Mediagazer: Darren Aronofsky's AI-focused studio Primordial Soup partners with Google's DeepMind to produce three short films (Matt Grobar/Deadline)

Dan Kennedy / Media Nation:

The Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a supplement featuring an AI-generated guide to summer books that do not exist — Well, this is embarrassing. The Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer have been caught running an AI-generated guide to summer books that don't exist.

Saleah Blancaflor / Adweek:

IAB releases its updated Terms for Digital Advertising Agreements and opens a 60-day public comment period until July 21; IAB last updated its T&Cs in 2010 — The public comment period will be open for 60 days until July 21 — The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) …

Discussion: IAB, TV Tech, MediaPost, Angelina Eng on LinkedIn, Inside Radio and MarTech

Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:

Three US senators send Shari Redstone a letter questioning whether Paramount is engaging in bribery by settling Trump's lawsuit to influence merger approval — Lawmakers raise concerns that CBS News parent Paramount risks violating bribery laws in pursuit of potential Trump settlement

Discussion: The Desk, New York Post, The Independent, Bloomberg, Radio & Television …, The Guardian, The Hill, Cord Cutters News, Deadline, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren …, Variety, Reuters, The Wrap and The Gateway Pundit

Julian Wyllie / Current:

PBS has furloughed 25% of PBS Kids staff because the Department of Education canceled the Ready to Learn grant at the start of May — ATLANTA — PBS has furloughed staff in response to its changing financial outlook, President Paula Kerger said during her keynote address Monday at the PBS Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

Discussion: New Jersey Online

Saskia Koopman / City A.M.:

Channel 4 says it will be the first UK broadcaster to bring video programming to Spotify later this week, with content from its youth-focused brand Channel 4.0 — Channel 4 has become the first UK broadcaster to bring video programming to the streaming platform, in a move that will see episodes from its youth-focused digital brand.

Discussion: Advanced Television, Broadband TV News, The Media Leader, Televisual, PerformanceMarketingWorld and Channel 4

Sara Fischer / Axios:

At The Moment Media launches to give execs the ability to pay for their video coverage and says it's a complement to traditional journalism and not a competitor — A new media company called At The Moment Media (ATM) is launching Tuesday to give executives across the media, entertainment …

Discussion: @benmullin, Adweek, Variety, @sarafischer, @mediaevan, @abebrown716, @samblum.bsky.social and @lucas_shaw

Matt Stevens / New York Times:

LA mayor Karen Bass issues an executive directive to streamline city processes, lower filming costs, and ease shoots at well-known city-owned locations — With film and TV production in Los Angeles down by roughly one-third in recent years, Mayor Karen Bass took steps to make it easier to shoot at top locations.

Discussion: IndieWire, The Wrap, Bloomberg, Deadline, @michaelbishop.me, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:

Antenna: ad tiers made up 46% of US subscriptions at SVOD platforms offering ad-free and ad-supported plans at the end of March 2025, up from 39% in March 2024 — Ads on streaming are smoking. — Advertising-supported tiers made up 46% of streaming subscriptions at SVOD platforms that offer …

Discussion: TVNewsCheck, The Desk, The Streamable, StreamTV Insider, Antenna, The Verge, @antennadata, Media Play News and Yahoo Finance

Kate Knibbs / Wired:

Inside the US case against a North Carolina man who the government claims made $10M+ in royalties between 2017 and 2024 by using bot armies to stream AI tracks — A chart-topping jazz album! Loads of Spotify and Apple Music plays! Just one problem: The success might not be real. — Play/Pause Button

Discussion: @andria.bsky.social, @wired.com, @teacherdude, @knibbs.bsky.social and @neuvel.net

Matt Grobar / Deadline:

Darren Aronofsky's AI-focused studio Primordial Soup partners with Google's DeepMind to produce three short films — Under the partnership, Primordial Soup team will work with Google DeepMind's research team and three filmmakers to produce short films integrating new technology and storytelling.

Discussion: IndieWire, The Wrap, Variety and WORLD SCREEN

Anita Komuves / Reuters:

Over 80 editors from European news outlets sign a petition opposing Hungary's proposed legislation that would restrict foreign-funded media and rights groups — Over 80 editors from leading European news outlets signed a petition calling for the scrapping of legislation in Hungary that aims …

Discussion: Agence France-Presse, Committee to Protect … and Reporters Without Borders

Max Tani / Semafor:

MSNBC hires Marcus Mabry, CNN Worldwide's SVP of digital editorial and programming, to serve as its SVP of Content Strategy — The Scoop — MSNBC is poaching a CNN executive to help build out its new digital presence as the left-leaning cable network decouples from NBC News.

Discussion: TVNewsCheck, Deadline, The Wrap, @richardhudock, Cord Cutters News and Marcus Mabry on LinkedIn