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“Queen!”It was a Friday night in January, and Snoop Dogg had just rolled into a cocktail party hosted by Donna Langley, NBCUniversal’s chief content officer and studios chairwoman. His shouted greeting, paired with a jaunty deferential dance, seemed to leave her a bit embarrassed. “We’re here to celebrate filmmakers and films,” Langley told the room a few minutes later. Like it or not, this moment in Hollywood history is very much about her. Nolan started his acceptance speech for best director by saying, “Donna Langley — thank you for seeing the potential in this.”

Persons: Snoop Dogg, Donna Langley, “, ” Langley, Langley, Christopher Nolan, “ Oppenheimer, Nolan, “ Donna Langley —, ” Organizations: ”

☆ Can the woolly mammoth really be resurrected? Scientists take a small step closer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The stem cells will also make it easier for conservation scientists to study the Asian elephant’s unique biology. An Asian elephant stem cell line stained in different colors to highlight different elements. Courtesy ColossalEngineering a woolly mammoth hybridThe elephant stem cells also hold the key to the mammoth’s rebirth. The research team at Colossal has already analyzed the genomes of 53 woolly mammoths from ancient DNA recovered from fossils. The number of modifications needed to make an Asian elephant resistant to the cold would be broadly similar, he said.

Persons: George Church, Ben Lamm, Eriona, Eriona Hysolli, John Davidson “, ”, Hysolli, Oliver Ryder, Ryder, ” Ryder, Christopher P, Michel “, Ben’s, Lamm, “, That’s, We’ve, tramping, Colossal Organizations: CNN, Harvard University, Church, Dallas, Biosciences, Colossal, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Colossal Biosciences, Christopher Locations: Dallas, ”, Siberia

The situation was so dire last year at one Walgreens store in San Francisco, employees resorted to padlocking frozen foods. The effort to undo some aspects of Prop 47 comes amid a broader check on some other liberal crime enforcement policies in America. Police data shows that larceny theft, which includes retail theft and car break-ins, is down 37% from this time last year. On Tuesday, San Francisco voters approved two ballot measures spearheaded by Breed. Last September, the state announced it would be sending $267 million to law enforcement agencies throughout the state to tackle organized retail theft.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, It’s, ”, Jason Henry, “, Marlene Harden’s, Harden, Chloe, …, ” Harden, Marlene Harden's, Thanh Tran, Tran, Ella Baker, CNN Lenore Anderson, ” Anderson, Richard Bailey of Coronado, Breed, Tayfun, –, Miracle, don’t, We’re, Newsom, He’s Organizations: San Francisco CNN —, Republican, Democratic, Democratic Gov, CNN, Public, Institute of California, state’s Department of Justice, Walgreens, Walmart, ” Walmart, Westfield San Francisco Centre, New York Times, “ Walgreens, ”, National Retail Federation, Target, Ella Baker Center for Human, Attorneys, San Francisco Mayor London, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Anadolu Agency, San Francisco Chronicle, Police, “, San Francisco, Breed Locations: San, California, San Francisco, America, Oregon’s, San Diego County, Francisco, Texas, South Carolina

☆ Apple launches its first sports app
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The company on Wednesday launched Apple Sports, a free app for the iPhone that delivers real-time scores, key statistics, and live betting odds. At launch, users will have access to live data from the NBA, NHL, and MLS, among other leagues. On Wednesday, Apple will launch a new app. Apple has in recent years struck deals with various sports leagues, such as the MLB and MLS, to stream games on its Apple TV+ streaming service. While Apple Sports can alert users to where a game is being broadcast, it will not stream games directly inside the app, instead pointing users to the correct app to watch the action.

Persons: “, ”, Eddy, Apple’s Organizations: CNN, Apple, Wednesday, Apple Sports, NBA, NHL, MLS, NCAA, NFL, MLB, Services, ESPN, Super Bowl, Nielsen

CNN —The home of a Canadian Sikh activist in Brampton, Ontario, was hit by gunfire on Monday, months after the assassination of another activist sent India-Canada relations into a spiral. “It appears that only one bullet hole was found but that is subject to change,” Peel Regional Police wrote in a statement. The bullet hole in Gosal's home in Brampton, Ontario. The Canadian citizen was gunned down by masked men last June outside a Sikh temple in British Colombia. Weeks later, the United States accused an Indian government official of being involved in a conspiracy to kill another Sikh separatist, American citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on US soil.

