Headlines, BMI, Washington Examiner, Engadget, Financial Post, Reuters, Channel NewsAsia and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
