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☆ Hollywood insiders are bracing for M&A activity to make a comeback, as 10 experts reveal the deals they're predicting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"The unknown is hard to transact in," Sam Powers, the global head of technology, media, and telecommunications for Bank of America, told Insider. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision , which was completed Thursday, has also put media and tech M&A back in the spotlight. "People have been holding their breath in nervous anticipation" about the idea of tech buying big media , one investor told Insider. Private-equity bets on media and Hollywood have seen mixed resultsPrivate-equity firms may have the cash to finance major media acquisitions, but they're reckoning with market volatility. Are you a Hollywood insider?

Persons: Hollywood dealmakers, Jonathan Handel, Sam Powers, Bob Iger, —, Byron Allen, Greg Doherty, Iger, Disney's, Byron Allen —, Allen, Disney, it's, Handel, It's, you've, Reese Witherspoon, Dave Kotinsky, Moonbug, Reese Witherspoon's, Jeff Zucker, Abu, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Puck News, Bank of America, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Disney, ESPN, Activision, Byron Allen The Weather, Wall Street shareholders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hulu, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, Allen Media Group, Weather, Lionsgate, Starz, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Games, Disney Digital Network, Maker Studios, Observers, Comcast, Paramount Global, Tech, MGM, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, RedBird Capital Partners, RedBird IMI, Private, SP, G Global Market Intelligence, Bloomberg, Media, Apollo Global Management, Yahoo Locations: Hollywood, Blackstone, Abu Dhabi, lmoses@insider.com, ralexander@insider.com

☆ Netflix may tap price hikes after success of password-sharing crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Samrhitha A | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The only profitable major streamer, Netflix has resisted joining rivals like Walt Disney (DIS.N) in hiking ad-free prices this year and instead curbed password-sharing outside households to tap the more than 100 million viewers who use its service without subscribing. "Netflix now closely resembles a utility in many markets," analysts at Bernstein said. So far, most viewers subscribing to Netflix after the password crackdown have opted for the ad-free plans, analysts said. "Using these tactics, Netflix will likely double its ad-supported viewership next year," said Insider Intelligence analyst Ross Benes. Revenue in the third quarter likely rose 7.7% to $8.54 billion, the fastest growth in five quarters, thanks to strong programming that included the latest seasons of "Sex Education" and "Virgin River".

Persons: Dado, Walt Disney, Bernstein, Ross Benes, Samrhitha, Aditya Soni, Sayantani Ghosh, Devika Organizations: Netflix, REUTERS, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Intelligence, Wall, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Hollywood, Bengaluru

☆ Netflix may hike prices after success of password-sharing crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Samrhitha A | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The only profitable major streamer, Netflix has resisted joining rivals like Walt Disney (DIS.N) in hiking ad-free prices this year and instead curbed password-sharing outside households to tap the more than 100 million viewers who use its service without subscribing. It could hike prices after the end of the Hollywood actors strike, a media report said earlier in October. So far, most viewers subscribing to Netflix after the password crackdown have opted for the ad-free plans, analysts said. "Using these tactics, Netflix will likely double its ad-supported viewership next year," said Insider Intelligence analyst Ross Benes. Revenue in the third quarter likely rose 7.7% to $8.54 billion, the fastest growth in five quarters, thanks to strong programming that included the latest seasons of "Sex Education" and "Virgin River".

☆ Hollywood's AI issues are far from settled after writers' labor deal with studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Writers Guild of America's labor deal with Hollywood studios was billed as a big win for writers, but industry experts fear the agreement's artificial intelligence guardrails won't be enough. The contract does, however, leave room for studios to train AI using preexisting material. WGA's original May proposal, which triggered the strike, would have disallowed studios from using any materials to train AI outright. Hollywood studios training AI with preexisting materials could create a whole new set of issues for writers by allowing the studios to use previous work to generate similar materials without the writer's consent or even awareness. Allowing studios to train AI with preexisting material was a "punt" down the line, and studios will inevitably "push to use AI as far as possible," said Peter Csathy, founder and chairman of media legal advisory company Creative Media.

Persons: Justine Bateman, Leslie Callif, Donaldson, Callif, Peter Csathy Organizations: Writers Guild of America, The, Hollywood, CNBC, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Beverly, Creative Media Locations: Netflix's, York, New York City, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, U.S

☆ Kaiser Permanente labor deal shows why short, disruptive strikes are becoming more common
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And the union’s win is just the latest reason why short strikes are happening more and more. That’s up 86% from the number of short strikes in the same period of 2021. There have been only 98 strikes lasting more than a week so far this year, or half the number of short strikes, a more modest 20% increase from 2021. The short duration strikes pain on employers while not forcing union members to give up as much. “Sometimes the shock of the short strike produces the movement at the table.

