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☆ Disney holds preliminary talks with Nexstar on ABC sale -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) has held exploratory discussions about selling its U.S. TV network ABC to regional TV station operator Nexstar Media Group Inc (NXST.O), people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Nexstar's interest is preliminary and may not lead to any deal, one of the sources said. Nexstar and Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Disney's ABC comprises a national television network and eight regional stations. It also has affiliation agreements with about 240 local television stations reaching almost all U.S. television households.

Persons: Bob Iger, Michael Eisner, Dawan Chmielewski, Akash Sriram, Josie Kao Organizations: Walt Disney Co, U.S ., ABC, TV, Nexstar Media Group Inc, Disney, Nexstar, Bloomberg News, Capital Cities, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Disney, Charter’s Spectrum deal will reshape media -executives
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Disney also agreed to drop eight of its less-viewed networks, signaling the end of bloated cable TV bundles. Broadcasters could negotiate fees that included adding new cable TV channels. The new type of bundle deal combining traditional channels with streaming services provides a way forward for the media business. Pity the cable TV channels that few people watch, said one TV station group executive. Paramount Global has created numerous spin-offs of its main cable channels, with Nickelodeon siring five programming offspring, Nick Jr., Nick at Nite, TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nick Music.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, John Malone, Walt Disney, ”, Craig Moffett, “, you’re, Rich Greenfield, Jonathan Miller, Nick Jr, Nick, Nick Music, Moffett, Dawn Chmielewski, Kenneth Li, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Liberty Broadband, Charter Communications, Reuters, Disney / Charter, Disney, Broadcasters, Cable, P Global Market Intelligence, Netflix, Leichtman Research, Paramount, ESPN, FX, Integrated Media Co, Warner Bros Discovery, American Heroes Channel, Paramount Global, Nickelodeon, Nick, Thomson Locations: U.S, Greenfield, Los Angeles, New York

☆ Charter-Disney cable TV dispute leaves some NFL, U.S. Open fans in the dark
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ESPN and other Disney channels disappeared from Charter's Spectrum cable service on Aug. 31, as contract negotiations reached an impasse. Disney announced this spring that Monday Night Football games would be carried on both ESPN and its ABC Network. That means Spectrum cable subscribers who live in markets with a local ABC TV affiliate not owned by Disney, including Buffalo, New York, will be able to watch Monday's NFL match-up broadcast. Some 25 million cable subscribers have cut the cord, industry-wide, over the last five years, as rising prices for content translate to higher fees for subscribers, contributing to the exodus. Disney, for its part, announced a discount for its Hulu + Live TV service, which will provide access to the U.S. Open, college football and NFL games.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Aaron Rodgers, That's, Kris Shofner, Shofner, Dawn Chmielewski, Leslie Adler Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, Football, ESPN, Disney, Charter's, U.S, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, ABC, ABC TV, NFL, US, NBA, Spectrum, Hulu, U.S ., Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Los Angeles, Buffalo , New York, New York City

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 7 (Reuters) - Charter Communications (CHTR.O) Chief Executive Chris Winfrey said he has a sense of urgency to resolve a distribution dispute with Walt Disney (DIS.N), in remarks on Thursday at a tech conference in San Francisco. Charter is locked in a distribution battle with Disney as the second-largest U.S. cable company negotiates with the media conglomerate over how much its channels are worth and how to package them. Such "carriage disputes" are commonplace in the media world, though this negotiation may shape the future of television in the streaming era. Disney issued a statement saying it “stands ready” to resolve the carriage dispute, and “do what’s in the best interests” of Charter’s customers.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Chris Winfrey, Walt Disney, “, ” Winfrey, Goldman Sachs, Winfrey, ” Disney, Scott Robson, Robson, Dawn Chmielewski, Akash Sriram, Sriraj Kalluvila, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, Disney, Technology, ESPN, ABC, Charter's, U.S, NFL, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

[1/2] Cars are shown lined up at the valet parking area outside the Creative Artists Agency building in Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - French luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault has reached an agreement for a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), adding Hollywood's premiere talent agency to his family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art, parties involved said on Tuesday. The presence of stars like Beyonce, Zendaya and Rihanna have become key to drawing the spotlight to fashion shows, and Kering's larger rival LVMH(LVMH.PA) recruited Pharrell Williams to head menswear designs for Louis Vuitton. TPG first invested in CAA in 2010 and, in 2014, increased its stake to 53% in a deal valuing the agency at $1.1 billion. Global investment firm Temasek will remain a minority investor in the agency while CMC Capital will remain a "strategic partner", according to a statement.

