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Disney says it’s ‘exploring’ adding a free tier to Disney Plus
Disney has confirmed it is considering launching a free, ad-supported tier of Disney Plus, as streaming platforms face growing competition from free-to-watch services such as YouTube. Speaking during the company’s earnings call, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said the firm is “exploring a free product for consumers” that could help drive growth and reach price-sensitive customers…
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‘Getting old is no fun’: Game of Thrones author George RR Martin speaks out about depression amid further book delays
George RR Martin, the 77-year-old author of the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series that inspired Game of Thrones, has spoken candidly about battling depression during what he described as a “stressful” and “overwhelming” year. In his first personal blog post in nearly six months, titled Better Late Than Never, he wrote of…
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla director makes sudden return to Ubisoft, and will lead the series moving forward
Eric Baptizat, who directed Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, Origins and Valhalla, has returned to Ubisoft as the new Game Director for the whole Assassin’s Creed franchise. He left the company in 2021 to join Motive Studio, where he directed the Dead Space Remake and worked as a game director on Battlefield 6, so his move…
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‘Babylon Berlin’ Going Out With a Bang, and A Warning for Democracy
The German period drama Babylon Berlin has entered its fifth and final season, with creators Henk Handloegten, Tom Tykwer and Achim von Borries previewing the finale at a private Berlin event. The season depicts the collapse of the Weimar Republic and Adolf Hitler’s rise to absolute power, and the makers say its story now carries…
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Disney explores free ad-supported channels to boost streaming growth
Disney is exploring the launch of free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) channels, chief executive Josh D’Amaro told analysts on the company’s latest earnings call, as he set out streaming and the parks and experiences division as the two pillars driving the group’s future growth. D’Amaro said free channels could extend Disney’s reach among price-sensitive viewers, boost…
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Prime Video’s Stunning Drama ’Sterling Point’ Elevates the YA Genre Beyond the Mundane: TV Review
Prime Video’s new YA drama “Sterling Point,” created by Megan Park and executive produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, has been praised in a Variety review for elevating the genre beyond typical teen romance storylines. Unlike recent YA hits such as “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and “Cruel Intentions,” which focus heavily on romance and sexual…
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Dog Man: The Musical review – Dav Pilkey’s megastar mutt sniffs out the spotlight in a barking show
The Guardian reviews Dog Man: The Musical, a new stage adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s hugely popular children’s graphic novel series, now showing at London’s Southbank Centre after an off-Broadway run. Based on the tale of a part-dog, part-human police officer, the show extends a franchise that has already spawned a film, video game and board…
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Keke Palmer Replaces Carson Daly as Host of ‘The Voice’ for Season 31
NBC’s The Voice will have a new host for season 31, with Keke Palmer taking over from Carson Daly, who has fronted the singing competition for all 30 previous seasons. The change coincides with a shift in format, as season 31, titled The Voice: Celebrity, will feature actors, influencers, athletes and reality TV stars competing…
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Star Wars: the Ninth Jedi Ending Explained and How It Sets Up Season 2
Lucasfilm’s latest animated Star Wars project, The Ninth Jedi, has released its full eight-episode first season on Disney Plus, produced by Japanese studio Production I.G. Following on from Star Wars: Visions shorts and coming soon after Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, the series follows Jedi apprentice Lah Kara as she searches for her father,…