World M&E News

US , Hulu , Disney+ , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

Disney+, Hulu Combining Into Single Integrated App, Will Stop Reporting Subscriber Data

Hulu as a standalone streaming app is going away. The legacy SVOD platform is combining with Disney+ into an integrated single app platform in 2026. Hulu will replace India’s Star across Disney+ branding internationally.

Media Play News | 6-Aug-25
US , Entertainment Business

Disney Scrapped Dwayne Johnson Deepfake For ‘Moana’ & AI-Generated Soldier For ‘Tron: Ares’: “Company Couldn’t Risk The Bad Publicity”

The AI-generated character would be a sidekick to Jeff Bridges’ character, but the idea was ultimately scrapped because “executives internally were told that the company couldn’t risk the bad publicity.”

Deadline | 4-Aug-25
India , Government , Regulation , CBFC

How Government’s Anti-Piracy Drive is Protecting the Film Industry

Dr. L. Murugan emphasized the government’s dedication to protecting content creators and the entertainment industry ecosystem through robust anti-piracy measures.

Digital Studio | 4-Aug-25
UK , Classification , Backlash , BBFC

‘Mary Poppins’ tops BBFC’s 2024 complaints list, amid a record-breaking year for film classifications

Mary Poppins was the most complained about cinema release of 2024, according to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) annual report.

Screen Daily | 4-Aug-25
UK , Trigger Warning , Mental Health

Trigger warnings ‘have no meaningful impact’ on students

Study finds no evidence that warnings improved students’ sense of psychological safety or their willingness to discuss controversial topics.

The Times | 1-Aug-25
India , Censorship , Streaming Platforms , Government , Regulation

Did Central government act beyond its powers to order changes in Udaipur Files? Delhi High Court to examine

The Delhi High Court is set to examine whether the Central government acted beyond its powers by ordering changes to Udaipur Files, a movie based on the murder of Rajasthan-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal.

Bar and Bench | 30-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business , Culture

American Eagle's Campaign Is a Story of Ill-Fitting Insights in Today's Retail Market

Clearly, they didn’t sufficiently test the copy (among other things), and yet their stock price has surged despite the scandal. Which is going to lead some folks to claim all PR is good PR… That’s a hard no.

Adweek | 30-Jul-25
US , Backlash , Racism

Dunkin’ Faces Backlash Over Genetics Reference in New Ad

Consumers are hyperaware of the topic amid outcry over American Eagle's Sydney Sweeney campaign.

Adweek | 30-Jul-25
Thailand , Censorship , Streaming Platforms , Regulation , NBTC

Thailand’s Media Revolution: Navigating Broadcasting, OTT, and Film Laws in 2025

Thailand’s media and entertainment sector is regulated by a mix of broadcast, telecommunications, and film laws enforced by several agencies. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) acts as the independent regulator overseeing broadcasting (TV and radio) and related telecom services.

Lexology | 29-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

Report: Streaming Eating Broadcast TV’s Ad-Revenue Lunch

New data from Caretta Research finds that the legacy TV market globally is projected to lose $42 billion in revenue over the next five years, while streaming ad revenue is expected to grow 41% ($93 billion).

Media Play News | 29-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

Ad-Supported Platforms Accounted for 73.6% of TV Viewing in 2nd Quarter of 2025

Streaming picked up share from broadcast and cable, per Nielsen’s Ad-Supported Gauge, driven by new releases of “Love Island,” “Squid Game” and “Ginny & Georgia”

The Wrap | 29-Jul-25
US , YouTube , Entertainment Business , Profanity

YouTube tells creators they can drop more F-bombs

Videos that use the F-word in the first seven seconds are now eligible for full ad revenue.

The Verge | 29-Jul-25
India , AppStore , Ratings , Classification

Apple overhauls App Store age ratings, adds new 13+, 16+, and 18+ categories

Developers will now be required to classify their apps using a broader range of age categories, including new 13+, 16+, and 18+ ratings, in addition to the existing 4+ and 9+ options. According to Apple, these ratings are intended to help users and parents better understand the nature of the content they are downloading.

