Mediagazer: While Hollywood has shown resistance to AI use, the tech has already become a standard tool to aid in dubbing and subtitling in international and indie films (Scott Roxborough/The Hollywood Reporter)

11:00 AM ET, February 16, 2025

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McKay Coppins / The Atlantic:

James and Kathryn Murdoch detail the succession battle that has pitted James and Lachlan Murdoch against each other, leaving the family empire's future unclear — James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire — James murdoch was seated …

Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:

While Hollywood has shown resistance to AI use, the tech has already become a standard tool to aid in dubbing and subtitling in international and indie films — Recent mini-scandals surrounding ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘The Brutalist’ illustrate the fear of the tech in Hollywood …

Katie Campione / Deadline:

WGA West President Meredith Stiehm asked studios to “stand up and fight back on AI” and said the guild recovered $78M in late pay and residuals owed in 2024 — WGA West President Meredith Stiehm sought to reassure members that the guild is doing its best to work in their favor during …

Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Paramount execs weigh risks of settling Trump's lawsuit against CBS News, concerned about potential shareholder litigation or criminal bribery charges — Media company executives fear liability from potential settlement paid before Skydance merger

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Washington Post:

How Elon Musk used a contract signed by a Reuters division during Trump's first term to promote “deep state” conspiracies and justify cuts to federal agencies — Trump's DOGE chief mischaracterizes a contract as he marshals “deep state” conspiracy theories to justify cuts to federal agencies.

Dan Whateley / Business Insider:

Maryland-based Uscreen, which helps creators launch apps, engage fans, monetize memberships, and more, raised $150M from PSG Equity, giving PSG a majority stake — - Uscreen, a startup that helps creators make apps, scored a $150 million investment from PSG Equity.

Discussion: PJ Taei on LinkedIn and Tubefilter, more at Techmeme »

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:

Kadrey v. Meta: Meta paused some AI-related book licensing efforts in April 2023 after contacting publishers and seeing “slow uptake” and logistical setbacks — New court filings in an AI copyright case against Meta add credence to earlier reports that the company “paused” …

Discussion: @markriedl.bsky.social

Haroon Siddique / The Guardian:

UK-based lawyers for Apple Daily founder and activist Jimmy Lai say they are being targeted by the Chinese state and its supporters in an intimidation campaign — Exclusive: Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers say they have been subject to surveillance, hacking and rape threats

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Henry Larson / 404 Media:

YouTube has taken down a “true crime” channel with millions of views for 150+ AI-created videos about fake, lurid crimes, for breaking community guidelines — Elizabeth Hernandez found out about the decade-old murder from a flurry of tips sent to her newsroom in August last year.

Discussion: Futurism, @hemrylarson, @hemrylarson, @paul@oldfriends.live, @josephcox@infosec.exchange, Fast Company, Tubefilter, @pensadorlouco@kolektiva …, Gizmodo, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @agasramirez@freeradical.zone, @ubiquity75.bsky.social and Food Processing

Scharon Harding / Ars Technica:

In an AMA, Steve Huffman says Reddit is planning to roll out paid subreddits in 2025 and is “laying the foundation” to monetize commerce within subreddits — Huffman previously showed interest in potentially introducing a new type of subreddit with “exclusive content or private areas” that Reddit users would pay to access.

Discussion: Business Insider, @glenngabe@mas.to, @paul@oldfriends.live, @bastardsheep.com, SFist, Gizmodo, @flwwhtrbt@mastodon.social, Engadget, @redditff.bsky.social, @drahardja@sfba.social, @autumnwolff.bsky.social, @stefan@stefanbohacek.online, @karlbode.com, @JessTheUnstill@infosec …, @arstechnica@mastodon.social and r/RDDT

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Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
AMC Networks posts Q4 revenue down 12% YoY to $599M, a $254M operating loss, subscription revenue down 4% to $314M, and 12.4M streaming subscribers by year-end

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Todd Spangler / Variety:
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