Persons: there’s, —, Kaiser, ”, Todd Vachon, John Borsos, Johnnie Kallas, “, ” Kallas, “ We’re, Lester Garcia, ” Garcia Organizations: New, New York CNN, Kaiser Permanente, United Auto Workers Union, General Motors, Ford, Hollywood, Writers Guild, SAG, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Los Angeles Unified School District, Rutgers University, “, Labor Department, UAW, Sacramento City Teachers Association, Cornell, Starbucks Workers United, Los Locations: New York, Minnesota, Los Angeles

Oct 13 (Reuters) - A union coalition for Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers reached a tentative labor deal with the hospital system on Friday that included across-the-board wage increases after 75,000 members took part in a three-day strike last week. The strike was the largest recorded among medical workers and included nurses, medical technicians and support staff at hundreds of Kaiser hospitals and clinics from California to Virginia. "I’m heartened to see healthcare workers and their employers take this critical step towards securing the pay, benefits, and working conditions these heroes deserve," President Joe Biden said in a statement. The Kaiser union coalition had threatened to strike again for a week starting Nov. 1. The union had said Kaiser would need to hire 10,000 new healthcare workers to fill current vacancies.

Persons: Julie Su, Biden, Joe Biden, Kaiser, Su, Manas Mishra, Leroy Leo, Steve Gorman, Arun Koyyur, Shinjini, Maju Samuel, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Kaiser Permanente, Labor, Tenet Healthcare, District of Columbia, Writers Guild of America, United Auto Workers, Detroit, Thomson Locations: California, Virginia, San Francisco Bay, Bengaluru, Los Angeles

☆ Hollywood is building a $100 billion love-hate relationship with AI. Here's what's ahead, according to the top creative exec at 'Star Wars' VFX shop Industrial Light & Magic.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Harrison Ford has been donning the fedora and cracking the whip of the daring tomb-raider Indiana Jones for more than 40 years. The series' latest installment, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," leans on myths from ancient Greece about a device that can supposedly turn back the hands of time. Indiana Jones suddenly looked generations younger — perfect for the movie's opening sequence, set during World War II. Founded in 1975 by celebrated "Star Wars" creator Geroge Lucas, ILM — a division of Lucasfilm, which also produces "Indiana Jones" — is at the forefront of this new Hollywood frontier. One of the team's biggest achievements has been speeding up the timeline by which filmmakers can implement these tools, Bredow said.

Persons: Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, Moviemakers, Rob Bredow, Bredow, Ford, Jones, Robert de Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesce, lugged, Geroge Lucas, it's Organizations: Ford, Hollywood, Industrial, Lucasfilm, Netflix, ILM, Writers Guild of America, SAG, Grand View Research, Producers Locations: Greece, Hollywood

Drescher told The Associated Press in a Thursday interview that she did not understand why negotiations collapsed but that her union's resolve has not weakened. Political Cartoons View All 1209 ImagesI’ve never really met people that actually don’t understand what negotiations mean. Was there a sense that talks would be smoother after the studios reached a deal with the Writers Guild of America? And we can’t think that way anymore. They don’t really want to negotiate.

Persons: — Fran Drescher, she's, Drescher, DRESCHER, “, it’s, I’ve, “ Fran, Writers Guild of America ? DRESCHER, didn’t, we’ve, ”, Everybody, that’s Organizations: ANGELES, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television Producers, Associated Press, Writers Guild of America Locations: hollywood

☆ Contract talks break down between Hollywood actors, studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Negotiations between Hollywood studios and the SAG-AFTRA actors' union were suspended on Wednesday as the two sides clashed over streaming revenue, the use of artificial intelligence and other issues at the core of a three-month work stoppage. The union resumed negotiations with studios last week after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) ended its work stoppage. [1/2]Actor Billy Crudup joins fellow SAG-AFTRA actors walking a picket line during their strike in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., September 28, 2023. SAG-AFTRA countered that the AMPTP had overstated the cost by 60% and accused the studios of "bully tactics." Members of the WGA approved a new three-year contract with major studios this week, five months after the union called a strike.

