Top News:
Joseph De Avila / Wall Street Journal:
Fox says it is acquiring Roku in its largest deal yet, valued at ~$25B, giving it access to 100M+ streaming households globally; FOX closes down 15.22% — Acquisition gives Fox access to more than 100 million streaming households — Fox said it is acquiring streaming company Roku in a deal worth around $22 billion, including debt.
Discussion:
Fox Corporation, Associated Press, Motley Fool, 9to5Mac, @eric_seufert, @sarafischer, @trungtphan, @claireatki, @mickeyhardy, Dexerto, @uselessusername.bsky.social, @philbaker1@fosstodon.org, @danprimack, @pkafka, Deseret News, @ddayen, @pkafka, @pkafka, Yahoo Finance, @moreperfectus, AFTVnews, @royermattw, Android Police, @damon.kiesow.net, New York Post, @wander626, iClarified, Variety, @aram@aoir.social, @pkafka, @therealjchubby, Digital Trends, ScreenRant and r/cordcutters, more at Techmeme »
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Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Lachlan Murdoch says the “expectation” of Fox, which will own two of the top free, ad-supported streamers, is to keep the Roku Channel and Tubi separate — The $22 billion deal to acquire Roku also gives Fox two of the top free, ad-supported streaming services.
Discussion:
Mediaweek, TechCrunch, TheDesk.net, Sydney Morning Herald, TechRepublic, Tubefilter, Cord Cutters News, How-To Geek, The Streamable, SlashGear, The Independent, NBC News, Streaming Better, Pocket-lint, Business Insider, Android Authority, CNBC, CNET, Variety, Digital Trends, Awful Announcing, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 9to5Google, Front Office Sports, @damonberes.com, PYMNTS, The Verge, Bloomberg Law and Gamereactor UK, more at Techmeme »
James Faris / Business Insider:
Buying Roku would make Fox the third-largest TV distributor in the US, behind YouTube and Disney, but ahead of Netflix, according to Nielsen's March data — Fox mostly sat out the streaming wars, but is making a huge move by acquiring Roku. — Buying Roku would make Fox …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Sportico, The Wrap, AdExchanger and PCMag
CNBC:
Fox says it obtained a $12B loan for the ~$22B Roku deal; existing Fox shareholders are expected to own ~73% of the combined company and Roku shareholders ~27%
Fox says it obtained a $12B loan for the ~$22B Roku deal; existing Fox shareholders are expected to own ~73% of the combined company and Roku shareholders ~27%
Discussion:
Axios, Financial Times, StreamTV Insider, Sports Business Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, CNN, Forrester, Deadline, The Verge, Seeking Alpha, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Profectio, Cord Cutters News, Inc.com, The Streamable, Investor's Business Daily, FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, TechSpot, New York Times, Yahoo Finance, Screen, Türkiye Today, Sky News, Washington Post, Fox Business, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, ZeroHedge News, Pulse 2.0, IGN, HotHardware, Marketing Dive, Blockonomi, The Hill, Reuters, Bloomberg, Business Insider, The Tech Portal, Barrett Media, The Next Web, Benzinga, Bloomberg Law, The Information, TVNewsCheck, Proactive, @banksyfella.bsky.social, Financial Post, Los Angeles Times, Barron's Online, Streaming Better, Dallas Express, Polygon.com, International Business Times, Telegraph, Fast Company, Gizmodo, New York Business Journal, Mashable, Media Play News, Advanced Television, MediaPost, Thurrott, CBS News, The Independent, Digiday, WPXI-TV, UPI, Telecompaper, GSMArena.com, Radio & Television …, TVBEurope and Forbes
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: the DOJ closed an investigation of Paramount's bid for WBD before career staffers who were concerned about the acquisition had an opportunity to object — Career antitrust officials investigating Warner acquisition were leaning toward recommending a challenge to the merger, people familiar with the matter say
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Yasmin Khorram / Politico:
The US DOJ approves Paramount's $111B purchase of WBD without forcing divestitures or behavioral remedies; state AGs could still try to block the move
The US DOJ approves Paramount's $111B purchase of WBD without forcing divestitures or behavioral remedies; state AGs could still try to block the move
Discussion:
Status, The Preamble, Benzinga, @jayapal.house.gov, Cord Cutters News, BMI, The Atlantic, @amandamarcotte.bsky.social, Broadband TV News, @timkarr.bsky.social, The Nation, US Department of Justice, TV Tech, Mediaweek, @flingjore.com, The Post Millennial, JURISTnews, Tangle, @adastra1930@mastodon.social, @robertscotthorton.bsky.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, NME, @agrobbonta, CNN, RedState, New York Sun, Media Play News, LAist, @senadamschiff, @chrisvanhollen, @bedoyausa, Engadget, @blumenthal.senate.gov, @danprimack, @senwarren, Mediaite, Blockonomi, Los Angeles Times, The American Conservative, The Next Web, Robert Reich, Variety, New York Times, The Guardian, Sky News, TheDesk.net, ABC News, The Wrap, Townhall, CNBC, UPI, Reuters, @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social, Forbes, Fox Business, Washington Examiner, @schumer.senate.gov, Breitbart, Front Office Sports, Barron's Online, Mark Lemley on LinkedIn, The Independent, The Hollywood Reporter, Vulture, Straight Arrow, @schiff.senate.gov, BBC, Associated Press, IndieWire, Polygon.com, Deadline, The Daily Wire, Washington Post, Jamaica Observer, The Hill, @normeisen.bsky.social, KTLA, New York Post, NPR, Insider Gaming, @emptywheel.bsky.social, CBS News, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, Axios, Financial Times, Comic Book, @marklemley.bsky.social, Business Insider, Bloomberg, @dorismatsui.bsky.social, @stevegiglio.bsky.social, @danielnmiller.bsky.social, Reuters and r/MediaMergers
Liv McMahon / BBC:
The UK's social media ban will cover Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and more, and will require platforms to stop children from livestreaming — The UK has announced it is going to ban social media for under-16s. — Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the ban would take effect in early 2027.