Persons: Jonathan Alcorn, Francois, Henri Pinault, Pinault, Gucci, Beyonce, Zendaya, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton, Pinault's, Salma Hayek, Valentino, perfumer, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, Richard Lovett, Lourd, Sudip Kar, Mimosa Spencer, Dawn Chmielewski, Jonathan Oatis, Tomasz Janowski, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, REUTERS, Rights, CAA, Artemis, TPG, Global, CMC Capital, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Temasek, Paris

Disney owns two-thirds of Hulu, while Comcast owns the rest. "Hulu has far greater value than when they struck the $27 billion agreement with Disney ... Comcast wants to get maximum value out of this." Hulu had 48.3 million subscribers at the end of the most recent quarter, compared with 24 million paid subscribers for Comcast's Peacock streaming service and 105.7 million global subscribers for Disney+. Greenfield applauded Disney CEO Bob Iger for agreeing to accelerate the Hulu purchase, saying that waiting until next year is hampering Disney's strategic flexibility. "Whatever Disney chooses to do, having partial ownership of Hulu with Comcast makes anything else they want to do more challenging," Greenfield said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Brian Roberts, ” Roberts, Roberts, Goldman Sachs, ”, Rich Greenfield, Greenfield, Bob Iger, Disney, Iger, Samrhitha, Helen Coster, Dawn Chmielewski, Nick Zieminski, Stephen Coates Organizations: Comcast NBC, REUTERS, Comcast, Disney, “, Technology, Hulu, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hulu, Bengaluru, New York, Los Angeles

While such "carriage disputes" are commonplace in the media world, with TV channels going dark as cable companies negotiate with media companies over how much its channels are worth and how to package channels, this fight is different. Companies like Charter say rising distribution fees are forcing cable companies to increase prices, causing consumers to leave. The nation’s second-largest cable operator said viewership for Disney’s sports, entertainment and children’s programming has declined as the media conglomerate invested in its Disney+ streaming service. Disney is trying to manage declining cable subscribers as it builds streaming offerings. It wants to keep as many cable subscribers as possible while it prepares to offer ESPN directly to consumers on an app.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Walt Disney, Christopher Winfrey, We’re, Winfrey, “, SVB, Disney, Rich Greenfield, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Charter Communications, ESPN, ABC, Disney, Charter's, U.S, Media, Charter, FX, Los Angeles . Companies, NFL, NBA, Hulu, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Los Angeles

But Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani snatched IPL rights away in a $2.9 billion bid last year, and then streamed games for free. Soon, Disney subscribers fled - out of 61 million users in October, roughly 21 million had left by July. It retains digital streaming rights but last year licensed the TV broadcast rights to Indian's Zee Entertainment (ZEE.NS) for around $1.5 billion, a source said. In the United States, ad-free Disney+ streaming service subscription rates are set to rise by 27% to $13.99 per month. By contrast in India, Disney+ Hotstar service costs $3.62 a month.

Persons: Anushree, India's Ambani Hotstar, Walt Disney, Disney, Mukesh Ambani, That's, JioCinema, Sivanandan, Daoud Jackson, Bob Iger's, Nancy Lee, Ambani, Aditya Kalra, Munsif, Dawn Chmielewski, Muralikumar Organizations: ICC Men's Cricket, REUTERS, Companies Disney India, Century Fox, Indian Premier League, Disney, Reuters, Asia, Cricket, Indian's Zee Entertainment, IPL, Blume Ventures, Hotstar, Staff, Media Partners, Netflix, JioCinema, Thomson Locations: Gurugram, India, Burbank, Disney India, United States, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles

REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 24 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) said on Thursday it was adding a new offering to its Max streaming platform, a round-the-clock news service called CNN Max, in the United States on Sept. 27. CNN Max will leverage the news network's global reporting resources, and will also offer new original programs, such as "CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker and Fredricka Whitfield," Warner Bros Discovery said in a statement. It will function like a channel within the Max streaming platform. CNN Max will seek to capitalize on the immediacy of breaking news and analysis, differentiating CNN Max from the short-lived CNN+ streaming service, which launched in March 2022 and featured lifestyle programs. CNN's parent, Warner Bros Discovery, has been working to increase how much time subscribers spend on its Max streaming service, augmenting its HBO scripted series with Discovery's reality shows to keep viewers watching.