Persons: Inderjit Singh, Gosal, Singh, Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Weeks, Gurpatwant Singh, Pannun, Nikhil Gupta, Gupta, Nijjar, “ Organizations: CNN, Justice, Peel Regional Police, Indian Consulate Toronto, Canadian, Indian, Global Affairs Canada Locations: Brampton , Ontario, India, Canada, India’s Punjab, British Colombia, United States, Ontario, Punjab

☆ Amazon wins exclusive streaming rights for NFL playoff game
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Amazon has landed the rights to exclusively stream one National Football League playoff game next season on its Prime Video platform, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The deal comes less than a month after NBCUniversal’s Peacock became the first-ever platform to exclusively livestream an NFL playoff game. The source said Peacock did not lose the rights to exclusively stream a playoff game. Earlier this month, Amazon reported a 24% year-over-year increase in total viewership of “Thursday Night Football” this season, citing Nielsen. The NFL declined to comment and Amazon has not responded to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: NBCUniversal’s Peacock, “, ”, NBCUniversal, Peacock, Nielsen Organizations: New, New York CNN, Football League, CNN, NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, NBC, NBC Sports Digital, NFL Digital, Telemundo, NBC Sports, Amazon, ”, Seahawks, Cowboys, ESPN, Fox Corp, Warner Bros Discovery Locations: New York

A bipartisan coalition of senators over the weekend released a long-awaited and highly anticipated bill that spans border security and international aid for Ukraine and Israel in their wartime efforts. The proposed deal would substantially change immigration laws and also provide $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. Some Republicans have grown skeptical of additional funding for Ukraine, which President Joe Biden proposed in a supplemental spending package. But GOP hard-liners insisted on border reforms before any consideration of Ukraine aid – which is how the border bill originated. Additionally, it includes $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel and some pockets of money for humanitarian aid in war-torn regions.

Persons: Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Johnson, Don’t, Chuck Schumer, MSNBC’s, Joe ”, ”, Here’s, Joe Biden Organizations: Israel, of Homeland Security, International, Ukraine, Russia, United Nations Relief, Agency, Asylum Locations: Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ Vocal TikTok Users Navigate a Quieter App
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Christopher Kuo | More About Christopher Kuo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When TikTok users open the app these days, they encounter a platform stripped of music by many of their favorite artists. Dancers bob and sway without a beat drop. Music from artists affiliated with Sony and Warner remains available on TikTok. But that did not stop some users from declaring they were departing to a rival platform, Instagram Reels, while others have made fun of Universal’s absence by dancing to songs in the public domain. The dominant feeling is frustration: What was the point of TikTok without one’s favorite melodies?

Persons: Playboi Carti, Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande, TikTok, ”, Myah Elliott, “ It’s Organizations: Universal Music Group, Universal, Sony, Warner

☆ Universal Music Group Pulls Songs From TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Videos on TikTok began to go silent early Thursday, after combative licensing negotiations broke down this week between the popular social media platform and Universal Music Group, the giant company that releases music by Taylor Swift, Drake, U2, Ariana Grande and many other stars whose songs have been key to TikTok’s rapid growth around the world. On Tuesday, a day before its licensing contract with TikTok was set to expire, Universal published a fiery open letter accusing TikTok of offering unsatisfactory payment for music, and of allowing its platform to be “flooded with A.I.-generated recordings” that diluted the royalty pool for real, human musicians. TikTok confirmed early Thursday that it had removed music from Universal, and videos on the app began to show the effects of the broken partnership. Recordings by Universal artists were deleted from TikTok’s library, and existing videos that had used music from Universal’s artists had their audio muted entirely. Universal songs were also unavailable for users to add to new videos.

