Business of Media
US accuses China of global media manipulation
China is manipulating global media through censorship, data harvesting and covert purchases of foreign news outlets, the United States said on Thursday, warning the trend could lead to a “sharp contraction” of global freedom of expression, reports Reuters’ Michael Martina.
The U.S. State Department said in a report that Beijing has spent billions of dollars annually on information manipulation efforts, including by acquiring stakes in foreign media through “public and non-public means,” sponsoring online influencers and securing distribution agreements that promote unlabeled Chinese government content.
Netflix sued over Rebel Moon by gamemaker that claims its world building was used in movie
A gamemaker is suing Netflix for allegedly claiming a confidentiality breach in a contract to develop a title based on Zach Snyder’s upcoming Rebel Moon as pretext to steal ideas and concepts created for the space opera franchise, reports The Hollywood Reporter‘s Winston Cho.
Netflix was accused in a lawsuit filed in California federal court on Thursday of terminating “without any legitimate basis” a licensing agreement with Evil Genius Games in a “bad faith attempt” to hijack intellectual property by asserting ownership over parts of the project to use in the movie and “potentially release [the game] themselves to avoid sharing the profits.”
News Brands
Poor judgment or a ‘safe haven for perverts’: Can the BBC survive Russell Brand?
When the BBC, Britain’s public broadcasting behemoth, celebrated a century on air last October, its many champions had hoped a turbulent decade would soon be a thing of the past, reports The Age‘s Rob Harris.
It is just under 11 years since the corporation – beloved for its dramas, comedies and children’s shows – was rocked by the worst scandal in its history, when former star presenter Jimmy Savile was revealed to be a serial child sex offender and rapist.
Man arrested at ABC headquarters over alleged break-in attempt
A man has been arrested after allegedly smashing a security barrier in an attempt to break into the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Calum Jaspan.
Police were called to the broadcaster’s Harris Street building at 5.30pm on Wednesday and arrested a 48-year-old man, a statement provided by NSW Police said.
Laurence Fox apologises to Ava Evans for ‘demeaning’ comments on GB News
Laurence Fox has apologised to the journalist Ava Evans over misogynistic comments he made about her on the GB News channel that led to him being suspended, reports The Guardian‘s Laurence Fox.
The actor and Reclaim party founder released a video on Thursday evening on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, acknowledging he was “demeaning” about her during a discussion on the Dan Wootton Tonight programme on Tuesday.
See Also: Bad news week: Is Angelos Frangopoulos running an “outrage factory” at GB News?
Entertainment
I’ve glimpsed the entertainment future – and it’s chat
For any art form, bloating is the most common symptom of success. In the heyday of the Victorian novel the public lusted for the endlessly expanding and mutating plots of serialised novels. Rock’n’roll’s pomp coincided with grandiose concept albums and interminable guitar solos, reports The Australian‘s James Marriott.
The first decades of this century will be remembered as the heyday of never-ending prestige TV drama (it is not without relief that I note the streaming industry’s financing crisis may be bringing that golden age to an end).
Surveying the UK’s first reliable podcast chart, released this week, I think I glimpse the future. To nobody’s great surprise the country’s most popular show is The Joe Rogan Experience.
Britain’s biggest gold robbery is now a gripping crime thriller
The creators of television shows often boast an expansive ego, but as successful as he’s become with the British thriller Guilt, freelance journalist turned screenwriter and producer Neil Forsyth has a clear-eyed take on his own talents, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Craig Mathieson.
“It’s just a matter of time,” says Forsyth, whose accent and unvarnished self-analysis both betray his Scottish heritage. “As long as I have it, I can write a good episode of television. I have always recognised my flaws and tried to be not just a good writer, but an improving writer who works on the craft of how to tell stories.”
Disney’s Thomas Schumacher takes on new Broadway role
Thomas Schumacher, the longtime head of Disney’s theatrical arm, a key force behind “The Lion King,” and one of the most powerful people on Broadway, is relinquishing his role overseeing the division’s business operations and stepping into a purely creative role, reports The New York Times’ Michael Paulson.
Schumacher, who is 65 and currently holds the titles of president and producer of Disney Theatrical Group, told his staff on Thursday morning that he will take on a new role as the division’s chief creative officer. His two closest deputies, Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart, will now jointly run the unit as executive vice presidents.