Top News:
Alyssa Ray / The Wrap:
The NYT defends Nicholas Kristof's op-ed “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians”, calling it “deeply reported”, after Israeli government criticism — “Details were extensively fact-checked, with accounts further cross-referenced with news reporting …
Discussion:
New York Times, Mediaite, @nytimespr, @nickkristof, @israelmfa, The Forward, Algemeiner.com, Zeteo, HotAir, Al Jazeera, RedState, @israelmfa, Fox News, Washington Examiner, The Daily Signal, @sturgeons_law, @davidharsanyi, @redsteeze, @noahpollak, @chuckrossdc, @scottjenningsky, @salhachimi, @ryangrim, @infinite_jaz, @waltersobchaksr, @maxblumenthal, @noahpollak, @paulskallas, @susanabulhawa, @bonchieredstate, @ratlpolicy, @aaronjmate, @amasad, @havivrettiggur, @elikowaz, @redsteeze, @leibowitzadak, @zaidjilani, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Newsbusters, U.S. Home and The Times of Israel
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The Guardian:
Israel threatens to sue the NYT for defamation over the article on sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners but the legal viability of the lawsuit is in doubt — Media law experts cast doubt on viability of a defamation lawsuit promised by Netanyahu over Nicholas Kristof essay
Discussion:
@israelmfa, The Washington Free Beacon, @netanyahu, Truthout, Straight Arrow News, The Gateway Pundit, CBS News, MS NOW, Washington Times, New York Sun, Boing Boing, The Hollywood Reporter, @etanetan23, @jillfilipovic, Breitbart, New York Post, @rvawonk, The Daily Wire, Haaretz, @etanetan23, Financial Times, @jeremymbarr, The Wrap, @scalzi.com, Reuters, @adamsteinbaugh, Jewish Insider, Newsbusters, Asia Times, RedState, Townhall, @patrickodonne11 and The Hill
Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
BET partners with microdrama company aTwist, formerly known as Microco, to develop and distribute the latter's series across linear and digital platforms — The Paramount brand inks a deal with the startup firm from Hollywood vets Jana Winograde, Susan Rovner and Lloyd Braun.
Discussion:
The Wrap, C21Media and Media Play News
Axios:
Sources: Paramount is weighing expanding its podcast business into distribution and has had talks with Katie Miller, the Paragon Collective, and Jubilee Media — Paramount is evaluating a potential distribution deal with Katie Miller as it considers expanding its podcast business beyond creative …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Business Insider, Washington Examiner, @aidnmclaughlin and @drewharwell
Erik Hayden / The Hollywood Reporter:
Q&A with Byron Allen on his plan to place BuzzFeed and HuffPost content on his AVOD service, Local Now, and his plan to buy Starz, in which he has an 11% stake — The mogul went to the bargain bin to snap up a Millennial media brand. That's just one part of his plan.
Discussion:
Variety, Bloomberg, TheDesk.net, New York Magazine, The A.V. Club and Puck
Angela Fu / Poynter:
Indiegraf acquires News Revenue Hub's donation management tool RevEngine, its third acquisition in three months after Hearken and Stylebot — Indiegraf, known for its content management system, has made acquisitions a part of its strategy to help promote newsroom independence
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: Disney has sold more than 10 Super Bowl ad slots of 30 seconds for around $9M each, after sources said it was seeking $10M from advertisers — Mickey Mouse may have to execute some tricky plays in a quest for Super Bowl cheddar. … Disney has sold more than 10 30-second ad slots …
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Sports Business Journal, The Drum, Marketing Brew and Barrett Media
Max Tani / Semafor:
Fortune's Hong Kong-based chairman joined EIC Alyson Shontell's editorial interview with President Trump this week, an unusual move that fueled staff concerns — The Scoop — Fortune's Hong Kong-based chairman joined an editorial interview with President Donald Trump this week …
Zac Hall / 9to5Mac:
Spotify says it will adopt Apple's HTTP Live Streaming tech for video podcasts later in 2026, helping creators distribute podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — Spotify is making two video podcast announcements today, including one related to Apple's big video podcast enhancement.
Discussion:
Spotify for Creators, iPhone in Canada and The Mac Observer, more at Techmeme »
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Joel Hills / ITV News:
Sources: a Sky-ITV merger deal could be reached within weeks; ITV would split in two, with Sky acquiring its TV channels and ITVX streaming service — Sky and ITV are closing in on a deal that would pave the way for the TV and telecoms operator to take over the UK's most-watched free …
Discussion:
@itvjoel, @paulosbourne, @thetvroom.com, @peternimmo.bsky.social and The Independent
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Max Goldbart / Deadline:
ITV says it remains in “active discussions” with Sky over a sale of its M&E business, and reports Q1 revenue flat YoY to £877M and Studios up 4% YoY to £400M
Discussion:
Reuters, Advanced Television, Broadband TV News, The Independent, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and TVBEurope
Janko Roettgers / The Verge:
Job listings indicate Netflix has been building an internal studio called INKUbator that aims to use AI to produce short-form animated content — The newly formed unit is staffing up to produce ‘feature-quality content’ with generative AI. … Netflix has been building …
Discussion:
Digital Trends, Animation Magazine, Android Authority, Engadget and Sherwood News
Lucia Moses / Business Insider:
TrueShort, which makes vertical AI-generated movies broken into one- to three-minute episodes, raised a $12M seed led by Keith Rabois at Khosla Ventures — - A new AI movie app has raised $12 million from a who's who of Silicon Valley and Hollywood. — TrueShort is backed by Khosla Ventures …
Aaron Couch / The Hollywood Reporter:
Artists Equity says it has paid out a performance bonus to the cast and crew of The Rip based on viewership figures, an unusual back-end payment from Netflix — Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Artists Equity negotiated a deal with the streamer for such a bonus, something that is not typical for Netflix.
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