Media
Trump threatens global films with 100% tariff
The US President says he’ll slap a 100% tariff on any film made outside the US, accusing foreign governments of “stealing” Hollywood productions with tax incentives.
As The Australian’s Joseph De Avila writes the details are thin, but the move doubles down on earlier threats and puts global studios – like Australia – on notice.
But it might not be time for a Bex and a lie down just yet.
According to Variety, the threat is being seen as a lot of hot air, with studios “privately skeptical” Trump will make good on his promise.
Comedians call out peers over Saudi comedy festival
A slew of comedians, including Dave Chapelle and Australia’s own Jimoein, are copping heat for their participation in the Saudi-backed Riyadh Comedy Festival.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Derrick Bryson Taylor writes that Marc Maron joked about the… what’s the word I’m looking for here… that’s right, hypocrisy, on his podcast saying: “From the folks that brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert.”
Then again, it seems not everyone can be bought, with Shane Gillies (who isn’t heading along) revealing organisers doubled his offer when he turned them down.
Read what Human Rights Watch has said about the event. Just a warning, now might be the time to have that Bex on standby.
How HBO Max is building lasting growth after a false start
Six months after launch, HBO Max is moving from early buzz to building market share. With a lean content slate, quick rebrand and ad model in place, Warner Bros.
Discovery ANZ’s Michael Brooks spoke to Mediaweek’s Frances Sheen, telling her: “We’re now positioning ourselves for that next stage of growth and momentum. It’s been a rocketing start.”
Legal
YouTuber legal fight tests anonymity online
Ethan Klein has taken his creator feud to court, seeking to unmask Reddit and Discord moderators behind a forum critical of him.
404 Media’s Matthew Gault writes that lawyers say the subpoenas would endanger users and set a troubling precedent for online free speech, framing the move as an attempt to silence detractors.
AI
Creatives push back on AI copyright threat
Australia’s cultural heavyweights are fronting the Senate this week, warning that AI-driven copyright changes could gut the nation’s creative industries.
According to Noah Yim in The Australian, the pushback comes after the Productivity Commission flagged a potential new exception for text and data mining, a move that would let companies legally scrape works to train AI models.
Gaming
Electronic Arts set for record $55bn private equity takeover
The publisher behind The Sims, Madden NFL and Battlefield, is set to be taken private in what would be the largest leveraged buyout ever attempted.
The Guardian reports the $55bn deal would see stockholders paid $210 a share.
Film
The Simpsons return to the big screen in 2027
After a 20-year gap, Springfield is heading back to cinemas.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Ryan Gajewski writes that Disney has slotted the second Simpsons movie into a July 2027 release date, taking over a spot once reserved for a Marvel title.
Companies
Meta’s smart glasses still stuck in niche territory
Mark Zuckerberg may dream of Ray-Bans replacing smartphones, but the numbers tell a different story.
According to The Australian Financial Review’s Brian X. Chen and Eli Tan, since their 2023 debut, Meta has sold about 2 million pairs of its $460 camera glasses and is aiming for 10 million a year by 2026 – a tiny target for a company of its size.
