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, Breitbart, Matt Barsomian on LinkedIn, Jeff Hackett on LinkedIn, 9to5Mac, @eric_seufert, @sarafischer, @trungtphan, @claireatki, @mickeyhardy, Dexerto, @uselessusername.bsky.social, @philbaker1@fosstodon.org, @danprimack, @pkafka, Deseret News, @darlinnikkij.blacksky.app, @ddayen, @pkafka, @pkafka, Yahoo Finance, @moreperfectus, AFTVnews, @royermattw, Android Police, @damon.kiesow.net, New York Post, @wander626, Motley Fool, iClarified, Variety, @aram@aoir.social, @pkafka, @therealjchubby, Digital Trends, ScreenRant and r/cordcutters, more at Techmeme »
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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 Corp is buying Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $22 billion in a bet that pairing its sports and news programming …
Discussion:
Axios, Financial Times, New York Times, CNN, StreamTV Insider, Sports Business Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, The Hollywood Reporter, Profectio, Cord Cutters News, Inc.com, The Streamable, Investor's Business Daily, FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, The Verge, TechSpot, 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, Deadline, Seeking Alpha, Bloomberg Law, The Information, TVNewsCheck, Forrester, 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, NBC News, Thurrott, CBS News, The Independent, Digiday, WPXI-TV, UPI, Telecompaper, GSMArena.com, Radio & Television …, TVBEurope and Forbes
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:
TechCrunch, Mediaweek, Sydney Morning Herald, Tubefilter, TheDesk.net, 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, TechRepublic, Awful Announcing, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 9to5Google, Front Office Sports, @damonberes.com, PYMNTS, The Verge, Bloomberg Law and Gamereactor UK, more at Techmeme »
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, Broadband TV News, @timkarr.bsky.social, The Nation, @amandamarcotte.bsky.social, TV Tech, US Department of Justice, Mediaweek, @flingjore.com, The Post Millennial, JURISTnews, Tangle, @adastra1930@mastodon.social, @robertscotthorton.bsky.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, NME, @agrobbonta, RedState, CNN, New York Sun, Media Play News, LAist, @senadamschiff, @chrisvanhollen, @bedoyausa, @danprimack, @blumenthal.senate.gov, @senwarren, Mediaite, Blockonomi, Engadget, The American Conservative, Los Angeles Times, The Next Web, Robert Reich, Sky News, The Guardian, New York Times, Variety, TheDesk.net, The Wrap, ABC News, Townhall, UPI, Reuters, CNBC, @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social, Fox Business, Forbes, Washington Examiner, @schumer.senate.gov, Breitbart, Front Office Sports, Barron's Online, Mark Lemley on LinkedIn, The Independent, Vulture, @schiff.senate.gov, @normeisen.bsky.social, KTLA, Washington Post, New York Post, NPR, Insider Gaming, @emptywheel.bsky.social, Deadline, CBS News, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, Axios, Financial Times, Comic Book, @marklemley.bsky.social, Business Insider, Bloomberg, @dorismatsui.bsky.social and r/MediaMergers
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Netflix expands its iHeartMedia partnership to stream video episodes of podcasts from Martha Stewart and others; the episodes will no longer be on YouTube — In an extension of Netflix's existing deal with iHeartMedia, Netflix has secured exclusive rights to the video versions of podcasts from Stewart, Pons and the Hudsons.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Barrett Media, Forbes, Business Wire, Inside Radio, Radio World, Reuters, Deadline, Radio & Television … and Realscreen
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:
BBC, Mediaweek, Social Media Today, Baller Alert, 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, Mirror, 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 »
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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's social media ban will cover Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and more, and will require platforms to stop children from livestreaming
Discussion:
GOV.UK, City A.M., New York Times, iPhone in Canada, Newsweek, The Independent, The Guardian, LADbible, The Daily Caller, Rock, Paper, Shotgun, @jsrailton, 9to5Mac, TechRadar, Reason, Mirror, The Daily Wire, PocketGamer.biz, Euro Weekly News, Spyglass, Daily Trust, Business Today, PetaPixel, Insider Gaming, BBC, Daily Star, Scroll.in, Barron's Online, NewsMax.com, Fox News, The Tab, Politico, Gamereactor UK and Geekout Newsletter, more at Techmeme »
Kerry Flynn / Axios:
Substack hires former Roku exec Dan Robbins as its first head of brand sponsorships, and launches Creator Kits for publishers interested in brand collaborations — Substack has hired former Roku and PayPal executive Dan Robbins as its first head of brand sponsorships, he exclusively tells Axios.
Discussion:
On Substack, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @simonowens.bsky.social and Variety
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.
Assiatou Hann / CNBC:
Electronic Arts launches EA Advertising, letting brands integrate directly into gameplay through dynamic, real-time placements, including stadium signage — Electronic Arts announced EA Advertising, a new way for brands to connect with fans through its portfolio of games …
Discussion:
International Business Times, Polygon.com, The Next Web, GamesBeat, Kotaku, PocketGamer.biz, Barrett Media, Tech4Gamers, Windows Central, Video Games Chronicle, Gamereactor UK, campaignlive.com, TheGamer, Game Developer, Digital Trends, Game Informer, PC Gamer, Insider Gaming, Neowin, Dexerto, iPhone in Canada, MobileSyrup, Telecompaper and OC3D, more at Techmeme »
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
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:
@jorgebscomm.bsky.social, RADAR, Wonkette, Reality Tea, ZeroHedge News, International Business Times, @unauthorizedbeast.bsky.social, 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
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.
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 »