Discussion:
GOV.UK, Barron's Online, Reason, City A.M., New York Times, iPhone in Canada, Newsweek, The Independent, The Guardian, LADbible, The Daily Caller, Rock, Paper, Shotgun, @jsrailton, 9to5Mac, TechRadar, Mirror, The Daily Wire, PocketGamer.biz, Euro Weekly News, Spyglass, Daily Trust, Business Today, PetaPixel, Insider Gaming, BBC, Daily Star, Scroll.in, NewsMax.com, Fox News, Politico, The Tab, Gamereactor UK and Geekout Newsletter, more at Techmeme »
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Reuters:
Keir Starmer says the UK will ban social media for under-16s in an “Australia-plus model” to “give kids their childhood back”, set to take effect in spring 2027 — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would ban social media sites for under-16s …
Discussion:
Mediaweek, BBC, Social Media Today, Mirror, The Sun, Associated Press, Joe.My.God., The Gateway Pundit, The Guardian, The Independent, Jezebel, TechCrunch, HuffPost, The Economic Times, Bloomberg, The Spectator, The American Bazaar, Courthouse News Service, @scottygb, CMU, Reuters, Dallas Express, ComputerWeekly.com, GB News, The Hill, Metro.co.uk, Gizmodo, The Indian Express, IGN, Telegraph, Breitbart, Washington Examiner, Neowin, Daily Record, Daily Sabah, Seoul Economic Daily, MediaNama, Al Jazeera, RTÉ, Straight Arrow, Variety, Axios, Deadline, CNBC, GSMArena.com and Sydney Morning Herald, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
The NYT says it is reviewing columnist Nick Kristof's work that favorably mentioned former donors to his 2022 Oregon governor bid, including Bill Gates — The Scoop — When The New York Times announced that columnist Nick Kristof would return following a scuttled 2021 bid for governor of Oregon, the paper made a promise to readers.
Discussion:
Fox News, New York Post, @newsguy.bsky.social, Reason, @maxwelltani and @jeradwalker.bsky.social
Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:
In a note to partners, Disney says Disney Branded Television is rebranding itself as Disney Kids & Family to reflect the nature of the division's content — OConnell and Davis shared the renaming news in a note to Disney Branded television creative partners, which you can read in full below.
Axios:
Sources: WH officials believe NYT's Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan obtained audio recordings of Situation Room meetings for their upcoming book Regime Change — Top White House officials believe New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan obtained audio recordings …
Discussion:
RADAR, Wonkette, Reality Tea, @unauthorizedbeast.bsky.social, ZeroHedge News, International Business Times, The Wrap, Daily Mail, @emptywheel.bsky.social, NewsMax.com, @pamspaulding.bsky.social, The Independent, @swin24.bsky.social, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, @andrewjweinstein.com, Mediaite, @michaelkruse.bsky.social, Raw Story, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social and MS NOW
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Sources: BBC News will announce hundreds of job cuts next week, in the first part of a broader plan to cut ~10% of costs and ~2,000 jobs across BBC departments — Cuts likely to affect specific radio shows as part of corporation plans to reduce costs — The BBC is set to cut hundreds …
Discussion:
The Guardian and BMI
Ernesto Van der Sar / TorrentFreak:
A US judge rejects Meta's bid to dismiss a lawsuit from Strike 3, which owns porn production companies, that alleges Meta torrented its videos for AI training — To keep their piracy lawsuit alive, adult film producers Strike 3 Holdings and Counterlife Media don't have to prove Meta used their films for AI training.
Discussion:
Courthouse News Service, 404 Media and Mashable, more at Techmeme »
Clara Molot / Vanity Fair:
Sources, including current and former Unwell Media employees, say Alex Cooper's husband Matt Kaplan runs the show, describe his leadership as caustic, and more — Over 40 sources, including current and former Unwell employees, have spoken to Vanity Fair about Cooper's company …
Discussion:
The Wrap, RADAR, E! Online, Inc.com and The Daily Caller
