Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Tuesday 1 July 2025

AI revolution, Netflix live, Devil Wears Prada sequel, YouTube drama, Disney+ reboot, global doc shakeups, Fremantle expansion, and major new projects from Jeremy Thomas and Universal.

Today’s Highlights:

• CJ ENM launches first fully AI-generated series and outlines a sweeping AI content strategy – Signals a major technological shift in global content creation and positions Korea at the forefront of AI in entertainment.

• Netflix to stream NASA+ live feed in landmark U.S. content deal – A groundbreaking move that expands Netflix’s strategy into live third-party content, redefining its platform capabilities.

• Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway return for The Devil Wears Prada 2 – A high-profile sequel with major global stars, likely to generate major cultural and commercial buzz.

• Channel 4 debuts its first YouTube-first drama, Beth – Represents a strategic evolution in commissioning and platform-specific storytelling for traditional broadcasters.

• Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics explores rise of Christian nationalism in Brazil – A globally relevant, politically urgent documentary resonating with broader democratic concerns.

• Universal, Cynthia Erivo, and Michael Bay team up for sci-fi thriller Saturation Point – High-stakes genre adaptation that could launch a new international franchise.

• Fremantle launches Global Originals label led by Nick Mather – Marks a strategic expansion of one of the world’s biggest producers into global format innovation.

• Amazon’s Infiltrada en el Búnker exposes animal cruelty at Spanish lab – A powerful doc with real-world legal and ethical consequences, boosting investigative journalism’s relevance in streaming.

• Jeremy Thomas developing new films as he receives lifetime achievement award at Mediterrane – A prominent veteran producer staying creatively active, with potential future prestige titles.

• Disney+ revives Blind Date with a tropical twist for its 40th anniversary – High-visibility nostalgia play blending old format with new audience expectations.

Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with Netflix & Little Dot in Seoul, London & LA.

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Our subscribers receive one clear, concise daily bulletin that distils the latest global TV, film, and media headlines, deals, exec moves, and job listings.

Our subscribers include executives from:

• Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET, Cineverse.

• Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL, TVNZ, SRF, Kanal D, UKTV, Ceská Televize, FOX.

• Producers: Fifth Season, Sony Pictures Television, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, Universal Pictures International Australasia, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me, Halcyon Studios, DPG Media, Envision, Rive Gauche, Blue Ant Media, Squareone, Great Southern Studios, Collective Media Group, New Dominion Pictures, RAW TV, Optomen, Magpie Pictures, KOJO, ShinAwiL, WildBrain, Nine Daughters, Amazon/MGM Studios, October Films, Legendary Entertainment, Bad Wolf, Mediapro, Bron, Red Arrow.

• Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC, Attraction Distribution, Kaplan Stahler Agency, Passion Distribution, Audible, Screen Queensland, Canada Media Fund, My Smash Media, Artists First, Grey Seal Media, Screenforce Finland, BAFTA, IMAX.

INSIGHTS

Channel 4 Breaks New Ground with First YouTube-First Drama

Writer-director Uzo Oleh shares the making of Beth, Channel 4’s first digital original drama made for both YouTube and its own platforms. As more audiences shift to YouTube, Channel 4 aims to redefine digital content by premiering Beth across its streamer, linear network, and YouTube, signalling a bold move beyond trailers and playlists to entirely original, platform-first storytelling. Read More

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CJ ENM Unveils Bold AI Strategy with First Fully AI-Generated Series

Marking its 30th anniversary, CJ ENM launched a sweeping AI content strategy and premiered Cat Biggie, its first fully AI-generated animation, during the 2025 CJ ENM Culture Talk in Seoul. At the event, titled "K-Content Meets AI," the company outlined its vision to transform content creation using in-house AI technology, signalling a significant shift in the future of the Korean entertainment industry. Read More

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Jeremy Thomas Eyes New Projects Ahead of 76th Birthday

As he nears his 76th birthday on July 26, legendary UK producer Jeremy Thomas remains as driven as ever. Speaking at Malta’s Mediterrane Film Festival, where he received a lifetime achievement award, Thomas affirmed he’ll never stop producing. The Last Emperor and Crash producer revealed he’s currently developing “five or six workable scripts” through his Recorded Picture Company. Read More

Petra Costa Explores Rise of Christian Nationalism in New Doc

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa's Apocalypse in the Tropics premieres on July 11 in select U.S. and UK theatres and on July 14 on Netflix, with a Brazilian release this Thursday. The film examines the erosion of secular democracy in Brazil, where rising Christian nationalism poses a threat to constitutional values. Costa draws urgent parallels with the U.S., questioning where democracy ends and theocracy begins. Read More

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TV Founders Must Think Like Entrepreneurs, Not Freelancers

TV company founders need to stop treating commissions as gigs and start protecting their IP as long-term assets. Giving away rights too early turns creators into service providers, not brand builders. With new UK policy shifts supporting IP-backed growth, the time is now to own your format, name, and future. Read More

Apple TV+ Stays Selective but Open to New Pitches in 2025

Despite cautious market chatter, Apple TV+ continues developing new series, maintaining its curated slate and favouring prestige content. A new backend model rewards performance on the platform rather than broad ratings success. Agents note Apple’s process still feels “Old Hollywood”, slow but intentional, with genre preferences clearly defined. Recent hits like Severance and Silo reinforce its growing momentum while keeping buyers on alert. Read More

‘Long Live the State’ Celebrates Comedy’s Cult Sketch Legends

Premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, Long Live the State dives into the rise, fallout, and legacy of iconic sketch troupe The State, whose MTV series helped launch the careers of David Wain, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, and more. Directed by Matthew Perniciaro, the doc blends archival footage, reunion tour clips, and candid reflections to chart how this Gen X comedy collective shaped a generation.

Ben Doyle on Why YouTube Success Starts with Talent, Not Structure

Ben Doyle (aka RubberDuck) of After Party Studios shares how traditional production models often clash with YouTube’s creator-first culture. He stresses that success comes from building ideas around talent, not retrofitting them later. Doyle argues that rigid structure kills spontaneity and that understanding memes, in-jokes, and community dynamics is more valuable than glossy production.