Business Today | 28-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

Nielsen: Ad-Supported Content Represented Nearly 74% of All Household TV Viewing in First Six Months of 2025

Ad-supported content across legacy television and streaming platforms watched on household TVs accounted for almost 74% of a TV viewing in the first six months of the year, according to new data from Nielsen.

Media Play News | 28-Jul-25
United Kingdom , Classification , BBFC

BBFC classifies highest number of cinema films ever

In 2024, the BBFC classified 1,256 feature films for cinema, a 13 per cent increase from 2023, and the highest number of submissions in the organisation’s history. As in previous years, the most frequently issued age rating was 15, which was applied to 41 per cent of cinema submissions. In contrast, the 18 classification was issued to 4 per cent of all cinema films, remaining the least common rating.

Advanced Television | 28-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

Ampere: Family Movies Driving Box Office, Streaming

Family appropriate movies are helping drive the domestic box office, with 33% of U.S. studio 2024 theatrical titles that grossed more than $100 million being family-oriented — up from 20% in 2022, according to new data from Ampere Analysis.

Media Play News | 28-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

Media and entertainment sector not immune to trade war implications

Automakers, agriculture producers and consumer electronics manufacturers have dominated headlines in recent months as the global trade war intensifies. However, one industry that—until recently—has received less coverage is media and entertainment. While it may not feel the effects of the trade war directly, the industry may experience a downstream impact as consumers and businesses make critical spending decisions driven by ongoing economic uncertainty.

RSM | 28-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

Interactive and Shoppable TV: Next Wave of CTV Revenues

This white paper is an urgent call to action for CTV platforms, streaming providers, and advertisers to prioritize interactivity and leverage the technology and data already at their disposal to strengthen their competitive and financial position.

Parks Associates | 28-Jul-25
India , Censorship , Streaming Platforms , Government , Obscenity

Ban On Obscene OTT Content A Welcome Move

The Central Government on Friday banned the websites and apps of 25 OTT platforms for allegedly streaming obscene, vulgar, and pornographic material.

Deccan Chronicle | 27-Jul-25
India , CBFC , Censorship

Hollywood vs censorville

Along with the widespread censorship method of simply banning films, releasing alternate versions of movies is also well established in many countries beyond India.

The Tribune | 26-Jul-25
US , YouTube , TikTok , Instagram , Entertainment Business

Social platforms and streamers battle for the living room

Both TikTok and Instagram are reportedly working on apps designed for television viewing, aimed at capturing growing connected TV (CTV) audiences.

Emarketer | 26-Jul-25
UK , Ratings , Classification , Sexuality

The Age-Checked Internet Has Arrived

Starting today, UK adults will have to prove their age to access porn online. Experts warn that a global wave of age-check laws threatens to chill speech and ultimately harm children and adults alike.

Wired | 25-Jul-25
India , Government , Censorship , Free Speech

‘Right of society to watch or not watch a movie,’ says SC while hearing petitions challenging release of ‘Udaipur Files’

The Supreme Court Thursday said “it is the right of the society to watch or not watch” a movie and that it will only lead to complications if every creative work is sought to be connected or identified with someone or something.

The Indian Express | 25-Jul-25
Kenya , Regulation , Government

Kenya’s New Media Code: Expanding Regulation for a Digital Era

The regulation of media practice in Kenya is as complex and evolving as it is globally. Media regulators are no longer solely focused on journalists in terms of professional obligations and responsible practice. Instead, they now oversee an expanded media space that includes content moderation, media practitioners, and content creators.