Persons: Alyssa Pointer, CNN Max, Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker, Fredricka Whitfield, Axios, CNN's, Max, Anthony Bourdain, Stanley Tucci, Yuvraj Malik, Dawn Chmielewski, Helen Coster, Anil D'Silva, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham Organizations: Warner Bros . Discovery, REUTERS, Warner Bros Discovery, CNN, Max, P Global Market Intelligence, Español, CNN International, Fox News, MSNBC, Nielsen, Thomson Locations: Warner Bros . Discovery Atlanta, Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, United States, Italy, Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles, New York

Representatives for Disney, Amazon and Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment. And critics seem to say that the quality of content being produced is actually in decline," Khan told The Ankler podcast. The SAG-AFTRA actors union, which went on strike July 14, also is seeking an increase in base pay and residuals. The WGA letter did not single out other companies, including Apple (AAPL.O), Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), which also offer streaming media options. Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Julia Louis, Dreyfus, Christine, Walt Disney, Linda Khan, Khan, Lisa Richwine, Dawn Chmielewski, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Warner Bros ., Screen, Writers Guild America, Guild of America, Netflix, Disney, Federal Trade Commission, WGA, Hollywood, SAG, Apple, Google, Warner Bros Discovery, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, ANGELES

[1/2] Striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) members walk the picket line in front of Netflix offices in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Aug 16 (Reuters) - After three months of walking the picket lines, striking Hollywood writers expressed optimism on Wednesday about the reopening of contract talks with major studios and the possibility they could be back at work in weeks. Still, members of the Writers Guild of America see reason for hope. Writers went on strike on May 2 over an impasse on compensation, minimum staffing in writers' rooms, residual payments and curbs on artificial intelligence. While "Law and Order" writer and WGA liaison Terri Kopp is also upbeat about talks with studios continuing, she is concerned about information leaking from their confidential negotiating sessions.

Persons: Mike Blake, Pam Davis, we're, it's, AMPTP, They're, K.C, Scott, Terri Kopp, Kopp, Lucy, Danielle Broadway, Dawn Chmielewski, Sandra Maler Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, REUTERS, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney, Writers Guild of America, Reuters, Amazon Studios, Screen Actors Guild, WGA, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Culver City

☆ Striking Hollywood writers expected to respond to studios' proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line during their ongoing strike outside Sunset Bronson studios and Netflix offices in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 11, 2023. Writers went on strike May 2 over an impasse on compensation, minimum staffing in writers' rooms, residual payments and other issues. Officials familiar with the specifics of the studios' proposal declined to provide details. The AMPTP had rejected as a "hiring quota" the WGA's demand for minimum staffing of writers' rooms. Writers have proposed curbs on the generative artificial intelligence, a complex topic the studios saw as requiring "a lot more discussion."

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Writers, AMPTP, Dawn Chmielewski, Mary Milliken, Cynthia Osterman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Netflix, REUTERS, Companies Comcast Corp, Paramount, Writers ' Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Reuters, Bloomberg, WGA, Screen Actors Guild, Thomson Locations: Sunset Bronson, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ CBS News names Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews as president after Khemlani resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, new CBS News president, poses in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on August 14, 2023. Michele Crowe/CBS News/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsAug 14 (Reuters) - CBS News said on Monday Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, award-winning journalist and veteran news executive, has been named president, after Neeraj Khemlani stepped down from the position on Sunday. The network also appointed insider Wendy McMahon as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures. Ciprian-Matthews, who has been with CBS News for 30 years, joined the company as a senior producer for live segments for the morning news. Before joining CBS News in 1993, Ciprian-Matthews was the managing editor of CNN's New York bureau.

