Top News:
CNBC:
James Cameron blasts Netflix's proposed acquisition of WBD, in a letter to Senator Mike Lee, calling it “disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business” — Legendary “Titanic” director James Cameron is likening the theatrical experience to a “sinking ship” if Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery's film studio.
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Bloomberg:
Ted Sarandos says a winning Netflix bid for WBD would lead to more films in theaters because Netflix would distribute its films via WBD's distribution system — Ted Sarandos, co-chief executive officer of Netflix Inc., said his company's bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. will lead …
Discussion:
Puck, @business, Forbes, The Wrap, Bloomberg, Bloomberg, Observer, Business Insider, What's on Netflix, Benzinga and World of Reel
James Hibberd / The Hollywood Reporter:
After a backlash, AMC opts out of screening an AI short film during its pre-show, programmed by ad company Screenvision, before feature films — AMC has opted out of screening the award-winning short film during its third-party programmed pre-show, and it's unclear if other chains will follow suit.
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
Substack announces new tools to help writers use Polymarket data and adds Polymarket to its sponsorship pilot, prompting questions from some journalists — Predictions market Polymarket and Substack are now “exclusive,” the companies announced. And the relationship getting serious is raising a few eyebrows.
Discussion:
@polymarket, @damon.kiesow.net, @kims@mas.to, @chrisbest, Defector, @thebluenami.bsky.social, Truthout, @ketanjoshi.co, @ketanjoshi.co, @hanaatameez.bsky.social, @anniegirl.bsky.social, @bensaufley.com, On Substack, @cathygellis.bsky.social, The Oracle, Feed Me, The Hill, @jesseraub.online, @marisakabas.bsky.social and Wide World of News
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Source: Axel Springer joins a group led by Dovid Efune that is making a ~£500M fully funded bid for the Telegraph, should DMGT's deal fail regulatory hurdles — New York Sun owner's £500mn offer promises more cash upfront if DMGT fails regulatory hurdles
Marina Adami / Nieman Lab:
Editors and freelance journalists say AI has brought more productivity, increased expectations of speed, a need for more vetting, and sometimes job-loss fears — One freelancer said he's been offering editors access to his Google Docs version histories as evidence that he does the writing himself.
Maxwell Zeff / Wired:
Perplexity's retreat from ads signals a strategic shift as it recognizes its product is not for a mass audience and expects growth to come from enterprise sales — The AI search startup once predicted advertising would be a massive business. Now it's betting on a smaller, more valuable audience.
Discussion:
AdExchanger, Android Headlines, @wired.com, Profectio, NextBigWhat, The Indian Express, Semafor, Benzinga, KVIA-TV and SammyGuru, more at Techmeme »
Selome Hailu / Variety:
Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet discuss AI's potential to replace actors and win awards; McConaughey said AI actors will “infiltrate” the Oscars — Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet are telling young people to brace themselves and lead the entertainment industry through the rise of AI.
Discussion:
Dexerto, Reality Tea, Los Angeles Times, World of Reel, The Wrap, Fortune, Entertainment Weekly, @everyfilmnow.bsky.social and CNN
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The UK CMA says Getty and Shutterstock's $3.7B merger could lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” in the UK editorial market for news events — The $3.7bn merger of rival image providers Getty and Shutterstock could lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” …
Discussion:
Seattle Business Journal, GOV.UK and Reuters
Anhata Rooprai / Reuters:
Apple TV has signed a distribution deal with EverPass Media to bring live sports content to US businesses such as bars, restaurants, hotels, and gyms — Apple TV (AAPL.O) has signed a distribution agreement with EverPass Media to bring the streamer's live sports content to businesses such as bars …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
A look at The Sun's video strategy, which includes a shift to longform news and sponsored lifestyle content; it has 6.4M YouTube subscribers on its main channel — The Sun has grown its video operation “even more aggressively” than planned in the past year.
Discussion:
Jon Lloyd on LinkedIn and News UK
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
Reddit is testing an AI search feature that takes community recommendations and shows matching products from its advertisers in the results — Reddit announced on Thursday that it's testing a new AI search tool that takes community recommendations and matches them with products …
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