MEDIA

Paramount’s Sweetheart Deal To Permit Warner Merger

Paramount’s C-suite must have been popping bottles of champagne as the press office engines of the major studio and 12 state attorney generals typed up the settlement term boilerplate language of what ended up being a stern finger-wave to Ellison’s team. - The Hollywood Reporter

What Exactly Is In Paramount’s Settlement Agreement With The State Attorneys General?

A rundown of what Paramount chief David Ellison agreed to do to get the state officials to call off their antitrust lawsuit to block the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. - AP

Paramount And States Settle Lawsuit, Clearing Way For Warner Bros. Merger

“The settlement announced Monday stops short of forcing Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison to make significant structural changes to the company, but includes penalties such as the forced sale of cable channels and Paramount’s stake in Miramax if it doesn’t make good on its promises.” - The Wall Street Journal (MSN)

Daily Mirror Publisher Cuts Jobs As Web Traffic Plummets Because Of AI

The company said earlier this year that a slump in overall digital page views had been driven by a 46% year-on-year decline in traffic from Google as features such as Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews negate the need for readers to click through to its websites. - The Guardian

Paramount And California In Negotiations To Clear Warner Merger

The parties have discussed compromises including Paramount agreeing to operate the two companies’ movie studios separately for a period rather than immediately combining them, the people said. - The Wall Street Journal

Epic Spanish Film Inspired By Garcia Lorca Story Wins The People’s Choice Award In Toronto

“The award, voted on by audiences, can be a bellwether of the best picture Oscar, as in 2018 and 2020, when Green Book and Nomadland went on to win at the Academy Awards.” - The New York Times

Movie Audiences Have Fallen In Love With Really Big Screens

“The 2026 summer box office take is already the largest since 2020, and unadjusted for inflation, the largest ever. Most of that money comes from films that played in premium formats.” - Washington Post (MSN)

What Would A Movie Of A Gamer Really Look Like?

“A true representation of what it’s like to play a video game would be one of the most avant-garde movies ever made. (Imagine a four-hour stretch where the main character fights the same enemy over and over again.)” - Slate

Opposition Grows Against The Paramount-WB Merger During A Critical Week

While California AG Rob Bonta is hinting at some progress toward a settlement, other state AGs who have standing in a lawsuit aimed at stopping the merger are not having it. - Los Angeles Times

This Show Is A Critical And Audience Hit

So why did Prime Video cancel Ride or Die after one season? It’s a whole mystery. - Forbes

The Toronto Film Fest Is Great At Predicting Oscar Best Picture Noms

So who’s on for 2027? (Hint: Look to a serious underdog.) - Vulture

California’s Governor Signs Into Law A Postproduction Tax Credit To Help Stem The Hollywood Tide

The Editors Guild wanted a much larger credit, but hey, the editors still "see the more modest allocation as a positive first step.” - Variety

The ‘Shaun The Sheep’ Creators Are Somehow Not Worried About AI

“Students at Aardman's Academy are also being taught to embrace imperfection in the painstaking art of stop-motion, where every blink, smile and movement is created by hand.” - BBC

NPR Has An Aggressive Plan For Its Digital Future

Katherine Maher said the organization is fundamentally reimagining its digital presence, looking for more ways to capitalize on its network of 243 newsrooms and member stations, and expanding its programming portfolio beyond what audiences traditionally associate with NPR. - Inside Radio

Viewer Ratings For “60 Minutes” Season Premiere Down 21 Percent

Viewership for the season premiere of “60 Minutes” fell roughly 21 percent from a year ago, according to Nielsen, making it the lowest-rated premiere of the long-running show in recent memory. - The New York Times

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