MEDIA

This week, a new organization called the American Entertainment Alliance will begin publicly pushing for legislation to force the biggest entertainment and streaming companies — including Netflix, Disney, Amazon Prime Video and Skydance — to allocate half of their original content budgets to shows and movies from independent producers in the United States. - The New York Times

That is to say, Netflix is reporting box office numbers, for the very first time, for La Bola Negra. - Los Angeles Times

Though some books are more easily adapted than others, "the quality of the source is irrelevant." - The Guardian (UK)

Says the new Sense and Sensibility's costume designer, "It was an amazing experience to try and fight those two sides, making historic accuracy marry up with how I wanted to give us a more modern take in the film." - Variety

CNN says the partnership would unlock “new pathways for audiences to access CNN’s unparalleled journalism while being compensated for the delivery and use of our unique intellectual property in connection with AI products.” - Variety

“The Public Media Bridge Fund has raised about $87 million and stabilized 186 public radio stations that serve about 30 million people in the United States. (Now begins) PMC’s new $38 million fundraising effort to help stations become more financially sustainable without federal funding.” - AP

You mean it’s not just to pump up the stock price? Well, … - Variety

The biggest driver of the BBC crisis is the cut in real-terms funding for its national, regional and local UK services. These are the services that largely account for licence payers’ willingness to pay the fee. The reduction in the real-terms funding of these services has been building up since 2010. - The Conversation

In an expected development, shareholders for both Fox Corp. and Roku voted to approve Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of the streaming-video platform company. - Variety

If a station’s broadcast license is owned by a public entity, including a state university, then government officials ultimately have power over the station. With the right having made public radio a political target, and with culture wars getting ever hotter, more officials have started using that power to interfere. - Columbia Journalism Review

After the success of Sesame Street, Jim Henson badly wanted to make a his own show. But there were two failed pilots for ABC and development plans at CBS stalled. Things looked hopeless — until producer Lew Grade came along. (One perhaps-surprising fact: all five seasons of the show were shot in England.) - Variety

Two months after the remnants of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association sued Penske Media Corporation for its part in Dick Clark Productions‘ purchase of the Golden Globes in 2023 with allegations of monopolization and fraudulent misrepresentation, the Penske-controlled Golden Globes is going after the Golden Globe Foundation for trademark infringement and unfair competition. - Deadline

Netflix is cutting 6% of its staff, or roughly 1,000 positions globally, its biggest round of layoffs since 2022, as it struggles with slowing growth and customer engagement. - The Wall Street Journal

The press release said only, “The Board of Trustees thanks Christy (Tanner) for her contributions to NYPR and wishes her well.” Her predecessor, LaFontaine Oliver, is stepping in as interim Acting President and CEO. - Gothamist

The episode felt somehow symbolic for this moment in the history of AI in Africa, where excitement over the technology’s transformative potential for the continent’s filmmakers often runs counter to the practical realities on the ground. - Variety