“I firmly believe that uniting Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery presents a unique opportunity to build a true champion for the creative community, one that can and will bring more stories to life, support filmmakers and talent with real scale, and compete effectively on the global stage as an independent media leader,” Ellison said. - The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s the second round of layoffs in six months at CBS News (a round in October canceled some streaming shows and overhauled the Saturday morning show), but these are the first in pursuit of (editor-in-chief Bari) Weiss’s new strategy, which she outlined to staff earlier this year.” - The Hollywood Reporter
Since WRLH ended its affiliation with NPR last October 1, the station has lost 75% of its listenership. This is notwithstanding the fact that the station continues to air programming from PRX, American Public Media and the BBC. - Michael Krall
First Line Films announced Wednesday that Kilmer has posthumously joined the cast of a film titled As Deep as the Grave. The producers said that, before his death, Kilmer had signed on to perform in the movie but was unable to because of his health. - CBC
“On Kinopoisk, Russia’s largest film-and-TV database and ratings site, it sits at 8.3/10 with more than 60,000 ratings. … As a scholar of Russian culture and someone who grew up there, I keep wondering why Heated Rivalry hits with such force in Russia.” - Los Angeles Review of Books
“Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, has agreed an additional £11m a year for the next three years on the government’s grant to the service … after ministers concluded it was needed to counter the rise of global disinformation.” - The Guardian
“From New Jersey to California to Louisiana, weather journalists are leaving traditional TV newsrooms to form all-digital platforms. … The Digital Weather Network, … which started in 2022, now has nineteen members, … working from well-equipped studios or from their homes,” with dozens more interested in joining. - Columbia Journalism Review
For its entire history, Britain’s public broadcaster has had to have its charter renewed by Parliament every ten years; in effect, the BBC must renegotiate its existence every decade. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has promised “to future-proof this vital institution … (against) the ongoing, exhausting culture wars.” - The Guardian
It is not simply that Netflix and co are killing cinema – although, yes, that is a thing that is objectively bad. It is that the advent of streaming has made watching a movie in your own home more costly, more restricted and often incredibly annoying. - The Guardian
Following negative feedback from the public and a drop in donations to the state network, the Arkansas TV Commission voted 4-1 to hold off, for 180 days past the July 1 effective date, the plan adopted in December to end ties with PBS. - Arkansas Advocate
The sci-fi film starring Ice Cube dominated the 46th Golden Raspberry Awards, also winning Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel. Among other honorees were the seven CGI dwarves in Snow White, who took both Worst Supporting Actor and Worst Screen Combo. - The Hollywood Reporter
In an earnings report released last week, the company (which also owns the news site HuffPost and the food site Tasty) said that it does not have enough resources to cover its cash obligations for the next year and has had “strategic conversations” about its future. - CNN
“The filmmaker, who also worked with Coogler on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, also asked that all the women in the theater stand up during her speech, thanking them for their support and honoring all the other female trailblazers.” - USA Today
Bardem “started his time at the poduium by saying ‘No to war and free Palestine,’ which earned a big round of applause from the audience at the show.” - Variety
