Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Friday 27 June 2025
AI copyright ruling, Bond reboot, Social Network sequel, Pitt’s F1 film, Hulu deal, UK green standards, Austen revival, Amazon’s India bet, Korean cinema, Hungary’s hit series.
Today’s Highlights:
Meta wins key issue in AI copyright case involving Sarah Silverman – Artificial intelligence companies are now two-for-two in decisions regarding the legality of training.
Denis Villeneuve confirmed to direct the next James Bond film – Reinvents one of the most valuable franchises under new studio control (Amazon, MGM), with global commercial and creative implications.
Aaron Sorkin to direct The Social Network Part II – High-stakes, culturally resonant project examining tech’s transformation and influence, likely to spark widespread conversation.
Apple’s $250M Brad Pitt F1 movie aims to prove box office power – A bold test of streamers’ viability in theatrical distribution, with major industry figures and financial backing involved.
Disney and Charter expand Hulu deal, restoring linear channels – This signals a broader shift in media bundling strategies and affects access to key content for millions of U.S. viewers.
UK film bodies launch national sustainability standards – Establishes a framework that could influence global production practices and shape the industry's response to climate change.
Amazon launches MX Fatafat microdrama platform in India – Reflecting innovation in format and global content strategy, the platform targets a massive and rapidly growing digital audience.
Rise of the Raven becomes Hungary’s biggest TV hit – Demonstrates the potential for locally produced, globally exportable historical dramas outside of major streamers.
Neon acquires Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice – Highlights the prestige and continued expansion of Korean cinema into Western markets, with strong festival prospects.
Jane Austen's 250th anniversary sparks a new wave of adaptations – A notable cultural milestone with enduring IP appeal, influencing both period drama trends and heritage storytelling.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals & Jobs with Netflix, Channel 4 & Paramount in London, Sydney, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol & Glasgow.
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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
A Jane Austen Renaissance in 2025
In 2025, as Jane Austen turns 250, three new adaptations of her novels are on the way. Two decades after Pride & Prejudice (2005) gave us the iconic Darcy hand flex, Austen’s stories are once again everywhere. New titles, such as Jane Austen Wrecked My Life and Miss Austen, join the celebration, alongside fresh takes on her most beloved works in multiple formats. Read More
Meta Wins on AI Training, But Court Warns of Future Copyright Risks
A U.S. judge dismissed Sarah Silverman’s lawsuit against Meta, ruling that using books to train AI like Llama is “highly transformative” and qualifies as fair use, for now. However, the court cautioned that future cases could succeed if plaintiffs prove AI-generated works compete with originals. Meta still faces a separate claim over the alleged unauthorised distribution of copyrighted books. Read More
Leverage Point Entertainment: Driving Sustainability in Entertainment
Founded by Zsófia Szemerédy, Leverage Point Entertainment helps creatives and companies identify their unique leverage points for sustainability. Based in London and Budapest, the agency offers tailored services including carbon footprint assessments, decarbonization strategies, script reports, training, and final evaluations. Emphasising early involvement and long-term thinking, the company guides productions to make high-impact, low-effort changes that create lasting ripple effects across the industry. Read More
Turkish Dramas "Wounded Heart" and "A Little Sunshine" Dominate Latin American Screens
ATV Distribution celebrates the success of Wounded Heart and A Little Sunshine, both of which hit number one in their respective time slots on Mega TV Chile and Caracol TV Colombia. With compelling stories and emotional depth, these Turkish dramas continue to resonate across cultures. Their strong ratings reaffirm the genre’s universal appeal and growing popularity in Latin America, according to Muge Akar, Head of Sales at ATV Distribution. Read More
DirecTV Tests Streaming-Only Subscriptions in Select Markets
DirecTV is trialling a new approach in select U.S. zip codes by removing the option to subscribe to its satellite service, offering only its streaming platform to new customers. First reported by Cord Cutters News, the experiment limits subscription options based on location, signalling a potential shift in DirecTV’s long-term strategy toward prioritising streaming over traditional satellite TV. Read More
