Top of the Ticker: A recent regulatory filing by Newsmax revealed that the network paid $40 million to settle its defamation lawsuit with Smartmatic. The case was settled in September with the terms initially remaining undisclosed,
Newsmax’s filing also revealed that Smartimatic would be able to purchase 2,000 shares of preferred stock of the cable news company through a five-year cash exercise warrant. The network plans to go public at the end of the month.
“There are multiple on-going cases involving voting companies and the 2020 election in multiple jurisdictions outside the state of Delaware,” Newsmax told TVNewser in a statement “The cases outside of Delaware have largely gone nowhere because the various state and federal courts are applying standard libel law, allowing for standard libel defenses, and not allowing the plaintiffs to be granted highly unusual and non-case related discovery of the defendants.”
The Business of Sports: CNBC is bringing the business of sports to a television screen near you with CNBC Sport: On the Record. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new show premieres Saturday, March 29, and features interviews with sports business executives and newsmakers.
“Few news organizations can convene an audience like CNBC does, and we are excited CNBC Sport: On the Record will further showcase that power by bringing interviews with the most powerful names in the sports business world to TV,” Max Meyers, vice president and senior executive producer of strategic verticals and audience development, said in a statement provided to TVNewser.
Besides the launch of On the Record, there are also plans for a series of long-form CNBC Sport-branded productions exploring the intersection of sports and business. The first subject will be NBA superstar Steph Curry.
Case Closed: Four news presenters have settled a legal dispute with BBC News. Martine Croxall, Annita McVeigh, Karin Giannone and Kasia Madera claimed that a discriminatory recruiting process led to them losing their on-air roles when the BBC merged its domestic and international news channels in 2022.
“We can confirm that we have reached a resolution with BBC management that avoids the need for a tribunal hearing in respect of our employment-related claims,” the four presenters said in a joint statement.
“After careful consideration we have reached a resolution which brings to an end protracted legal proceedings with four members of staff and avoids further costs for the BBC,” the BBC said in its own statement.
VR Weather Delivery: CNN recently unveiled a new virtual reality weather set in its Atlanta offices. The Extreme Weather Center combines virtual and augmented reality for advanced weather and climate coverage. According to NewscastStudio, the 3D model of the set was designed by Clickspring Design, and is intended to make the space larger and more flexible.