Top News:
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
Google invests in independent movie studio A24 as part of a new AI partnership; sources say Google is investing $75M, equal to what Thrive invested in 2024 — Search giant is putting about $75 million into the film company as part of an artificial-intelligence research partnership
Discussion:
The Keyword, The Information, SiliconANGLE, Blaze Media, PitchBook, CNET, The A.V. Club, The Wrap, How-To Geek, Digital Trends, Decrypt, Consequence, @discussingfilm.net, Helena Malikova on LinkedIn, @ccatalini, Screen, Sherwood News, @elicollins, @scottbelsky, Reuters, The Next Web, Los Angeles Times, Neil Parris on LinkedIn, Far Out Magazine, Scott Belsky on LinkedIn, DualShockers, Techstrong.ai, @mtslive, Proactive, Gizmodo, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, The Verge, Showbiz411, /Film, TechCrunch, IndieWire, Hindustan Times, Yahoo Finance, Ben Fritz on LinkedIn, The Hollywood Reporter, World of Reel, @googledeepmind, Inc.com, Deadline, The Independent, Variety, San Francisco Business Times and The Decoder, more at Techmeme »
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
ABC is airing direct appeals to its audience for The View and for stations it owns, asking viewers to comment on FCC actions challenging the show and stations — The spots, which will start airing on Monday, are the latest pushback from The Walt Disney Co. and the network …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Washington Post, New York Post, Daily Mail, NBC News, Wall Street Journal, Mediaite, San Francisco Chronicle, The Hill, Los Angeles Times, Washington Examiner, NewsMax.com, CNN, The Daily Caller, Variety, New York Sun, TheDesk.net, Reuters, Newser, @brendancarrfcc, Cord Cutters News, MS NOW, The Guardian, Raw Story, The Wrap, @jeremymbarr, SFist, Reality Tea, Just Jared and Bloomberg
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
UK ministers are advancing a bill requiring YouTube and TikTok to promote BBC and ITV content; it also would force streamers to show big sports events for free — YouTube, TikTok, and other major video-sharing platforms will be told to carry public service content prominently under new legislation being drawn up by the UK government.
Discussion:
Press Gazette, The Guardian, BBC, @europa, Breitbart, @m_simonyan, @sprinterpress, The Daily Sceptic and Telegraph
Mark Bergen / Bloomberg:
Getty Images signs a licensing deal with OpenAI, letting its image library appear in ChatGPT's search and discovery features; GETY jumps 120%+ and is up 5%+ YTD — Shares of Getty Images Holdings Inc. jumped about 200% in premarket trading on Monday after the photography repository announced a licensing deal with OpenAI.
Discussion:
Yahoo Finance, Forbes, Benzinga, @danyahenninger.bsky.social, Engadget, CNN, The Next Web, Proactive, The Decoder, ZeroHedge News, Blockonomi, PetaPixel, @kennysmith.org, Fast Company, Zeina Tabbara on LinkedIn, iThinkDifferent, Digital Trends, Getty Images and heise online, more at Techmeme »
Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
Instagram is testing horizontal video on Instagram for TV, plans to experiment with longer-form storytelling and episodic series, and launches on Samsung TV — The Meta-owned company is going decidedly retro by experimenting with time-honored video formats with its creators.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Meta Newsroom, Neowin, WeRSM, PYMNTS, @kennysmith.org, The Next Web, iThinkDifferent, The Wrap, Digital Trends and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
The Atlantic ramps up its video podcasts, doubling its video team from ~10 to ~20, and says its podcast revenue is up 104% YoY and downloads rose ~50% YoY — One of America's oldest magazines is investing in video after seeing notable growth in its audience in recent months.
Discussion:
@johnspurlock
Ben Sisario / New York Times:
Clive Davis, one of music's most powerful executives who guided Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, and Whitney Houston's careers, dies at 94 — He rose from a midlevel position at Columbia Records to become one of music's most powerful executives, shepherding stars like Barry Manilow and Whitney Houston.
Discussion:
Billboard, Page Six, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Lefsetz Letter, Gold Derby, Business Insider, RADAR, The Guardian, Breitbart, TODAY.com, The Wrap, NBC Bay Area, Vanity Fair, HOLA!, HELLO!, Fox News, @newyorktheater.bsky.social, @larrytenney.bsky.social, Forbes, David Ellis on LinkedIn, Suggest, Mirror, HuffPost, @canaansdad1987.bsky.social, Just Jared, KFOR-TV, Vibe, Digital Music News, The Detroit News, Reuters, Bossip, The Sun, Daily Star, @katiestereo.bsky.social, Us Weekly, Rolling Stone, The Stranger, Instapundit, Hypebot, The Daily Caller, TMZ.com, The Gateway Pundit, E! Online, Reality Tea, Deadline, KOIN.com, CBS News, FemaleFirst, The Cut, Daily Mail and WPXI-TV
Rebecca Rubin / Variety:
Netflix names Hannah Minghella as head of its Animation Studios, as it streamlines its animation efforts; VP Kira Goldberg will lead live-action family division — Hannah Minghella was named head of Netflix Animation Studios in an effort by the streaming giant to streamline all things animated.
Discussion:
Media Play News, Animation Magazine and Deadline
New York Times:
People Inc., a major food content creator, is ramping up social media video production that emphasizes human-made recipes and testing to stand out from AI slop — People Inc., the home of Food & Wine and Southern Living, publishes more food content than anyone else.
PYMNTS:
Walmart integrates its US and international ad operations into one framework and rebrands Sam's Club Member Access Platform to Sam's Club Connect — Walmart is integrating its advertising operations into one framework amid growing ad revenue. — Get the Full Story
Discussion:
Walmart Inc.
Associated Press:
Staff of Czech public broadcasters stage a warning strike, protesting government plans to shift funding from license fees to the state budget starting next year — Journalists and other employees formed a human chain around the Czech public radio in Prague on Monday as part of a warning strike …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Associated Press and Newser
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Disney plans an interactive hub called ESPN Fan House alongside ESPN's College GameDay in August, with fan experiences like live polls and merchandise showcases — Disney wants to help advertisers reach more of the sports fans under its own roof. — The entertainment giant this August …
Discussion:
Sports Business Journal, ESPN Press Room U.S., MediaPost and Deadline
