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WBD splits into two publicly traded companies: Global Networks, with CNN and other cable channels, and Streaming & Studios, with HBO Max and its studio business — The entertainment company is contending with a hefty debt load and a sagging stock price
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WBD says David Zaslav will be CEO of the new Streaming & Studios business, and current WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will become CEO of the Global Networks business — Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two public companies by next year, the media giant announced Monday …
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Tony Maglio / The Hollywood Reporter:
WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks
WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks
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Disney closes its deal with Comcast to buy out NBCUniversal's 33% stake in Hulu, paying an additional $439M, after agreeing in 2023 to pay $8.61B — Disney agreed to buy Comcast's 33 percent stake in Hulu in 2023, after an extended appraisal process, the deal is finally set to close.

Docs: from mid-December, YouTube told moderators to prioritize “freedom of expression” over potential harm, including for political, social, and cultural issues — The world's largest video platform has told content moderators to favor “freedom of expression” over the risk of harm in deciding what to take down.

9News Australia reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot with a rubber bullet by law enforcement live on camera while reporting on LA protests against immigration raids — Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi was filming a piece to camera about LAPD ‘moving in’ on demonstrators when struck by bullet
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Politico's editorial union says its new AI tool generates garbled or made-up DC intelligence, including a fictional basket-weaver guild; Politico defends it — The Scoop — Politico's new AI product has generated garbled or made-up Washington intelligence, including a lobbying effort …

ABC News suspends senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a now-deleted X post calling Trump administration official Stephen Miller a “world class hater” — ABC News said that it has suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a late night X post, now deleted …
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Dr. Phil was embedded with ICE during the LA immigration raids, for a report on McGraw's Merit TV, highlighting the made-for-TV nature of Trump's crackdown — As federal agents prepared to fan out in Los Angeles for a controversial immigration crackdown, the officers were greeted by a familiar face: Dr. Phil McGraw.
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A US federal judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400M defamation claim against Blake Lively, finding Lively's sexual harassment claims were legally protected — Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni's entire lawsuit — which also alleged extortion and other claims — but allowed him to amend …
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The Guardian partners with Cambridge University to launch Secure Messaging in its app, protecting sources by making messages indistinguishable from other data — Today, the Guardian, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, launches Secure Messaging, a world-first from a media organisation
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Getty's copyright lawsuit against Stability AI begins at London's High Court, accusing it of unlawfully scraping millions of images; Stability denies the claims — Getty Images' landmark copyright lawsuit against artificial intelligence company Stability AI begins at London's High Court on Monday …
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Axel Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner plans to mandate that all staff spend at least four days per week in the office, impacting staff at titles like Politico — Axel Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner plans to mandate that all staff spend at least four days per week in the office.