Mediagazer: After a backlash, AMC opts out of screening an AI short film during its pre-show, programmed by ad company Screenvision, before feature films (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.

Discussion: Variety, Animation Magazine, @laurbits.bsky.social, @gwaynee.blacksky.app, @hypercubexl.bsky.social, @nelson545alex, @thetoonkeeper.bsky.social, @stevensantos.bsky.social, @saveyourcinema, @riodylan.bsky.social and Blaze Media

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: Defector, @polymarket, @thebluenami.bsky.social, Truthout, @ketanjoshi.co, @ketanjoshi.co, On Substack, The Oracle, @hanaatameez.bsky.social, Feed Me, @bensaufley.com, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @chrisbest, The Hill, @cathygellis.bsky.social, @anniegirl.bsky.social, @jesseraub.online and Wide World of News

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: The Wrap, Fortune, World of Reel, Entertainment Weekly, CNN and @everyfilmnow.bsky.social

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

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: GOV.UK and Reuters

Rohan Goswami / Semafor:

In a letter, six Democratic senators ask David Ellison to save communications with Trump, his family, lobbyists, and the DOJ about Paramount's pursuit of WBD — The Scoop — A group of Democratic senators, unhappy with Paramount CEO David Ellison's refusal to appear at a hearing two weeks ago …

Discussion: Variety, Deadline, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter and The Streamable

Michael Lynton / Wall Street Journal:

Book extract: ex-Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton recounts how greenlighting The Interview sparked North Korea's massive 2014 cyberattack — In an exclusive book excerpt, the former CEO of Sony Entertainment opens up about his role in unleashing one of the worst cyberattacks in corporate history.

Discussion: Yahoo Finance, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social and @metacurity.com, more at Techmeme »

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: The Wrap, Forbes, Observer, Bloomberg, Bloomberg, Business Insider, What's on Netflix, @business, Benzinga, World of Reel, Business Standard, Breitbart, Media Play News and Awful Announcing, more at Techmeme »

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 …

Discussion: AppleInsider, MacRumors, iClarified, Apple, 9to5Mac, Apple Must, The Mac Observer, MacTech.com, Cult of Mac, Business Wire, Cord Cutters News, MacDailyNews, iDrop News, T3 and O'Grady's PowerPage

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 …

Discussion: MediaPost, @TechCrunch@mstdn.social, Reddit Upvoted and Search Engine Land, more at Techmeme »

Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:

Apple plans to release the delayed show The Hunt on March 4, after producer Gaumont resolved plagiarism claims by getting authorizations from rightsholders — That is three months after the acquired series from Gaumont was slated to premiere on Dec. 3 but was delayed, with the French …

Discussion: The Wrap, 9to5Mac, AppleInsider, Screen Rant, MacTech.com, The Verge and The Hollywood Reporter

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

Reach makes its national UK newspapers' ABC print sales circulation figures private, joining News UK, Telegraph Media Group, and The Guardian — Print circulation figures for the Mirror, Express and Star newspapers will no longer be made public. — Publisher Reach has decided to keep …

Discussion: @iainhepburn.me