(TNT / Warner Bros. Discovery) News 

Warner Bros. Discovery files lawsuit against NBA to prevent Amazon’s new streaming package

Warner Bros. Discovery has taken legal action against the NBA after the league rejected its bid for broadcasting rights. The media company filed a lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court following the NBA’s decision to go with Amazon’s streaming package for the 2025-26 season. The conflict stems from Warner’s belief that its current contract gives it the right to match any bid that replaces Warner as the home of TNT’s NBA games (and the iconic Inside the NBA) in a future deal. As for the league’s stance, The…

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Take-Two Interactive Gaming 

The Bioshock movie is moving forward with a smaller budget

It has been a while since we last heard about Netflix’s Bioshock movie, sparking speculation that it may have been canceled. However, the latest update confirms that the movie is still in the works. Unfortunately, there are reports suggesting that the budget for the film has been reduced, as per Variety. This comes from producer Roy Lee, who was one of the people behind The Lego Movie. He announced the reduced budget at a panel at San Diego Comic-Con. He didn’t release the numbers, but said the film is currently…

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Amazon News 

Amazon is developing a prequel for The Boys

The Boys may be nearing its final season, but fans can still expect more blood and torn muscle tissue on their screens. Jensen Ackles, who portrays Soldier Boy on the show, announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Amazon will be creating a prequel to The Boys titled Vought Rising. The new prequel is set in the 1950s in the early days of the evil Vought Empire, a mega-conglomerate that runs the entire superhero industry in The Boys’ universe. The new series shows early attacks by characters like Soldier Boy and…

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Amazon Gaming 

Amazon releases the first teaser for its upcoming Yakuza adaptation

Amazon has unveiled a teaser video for its upcoming live action adaptation of SEGA’s Yakuza games, Like A Dragon: Yakuza, at San Diego Comic-Con. The video showcases the intricate inking process of Kazuma Kiryu’s famous dragon tattoo, as well as glimpses of Kamurocho’s nightlife, key characters from the series, and the underground fight club featured in the games. The teaser concludes with a scene of a shirtless Kiryu entering a circle of spectators cheering and placing bets on his upcoming match. When the company announced the show in June, it…

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Reuters / Reuters News 

ESPN, NBC, and Amazon secure NBA TV rights as TNT bid is turned down

The NBA and WNBA have signed agreements for the broadcasting and streaming of games for the next eleven years. The NBA deal will be in effect from the 2025-2026 season to the 2035-2036 season, while the WNBA agreement will cover the seasons from 2026 to 2036. Pro basketball has been a mainstay of ESPN for years and continues to be, and the Disney-owned network remains the primary media rights owner for both leagues. ESPN will be the exclusive home of the NBA Finals for eleven years of the new deal,…

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Max News 

All ad-free subscribers can now access Max’s SharePlay feature for iOS

Previously known as HBO Max, the streaming service has expanded its SharePlay feature to users worldwide. This feature, which was initially only available in the US, allows users on Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free plans to host and join watch parties over FaceTime and iMessage regardless of their location. Users can start watching with friends by pressing the “share” button either in the information section of each title or in the FaceTime app. Each session can have up to 32 participants, but all must be Max subscribers. This means that people…

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Amazon News 

Prime Video receives a long-awaited update with improved user interface, including a new content bar and AI-powered recommendations.

Amazon Prime Video, known for its wide range of original content such as Fallout, The Boys, and Rings of Power, has previously been criticized for its cluttered and confusing layout compared to competitors like Netflix. However, the company is now introducing a new UI that aims to provide a more intuitive and streamlined streaming experience. Prime Video’s redesign starts with a streamlined navigation bar that should make it easier to navigate. The bar on the left contains the general categories Home, Movies, TV Shows, Sports and Live TV. Immediately to…

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News 

Top reads for the week: The Light Eaters, Paranoid Gardens, and I Was a Teenage Slasher

We have been intrigued by the latest fiction, nonfiction, and comics that have been released. I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones Stephen Graham Jones is something of a slasher expert. The author has tackled the genre in several of his novels (most notably the Indian Lake trilogy, which features a slasher-obsessed protagonist) and has an ongoing Fangoria column devoted to his influences, so it’s no surprise to see that he’s published another take on the canon. But this time we get a different perspective: that of a…

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YouTube/20th Century Studios News 

The latest trailer for Alien: Romulus is intense, gory, and impressive.

The recent Alien films have been generally well-received, but many fans feel they lack the intense, visceral tension of the original movies. The new trailer for Alien: Romulus suggests a return to the franchise’s dark and claustrophobic origins. Alien: Romulus features an all-new crew of doomed spacefaring souls who encounter a deadly Xenomorph in an abandoned spaceship. This time it’s a crew of space colonizers scavenging for resources from abandoned ships and stations. This Alien movie is written and directed by Fede Alvarez, the filmmaker behind cult horror movies like…

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Paramount+ News 

Paramount+ has canceled the live-action Halo series.