Persons: TikTok, Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande, Kylie Jenner, Lana Del Rey, — Organizations: Universal Music Group, Universal Locations: A.I

☆ TikTok Just Lost a Huge Catalog of Music. What Happened?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ben Sisario | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

TikTok users woke up Thursday and discovered that many videos using songs by stars like Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Drake and Ariana Grande had gone silent, after a public brawl between TikTok and Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company. Here is a look at what happened and why, and some thoughts about what may come next. On Tuesday, Universal Music, the global giant that releases music by hundreds of major artists, published a forceful open letter to TikTok as the end of its contract with the social media platform neared. Universal said that TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, had not adequately addressed Universal’s concerns over A.I.-generated music on the platform, and that it would not agree to what Universal considered a satisfactory royalty rate. “Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business,” the label said, “without paying fair value for the music.”

Persons: Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Drake, Ariana Grande, TikTok, ” Organizations: Universal Music Group, Universal Music, Universal Locations: A.I

☆ Universal Music Group Threatens to Remove Music From TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ben Sisario | Derrick Bryson Taylor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, said it would revoke the licenses for its vast catalog of songs from TikTok after its current contract expires on Wednesday if the two companies could not reach a new deal addressing Universal’s concerns over artist compensation, artificial intelligence and other issues. In an open letter posted late Tuesday, Universal accused TikTok of responding to its requests with “indifference, and then with intimidation,” creating a public squabble in the remaining hours of the two companies’ existing contract. If the talks fail, TikTok users would be unable to use music by Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, U2, Bad Bunny and thousands of other artists in their videos. The company says it is used by more than 150 million Americans. For a majority of TikTok users, music is an integral part of the experience, with songs — often comically sped up — playing over the short clips that fill users’ feeds.

Persons: TikTok, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Universal, ”, A.I Organizations: Universal Music Group, Universal

Universal Music Group, which represents artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, says that it will no longer allow its music on TikTok now that a licensing deal between the two parties has expired. The licensing agreement between UMG and TikTok is expired as of Wednesday. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music,” UMG said. “Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans,” TikTok said. Yet Universal Music also called new technology a potential threat to artists and said that TikTok is developing tools to enable, promote and encourage AI music creation.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, UMG, ” UMG, TikTok, ” TikTok, ” Organizations: Universal Music Group, ByteDance, Universal Locations: UMG

☆ Peacock’s exclusive NFL playoff game drove ‘biggest subscriber acquisition moment ever measured,’ analytics firm says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Liam Reilly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —NBCUniversal’s high-stakes decision to exclusively air the NFL’s AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on its streaming service Peacock drove record signups to the platform, a digital analytics firm said Wednesday. In the three days leading up to the January 13 kickoff in Kansas City, Peacock saw 2.8 million sign-ups, Antenna reported on Wednesday, citing preliminary data. Prior to the game, Peacock reached roughly 30 million subscribers, a significantly smaller number than CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery’s 95 million Max subscribers and Netflix’s 260 million global subscribers. Though it remains unclear just how many of the 2.8 million new subscribers will retain their Peacock service beyond the playoff game, the announcement comes as other streamers also appear to be getting serious about sports. Netflix on Tuesday announced it will stream WWE’s “Raw” beginning in 2025, the company’s biggest foray yet into live sports.

Persons: Peacock, signups, NBCUniversal Organizations: CNN, AFC, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Disney, NFL, Warner Bros, Dolphins, Chiefs, Netflix, Amazon’s, Bally Sports, Diamond Sports Group Locations: Kansas City

☆ Not so dead as a dodo: ‘De-extinction’ plan to reintroduce bird to Mauritius
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Tom Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —An audacious collaboration between geneticists and conservationists plans to bring back the extinct dodo and reintroduce it to its once-native habitat in Mauritius. But according to the partners, its return to Mauritius could benefit the dodo’s immediate environment and other species. The Nicobar pigeon, native to the coastal regions from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is the closest living relative to the dodo. Then it will edit the PGCs of a Nicobar so it expresses the physical traits of a dodo. “I have studied the dodo for many years, and there is still a lot to learn about this enigmatic bird,” he added.

