BFI Pleaded With Government To Exclude UK Screen Industries From Trump Trade Deal, Saying It Would Cause “Fundamental Harm”
The British Film Institute (BFI) has formally asked the UK government to exclude the nation’s film and television sectors from any trade agreement with President Donald Trump, warning that inclusion would cause “fundamental harm.” The BFI’s May 2025 policy paper argues that a US‑UK pact could strip the UK of its European‑work status under EU quotas, jeopardize tax‑break and subsidy flexibility, and open the door to permissive AI copyright rules. With the EU representing about 51% of UK film export revenue, the institute fears loss of market access would outweigh any US trade gains. The BFI also flags potential retaliation from the EU and the risk of reduced US investment if tariffs or regulatory concessions are imposed.
Prime Video Quietly Adds 5 New Movies to Its Lineup
Prime Video expanded its June catalog with 71 new movies, and Tom’s Guide editor Alix Blackburn highlighted five titles he deems essential for the summer lineup. The selections include the 2014 thriller A Walk Among the Tombstones, the 2019 escape‑room...
Meeting the Demand for Premium Content in Europe
Atresmedia Sales is intensifying its push into Central and Eastern Europe by leveraging a catalog of high‑budget Spanish series that blend universal themes with top‑tier production values. The company highlights proven hits such as Grand Hotel, Velvet and newer titles...
NBCU Points to Premium Video’s Broad Value as Social Marketing Rises
NBCUniversal, together with WPP’s Gain Theory, presented research showing premium video outperforms pure social and digital tactics. Simulated media plans that removed premium video saw a 29% drop in incremental revenue and a 20% lower ROI. The study also found...
Omdia: Global Online Video Subscriptions Reach 2.24 Billion in 2025
Omdia reports that global online video subscriptions hit 2.24 billion in 2025, a 17.6% year‑over‑year rise that pushed streaming revenues to $176 billion—surpassing pay‑TV’s $170 billion for the first time. Pay‑TV subscriptions continued to decline, falling 1.8% to 1.03 billion, leaving streaming with 68.4%...
Sky Exits Sky News Arabia Joint Venture as IMI Takes Control
Sky UK announced it is ending its joint venture in Sky News Arabia, transferring full strategic and operational control to International Media Investments (IMI). Sky will retain a long‑term brand‑licensing agreement, keeping the Sky News name on the channel. The...
As Streaming Wars Wear on, Emmy Success Could Give Peacock and Paramount+ a Boost
Peacock and Paramount+ are positioning 2026 as a breakout Emmy year after modest success in 2025. Peacock logged a record 19 nominations, highlighted by a reality‑competition win, while Paramount+ has yet to secure major scripted nods. Both services are banking...
Spotify Appoints Aditi Shorewal as Head of PR and Communications
Spotify has appointed Aditi Shorewal as head of PR and communications for India, marking a strategic move to deepen its brand presence in the sub‑continent. Shorewal arrives from Tinder, where she led communications for India and Korea, and brings a...
ZDF Studios Signs New Content Deal with Prima Group
ZDF Studios has inked a new agreement with Czech‑based Prima Group, adding 360 Herzkino titles to the broadcaster’s slate. The package mixes re‑licensed and first‑run romantic dramas and comedies for free‑TV and basic cable in the Czech Republic, with Czech‑language cable...
Data: Online Video Subscriptions Reached 2.2bn in 2025
Omdia reports global online video subscriptions hit 2.24 billion at the end of 2025, a 17.6% year‑on‑year increase. The sector’s revenue rose 13.5% to $176 billion, overtaking pay‑TV for the first time as pay‑TV revenue fell to $170 billion. Growth is expected to...
Sony Takes Stake in 32 Flavors
Sony Pictures Television has taken a majority stake in 32 Flavors, the reality‑TV production company founded by Alex Baskin. The acquisition brings Emmy‑nominated series such as “Vanderpump Rules,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” and “The Valley” under Sony’s umbrella....
Dhar Mann Is Going to Tribeca X to Prove CTV Can Do TV’s Job — and that Creators Belong in the...
Creator entrepreneur Dhar Mann is headlining Tribeca X to demonstrate that creator‑run studios can match traditional TV’s reach, especially in connected TV (CTV). His studio, Dhar Mann Studios, boasts a production pipeline that turns long‑form concepts into episodes in as little as...
ACE Welcomes French Court’s Spliiit Ruling
The Paris Judicial Court ruled that Spliiit breached French law by facilitating illicit password selling for ACE members Apple, Disney and Netflix. The judgment confirms that Spliiit's platform encouraged subscription sharing in violation of terms of service, trademark rights and...
McDonald’s, Hyundai & More Sponsor SBS FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast
Hyundai, McDonald’s, Commonwealth Bank, Rexona, Hisense, bet365 and Youi Insurance have become official sponsors of SBS’s 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast. SBS will air all 104 matches free on television and via its On Demand streaming service, delivering more than...
Retrans Impasse Blocks Scripps Stations, By Law, To DirecTV Users
A retransmission‑consent stalemate between The E.W. Scripps Co. and DirecTV has taken 54 of Scripps’ stations off satellite service. The outage began Sunday at 6 p.m. local time, affecting the CBS affiliate WTVF in Nashville and 35 other markets. Both companies...