This week in media and production, the industry is buzzing with change, and controversy.
From executive shake-ups and strategic acquisitions, to the latest business launches and legal matters taking place, the landscape continues to move at high speed. Here’s a roundup of the stories and developments shaping the future of media that you might have missed.
YouTube TV is shaking up the network world—especially NBCUniversal—by trying to stream content directly on its platform instead of sending viewers to external apps. NBCU is pushing back, saying the move could hurt their streaming services and take away control over data and revenue. This standoff could change the way pay-TV distribution works and give platforms like YouTube TV more power in future negotiations.
Disney has issued a cease-and-desist to Character.ai, claiming the startup is infringing on copyrights by hosting chatbots that imitate Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar characters without permission. The company says these bots could mislead users into thinking they’re officially licensed and threaten Disney’s intellectual property. Disney is demanding the characters be removed and has warned it could take legal action if the startup doesn’t comply. This follows closely on similar legal threats Disney recently made against Midjourney over the same copyright concerns.
Robert Attermann, formerly CEO at A3, has launched a new management and production company named Atts Entertainment. He says his company will prioritize artist-first practices and will aim to manage and develop clients across music, film, and media.
Fubo shareholders have given the green light to a business combination with Disney’s Hulu + Live TV, clearing a major hurdle in the planned merger. Under the agreement, Disney would hold roughly 70% of the combined company, while Fubo CEO David Gandler and his team would continue running day-to-day operations. Both Fubo and Hulu + Live TV are expected to remain available as separate services after the deal closes, which still requires regulatory approval and other standard conditions.
The FCC has kicked off a review of its media-ownership rules, including limits on mergers among major broadcast networks and caps on the number of local TV stations a company can own. Amid this, Chairman Brendan Carr has defended his involvement in Jimmy Kimmel Live!, saying criticism of his pressure on Disney and ABC is misplaced. Industry observers note the timing of the review makes Carr’s stance on Kimmel appear linked to his broader push to reshape how media consolidation is regulated.
The creators of "Smiling Friends", Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel, and producer Aron Fromm, have founded ZAM Studios a new Los Angeles–based animation company. The studio will handle animation, VFX, and original content, with the goal of giving artists more creative freedom and producing bold, high-quality work.
Paramount has acquired The Free Press, founded by Bari Weiss, who will now serve as Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. Weiss will set editorial priorities, report directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison, and continue to oversee The Free Press as an independent brand. Paramount says the move is part of its effort to modernize news and expand CBS’s reach, while Weiss calls it an opportunity to build “the most trusted news organization of the 21st century.” The Free Press currently has 1.5 million subscribers, including 170,000 paid, with revenues up 82% over the past year.
Just last week, NBCUniversal and YouTube TV reached a short-term agreement—but now they’ve officially secured a new long-term carriage deal. The agreement ends the threat of NBCU channels going dark for over 10 million homes and guarantees distribution of NBCU’s full network lineup, including a revived NBC Sports Network, and Peacock on YouTube Primetime Channels, in the coming months. It also extends content partnerships across Google platforms, covering clips, films, and TV shows.
Paramount named Josh Silverman, former exec at Mattel, Disney, and Marvel, President of Global Products & Experiences at Mattel, Disney, and Marvel, President of Global Products & Experiences. He will oversee consumer products, live experiences, publishing, partnerships, and e-commerce, reporting to Paramount President Jeff Shell. Silverman, who helped drive the Barbie movie’s blockbuster retail partnerships and previously grew Disney’s consumer products to $54 billion in sales, will work across Paramount’s brands—including Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon—to expand franchises and boost fan engagement.
As you can see, the media industry never rests. Whether it's finding the next-best-thing in production or staying on top of legislation, this industry is no stranger to headline-worthy activity. If you also want to keep track of all things media and production, tune in next week, for another edition of On The Record. See you then!