Persons: dodo, Beth Shapiro, ”, Matt James, James, Holger Hollemann, Tatayah, ” Tatayah, “, dodos, Ben Birchall, Julian Hume, ” Hume, Ben Lamm, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Colossal Biosciences, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Getty, Gorges, Colossal, “, White Rhino, Biosciences Locations: Mauritius, Rodrigues Island, Asia, Nicobar, Park, “ Mauritius, Aigrettes, Ile

☆ IBM to pause ad spending on X after its ads ran on pro-Nazi accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Liam Reilly | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —IBM on Thursday announced it had suspended advertising on Elon Musk’s X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after an ad for the computing giant appeared alongside pro-Nazi content. The accounts remained active on X Thursday afternoon, hours after the report was published. No brands had specifically targeted the pro-Nazi accounts identified in Thursday’s report for their advertisements, nor did the company intentionally place their ads there, the spokesperson said. Full stop.”IBM is not the first company to part ways with X after its ad appeared next to hateful content. Musk’s X has also come under fire for reinstating the accounts of users who were previously banned on the social media platform, including far-right and neo-Nazi figures.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, ”, NBCUniversal’s Bravo, Adolf Hitler, Linda Yaccarino, NCTA, Yaccarino, Musk, Jonathan Greenblatt, ” Greenblatt, Musk’s, –, Brian Fung Organizations: New, New York CNN, IBM, Elon, Media, IBM —, Apple, Oracle, Comcast, NBCU, CNN, and Television Association, Gilead Sciences, Adobe, Adobe , New York University Langone Hospital, University of Maryland’s, Whites, Defamation League Locations: New York, Nazi, Adobe ,, America

☆ Sephora has locked up all its perfume. It says too many people were stealing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Sephora has drastically changed the way people shop for fragrances in its stores, and it’s blaming store thefts for it. Sephora locked up the fragrances and added more staff specifically tasked with stopping theft. “To minimize the threats of retail theft and to provide our shoppers with the peace of mind during their experience at Sephora, we’ve increased the presence of Sephora loss prevention investigators across all stores. “The ultimate victim of retail crime is 100% the consumer,” said Landon Winkelvoss, co-founder of Nisos, a provider of threat intelligence to companies and organizations. “Sephora freed the products and put them straight into consumers hands so they could touch, swatch and experience the products at their leisure,” she added.

Persons: New York CNN — Sephora, Sephora, I’m, ”, Mark Skertic, Skertic, Landon Winkelvoss, Manola Soler, Alvarez, “ Sephora Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, “, eBay, Facebook, Walgreens, Marsal’s Consumer, Retail, swatch Locations: New York, Sephora, Chicago

☆ House Heads Toward Vote on Johnson’s Plan to Avert Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Catie Edmondson | More About Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The House on Tuesday pressed toward a vote on legislation to keep federal funding flowing into early 2024, as a bloc of Democrats tacitly signaled their willingness to back a plan opposed by many Republicans to avert a shutdown at the end of the week. A vote was expected late Tuesday afternoon. House Democratic leaders have yet to state an official position on the bill. Many of them have questioned the proposal because it contains two staggered deadlines for funding different parts of the federal government, one on Jan. 19 and one on Feb. 2. But an increasing number of Democrats privately said that they planned to vote for it because it did not include any spending cuts or policy changes — both demands of hard-right Republicans — and because they saw no other way to prevent a shutdown.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, Republicans —, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Republicans, Democratic, House Democratic, NPR Locations: New York

☆ Opinion: Israel-Hamas war’s endgame
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Last week, as Israel continued its military response to the October 7 Hamas terror attack, its political goals — and potential endgame — remained a source of huge controversy. Join us on Twitter and Facebook“Take, for example, the Israel Defense Forces strike on Gaza’s Jabalya refugee camp on Tuesday. “Following the horrific massacre in Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7, I felt an intense, relentless grief. Though Perry wanted to escape Chandler, he kept him around, because heaven forbid anyone saw what he was hiding.”