EBS Launches First Fully AI-Produced TV Show
South Korea’s EBS will premiere its first fully AI-produced program, EBS AI Short Film Theater (1×30′), on June 27. The show features four short films—spanning animation, sci-fi, documentary, and fantasy—created through collaboration between EBS producers and generative AI tools in writing, visualisation, and editing. The series showcases the storytelling and educational potential of human-AI collaboration in the evolving landscape of K-content. Read More
UK Film Bodies Launch Sustainable Production Standards
The British Film Institute, BAFTA Albert, and ScreenSkills have introduced new national occupational standards and skills checklists to support sustainable production practices across the UK screen industry. Available for free on the ScreenSkills website, these resources aim to standardise on-set sustainability roles and close the green skills gap. BAFTA Albert MD Matt Scarff called the initiative “a vital resource” to help the industry reach net zero by 2050. Read More
AI-Powered Short Film Dramatises Ukraine’s Covert Drone Strike
Just weeks after Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a covert drone strike damaging a third of Russia’s cruise missile carriers, filmmaker Samir Mallal released The Decisive Moment: Spiders in the Sky, a five-minute AI-generated short on YouTube. Created in under a week using Veo3, Sora, and MidJourney, the film blends fact, fiction, and satire to reimagine the mission as a cinematic thriller, showcasing AI’s potential for rapid, stylised nonfiction storytelling. Read More
‘Rise of the Raven’ Soars as Hungary’s Biggest TV Hit, Eyes Global Expansion
Hungarian-Canadian producer Robert Lantos brings "Rise of the Raven", a sweeping 10-part historical epic about 15th-century hero János Hunyadi, to global audiences, premiering in Italy after achieving record-breaking success in Hungary. Shot in multiple languages and based on Mór Bán’s 12-volume novel, the series avoids jingoism by portraying flawed characters on all sides. Despite lacking major streamer backing, it has become a cultural phenomenon and is now rolling out across Europe and beyond. Read More
Teledoce’s Eugenio Restano on 2024 Hits and Content Needs
Eugenio Restano, Programming Manager at Teledoce, shares insights on the channel’s 2024 content strategy. He emphasises the value of formats that differ from mainstream platforms, allowing Teledoce to maintain a distinct identity. As part of "Buyers: What Are Buyers Looking For?", Restano highlights the importance of creating unique, personality-driven content to stand out in today’s evolving entertainment landscape. Read More
Gen Z Reality Hit Virgin Island Breaks Taboo with Intimacy Coaching
Channel 4’s Virgin Island has become a Gen Z streaming sensation, drawing nearly 9 million views by spotlighting adult virgins tackling intimacy fears through therapy-led challenges. Unlike typical dating shows, the bold format blends vulnerability and realness, resonating with younger viewers and surpassing Love Island as Channel 4’s top unscripted launch for 16–34s. A U.S. version is reportedly in development. Read More
Apple Bets Big on Brad Pitt’s F1 to Prove Box Office Muscle
Apple is banking on F1, its $250 million racing drama starring Brad Pitt, to deliver its first true theatrical hit. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film follows an aging driver’s comeback and marks Apple’s most ambitious foray into entertainment yet. Pitt reportedly earned over $20 million plus backend profits, making F1 a high-stakes test of Apple’s Hollywood strategy. Read More
BBC Funding Debate Heats Up Ahead of Charter Renewal
At a Royal Television Society event, Lord Tony Hall, Mike Darcey, Caroline Dinenage MP, and economist Mark Oliver explored the BBC’s future funding model. With the Royal Charter up for renewal in 2027, the panel debated reforming or replacing the licence fee, including mutualisation proposals backed by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. The discussion focused on safeguarding the BBC’s independence and its role in the UK’s creative economy.
Matthew Goode on Dept Q, Scott Frank and being “the cleanest man in Surrey”
AI, Addressability & Attention: Cannes Lions Sparks Media’s Next Chapter
At Cannes Lions 2025, Dan Callahan (Spectrum Reach) and Dave Campanelli (Horizon Media) led a high-energy discussion on the shifting media landscape. From linear TV’s resilience in Europe to the rise of addressable advertising and AI-powered creative optimisation, the panel spotlighted how sports, data, and smarter measurement are redefining effectiveness. The takeaway? Collaboration and agility are now the currency of success in a fragmented, fast-moving market.
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