Media Giants Struggle as the Industry Faces Unprecedented Crisis The media sector, particularly linear television, is undergoing a deep and relentless crisis. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Paramount, two giants in the industry, are facing enormous write-downs and economic difficulties, but WBD's situation under CEO David Zaslav appears especially concerning. Despite enjoying moments of luxury and socializing during the Paris Olympics, David Zaslav now finds himself managing an unprecedented corporate crisis. Upon returning from Paris, Zaslav had to confront the [...]

After a turbulent first half of 2024 marked by layoffs, closures, and business disruptions, the video game industry is showing signs of recovery, according to a recent report from DDM Games. This sector analysis comes as the industry faces record-high investments, reversing some of the damage sustained during the previous year. Digital Development Management (DDM), an agency that offers representation, consulting, and investment services, regularly conducts research on the video game industry. The latest report highlights an impressive resurgence in [...]

The ongoing rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal issue in labor negotiations throughout Hollywood. From the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to SAG-AFTRA, the influence of AI has sparked significant discussions, leading to a historic double strike and shaping recent contracts. Now, as the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) enters negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for a new contract, AI's impact on the industry once again takes center stage. The [...]

Negotiations between the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have ended this week without a deal. According to reports, both parties plan to resume discussions in mid-September to reach a new three-year contract. These talks, which began on August 12, have yet to yield an agreement, and with the current Master Agreement set to expire on Friday, extensions will likely be needed during the interim. The Animation Guild (TAG), representing approximately [...]

Hollywood's summer movie season of 2024 was a mix of successes and disappointments, revealing important trends and lessons for the industry. Although the domestic box office saw a 12% decline compared to the previous year, global figures show a slight growth compared to 2022, suggesting that the much-anticipated recovery of cinema may already be underway. One of the highlights was the continued importance of the international box office, which proved capable of saving films that had disappointing performances at home. [...]

As more companies develop AI models for generating videos, the need for high-quality video content is growing rapidly. These AI models require vast amounts of video data—sometimes millions of hours—to train effectively. While some developers are still scraping content from the internet, this doesn't always provide the best quality. Therefore, there’s an increasing interest in licensing video content from film and TV archives, especially content that isn’t easily accessible online. Although major Hollywood studios haven’t yet fully embraced licensing their [...]