The Brief – Thursday January 15

💸 Netflix is preparing to amend the terms of its $83bn deal to buy Warner Bros to make it an all-cash offer. The aim of the move is to accelerate the acquisition’s closure, as Paramount continues its own hostile bid for the wider company. (FT)

🏢 Dentsu’s effort to sell its international business is reportedly “close to collapse” after potential buyers and private equity suitors walked away from discussions. (FT)

👀 According to Barb data, YouTube beats the BBC for short-term viewers. The number of people watching YouTube for at least three consecutive minutes per month (51.9m) has consistently been higher than the figure for the BBC (50.9m) since Barb began measuring the figure in October. (The Times)

🤖 Google has launched Personal Intelligence, an opt-in feature that allows its Gemini AI chatbot to access your Gmail, Search and YouTube history in order to give more personalised answers to your questions. (The Verge)

🚗 Global has partnered with BMW Group UK to bring its Global Player app to BMW and Mini vehicles for the first time, via the cars’ built-in app store. Drivers with compatible vehicles can now live stream Global’s radio stations, browse its podcasts and playlists, and catch up on programmes. (Global)

⚖️ Actor Matthew McConaughey has filed eight trademark applications, approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office, of himself staring, smiling and talking. The trademarks are part of a novel legal approach meant to stop AI apps or users from generating videos or images of his likeness without his permission. (Wall Street Journal)

⚕️ Bauer Media Group has partnered with the Resusciation Council UK (RCUK) to help save lives by raising awareness of CPR and tackling inequalities in cardiac arrest survival. Bauer has begun rolling out advertising for RCUK across its publishing portfolio, with audio ads launching later this year. Bauer Media Outdoor is also installing more defibrillators in select bus shelters nationwide, alongside an OOH campaign. As part of the effort, Bauer Media Group staff will receive CPR awareness training. (Bauer Media Group)

🔎 The FBI executed a search warrant of a Washington Post reporter’s home as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials and leaking them to press. Hannah Natanson, the reporter, covers the federal workforce and has been part of high-profile and sensitive coverage during the second Trump administration. (Washington Post)