Persons: Gideon Rose, ”, ” Rose, —, Joe Biden, Robert A . Pape, “, ” DJ Rosenthal, Obama, ’ inhumanity, Jordan, Antony Blinken, ” Shai Davidai, Nadia AbuShaban, Hashem, David Shulkin, Peter Bergen, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Karl Rove, “ Mike Pence, Geoff Duncan, Nikki Haley, Duncan, Ron DeSantis, ” Haley, DeSantis, Lisa Benson, GoComics.com, Michael Ramirez, Trump, Norman Eisen, Joshua Kolb, Donald Trump’s, ” Eisen, Kolb, Leah Abucayan, CNN Maggie Jackson, ” She’s, Gabriel Levin, Frida Ghitis, ‘ Allahu akbar, ’, Ghitis, Wen, Julian Zelizer, Johnson’s, Mike Johnson’s, Biden, ” Paul Krugman, Johnson, Mike Johnson, ’ ”, John Avlon, “ Merriam, It’s, Benjamin Franklin, ’ ” Drew Sheneman, Nicole Hemmer, SBF Clay Jones, Sam Bankman, Howard Fischer, ” Fischer, Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn, “ Chillingly, Taylor, Compton, Hamlyn, Walt Handelsman, Laura Tillman, ” Don’t, Jill Filipovic, Celia Wexler, Pope Francis, Elena Sheppard, ‘, Matthew Perry, Chandler Bing Reisig, Dean Obeidallah, Perry, Chandler Bing, Chandler, ” “ Chandler, I’m Chandler, ‘ I’m, ” Perry, ” Holly Thomas, “ Perry, Roger Organizations: CNN, University of Chicago, ”, Hamas, US National Security Council, Twitter, Facebook, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Columbia Business School, “, New York Times, Street Journal, GOP, Republican, Trump, UN, Florida Gov, Wednesday’s GOP, Supreme, White, Cornell University, The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell, Progressives, Internal Revenue Service, Congressional, Office, Electoral College, America, Agency, FBI, NBCU, Bank, Getty Locations: States, Iraq, Israel, Southern Lebanon, Lebanon, Palestinian, “ Israel, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Tel Aviv, Gaza, ”, Florida, Wednesday’s, Rhode, Rhode Island, Dagestan, Russian, Lewiston , Maine

☆ Striking actors are reviewing Hollywood and TV studios’ ‘best and final offer’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —A deal to resolve film and television actors’ 113-day strike could be imminent, as the union representing them said it is reviewing Hollywood and TV studios’ final offer. The negotiating committee for the SAG-AFTRA union on Saturday said it received a “last, best and final offer” from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, whose members include Disney, Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Both the actors and writers fought for updated deals that better paid them for shows and movies on streaming services. Disney’s Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, and NBC Universal’s Donna Langley have been directly involved in negotiations.

Persons: ’, It’s, George Clooney, Tyler Perry, Bob Iger, Discovery’s David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley Organizations: New, New York CNN, Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros . Discovery, Warner Bros, CNN, NBC Locations: New York

Maine is the latest state to address foreign influence in elections. The Maine referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot would ban foreign governments, or companies with 5% or more foreign government ownership, from donating to future referendum races. The Maine proposal is straightforward by targeting foreign governments and companies owned by them, while leaving untouched foreign-based corporations with no government ownership. The idea of foreign influence in U.S. elections is something that unites people in an era of deep partisan divisions. “Of course we shouldn’t have foreign governments meddling in our elections.”___Follow David Sharp on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @David_Sharp_AP

Persons: Aaron McKean, McKean, Daniel Weiner, It’s, ” Weiner, “, Sen, Rick Bennett, —, Janet Mills, Maine’s, ”, Sarah Walker, Bennett, George Washington, David Sharp, @David_Sharp_AP Organizations: —, Hydro, Washington , D.C, Brennan Center for Justice, Hydro Quebec, Central Maine Power, CMP, Canadian, Republican, Democratic Gov, Maine Press Association, Maine Association of Broadcasters, Norges Bank, Qatar Investment Authority Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, — Maine, Hydro Quebec, Canadian, Washington ,, Minnesota, Florida, Idaho, Seattle, Portland , Maine, U.S, ” Maine, Spanish, In Montana, California, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Los Angeles, Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Qatar

☆ An Orange Cake From a Revolutionary Chef
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lisa Donovan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

I was a baking-and-pastry devotee and did not yet have the experience of working among ornery savory chefs with their own idols and heroes. Ms. Lewis was as savory a chef as I had studied at that point, but I mostly focused on her pies, cakes and breads. Back then, I regretted when savory chefs commandeered the dessert menu. This is the trademark of pastry chefs of my generation. We have been brought up in both worlds, learning the rules and then adjusting to our moment and materials, as savory chefs do.

