Mediagazer: Apple says Severance has become the most-viewed series on Apple TV+ globally, surpassing Ted Lasso; the series also helped bump subscription signups in January (Nellie Andreeva/Deadline)

11:50 AM ET, February 20, 2025

Top News:

Justin Kroll / Deadline:

Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli form a JV to house James Bond IP rights, under which Amazon gains creative control of the franchise — In news that will send shock waves through the industry, longtime James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli …

Discussion: Variety, CNN, Axios, About Amazon, SlashFilm, Wall Street Journal, TVNewsCheck, IndieWire, Reuters, The Wrap, Screen Rant, Fortune, Mirror, Yahoo Finance, Financial Times, Bloomberg, WPXI-TV, CNBC, The Verge, The Information, Quartz, Rolling Stone UK, Los Angeles Times, The Playlist, GB News, WFAA-TV, Comic Book, LADbible, @vinzenzhediger.bsky.social, FemaleFirst, Carlo Bertucci on LinkedIn, Gizmodo, @richlightshed, The Hollywood Reporter, BBC, Cord Cutters News, @taraconlan.bsky.social, @mgsiegler, @joerussotweets, @ronmarz.bsky.social, LADbible, CBR, Consequence, NDTV, Media Play News, @deeketweak, @moviessilently.bsky.social, Collider, World of Reel, @jacobkleinman, @nextbestpicture, @gigawattconduit.bsky.social, @benroyturner, @bunndumm, @jjdotbiz.bsky.social, @josie.zone, @sonnybunch, @caseym.org, @gigawattconduit.bsky.social and Just Jared

Oliver Darcy / Status:

40 news organizations signed a letter delivered to the White House this week, asking the White House to lift its AP ban immediately in support of press freedom — News outlets across the political spectrum have united behind the AP, signing a WHCA-backed letter urging the White House …

Discussion: Mediaite, Media Nation, @brianstelter, @mattgoerzen.bsky.social, @charliebeckett.bsky.social, @susangardner.bsky.social, @alansunderland.com, @chathamharrison.bsky.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, The Wrap, @sharonwaxman.bsky.social, The Atlantic, RADIO ONLINE, The Rio Times and Inside Radio

Financial Times:

Mathias Döpfner calls Trump's Politico attacks a “misunderstanding” and says many Europeans had “intentionally misunderstood” JD Vance's speech in Munich — Mathias Döpfner says many Europeans had ‘intentionally misunderstood’ the US vice-president's speech that caused widespread horror

Discussion: @shakeelhashim, @jonworth.eu, @lilouzovert.bsky.social and @jeffjarvis.bsky.social

Alex Sherman / CNBC:

Sources: ESPN plans to add some user-generated content to its flagship streaming service, which will debut later in 2025 and could be priced at $25 or $30/month — In an attempt to court younger audiences, Disney's ESPN is planning to add some user-generated content to its yet …

Discussion: Awful Announcing and Barrett Media

Michel Rose / Reuters:

A French court upholds TV channel C8's shutdown for failures to protect human rights and protect minors, as right-wing politicians claim a free speech violation — France's top administrative court has upheld a decision to shut down popular TV channel C8 for repeated failures to respect human rights …

Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:

Apple says Severance has become the most-viewed series on Apple TV+ globally, surpassing Ted Lasso; the series also helped bump subscription signups in January — According to the streamer, Severance has broken Apple TV+ records, launching as the platform's #1 series in history based on number …

Discussion: Forbes, Deseret News, Decider, Collider, MacRumors, Inverse, Dexerto, @carlquintanilla.bsky.social, @benstiller.redhour.com, BGR, Comic Book, 9to5Mac, Screen Rant and Just Jared

Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:

Spotify will begin accepting AI-narrated audiobooks recorded using ElevenLabs software; Spotify already allows AI-recorded audiobooks, with several restrictions — A new ElevenLabs partnership aims to help authors bring AI-narrated audiobooks to Spotify listeners.

Discussion: TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

BBC:

BBC News says it made the “reluctant decision” to close its office in Azerbaijan after the government ordered the suspension of its operation in the country — The Azerbaijani government has ordered the suspension of BBC News' Azerbaijani operation in the capital city, Baku.

Discussion: Bloomberg, news.am and APA.AZ

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

A+E Networks launches a digital division to unify its digital efforts, including YouTube channels and SVOD platforms, and plans a History.com relaunch — Ann McGowan will join the company as its digital GM, with a relaunch of History.com as the first big project.

Discussion: Adweek, Variety, The Wrap and WORLD SCREEN

Michael Levenson / New York Times:

A Mississippi judge has ordered a local newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing Clarksdale city officials; the paper's owner plans to challenge the order — The owner of The Clarksdale Press Register said he planned to challenge a judge's order against an editorial that criticized city officials.

Abid Rahman / The Hollywood Reporter:

MPA: Max added 1.4M subscribers in Q4 2024 in Southeast Asia, capturing 26% of net customer additions for streaming services, while Netflix accounted for 48% — A new report from Media Partners Asia reveals that Warner Bros. Discovery's streamer added 1.4 million subscribers in Q4 2024 in five key SEA markets.

Discussion: WORLD SCREEN, Decider, Deadline and Variety

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:

TelevisaUnivision reports Q4 revenue down 1% YoY to $1.3B, operating expenses flat at $892M, and says its DTC business generated $1B in annual revenue — “2024 was a year of continued momentum for TelevisaUnivision, and my early days at the helm have reinforced the tremendous opportunity ahead of us," says CEO Daniel Alegre.

Discussion: TVNewsCheck, Variety, Deadline and TelevisaUnivision

Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:

Twitch plans to implement a 100-hour storage cap for Highlights and Uploads from April 19, automatically deleting content from streamers who exceed the limit — Streamers who have exceeded this limit will have their content automatically deleted until it meets the threshold.

Discussion: TechCrunch, Dexerto, Cord Cutters News, Engadget, @helloitskolo, @realcouri, @scifichicktv, @ravsy_, @shiftposting, @metalman_20, @notenglishben, @twitchsupport, @thefiz_, @zisteau, @amaliasolaris and @iateyourp1e, more at Techmeme »

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PEN America:
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Lawrence Bonk / Engadget:
Twitch rolls out changes to its violation enforcement system: minor infractions expire after 90 days and serious ones, like hateful conduct, in one or two years

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Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
A US federal judge declined to dismiss an investor lawsuit alleging Bob Chapek aimed to hide Disney+ costs and make forecasts it would be profitable by 2024

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Deadline:
The BBC added a clarification to its documentary Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone and apologized, after failing to declare the narrator was a Hamas leader's son

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, One America News Network, The Guardian and New York Post

Matt Tamanini / The Streamable:
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Suzanne Vranica / Wall Street Journal:
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Tom Wheeler / Brookings:
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Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
SiriusXM expands its $5.99 per month podcast subscription offering to Spotify, YouTube Music, and more, after launching it on Apple Podcasts in August 2024

Discussion: Inside Radio

Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Filing: CBS plans to seek financial information from Trump, Truth Social, TMTG, and more if Trump's $20B lawsuit against CBS goes to a discovery phase

Discussion: The Root, Mediaite, Poynter, The Washington Free Beacon and People

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
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Discussion: Press Gazette and ABC

The Guardian:
Italy's national journalist union launches legal action after Giorgia Meloni's government refused to answer questions about allegedly using spyware on critics

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Gannett signs a deal to sell the Austin American-Statesman and related publications to Hearst Corporation; the sale is expected to close by March 31

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Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Adrienne Roark, who was named president of CBS News in August of last year, plans to leave the company at the end of February to take a role at Tegna

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