Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Weekend 28-29 June 2025
Comcast exits Sky Deutschland, California boosts tax credits, Apple innovates F1 film, UTA expands, BBC cuts docs, Cameron, Reeves & Amazon launch major scripted projects.
Today’s Highlights:
Comcast Sells Sky Deutschland to RTL Group – A pivotal change in European media ownership, reshaping the pay-TV landscape across multiple countries.
California Approves $750M Film & TV Tax Credit Expansion – A major policy shift with global implications for production location decisions and industry economics.
Apple’s Formula 1 Film Uses iPhone and Haptic Tech – Apple’s innovation in both production and theatrical marketing highlights its growing influence in the entertainment industry.
UTA CEO David Kramer Expands Beyond Film and TV – Marks a strategic evolution of one of Hollywood’s major agencies as it pivots into new sectors.
BBC Reduces Storyville Output and Seeks New Head – Raises concerns about the future of international documentary storytelling on a globally respected platform.
Shadowbox Studios Secures £250M for Shinfield Studios Expansion – Reflects continued investment in UK production infrastructure amid rising international demand.
Matt Reeves Confirms The Batman Sequel Script Completion – A highly anticipated franchise continuation with strong audience and commercial expectations.
James Cameron to Direct Hiroshima Film Based on Personal Vow – A major auteur returns to a socially resonant project, backed by a powerful personal story.
Amazon MGM and Scott Stuber Acquire Rights to The Tenant – Illustrates ongoing demand for bestselling IP and Amazon’s growing commitment to premium storytelling.
Karen Read Murder Case Adaptation in Development – Adds to the booming true-crime scripted genre with potential for cultural and legal controversy.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations & Jobs with Banijay, Paramount, Roku & Netflix in Sydney, London, LA & NYC.
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INSIGHTS
How iPhone Apps Helped Shoot Apple’s High-Speed F1 Film
As Apple Original’s F1 hits theatres this weekend, cinematographer Claudio Miranda reveals surprising tools behind its high-speed visuals. While much attention goes to the film’s IMAX effects and custom camera rigs, Miranda shared that custom iPhone 15 Pros and select smartphone apps played a key role in planning and executing shots. These apps, he says, were essential to streamlining the cinematography process alongside director Joseph Kosinski. Read More
Universal Refutes Claim It’s Dropping French-Language Films
Following reports that Universal Pictures International France would stop handling local films, a source told Variety the studio will continue releasing French-language titles but with more selectivity. The source clarified that executive Xavier Albert was misquoted. Universal’s local output has focused on broad, high-concept comedies and family films—genres increasingly suited to streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. Read More
Newark Film Studios Marks Six Years as East Coast Production Powerhouse
Just steps from Newark Penn Station, Newark Film Studios has become a hidden gem for filmmakers seeking authenticity without the high price tag of New York. Now in its sixth year, the studio at 744 Broad Street has doubled for cities like Manhattan and D.C. in projects including Joker, West Side Story, and The Equalizer. Founder Joseph Dabbah calls it “one of the most filmed locations in New Jersey.” Read More
Jurnee Smollett on Embracing Complexity in Smoke and Beyond
Jurnee Smollett, known since childhood for her roles in Eve’s Bayou and Full House, continues to seek out roles that challenge her. “I never want to be pigeonholed,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. From superheroes to grieving mothers, Smollett says she thrives on transformation: “I’m so fortunate that I get to step into all these different professions.” Read More
David Kramer Leads UTA Into New Era Beyond Film and TV
As Hollywood faces contraction, new UTA CEO David Kramer is steering the agency toward broader horizons. His first major move: spotlighting UTA’s presence at the Cannes Lions Festival, emphasising its growth in branding, marketing, and the creator economy. Kramer, who joined UTA in 1992 from USC’s Peter Stark Program, says the agency’s startup spirit is key to its expansion beyond its film and TV roots. Read More
Micro Dramas Spark Hope for Korean Screen Revival as China Eyes Global Expansion