Persons: AFTRA, Walt Disney, Billy Crudup, Mike Segar, AMPTP, Lisa Richwine, Gursimran Kaur, Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix, REUTERS, Guild of America, Thomson Locations: U.S, California, Manhattan, New York City , New York, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Hollywood stuck in a rut after talks break down between actors' union and studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild walk a picket line on Day 1 outside NBC Universal in New York City on July 14, 2023. Forget about a Hollywood ending for actors and studios — for now. After just under two weeks, negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down Wednesday night. It appears that wages and artificial intelligence protections remain sticking points between actors and studios. With the dissolution of talks, the strike will rage on, disrupting marketing campaigns and preventing production from commencing on a significant portion of Hollywood's film and television projects.

Persons: Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Screen, NBC Universal, —, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, WGA Locations: New York City

☆ Negotiations suspended between Hollywood studios and actors’ union
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Rob Mclean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said late Wednesday that negotiations with SAG-AFTRA — the union representing about 160,000 actors — have been suspended. The suspension came after the actors’ union presented its latest proposal to the AMPTP, according to the statement. SAG-AFTRA presented few, if any, moves on the numerous remaining open items.”In this round of negotiations, AMPTP said it had made a list of offers to the union that included a “first-of-its-kind success-based residual for High-Budget SVOD productions” and several AI protections. SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14, joining the fray a little more than two months after the writers’ strike began. The writers’ strike ended in late September, and members of the Writers Guild of America ratified a new contract with Hollywood and television studios on October 9.

Persons: —, AMPTP, AFTRA Organizations: CNN, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Amazon Prime, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Talks have broken off between Hollywood actors and studios, killing any hopes that the strike by performers was coming to an end after nearly three months, as the writers strike recently did. The studios walked away from talks after seeing the actors' most recent proposal on Wednesday. From the start, the actors talks had nothing like the momentum that spurred marathon night-and-weekend sessions in the writers strike and brought that work stoppage to an end. Actors and studios had taken several days off after resuming, and there were no reports of meaningful progress despite direct involvement from the heads of studios including Disney and Netflix as there had been in the writers strike. Late night talk shows returned to the air within a week, and other shows including “Saturday Night Live” will soon follow.

Persons: — Organizations: ANGELES, Hollywood, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Disney, Netflix, Writers Guild of America

☆ Striking Hollywood actors, studios suspend contract negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Actor Billy Crudup joins fellow SAG-AFTRA actors walking a picket line during their strike in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 12 (Reuters) - Talks between Hollywood studios and negotiators for the SAG-AFTRA actors' union have been suspended after the union presented its most recent proposal, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) said on Wednesday. This week, members of the WGA approved a new three-year contract with major studios, five months after the union called a strike. The new contract provides pay raises, some protections around use of artificial intelligence and other gains. AMPTP said it hoped the actors' union would reconsider and return to productive negotiations soon.

Persons: Billy Crudup, Mike Segar, Walt Disney, AFTRA, AMPTP, Gursimran Kaur, Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel Organizations: SAG, REUTERS, Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt, Netflix, Guild of America, WGA, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Hollywood's, Bengaluru

NEW YORK (AP) — Louise Meriwether, the author and activist whose coming-of-age novel "Daddy Was a Number Runner" is widely regarded as a groundbreaking and vital portrait of race, gender and class, has died. "Daddy Was a Number Runner," published in 1970, tells of a poor Black community in Harlem during the 1930s as seen through the eyes of 12-year-old Francie Coffin. Political Cartoons View All 1206 ImagesIn 2016 the Feminist Press and TAYO Literary Magazine launched the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize for "debut women/nonbinary writers of color." "Daddy Was a Number Runner" was a personal story. After returning to New York in the late 1960s, she joined the Harlem Writers Guild and befriended Angelou and Sonia Sanchez, among others.

Persons: — Louise Meriwether, Meriwether, Cheryl Hill, Hill, Francie Coffin, Francie, I'm, Toni Morrison's, Angelou's, James Baldwin, Jacqueline Woodson, Louise Meriwether, Rosa Parks, Daniel Hale Williams, Robert Smalls, John Birch, Muhammad Ali's, Angelo Meriwether, Earle Howe, Louise Jenkins, Budd Schulberg, Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Sarah Lawrence Organizations: Amsterdam Nursing, Feminist Press, Columbus Foundation, Los Angeles Times, IMF, World Bank, John Birch Society, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Houston, New York University, UCLA, Watts Writers, South Central, Universal Studios, Harlem Writers Guild, Pine Manor College Locations: Manhattan, Harlem, Puerto Rican, South Africa, Haverstraw , New York, Brooklyn, South, South Central Los Angeles, Hollywood, New York, Pine

☆ Hollywood writers union ratifies three-year labor contract after strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. Members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union walked off the job in July and were meeting studio negotiators again on Monday to try to reach an agreement. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Walt Disney (DIS.N), Netflix (NFLX.O) and other media companies, said the contract "represents meaningful gains and protections for writers." "It is important progress for our industry that writers are back to work," the group said in a statement. Negotiators for the SAG-AFTRA actors union continued contract talks with studios on Monday.