Nairobi Leo | 24-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

U.S. Streaming Video Market to Surge 33% by 2029 to Over $112 Billion, PwC Forecasts

Traditional TV, including advertising and pay-TV subscriptions, to see -5.4% CAGR over next five years

Variety | 23-Jul-25
US , Streaming Platforms , Entertainment Business

How the Streaming Ad Market Is Changing, for Better and Worse

The CTV market is expanding rapidly, but it’s also facing some major growing pains as it transforms the television advertising landscape at a rapid clip.

Variety | 23-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

AI Has An Anglophone Bias—Which Is Why Global Content Owners Need To Act Now

In the sprawling algorithmic architecture of artificial intelligence, there's a fundamental truth we keep ignoring: AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on. And right now, that data looks disturbingly homogenous.

TVREV | 23-Jul-25
United Kingdom , Entertainment Business , Ofcom

Draft report to the Secretary of State on the designation of television selection services

Under the new online availability and prominence regime introduced by the Media Act, connected TV platforms (referred to as ‘television selection services’) designated by the Secretary of State will be required to ensure that BBC iPlayer and public service broadcaster TV players designated by Ofcom, as well as their public service content, are available, prominent, and easily accessible.

Ofcom | 22-Jul-25
US , Netflix , Entertainment Business

Netflix is Using AI in Editing: Is This a Watershed Moment?

Netflix has embraced Gen AI to produce visual effects in its original productions, marking a pivotal moment for both the entertainment and AI industries

BizClik | 22-Jul-25
US , Microsoft , Entertainment Business

Microsoft Stops Selling Movies, TV Shows Across All Digital Platforms

The tech giant has stopped selling digital access to new release and catalog movies as well as TV shows after nearly 20 years.

Media Play News | 21-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

H.I. v. A.I. In The Arts: One Emotes, The Other Mimics

Human Intelligence Wins Every Time Over Emotion-Less AI Tech

The Brain | 21-Jul-25
Nigeria , Regulation , Government , NFVCB , Smoking , Drugs

Nigeria leads Africa in safeguarding media content

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) recently showcased Nigeria’s pioneering 2024 Regulation on the Control of the Promotion and Glamourisation of Tobacco, Narcotics, Ritual Killings and Money Rituals in media at the World Tobacco Conference in Ireland.

The Lagos Review | 21-Jul-25
Germany , Censorship , CBFC

How Hollywood films are modified by censors around the world

Many films are simply banned, but some censors get creative: They cut out or modify scenes deemed provocative. Superman's kiss was edited out, outraging Indian film fans.

DW | 21-Jul-25
India , Censorship , Government , CBFC , KFCC

Censorship and Films: Silencing the Cinematic Voice

Cinema is a powerful medium that holds significant cultural, economic and artistic importance. It allows people to express creativity and convey complex ideas. However, cinema has been subjected to censorship to protect the interests of society. In India, censorship of films is governed by the Cinematograph Act, 19521 (Act). Section 5-B2 of the Act provides that a film shall not be certified if the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is of the opinion that it is against the sovereign interests of the country, public order, decency or morality, etc. CBFC is bound by the guidelines framed by the Central Government in this regard.

SCC Online | 20-Jul-25
UAE , Classification

Dubai launches new classification system for AI-generated content

The system features icons can be used across sectors and formats, including images and videos, and are intended to help audiences better understand the origins of the content they consume

Gulf Business | 17-Jul-25
US , Netflix , Entertainment Business

Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Says AI Will Make Movies and TV “Better, Not Just Cheaper”

The streaming giant’s co-CEO told financial analysts that artificial intelligence tools are expanding creativity.

The Hollywood Reporter | 17-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

Rise of the Machines: Inside Hollywood’s AI Civil War

The technology is already transforming the industry — and could forever change the entertainment we consume. But the battle to contain it has just begun.

The Hollywood Reporter | 16-Jul-25
US , Government , Regulation

US DOJ Urges Cuts to ‘Non-Essential Language Services’, Backs Use of AI Translation

Some in the American language industry say that they have been waiting for the other shoe to drop since March 1, 2025.