In 2013, renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg collaborated with Microsoft to develop a live-action Halo TV series. After a decade of anticipation, the show has been axed by Paramount+ after just seventeen episodes. The first season premiered in 2022, with the second following earlier this year. Despite our initial ambivalence towards the series, its cancellation marks a disappointing end to the high-profile production. According to an unnamed Variety source, the show’s creators plan to shop the project and look for a new home with the Master Chief and Cortana chronicles. “We…

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But you might have to pay extra to watch March Madness on the platform. News 

Max to provide free live sports streaming for a limited time

In the upcoming weeks, Max appears poised to enter the realm of sports streaming. Warner Bros. Discovery is considering enticing users by providing live sports content at no additional expense for a few months, with the intention of eventually introducing an additional charge for such services. When WBD unveiled the new-look Max (formerly HBO Max) in April, it said it would unveil plans for live sports at some point this year. The company broadcasts NBA, MLB and NHL games on its linear networks, and according to Bloomberg, it has been…

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You may also see exactly how long you have to wait until you can skip the remaining ads. News 

YouTube Experiments with Longer Commercial Breaks on TV Apps

YouTube is currently conducting trials on smart TVs, Apple TV, and game consoles to explore a new advertising strategy. The platform is testing the concept of reducing the frequency of ad breaks while extending their duration on these devices, collectively known as connected TV or CTV experiences. The idea is to display ads in a way that fits better with each YouTube viewing environment. On mobile, you may be more inclined to watch content like Shorts in smaller chunks, so shorter, quick ad breaks may make more sense. However, YouTube…

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'Heart on my Sleeve' may be eligible for songwriting honors. AI 

Grammy Awards to Take into Account Drake and The Weeknd’s Viral Song with AI Vocals for Nominations

The individual responsible for a popular AI-generated song has entered the track for consideration at the Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy has specified that certain awards are not applicable to such works. Nevertheless, Ghostwriter, the anonymous creator of “Heart on My Sleeve,” has submitted the song in the categories of best rap song and song of the year, which are both recognized for songwriting excellence. The Academy has indicated a willingness to acknowledge compositions primarily composed by humans, even if the recording itself is predominantly AI-generated. Ghostwriter composed the lyrics…

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The company’s also consolidating office space and reducing related expenses. News 

Roku Cuts 300 Jobs and Removes Streaming Content to Cut Costs

Roku appears to be significantly reducing its spending. According to Variety, the company is letting go of 300 employees, which accounts for ten percent of its workforce. Additionally, Roku is implementing various cost-cutting measures such as eliminating streaming content, consolidating office space, and reducing expenses related to external services. The objective is to achieve a significant decrease in the rate of operating expense growth compared to the previous year. The company hasn’t announced what content it plans to remove from its various streaming platforms, and whether those cuts will come…

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This seems to be another move to attract more paying users. News 

Spotify Tests Restricting Access to Lyrics Behind Premium Paywall

Spotify is currently conducting tests on its Premium service by making changes to its offerings. Recently, a number of Spotify users who were on the free tier observed that they could no longer access in-app lyrics. Instead, they received a notification bubble stating, “Enjoy lyrics on Spotify Premium,” along with a sign-up link. Spotify explains that this move to place in-app lyrics behind a paywall is simply a part of its regular testing process. “At Spotify, we routinely run a number of tests, some of which end up paving the…

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The move will impact podcasters' earnings and boost the company's bottom line. News 

White Noise Podcasters Allegedly Excluded from Spotify Advertising Program

According to Bloomberg, Spotify’s relationship with white noise podcast creators has been difficult, and the company appears to be intensifying its actions against them. Starting from October 1, white noise podcasters will no longer qualify for Spotify’s Ambassador Ads program. As part of the program, Spotify pays podcasters to read ads for the company’s own products. Its goal is to get more people to make presentations on the platform. Bloomberg previously reported that some white noise podcasters were making as much as $18,000 a month, largely due to Spotify itself…

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It’s in theaters and on Peacock starting October 27th. News 

Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie Trailer Reveals Animatronics’ Deadly Intentions

The initial trailer for the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie was impressive, but it lacked the presence of the game franchise’s infamous killer animatronics. However, the latest trailer has addressed this concern by prominently showcasing Foxy, Bonnie, Chica, and Freddy himself. These murderous puppets are seen engaging in their signature activity of taking lives. You also get a little more plot, which seems to reflect the gameplay. It resets on Josh Hutcherson’s character as the criminally underrated Future Man as he starts a new gig as a night security guard…

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It adds an extra social element to the music-streaming app. News 

YouTube Music’s Now Playing Tab Incorporates YouTube Comments to the Detriment of Listeners

The recent update of YouTube Music’s Now Playing page is now available for both iOS and Android devices. A notable addition to the app is a new feature that enhances its social aspect. Users can now read and post comments directly on the Now Playing page, expanding beyond the previous limitation to playlists only. According to screenshots shared by 9to5 Google, some of the comments on the page may be from several years ago. As it is, it seems The updated design is rolling out gradually, so you may not…

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