Top News:
Barbara Moens / Financial Times:
Sources: the EU is set to approve Paramount's $111B WBD takeover provided the company accepts certain remedies, the details of which are still being worked out — David Ellison's media group is discussing remedies with Brussels in order to clear key regulatory hurdle
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, The Wrap and Bloomberg
Max Tani / Semafor:
Documents: The Daily Wire, founded by conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro in 2015, seeks to raise at least $100M in a round that would value the company at $750M — The Scoop — The Daily Wire, one of the biggest players in conservative media, is in talks to take on at least $100 million in investment …
RELATED:
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
An interview with Bob Iger on stepping down as Disney's CEO, his legacy, new CEO Josh D'Amaro, Bob Chapek, Apple, Disney+, purchasing Pixar, AI, and more — For two decades, Hollywood's most indispensable executive has been synonymous with Disney. Can he really tear himself away?
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Source: iHeartMedia has begun a new round of layoffs affecting dozens of workers in its local radio broadcasting units as part of a broader restructuring — iHeartMedia has begun a new round of layoffs affecting dozens of workers in its local radio broadcasting units, The Desk has learned.
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
Source: the BBC plans a pilot program to live stream its 24-hour rolling news channel on YouTube in some international markets, including Australia — Deadline understands that the BBC is planning to make the 24-hour rolling news channel available on YouTube in select countries outside of the UK.
Discussion:
@davelee.me and Newsbusters
Perry Stein / Washington Post:
Source: the US DOJ sought to force WaPo and WSJ reporters to testify before a grand jury but withdrew the subpoenas this month after the outlets challenged them — Subpoenas for reporters to appear before a grand jury are exceedingly rare. The journalists have not testified. — Summary
Discussion:
Poynter, KRDO, @jamiegangel, Talking Points Memo, New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, NOTUS, @brianstelter, NBC News, UPI, Newser, News Usa Today, @briankrebs@infosec.exchange, The Hill, @froomkin.bsky.social, Raw Story, Politico, Associated Press, Fox News, Mediaite, @jcollins.bsky.social, @zackwhittaker.com and New Republic
Jose Alejandro Bastidas / The Wrap:
A look at the declining representation of LGBTQ+ characters on TV, as smaller audiences and slow growth pressure execs to cater to “safer” mainstream audiences — The loss of high-profile queer characters on TV is a troubling sign, but surprise hits like “Heated Rivalry” offer a glimmer of hope
Discussion:
The Guardian
Hillel Aron / Courthouse News Service:
YouTube settles a lawsuit ahead of a second California trial over social media harms to minors; Meta, TikTok, and Snap remain defendants — The case will now pit a 15-year-old Black teen against tech giants Meta, TikTok and Snap. — LOS ANGELES (CN) — YouTube and its parent company Google …
Discussion:
The Next Web, BSS, SiliconANGLE, Bloomberg Law, Reuters, The Wrap, Deadline, Channel NewsAsia, Anadolu Ajansı … and BBC, more at Techmeme »
Amy Ross Arguedas / Nieman Lab:
Digital News Report: 10% of people across 48 markets use AI chatbots for news weekly, up from 7% in 2025; the most common use was asking questions about a story — Countries where people already rely more heavily on search engines, social and video networks, and aggregators for news also tend …
Discussion:
PR Daily, Semafor and Search Engine Journal
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
How CAA is repositioning its marginal creator division to an urgent bet as it signs big names, poaches creator-focused agents, and attends Cannes Lions — Trisha Paytas, a digital star, is part of CAA's growing roster of creators.Michelle Groskopf for The New York Times
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Sources: CBS News' ombudsman has issued no public statements or internal feedback since being hired as a condition of FCC approval for Skydance's Paramount deal — With CBS News rocked by controversy, some viewers have turned to the network ombudsman for a public response. So far, they haven't gotten one.
Discussion:
@benmullin, @scottnover, @timjgraham, @jayshams and @erikwemple
Sarah Nassauer / Wall Street Journal:
Walmart acquires Paris-based Vibe.co, which lets businesses create and buy ads on CTVs, sources say for $1.4B, as it competes with Amazon for ad revenue — Retail giant is paying $1.4 billion for Vibe.co, a company that enables advertising through connected TVs
