Top News:
Carrie Budoff Brown / Politico:
Q&A with Ted Sarandos on his visit to Brussels, Netflix's European investments, EU regulation, YouTube, TikTok, WBD, Trump's Susan Rice criticism, AI, and more — Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos arrives in Brussels on Tuesday with a clear message for EU regulators ahead of a looming review …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, CinemaBlend, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, The Independent, Business Insider, Politico, Al Jazeera and Reuters
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Filing: David Zaslav is set to receive at least $550M in compensation related to the Paramount-WBD deal, including $517.2M in equity in the combined company — Amount for exec includes $34.2 million in severance and $335.4 million tax reimbursement. which will decline over time
Discussion:
The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, New York Post, International Business Times, Yahoo Finance, Benzinga, The Guardian, @whitstillman, @variety, @devahaz, The Hollywood Reporter, Financial Times, @mikeisaac, @richlightshed, @krishnanrohit, @timodc, Jennifer St Clair on LinkedIn, Bloomberg, US SEC, @bryanmurphy.bsky.social, Deadline and World of Reel
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Vurt, a mobile-first vertical streaming platform designed for indie filmmakers to upload their micro series or feature films, launches with 100 episodes — Short video platforms like TikTok have changed the streaming landscape, prompting traditional streaming services like Disney+, Peacock …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The UK government unveils the Local News Fund, which will distribute up to £12M to local outlets over two years to support innovation and help fill news deserts — The UK Government will pay up to £12m to local media outlets over the next two years to support innovation and help fill “news deserts”.
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
A profile of Wired's top editor, Katie Drummond, who created a politics team that landed major scoops and says Wired added 200K+ new paid subs in the past year — Katie Drummond is sick of being told what Wired magazine should not cover. — Ms. Drummond, Wired's top editor …
Financial Times:
Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith agrees to buy the entire 26.9% stake in The Economist Group held by Lynn Forester de Rothschild, sources say for ~£300M — Financial services entrepreneur acquires 27% stake in auction that drew interest from wealthy individuals and media groups
Discussion:
The Guardian, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Talking Biz News and Telegraph
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Indian studio Applause Entertainment partners with microdrama platform Story TV to co-produce and distribute short-form content for mobile audiences — Applause Entertainment, the Aditya Birla Group content studio behind “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story” and “Criminal Justice,” …
Discussion:
Fortune India, MediaBrief, Ankit Tripathi on LinkedIn, C21Media and BMI
Chris Eggertsen / Billboard:
RIAA: US recorded music revenue grew 3.1% YoY in 2025 to a record $11.54B; streaming grew 3% YoY to $9.75B, including $6.38B from paid subscriptions, up 5.8% — Paid subscription revenue hit $6.38 billion, up 5.8% year-over-year, while vinyl revenue topped $1 billion.
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
South Korean public broadcaster KBS partners with Sinclair to offer Korean-language programming via Sinclair's NextGen TV stations across the US — South Korean public broadcaster KBS is partnering with Sinclair, Inc. on a new multicast network that will offer Korean-language programming …
Discussion:
@drkimberlyd.bsky.social, @thedesk.net, Radio & Television … and Korea Joongang Daily
JD Knapp / The Wrap:
CBS News 24/7's 60-person unionized staff begins a 24-hour walkout with support from WGAE, a week after delivering a strike pledge to management — “We eagerly await an acceptable contract offer from Paramount — which just shelled out tens of billions of dollars to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery," the union bargaining committee says
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, The Guardian, The Wrap, Deadline, Daily Mail, TV Insider, @corbinbolies and 48 hills
Sam Clark / Politico:
EU countries introduce sanctions on hacking groups, including Iran's Emennet Pasargad, which hacked magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2023, and two Chinese companies — Countries impose measures on Iranian, Chinese companies providing hacking services. — BRUSSELS — European Union countries …
Discussion:
The Register, Metacurity and Cyber Daily, more at Techmeme »
Corbin Bolies / The Wrap:
Internal memo: Axios lays off 11 newsroom staffers but says it is “continuing to hire and grow” as it focuses on “subject matter experts and local expansion” — Despite the cuts, publisher Nicholas Johnston says the site is “continuing to hire and grow”
Discussion:
@benmullin, @secretsbedard, @benmullin and @million_aire1
Nicole Sperling / New York Times:
How A24, which racked up seven Oscars in 2022, fell flat with Marty Supreme, which had nine nominations but won none despite Timothée Chalamet's viral campaign — A few years ago, the indie studio A24 was luxuriating in Academy Awards. On Sunday it was shut out entirely.
Discussion:
@dannygroner.bsky.social, @timothys, World of Reel, The Wrap, Forbes and The Guardian
RELATED:
Max Tani / @maxwelltani:
Memo: Notus plans to “dramatically expand” its coverage of national politics with a “new version of NOTUS under a new name” and will double staff from 50 to 100 — As we first reported in last night's @semafor media newsletter, NOTUS is rebranding/dramatically expanding. In a memo to staff this morning, the organization said it plans to “launch this new version of NOTUS under a new name” and double staff from 50 to 100. [image]
Discussion:
The Guardian, @milbank, @reesejgorman, @rapidresponse47, @awakenedoutlaw, @marcusaingram, @peterbakernyt, @peterbakernyt, @maxwelltani, @kirk_bado, @moorehn, @jstein_wapo, @chriswithans, @isaac_schorr, @varadmehta, @sam4tr, @philipterzian, @drewharwell, @edokeefe, @emmanuelfelton, @jamesebriggs, @alyssarosenberg, @notusreports, @alexsjacquez, @joshkraushaar, @coleleiter, @citizencohn, @jeremymbarr, @jhweissmann, @jeremymbarr, @cmclymer, @samstein, @eggerdc, @andrewsolender, @deirdrekwalsh, @ericfingerhut, @cmarinucci, @seanjcooksey, @taylorgiorno_, @reesejgorman, @gregbrooksoh, @daniellamicaela, @davelevinthal, @jeremymbarr, @alyssarosenberg and NOTUS
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