As the APOS convention wrapped in Bali, industry leaders pointed to micro dramas—short-form vertical videos—as a potential game-changer. Zhou Yuan, CEO of Content Republic, predicted international markets will soon mirror China’s booming micro drama trend, now worth $6–7 billion. While China pushes global growth, Korea’s struggling screen industry sees micro dramas as a lifeline amid declining box office returns and reduced TV production. Read More
Mariska Hargitay Explores Her Mother's Legacy in New Documentary
After producing HBO’s I Am Evidence in 2017, Mariska Hargitay was often asked if she’d ever make a film about her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. Initially uninterested, the Law & Order: SVU star began reconsidering during the COVID-19 shutdown. Reflecting on Mansfield’s 1967 death and reading heartfelt letters from those who knew her, Hargitay felt a growing need to uncover the woman behind the Hollywood icon. “I started really wanting to know who she was,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. Read More
Disney Sticks With Linear TV as Part of Long-Term Distribution Strategy
At the UCLA Entertainment Symposium, Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden confirmed the company has no plans to sell off its linear TV assets, unlike moves by NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery. In a keynote Q&A with attorney Ken Ziffren, Walden emphasised Disney’s strategy of balancing streaming and traditional platforms, stressing the continued profitability of linear TV as part of the company's broader distribution vision. Read More
Josh Weidling’s Digital Tour Bus Hits 500K Followers with Behind-the-Scenes Music Content
Since launching Digital Tour Bus in 2010, Josh Weidling has built a following of over 500,000 across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, amassing more than 9,000 videos that showcase musicians’ tour buses. His “MTV Cribs”-style interviews give fans an inside look at artists’ lives on the road, evolving from MySpace-era band promotions to a multi-platform success. Read More
Event cinema drives Trafalgar Releasing into UK top-10 distributor
In 2025, Trafalgar Releasing entered the UK’s top 10 distribution rankings thanks to booming event cinema revenues. The Picturehouse Entertainment spin-off, now under Trafalgar Entertainment, has grown through blockbuster concert films like Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and BTS: Bring the Soul, global expansion into 120 + territories, the 2019 More2Screen acquisition and the launch of US operations, cementing its position beyond niche markets into mainstream distribution. Read More
Orwa Nyrabia on Leading IDFA Through Transformation and Turmoil
Outgoing IDFA artistic director Orwa Nyrabia reflects on his seven-year tenure, marked by pandemic upheaval, staff protests, funding battles, and bold curatorial choices. He speaks candidly about leadership under pressure, rebuilding trust, and championing politically urgent films while navigating structural reform. Nyrabia departs with plans to return to producing documentaries, leaving IDFA with a stronger public identity and deeper industry engagement. Read More
Inside the Word-of-Mouth Success of The Ballad Of Wallis Island
UK indie comedy The Ballad Of Wallis Island, directed by James Griffiths and written by Tom Basden, has become a word-of-mouth hit thanks to an unconventional campaign backed by comedians, podcasters, and director Richard Curtis. Premiering at Sundance and filmed in Wales over just 18 days, the film’s humour, heart, and strong cast, including Tim Key and Carey Mulligan, sparked organic buzz and a grassroots marketing push. Read More
Apple’s Eddy Cue on Pioneering Haptic Trailer for F1 Film
Apple’s Eddy Cue discusses the tech giant’s innovative haptic-enabled trailer for its upcoming Formula 1 film, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski. Debuting in select US theatres, the trailer offers tactile vibrations to mimic F1 sensations, representing Apple’s drive to deepen audience immersion and showcase Apple Vision Pro’s potential. Cue hints at broader ambitions for cinema-tech integration as Apple expands its entertainment footprint. Read More
BBC Cuts Storyville Output Amid Budget Pressures, Seeks New Leadership
The BBC is scaling back its acclaimed Storyville documentary strand, reducing annual commissions by 20% due to financial constraints, though its budget remains unchanged. The move follows the resignation of Emma Hindley, Storyville’s lead commissioner, who cited a conflict of interest. As the BBC searches for a new head, concerns grow over the future of international documentary storytelling on the network. Read More
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