Slator | 16-Jul-25
UK , Government , Regulation , ACB , ASA

The UK vs Australia: Who handles online gaming more effectively?

UK have vibrant and growing online gaming communities. These two nations are home to passionate players and evolving regulatory environments that shape the way games and platforms operate. While there are some similarities, key differences in regulation, oversight and approach are worth exploring.

The Upcoming | 16-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

Suspected AI Content Halves Reader Trust and Hurts Ad Performance

Research found that people’s trust drops by nearly 50% when an article feels AI-generated, even if it isn’t.

Adweek | 15-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

Smarter sets, bolder stories: Why AI is the future of video production

AI in video production will not dull creativity; instead, it will empower storytelling, making the process collaborative, expressive and scalable.

SmartBrief | 14-Jul-25
India , Censorship , Ratings , CBFC , Sexuality

Superman’s iconic kiss scene censored in India, leaving DC fans furious

The 33-second scene was removed entirely from the film shown in Indian cinemas by the Central Board of Film Certification, which reportedly deemed it “overly sensual” for the U/A certificate, a rating roughly equivalent to the UK’s 12A.

Independent | 14-Jul-25
US , Netflix , Streaming Platforms , Government

Colorado appeals court hands Netflix legal defeat over streaming sales tax

In a ruling that could have broader implications on how online services are taxed locally, the Colorado Court of Appeals has overturned a district court decision, ruling that Netflix movies and TV shows aren’t intangible goods exempt from taxation.

StreamTV Insider | 14-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business

Tech promised virtual reality would revolutionize entertainment. That moment might finally be closer than we think.

Taken together, this signals that tech and media behemoths are still betting that consumers will be willing to spend hundreds, if not thousands, to experience concerts, movies and sporting events beyond the confines of a traditional screen.

CNN | 12-Jul-25
US , Classification

Our Media Classification Does Not Fit The Containers Of The Past

But as the media landscape grows ever more fragmented and consumer behaviors evolve, I find myself increasingly questioning the usefulness of its classifications.

Media Post | 11-Jul-25
US , Government , Regulation , Ratings

Texas and Louisiana Join Growing Trend of State Age Verification Laws for App Stores

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law the “App Store Accountability Act.” Similar to the law of the same name passed by Utah in March, the Act requires app stores to take more responsibility for the online content and experiences accessible to minors under 18 years of age through mandated age verification and parental consent requirements. More than a dozen other states are considering similar bills.

Orrick | 10-Jul-25
US , Government , Regulation

The Global Content Regulation Landscape – Developments in the EU, UK, U.S., and Beyond

Global digital platforms face an increasingly complex and fragmented content regulation landscape. Governments worldwide are imposing overlapping and sometimes conflicting rules for monitoring, managing, or restricting online content.

JD Supra | 10-Jul-25
UK , Entertainment Business , Regulation

Generative AI Faces Copyright Scrutiny in Landmark Global Legal Battles

These landmark legal battles explore the use of copyrighted works in AI training, addressing whether such use constitutes copyright infringement. Key cases include Bartz v Anthropic in the US, Getty Images v Stability AI in the UK, and Like Company v Google Ireland in the EU.

OpenTools | 9-Jul-25
US , Entertainment Business , Subs and Dubs

Hollywood Isn’t Being Disrupted by AI. It’s Being Rebuilt Around It

AI is quickly becoming foundational to how Hollywood operates. From development to dubbing, marketing to monetization, the tools are already in place and being used. This isn’t speculative. It’s structural.

The Streaming Wars | 8-Jul-25
Nigeria , Regulation , Government , NFVCB , Smoking

Nigeria becomes first African country to regulate media portrayal of tobacco, rituals

The regulation, approved in 2024 under the leadership of Culture Minister Hannatu Musawa, applies to films, music videos, and skits and aims to protect public health and preserve cultural values.

Premium Times | 8-Jul-25