As The Observer's longtime film critic steps down, he leaves a summary, and a top 10 list, behind (don't miss his pick for the worst film, sneaked in at the end). - The Observer (UK)
Suddenly, Drew Barrymore is the leader again as The Talk pauses its premiere until there's better news (or at least better PR for talk shows) about the writers' and actors' strikes. - Los Angeles Times
Like - but one would hope not as much of a horror film - last year's Tár, the artists in these movies are complex, and perhaps murderous. This isn't your Barbie or your Captain Marvel content. - CBC
The new Instagram video: "I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over." - The New York Times
A lot of syndicated talk shows are still going (or never stopped) because stations contract for hundreds of shows worth of content. So "this was a business decision — and not one that Barrymore made alone." - Variety
The paper, which has been endorsed more than 120 leaders across public media, calls for “bold investment” by local organizations to expand their newsrooms in order to build them into “anchor institutions” that connect a diverse array of news providers and hyper-local creators. - InsideRadio
Metaphysic claims that this system could effectively help actors to use generative artificial intelligence algorithms to create their own face, voice and performance data over time, as well as help “manage” how it is used by third parties, including consent, compensation and the thorny issue of copyright. - The Hollywood Reporter
"CapRadio's problems are much deeper than a shifting media landscape, former employees and current management say: three costly construction projects combined with falling revenue have pushed the nonprofit media organization to the financial brink." - MSN (The Sacramento Bee)
For years, this kingdom’s Islamic clerics waged a war on videogames, banning popular titles such as “Pokémon” for promoting blasphemy, violence and laziness. Now, Saudi Arabia is pouring $40 billion into a bid to become a world leader in a videogame industry beloved by its booming youth population. - The Wall Street Journal
"TikTok has been fined €345 million — about $367 million — by (Ireland's Data Protection Commission), which ruled the app violated the EU's data-privacy laws with respect to processing information on children users." - Variety
Already, many cord-cutters are piecing together their own bundle, subscribing to a mix of services including Netflix, Max and Hulu. The deal between Disney and Charter has made it clear that cable providers — which often provide broadband internet service — are eager to put together streaming bundles for them. - The New York Times
"New York City's pension funds and the state of Oregon took legal action on Tuesday against Fox Corporation, alleging in a lawsuit that the Fox News parent company failed shareholders by allowing the right-wing channel to recklessly spread lies about the 2020 election that opened it up to ... defamation cases." - CNN
The traditional TV business is losing customers until it hits a bottom that it may take a while to find. Streaming is losing money without any end in sight. It’s ascending, but it’s still underwater. Disney and Charter avoided a breakup. Now they can set about finding a way to change math. - Slate
"Barrymore was initially announced as host of the Nov. 15 (National Book Awards) in late July. Now, just days after some protested her decision to bring back her talk show on Sept. 18, the foundation has revoked its decision, with no replacement host announced." - Variety