Persons: Mike Blake, Meredith Stiehm, Walt Disney, Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Maher, ”, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa Richwine, Chris Reese, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, WGA, SAG, UPS, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt, Netflix, Milken, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Hollywood, United States, Detroit, California

☆ Activist investor Peltz boost Disney stake, seeks board seat for himself -WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A vehicle drives through the main gate at The Walt Disney Studios the day after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced it reached a preliminary labor agreement with major studios in Burbank, California, U.S., September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 8 (Reuters) - Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has increased its stake in Disney (DIS.N) and the activist investor is expected to request multiple board seats, including for himself, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. Trian is now one of Disney's largest investors with a stake worth upward of $2.5 billion after boosting its stake to more than 30 million shares, from roughly 6.4 million shares at the end of the second quarter, the WSJ reported. Trian thinks Disney shares are significantly undervalued and that the company needs a more focused board, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Disney and Trian did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Nelson, Trian, Peltz, Bob Iger, Urvi, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Savio D'Souza 私たち Organizations: Walt Disney Studios, Writers Guild of America, REUTERS, Management, Disney, Wall Street Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Bengaluru

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Odenkirk has known he wanted to immortalize the playful poems he created with his kids since they were first scribbled down years ago. But you know, that was a hard time for everyone in the country,” Odenkirk recalled of the coronavirus pandemic. I mean, think of any business partner or any project partner you’ve ever had,” the “ Better Call Saul ” star said. Odenkirk said this was in keeping with his philosophy as a parent when he was raising young children. But it is a tricky business and hard to make a living in,” he said.

Persons: Bob Odenkirk, ”, Erin, “, ” Odenkirk, ‘ Let’s, Odenkirk, I’d, ” Erin, you’ve, Saul ”, “ You’re, “ I’m, —, Saul ” — Odenkirk, Tim, Eric Awesome, we’ll Organizations: ANGELES, Pratt Institute, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers Locations: Los Angeles and New York, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Hollywood

CNN —Members of the Writers Guild of America union ratified a new contract with Hollywood and television studios, the WGA said in a statement released Monday. Of the 8,525 valid votes cast, 99% of WGA members voted to ratify the new contract, which will last from September 25, 2023, through May 1, 2026, the release said. “The AMPTP member companies congratulate the WGA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents meaningful gains and protections for writers. The writers’ strike began in May and ended last month — after 148 days — following a tentative contract agreement made between the union and the AMPTP. The writers’ strike, coupled with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, hobbled the entertainment industry’s ability to do business over the last few months.

Persons: ”, Meredith Stiehm, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, “, ’ Organizations: CNN, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Netflix, Disney, Hollywood’s Locations: “

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood writers have voted almost unanimously to approve the contract agreement reached by their union leaders that ended a strike after nearly five months, while actors remain in negotiations to find a way out of their own strike. The Writers Guild of America announced Monday that 99% of the 8,525 members who cast ballots voted to ratify the deal. Writers guild leaders urged studios to grant actors' demands and said their members would picket alongside them until a deal was reached. The writers' new contract runs thorough May 1, 2026, three years after their previous contract expired and they went on strike. Two days later, when the board members voted to approve the agreement and send it to members, the strike was declared over and writers were released to work.

Persons: Meredith Stiehm, ” Organizations: ANGELES, Hollywood, Guild of America, WGA, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers, Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros, Alliance, Television Producers

The Wall Street Journal was first to report Peltz's push for board seats. Disney had rejected Peltz as a possible board member. Disney has undergone a period of transformation, restructuring the company and streamlining operations to make the business more cost effective. In addition, Disney is laying plans to make its flagship ESPN sports network available via streaming at some point in the future. Facing trouble last year, Disney's board brought Iger out of retirement in November for a second turn at running the company.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Nelson Peltz, Mickey Mouse, Peltz's, Trian, Bob Iger, Peltz, Iger, Disney, Disney's, Ed Garden, Matthew, Josh Frank, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Savio D'Souza, Tomasz Janowski, Leslie Adler Organizations: Walt Disney Studios, Writers Guild of America, REUTERS, Walt Disney, Peltz's Trian Fund Management, Disney, Peltz, ESPN, Svea, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Disney, New York, Rhode Island, Bengaluru

☆ Hollywood writers ratify new contract with studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Writers Guild of America East members walk a picket line at the Paramount+ Summit outside the Paramount Building in Times Square in New York City on May 17, 2023The Writers Guild of America has officially ratified its new three-year contract with Hollywood studios. The guild on Monday announced that 99% of its membership voted to ratify the new deal, with 8,435 votes for "yes" and only 90 for "no." "Through solidarity and determination, we have ratified a contract with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of our combined membership," said Meredith Stiehm, president of Writers Guild of America West. The guild also negotiated higher contribution rates to health benefits and pensions, as well as a guaranteed number of writers in writers' rooms for television shows. "Until the studios make a deal that addresses the needs of performers, WGA members will be on the picket lines, walking side-by-side with SAG-AFTRA in solidarity," said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of Writers Guild of America East.

