Mediagazer: Sources in Hollywood and Silicon Valley discuss AI's impact: creatives view AI as an existential threat, studios see a cost saver, and both sides need a deal (Lucas Shaw/Bloomberg)

11:20 AM ET, July 27, 2023

Top News:

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

Sources in Hollywood and Silicon Valley discuss AI's impact: creatives view AI as an existential threat, studios see a cost saver, and both sides need a deal — Adam Conover started to worry a few months ago that a computer could take his job. A comedian in Los Angeles …

Discussion: Screen Rant, @lucas_shaw and @lucas_shaw, more at Techmeme »

Ken Klippenstein / The Intercept:

Netflix lists a $300K to $900K-a-year ML product manager job that points to its plans to use AI to “create great content”, as actors strike for AI protections — Rob Delaney said, “My melodious voice? My broad shoulders and dancer's undulating buttocks? I decide how those are used!"

New York Times:
Despite not being in SAG-AFTRA, many influencers are passing up deals to promote movies and TV shows to avoid online criticism and being barred from the guild

Discussion: @4evrmalone, @rzgreenfield, @maorthofer, @bigmeaninternet, Ad Age and The Drum

The Hollywood Reporter:
With striking actors not doing press, sources say multiple streaming services are discussing potentially moving certain undated fully shot series to early 2024

Discussion: @laceyvrose, @nina_metz and Screen Rant

Jeremy W. Peters / New York Times:

The White House condemned Fox News over comments made by host Greg Gutfeld, who said some Jews “had to be useful” as a means for survival during the Holocaust — The White House denounced Fox News this week over comments by one of its hosts, Greg Gutfeld, that some Jews …

Discussion: @justinbaragona, @decodingfoxnews, @andrewjbates46, Vanity Fair, @decodingfoxnews, RADAR, Poynter, Insider, Media Matters for America, Mediaite, UPROXX, The Daily Beast, The Wrap, CNN, The Hill and Deadline

Financial Times:

Sources: Linda Yaccarino pitched her vision for Twitter/X to talent agencies in LA and met with Disney, in a bid to bring stars and influencers to the platform — Social media app's new chief meets with agents at leading talent agencies amid controversy over rebranding to ‘X’

Discussion: @mshannahmurphy, @filmthepolicela, @xnewsdaily, @yoda and @apocalypticanow.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »

Aisyah Llewellyn / Al Jazeera:
Indonesia restricts X.com, which now redirects to twitter.com after Twitter rebranding to X, as the domain had been previously used by porn and gambling sites

Discussion: The Daily Beast, @Rasta@mstdn.ca, @ryanschultz@mastodon.social, UPROXX, Insider, Engadget, Newslit Daily, Insider, Gizmodo, NBC News and Washington Post, more at Techmeme »

Reuters:

Comcast reports Q2 revenue up 1.7% YoY to $30.5B, content and experiences revenue up 4% YoY to $10.9B, and Peacock hit 24M subscribers, up from 22M in Q1 2023 — Comcast Corp's (CMCSA.O) quarterly revenue beat estimates on Thursday, helped by higher theme park attendance …

Discussion: Variety, Screen Rant, Wall Street Journal, The Desk, The Streamable, IndieWire, The Wrap, @tvgrimreaper, The Information, @bristei, @bristei, @bristei, Deadline, @brandonthurston, @ashleylcarter1, @xpangler, CNBC and The Hollywood Reporter

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Several major streaming companies form a group to fight local broadcasters over a provision that lets streamers bypass distribution negotiations with stations — Several of the country's biggest entertainment and streaming companies are teaming up to fight hundreds of local broadcasters …

Discussion: The Streamable and @sarafischer

New York Times:

A group of booksellers, publishers, and authors sue to stop a new Texas law that is taking effect in September and requires stores to rate books' sexual content — With a book-rating law set to take effect in September, a group of booksellers, along with publishers and authors, filed suit to argue that it is unconstitutional.

Discussion: Publishing Perspectives, @lailalalami.bsky.social, @JaneRLaForge@mstdn.social, New York Daily News, The Hill, Publishers Weekly and Fox News

Max Goldbart / Deadline:

The UK's Film & TV Charity names Marcus Ryder, former BBC news executive and a diversity veteran, as its CEO, replacing Alex Pumfrey, who moved to ITV this year — Marcus Ryder, the British diversity vet and former BBC news exec, has been named CEO of the UK's Film & TV Charity.

Discussion: Variety, @alex_pumfrey, @dianekemp1, Screen, @bectu, @screencraftw, @filmtvcharity, @marcusryder and The Hollywood Reporter

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Producer Scott Zabielski and entrepreneur Adam Mosam plan to launch an AI-dependent, 30-minute weekly news show in 2023 for a FAST channel, hosted by AI anchors — Channel 1 News, from former ‘Tosh.0’ veteran Scott Zabielski and entrepreneur Adam Mosam, plans to use generative AI to create personalized newscasts.

Discussion: Axios

K.J. Yossman / Variety:

A UK judge sends Prince Harry's lawsuit against The Sun's publisher over alleged unlawful information gathering to trial, but barred phone hacking claims — Harry first launched his legal claim against The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers in Sept. 2019 over what he claims is unlawful information gathering.

Discussion: Press Association, Deadline, Page Six, Sky News, CBS News, @archewellbaby, @tvkhaleesi, @pagantrelawney, @archewellbaby and Sydney Morning Herald

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Netflix is reworking its tech deal with Microsoft for its ad tier to reduce the revenue guarantee and has discussed selling ads through other partners — Streamer asks for patience as it tries to jump-start $6.99 a month ad tier — Netflix is restructuring its advertising partnership …

Discussion: Reuters, @jtoonkel, @jordannovet and Broadband TV News, more at Techmeme »

Naman Ramachandran / Variety:

ITV reports H1 2023 revenue down 2% YoY to £1.63B, digital ad revenue up 24% YoY to £179M, Studios revenue up 8% YoY to £1B, and ITVX MAUs up 29% YoY to 12.5M — U.K. broadcaster ITV's total external revenues declined 2% to £1.63 billion ($2.11 billion) …

Discussion: Bloomberg, Broadband TV News, Deadline and Hollywood Reporter

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

BBC News' Yalda Hakim leaves just months after becoming a chief presenter to join Sky News to be the lead world news presenter and lead a new primetime program — Hakim will be lead world news presenter at Sky News. — Yalda Hakim is joining Sky News after more than a decade at the BBC …

Discussion: Variety, @bbcyaldahakim, @nickbryantny, @markaustintv, @back_the_bbc, @bbcyaldahakim, @jake_kanter, Deadline, Broadband TV News, @davidgrayrhodes, @daveleebbg and @davidgrayrhodes

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Reuters:
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The Information:
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