Persons: Ingrid Ciprian, Matthews, Michele Crowe, Neeraj Khemlani, Wendy McMahon, Ciprian, CNN's, Dawn Chmielewski, Samrhitha, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: CBS News, Reuters, CBS, REUTERS Acquire, CBS Media Ventures, newsgathering, National Public Radio, Nacional, Thomson Locations: Ciprian, York, Kosovo, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Haiti, Chile, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Disney's future, a hot topic among Hollywood elite
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger arrives at the world premiere for the film 'The King's Man' at Leicester Square in London, Britain December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File PhotoAug 14 (Reuters) - Hollywood's favorite parlor game of the week: What will Bob Iger do next? Another veteran media executive predicted Disney would spin off the television asset to its shareholders as a separate, publicly traded company by 2024, with private equity potentially playing a role. "You sell the parts, then sell what's left," said the veteran. Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Kenneth Li and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bob Iger, Hannah McKay, Walt Disney, Iger, Jeff Bewkes, what's, It's, Laura Martin, Dawn Chmielewski, Kenneth Li, Richard Chang Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Leicester Square, REUTERS, U.S ., Walt, CNBC, Reuters, ESPN, Disney, ABC, Disney Channel, NBA, Comcast, Hulu, Time Warner, Google, Facebook, Apple, Netflix, MGM, Needham, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Culver City, New York City, U.S, Hulu, Hollywood, Los Angeles

☆ Striking Hollywood writers, studios to return to bargaining table
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Negotiators for striking Hollywood writers and the major studios will return to the bargaining table on Friday, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) said as the strike marked more than 100 days. Both sides met on Aug. 4 to discuss resuming talks and the issues each intended to bring to the bargaining table. But the WGA put out a statement afterwards critical of the studios, a sign that talks were strained. Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger on Wednesday extended an olive branch to Hollywood writers and actors, citing his “deep respect” for creative professionals. Iger, who has a reputation as talent-friendly, angered striking Hollywood workers last month when he said that their demands were "not realistic."

Persons: Bob Iger, Iger, Dawn Chmielewski, Mary Milliken, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, WGA, Disney, Actors Guild, SAG, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Disney hikes streaming prices, focuses on costs as Iger moves to reassure investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Disney also posted quarterly revenue below expectations and fell slightly behind analyst projections for U.S. subscribers of Disney+. A sign is shown at one of the entrances to Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. It added 800,000 Disney+ subscribers, 100,000 subscribers shy of analyst estimates, and shed 12.5 million subscribers to the Disney Hotstar service in India, or nearly a quarter of its subscribers, as it gave up rights to Indian Premiere League cricket matches. Disney's direct-to-consumer business reported a 9% increase in revenue to $5.5 billion, as the average revenue per subscriber rose at Disney+ and Hulu. The unit had lower operating income at its domestic parks, due to decreases at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Persons: Walt Disney, Bob Iger, ’, “, I've, ” Iger, Wall, Iger, Mike Blake, Jesse Cohen, Dawn Chmielewski, Chavi Mehta, Aditya Soni, Peter Henderson, Sayantani Ghosh, Matthew Lewis Organizations: ESPN, Disney, Hulu, Netflix, Disney Studios, REUTERS, Indian Premiere League, Investing.com, Shanghai Disney Resort, Walt Disney World, Thomson Locations: Hollywood, Europe, Canada, Burbank , California, U.S, India, Disney's, Orlando , Florida, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ News Corp beats profit estimates on cost cuts, touts AI boost to future sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 10 (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp (NWSA.O) on Thursday beat quarterly profit estimates thanks to its cost-cutting efforts and talked up how generative artificial intelligence will support future results. For the first time, digital revenue accounted for over half of the company's total revenue for the full year, News Corp said. Higher digital subscription revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter helped News Corp absorb the impact of a 11.5% decline in advertising revenue. Revenue in its professional information business, which includes data and analytics platforms such as Oil Price Information Service, rose 10%. Excluding items, News Corp earned 14 cents per share, beating estimates of 8 cents, according to Refinitiv data.

