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, Washington Examiner, The Daily Signal, Fox News, @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, @netanyahu, The Washington Free Beacon, The Free Press, CBS News, @etanetan23, @jillfilipovic, Breitbart, New York Post, New York Sun, @rvawonk, The Daily Wire, Straight Arrow News, Truthout, @etanetan23, Financial Times, @jeremymbarr, @scalzi.com, Reuters, @adamsteinbaugh, Washington Times, Jewish Insider, Newsbusters, Asia Times, RedState, Townhall, @patrickodonne11, The Gateway Pundit, Haaretz, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, The Hill, MS NOW and Boing Boing
Isabella Simonetti / Wall Street Journal:
Versant reports Q1 revenue down ~1% to $1.69B, net income down 22% to $286M, pay-TV distributor revenue down 7.3% to 1.01B, and platforms revenue up 9% to $192M — Company beats Wall Street expectations in its second earnings report since Comcast spinoff — Versant Media Group reported lower revenue …
Discussion:
Media Play News, TheDesk.net, Benzinga, Forbes, Cord Cutters News, CNBC, The Wrap, Reuters and Variety
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
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:
Business Insider, @aidnmclaughlin, Raw Story, @drewharwell and Washington Examiner
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
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
Discussion:
Mary Walter-Brown on LinkedIn
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, New York Magazine, TheDesk.net, The A.V. Club and Puck
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:
Reuters, @itvjoel, @paulosbourne, @thetvroom.com, @peternimmo.bsky.social and The Independent
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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 »
RELATED:
Podnews:
Amazon Music starts rolling out video podcasts, initially in the US for customers across all subscription tiers on iOS and Android
Discussion:
404 Media, Cult of Mac, Neowin, MacRumors, TechCrunch, Engadget, iClarified, @kennysmith.org, @marcoalmada.com, @queenofthinair.bsky.social and Inside Radio
Richard J. Tofel / Second Rough Draft:
Q&A with Baltimore Banner CEO Bob Cohn, who says the staff of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's newsroom fell from 100 to 58 and the Banner had $18M in 2025 revenue — A conversation with Bob Cohn … RT: Thanks so much for doing this. Can we start with an update on the business side of the Banner?
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:
Android Authority, Engadget, Digital Trends, Animation Magazine and Sherwood News
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