Mediagazer: 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 (Maxwell Zeff/Wired)

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

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

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

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

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: Android Headlines, The Indian Express, Profectio, Semafor, Benzinga, KVIA-TV, SammyGuru, Gizmodo, WinBuzzer, The Information, The Decoder, Search Engine Land, PYMNTS.com, MacRumors and The Verge

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 …

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

Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:

Imax partners with Apple TV to show five 2026 Formula One races across at least 50 US Imax locations, as Imax continues to push into live events — The partnership with Apple TV will see five races from Miami to Monza screen in 50 locations nationwide later this year.

Discussion: Engadget, Sports Business Journal, Cult of Mac, The Streamable, Cord Cutters News, The Ankler, Jalopnik, iClarified, Motorsport.com, 9to5Mac, imax.com, Deadline, Variety, Advanced Television, Redmond Pie, AppleInsider and MacTech.com

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

Deutsche Welle:

Germany public broadcaster Deutsche Welle's 2026 budget shrinks by €21M, prompting the closure of its Greek-language service, cuts to 160 positions, and more — The Broadcasting Council and the Administrative Board have, in a joint session with DW, discussed the Budget Reduction Plan.

Discussion: Dóra Diseri on LinkedIn, Economic news and Broadband TV News

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