- RTL Group is selling its Belgian TV network in a US$300-million deal (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Sydney might be in lockdown, but that’s not slowing down its production scene (Variety)
- So much for no more long lines—Disney is returning to business as usual at its parks (Deadline)
- No download, no problem. Netflix is making it easier for consumers to watch content (The Verge)
- Consumers have never been more confused about where to watch new blockbusters (Variety)
- …But Universal’s F9 is off to a strong start, showing that the box office might be revving up again (Deadline)
- Snap and Universal are bringing music from major artists to Snapchat (The Hollywood Reporter)
- On the travel front, Kayak’s co-founder is launching a podcast discovery app as the industry booms (TechCrunch)
- The podcast market is taking off, and agents are starting to take notice (Deadline)
- Peacock will exclusively stream parts of the Tokyo Olympics…but will anyone watch? (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Marvel Studios unveiled its first major queer character, though it could be doing more (Variety)
- Google is now making it easier for creators to make money off their own apps (The Verge)
- The UK government wants to level the playing field between SVODs and linear broadcasters (TBI Vision)
- The industry is just about ready to travel again (Variety)
- Background performers are feeling left out of equity movements (Deadline)
- EA is spending US$1.4 billion to acquire mobile gaming studio Playdemic (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Pluto is a low-barrier, frictionless and freeing VOD, which also makes it a really weird streamer (Vulture)
- There aren’t many Peabody Awards for kids content, but The Owl House scored one (Variety)
- …Speaking of awards, festivals are introducing gender-neutral acting prizes (Deadline)
- AMC Theaters is going on the offensive to deal with its debts (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Kidcos including Dandelooo and Folimage picked up awards at Annecy (The Hollywood Reporter)
- It took some time, but Godzilla vs Kong has finally hit US$100 million at the domestic box office (Variety)
- Facebook is adding podcasts and launching a Clubhouse rival in the US (The Verge)
- Spin Master is reportedly thinking about expanding its new scholarship program to all of its global offices (Toy News)
- Spotify has acquired a podcast discovery tech firm called Podz (The Verge)
- Roku is joining other streamers in claiming it has massive viewership for originals, but won’t specify what those numbers are (Variety)
- DreamWorks Animation’s Margie Cohn gives an inside look at the making of Spirit Untamed (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Streaming makes up about a quarter of TV watch time in the US, according to Nielsen (CNBC)
- The metaverse is taking over kids entertainment—here’s what it is, and why you should care (Dubit)
- Nintendo is stuck in a creative rut (WIRED)
- UK broadcasters were mandated to increase disability representation, but they’re going to miss the deadline by seven years (TBI)
- Streamers are still trying to figure out what release schedules work best, and now Disney+ is betting on Wednesdays (The Verge)
- Far from the AVOD crowd: Disney+ has no plans to include ads, says CEO Bob Chapek (TBI)
- What Amazon Studio’s company-wide DE&I playbook looks like (Variety)
- Screen Queensland is giving a US$71-million boost to its production industry (IF)
- Hungary has passed a law banning LGBTQ+ content from appearing in kids TV (The Guardian)
- AVOD consumption in the US has dropped 10% over the last six months (Digital TV Europe)
- Netflix is partnering with Women in Animation (Playback Daily)
- Discovery will need to earn some trust and respect from WarnerMedia for this merger to work, says David Zaslav (Variety)
- Can a gaming obsession be treated with even more gaming? (WIRED)
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