Persons: Meredith Stiehm, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Organizations: Guild of America East, Paramount, Guild of America, Hollywood, Monday, Writers Guild of America West, WGA, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Disney, Netflix, Universal, Warner Bros, Discovery, SAG, Writers Guild of America East, Comcast, CNBC, NBCUniversal Locations: New York City, NBCUniversal

☆ A lot of workers are out on strike right now. Here’s how that looks in the jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Are all of these workers missing from the US government’s monthly jobs reports? They are added back only when they return to work.”That means that in the September jobs report, United Auto Workers members on strike are counted as employed since the strike began on September 15, which was during the reference week. In contrast, the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike, which began in July, showed up in some of the data that was included in the September jobs report. However, there’s another survey used to construct the monthly jobs report that asks individuals if they worked in a given week. If someone was on strike but earned money working a different way, like driving for Uber, during the reference period, they’d be counted as employed.

Persons: ” Cody Parkinson, Uber, they’d, ” Parkinson Organizations: New, New York CNN, Cornell University’s Labor, US, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, CNN, “, United Auto Workers, SAG, Writers Guild of America Locations: New York, United States

☆ These books are being used to train AI. No one told the authors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Leah Asmelash | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Almost 200,000 books are being used to train artificial intelligence systems by some of the biggest companies in technology. Books3 is already the subject of multiple lawsuits against Meta and other companies using the system to train AI. Now, thanks to a database published by The Atlantic last week pulling from Books3, authors can see whether their books specifically are being used to train these AI systems. They stole a part of me.”Nora Roberts, the prolific romance novelist, has 206 books used in the Books3 database, according to The Atlantic. With the popularity of text-to-image AI systems, visual artists were in same situation last year, discovering their work was being used to train AI without permission.

Persons: Books3, “, ”, Mary H, Choi, “ I’m, I’m, ” Choi, ” Min Jin Lee, Pachinko, ” “, Al, ” Nora Roberts, William Shakespeare, ” Roberts, Nik Sharma, I’d, Sharma, ” Sharma, James Chappel, ” Chappel, ChatGPT, aren’t, Joe Biden, Choi isn’t, Roberts Organizations: CNN, The Atlantic, Meta, New York Times, Food, Millionaires, West, Bloomberg, Guild of America, WGA Locations: Korean

☆ Assistants at companies like Netflix and Disney are 'waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel' as their careers stall and they can't get promoted: 'I don't see a way up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Trying to maintain a career in Hollywood was "not something that was feasible for me to continue," this person told Insider. Insider spoke with eight current and former assistants at Hollywood companies, plus a former creative executive at a midsize film studio. Many hopefuls can't find jobs in an industry that's been wracked with head count reductions and budget cuts. Netflix's website lists just one open assistant job — a role in a non-creative vertical. At Paramount, which cut 25% of staff from its US cable networks earlier this year, there appear to be no open executive assistant jobs in entertainment capacities .

Persons: —, strivers, that's, David Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, Bob Iger —, there's, WBD, they've, they'd, I'm, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Netflix, Paramount Global, Disney, Warner Bros . Discovery, Paramount, Media, Writers Guild of America, Challenger, Warner Bros, Discovery, Entertainment Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Live from New York ... it’s the return of ‘Saturday Night Live’ after last season was cut short because of the writers strike. Former cast member Pete Davidson will host, making good on a plan to have him host last May. The comedian will be joined by first-time musical guest Ice Spice. The following week, Bad Bunny will pull double duty as host and musical guest. The writers strike was declared over Sept. 26 after Writers Guild of America board members approved a contract agreement with studios.

Persons: Pete Davidson, it'll, Chloe Troast, Davidson, Uzi, Jimmy Fallon ”, “ Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver ”, Stephen Colbert ”, “, ’, James Austin Johnson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Alicia Rancilio, Mark Kennedy Organizations: NBC, Guild of America, Hollywood, SNL, Associated Press Locations: New York

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