Persons: Rupert, Robert Thomson, OpenAI, Thomson, Chavi Mehta, Dawn Chmielewski, Anil D'Silva, Stephen Coates Organizations: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, News Corp, Sunday Times, Wall Street, Associated Press, Corp, Revenue, Price Information Service, New York Times Co, Fox Corp, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles

☆ Disney cost cuts exceeding targets but quarterly revenue misses
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The entertainment conglomerate also said it fell slightly behind analyst projections for U.S. subscribers of Disney+. It added 800,000 Disney+ subscribers, 100,000 subscribers shy of analyst estimates, and shed 12.5 million subscribers to the Disney Hotstar service in India, or nearly a quarter of its subscribers, as it gave up rights to Indian Premiere League cricket matches. Disney's traditional television business continued its decline, with lower revenue and operating income across the company's broadcast and cable TV business. TV revenue for the quarter decreased 7% to $6.7 billion, while operating income fell 23% to $1.9 billion. Disney's direct-to-consumer business reported a 9% increase in revenue to $5.5 billion, as the average revenue per subscriber rose at Disney+ and Hulu.

Persons: Mike Blake, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Iger, Disney, Strange, Disney's, Dawn Chmielewski, Chavi Mehta, Aditya Soni, Peter Henderson, Sayantani Ghosh, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Disney Studios, REUTERS, Disney, Indian Premiere League, Hulu, Guardians, Shanghai Disney Resort, Walt Disney World, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, India, Orlando , Florida, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

[1/3] Workers and supporters of the Writers Guild of America protest outside Universal Studios Hollywood in the Universal City area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni//File PhotoLOS ANGELES, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The Hollywood writers' strike marks 100 days on Wednesday with contract talks stalled and people on the picket lines protesting what they describe as a disregard for their demands. Writers also sought to regulate the use of artificial intelligence, which they fear could replace their creative input. Reuters reported that Disney has created a task force to study artificial intelligence and how it can be applied across the entertainment conglomerate, signaling its importance. "When it comes to artificial intelligence, it is an existential crisis.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, David Zaslav, Dawn Prestwich, Prestwich, assailing, Bob Iger, we're, Jamey Perry, Steven J, Ross, Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Sandra Maler Organizations: Workers, Writers Guild of America, Universal Studios Hollywood, REUTERS, Hollywood, Entertainment, Warner Bros Discovery, Screen Actors Guild, SAG, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Hope, Walt Disney, Reuters, Disney, University of Southern, Thomson Locations: Universal City, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hollywood, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

[1/2] 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. The growth of artificial intelligence has been a key issue for union members, who fear that it could replace their creative input. "Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative," Iger said on a call discussing Disney's quarterly results on Wednesday. Iger, who returned to Disney as CEO last year, did not say how he would help bring the strikes to an end. Under Iger, Disney has created a task force to study artificial intelligence and how it can be applied across the company, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Persons: Mike Blake, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Iger, Bryan Cranston, Danielle Broadway, Dawn Chmielewski, Mary Milliken, Leslie Adler Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, Hollywood, Disney, SAG, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Iger

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line during their ongoing strike outside Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 31, 2023. As evidence of its interest, Disney has 11 current job openings seeking candidates with expertise in artificial intelligence or machine learning. AI has become a powder keg in Hollywood, where writers and actors view it as an existential threat to jobs. In Switzerland, Disney Research has been exploring AI, machine learning and visual computing, according to its website. This technology is used to augment digital effects, not replace human actors, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Indiana Jones, Disney Imagineer, Groot, Imagineer, Harrison Ford, STEAMBOAT WILLIE, Willie, Bob Iger, Marvel, Hao Li, Li, Scott Trowbridge, Dawn Chmielewski, Krystal Hu, Kenneth Li, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Walt Disney Studios, REUTERS, Hollywood, Reuters, Disney, Guardians, Screen Actors Guild, STEAMBOAT, U.S . Patent, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Disney Research, Star, Galactic, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Hollywood, Zurich, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Disney's, Switzerland, Los Angeles, New York

