“While Egypt is known for its movies and Lebanon for its pop singers and composers, Syria’s TV series” — especially the high-profile dramas aired during Ramadan — “have for decades been seen as the gold standard in the region.” Naturally, the fall of the long Assad family dictatorship has led to some changes. - AP
AI talent studio Xicoia, which created Norwood, has announced plans for a “rapid expansion” for the digitized actor. The developments include a digital universe dubbed the “Tillyverse,” where ”Tilly and a new generation of AI characters will live, collaborate and build careers.” - Los Angeles Times
The future of public radio in Miami is at stake in an escalating conflict between South Florida Public Media Group, which manages WLRN, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. - Axios
Among those regulators are the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the European Commission, and the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority. What’s more, several state attorneys general are considering a lawsuit, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States may have concerns. - TheWrap (Yahoo!)
“Paramount Skydance’s leadership says there are no plans to divest or spinoff cable assets after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. The deal will see the two companies control a vast portfolio of cable and free-to-air networks, including CBS, CNN, HBO, … Discovery Channel and much more.” - TheWrap (Yahoo!)
As much as David Ellison and his team had been telling anyone who would listen that his business would ultimately prevail in buying a company five times its size, the reaction on Friday from Hollywood to Washington to Wall Street was astonishment. - The Wall Street Journal
For Netflix, such a deal would have complicated the business model for a company that had already vaulted to a leading position in Hollywood on its strength as a streaming pure-play. - The Wall Street Journal
Anton Caldwell, Shawnee's librarian for more than 20 years, says he knew right away the ban was working. The number of students visiting the library increased, and so did the number of books they're reading. - NPR
While social media bans may seem like a prudent measure to protect children, they are not only ineffective, they endanger both children and adults. There is little evidence that social media is driving any type of widespread mental health crisis in children. - The Guardian
“Because it streamed on Netflix, there was no bleeping of F-bombs. Winners were not played off by an orchestra. The banter was not as stiff as the scripted dialogue we expect from the Oscars.” - Washington Post (Yahoo)
Luhrmann’s new Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert “is far from the conventional concert movie its title implies,” thanks to a 40-minute never before released audio tape and a few private collectors deals that Luhrmann calls "going to see gangsters in car parks at midnight.” - The Guardian (UK)
Sure, there may be an “alternative celebration” later, but basically, “with 115 Writers Guild of America staffers still on strike after months of contract talks with the writers’ union led to no deal, the WGA West has cancelled its annual Writers Guild Awards.” - The Wrap
It’s South Florida Public Media Group versus a South Florida NPR school board affiliate, playing out both at the FCC and in the Miami-Dade County Court. - Inside Radio