Persons: Sal, Aaron, Jesse, Pierre Hermé —, Hermé’s, Dorie Greenspan —, Claudia Fleming, Gina DePalma, Lindsey Shere, Elisabeth Prueitt, Edna Lewis, Lewis, Paul Bertolli’s, Panisse Organizations: Big Locations: Oakland, Calif

☆ SAG-AFTRA strike: Hollywood actors and major studios make progress in talks, signaling possible deal on horizon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —It appears the actors’ strike is approaching its final scene. That progress has led to hopes that an agreement could be reached as early as this week or next week, the people said. One such issue, the use of artificial intelligence, has proved to be a sticking point between the writers and studios and required careful examination. SAG-AFTRA told its members early Monday that over the weekend it had “discussed all open proposals,” including A.I., with the studios. That would mean actors, crews, and much of the Hollywood industry would have to endure the holiday season out of work.

Persons: Duncan Crabtree, —, Bob Iger, Discovery’s David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley —, AFTRA, Hollywood, “, ” Crabtree, Variety, we’re, ” Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, SAG, Warner Bros, NBC, Sherman

☆ Actors and Hollywood Studios to Restart Negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The major entertainment studios and the union representing tens of thousands of striking actors will return to the negotiating table on Tuesday, less than two weeks after talks were suspended because the sides remained far apart on significant issues. The restart of negotiations was announced in a joint statement on Saturday from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, and SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union. On Oct. 9, the Writers Guild of America ratified its new contract and there had been hope that a new deal with the actors would follow. The strikes have been devastating financially for many, both within and outside the industry. But an agreement with the actors would mean getting back to work without losing the entirety of the fall television schedule or having next summer’s moviegoing season upended.

Persons: —, Donna Langley, Ted Sarandos, Robert A, David Zaslav — Organizations: Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Netflix, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Writers Guild of America Locations: California

☆ X CEO Linda Yaccarino Says Platform Should Turn Profit in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Alexa Corse | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Twitter’s next CEO, Linda Yaccarino, is well-known for her tight relationship with ad agencies and her hard-nosed negotiating tactics. WSJ’s Suzanne Vranica explains what she can bring to the social media company. Photo: Charles Sykes/NBCUniversal/Getty Images (Published earlier this year)X Corp. Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino said on Wednesday the company is “just about break even” in terms of operating cash-flow and should turn a profit early next year. Yaccarino, NBCUniversal’s former ad-sales czar who joined the company, formerly called Twitter, in June, has faced questions about how much she can rebuild X’s ad business after tumult under company owner Elon Musk, who acquired the platform late last year and swiftly cut thousands of jobs, upended features like verification and loosened content-moderation policies.

Persons: Twitter’s, Linda Yaccarino, WSJ’s Suzanne Vranica, Charles Sykes, Elon Musk Organizations: X Corp

A third straight day of marathon negotiations between Hollywood studios and striking screenwriters ended on Friday night without a deal. But the sides made substantial progress, according to three people briefed on the talks. The sides plan to reconvene on Saturday. For the third day in a row, several Hollywood moguls directly participated in the negotiations, which ended a little after 8 p.m.Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive; Donna Langley, NBCUniversal’s chief content officer of Universal Pictures; Ted Sarandos, co-chief executive of Netflix; and David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. During the Thursday negotiations, the sides had narrowed their differences, for instance, on the topic of minimum staffing for television show writers’ rooms, a point that studios had been unwilling to engage on before the guild called a strike in early May.

Persons: Robert A, Donna Langley, Ted Sarandos, David Zaslav Organizations: Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, Universal Pictures, Netflix, Warner Bros, Discovery Locations: Los Angeles

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