Toy figures of people are seen in front of the displayed Paramount + logo, in this illustration taken January 20, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/FILE PHOTOAug 7 (Reuters) - Paramount Global (PARA.O) said it would sell Simon & Schuster to private-equity firm KKR & Co (KKR.N) for $1.62 billion in cash, ending a year-long attempt to sell the marquee book publisher. Paramount has been trying to offload Simon & Schuster, the publisher of authors such as Stephen King and Hillary Clinton, since a federal judge blocked its $2.2 billion sale to Penguin Random House last year. "Simon Schuster is a fantastic asset, but ... it's not core," CEO Bob Bakish said on a post-earnings call. Paramount will receive gross proceeds of $2.2 billion from the sale of Simon & Schuster, including a $200 million termination fee paid by Penguin Random House and the cash flow it received during the process.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Simon, Schuster, Stephen King, Hillary Clinton, Penguin Random, Simon Schuster, Bob Bakish, Bakish, Simon & Schuster, Naveen Chopra, Samrhitha, Dawn Chmielewski, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Paramount, KKR, Co, Penguin, BET Media Group, BET, Simon &, Penguin Random, Netflix, Disney, Finance, Hollywood, CBS, U.S, Apple, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles

☆ Striking Hollywood writers, studios meet to discuss resuming talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line during their ongoing strike outside Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, Aug 4 (Reuters) - As the Hollywood writers' strike approaches the 100-day mark, Writers Guild of America (WGA) negotiators will meet on Friday with representatives of the major studios for the first time in three months to discuss whether contract talks can resume. "We challenge the studios and AMPTP to come to the meeting they called for this Friday with a new playbook," the WGA said in an email. Fox is expected to announce that television's Emmy Awards will be rescheduled to air in January due to the strikes, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a person familiar with the plans. Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; additional reporting by Danielle Broadway in Los Angeles Editing by Mary Milliken and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mario, Walt Disney, Fox, Jorge A . Reyes, Kevin Hill, Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Paramount Studios, REUTERS, Hollywood, Guild of America, WGA, Television Producers, Walt, Netflix, Screen Actors, Los Angeles Times, Warner Bros Discovery, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Australia's O'Callaghan smashes 14-year-old record to win world title
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FUKUOKA, Japan, July 26 (Reuters) - Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan finished with a flourish to break the longest-standing world record in women's swimming, claiming the 200 metres freestyle title in a time of one minute, 52.85 seconds at the World Aquatics Championships on Wednesday. Summer McIntosh of Canada was 0.80 seconds behind to take bronze in a world junior record time. Olympic champion Titmus had blazed to the 400m freestyle title on Sunday to erase 16-year-old McIntosh's mark and was well placed to go for another record after topping the semi-final time sheet. Hungary's world record holder Kristof Milak was absent from the men's 200m butterfly that followed, as the Olympic and world champion skipped the meet saying that he was not physically or mentally in a position to compete. The mixed 4x100m medley relay concludes the fourth day of swimming with the Americans tipped to win their third title.

Persons: Mollie O'Callaghan, O'Callaghan, Italian Federica Pellegrini, Ariarne Titmus, Summer McIntosh, Titmus, China's Yang Junxuan, Kristof Milak, Frenchman Leon Marchand, Poland's Krzysztof Chmielewski, Tomoru Honda, Qin Haiyang, Nic Fink, Adam Peaty, Matthew Richards, Ahmed Hafnaoui, Sam Short, Bobby Finke, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis Organizations: Wednesday, Channel, Marine Messe Fukuoka, Thomson Locations: FUKUOKA, Japan, Italian, Rome, Australia, Canada, Budapest, Tunisia, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Actors decry 'existential crisis' over AI-generated ‘synthetic’ actors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Synthetic performers. One issue is creating synthetic performers from an amalgamation of actors’ images. The producers have promised to obtain a performer’s consent, and bargain separately for subsequent uses of an actor’s doppelganger, sources say. The producers offered to seek a performer’s consent for any changes beyond typical alterations done post-production, sources say. SAG interprets this as AI overreach, and wants permission sought before any changes to an actor’s image, likeness or voice.

Persons: ”, Carly Turro, Duncan Crabtree, ” Crabtree, Crabtree, “, Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway, Kenneth Li, Deepa Babington Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Los Angeles

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