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TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Skydance's $8B purchase of CBS-owner Paramount, clearing the way for one of the most highly scrutinized media deals in the last decade. (NY Times)
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After multiple delays, OpenAI is now expected to release its next big model, GPT-5, in August. (The Verge)
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Imax reported its highest North American quarterly box office revenue ever of $143M, citing a record number of "Filmed for Imax" theatrical releases. (Media Play News)
Audiences
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40.6% of US adults have researched a product or company after encountering an ad for it in-store. (EMarketer)
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20% of US adults say they have traveled or will travel less than planned this year due to the economy. (EMarketer)
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72% of US teens have used an AI companion, with 30% citing entertainment as the main reason. (TechCrunch)
Platforms
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Snapchat announced a partnership with sports media company Togethxr to launch a new content accelerator program called "Snap the Gap". (Togethxr)
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Instagram is testing a new addition to its post analytics that would show how many likes each specific frame garnered within a carousel post. (Social Media Today)
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YouTube is bringing more generative AI features to Shorts by integrating its latest Veo image animation and conversion tools into the creation process. (YouTube)
Content
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"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is projected to generate $131M in North American ticket sales this weekend, as "Superman" approaches $300M. (Media Play News)
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Netflix’s "Squid Game" dominated household TV streaming this week with 3.2B viewing minutes, followed by Peacock's "Love Island USA" with 1.8B viewing minutes. (Media Play News)
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E! Network's "E! News" has been canceled after 32 years on air. (Variety)
Tech &
AI-
Proton has launched an AI assistant, Lumo, aimed at preserving user privacy that can summarize documents, generate code, write emails, and more. (The Verge)
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Google launched Web Guide, a new AI-powered search feature that "groups links in helpful ways". (The Verge)
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Google is testing a vibe-coding tool called Opal that lets you create mini web apps using text prompts. (TechCrunch)
Location-based
entertainment-
Ticket demand for "Hamilton" has skyrocketed ahead of Leslie Odom Jr.’s return to the Broadway show. (NY Post)
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13 Taylor Swift wax figures will debut at Madame Tussauds locations across four continents to celebrate the record-breaking success of The Eras Tour. (Attractions Magazine)
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The Pokémon Company unveiled its new PokéPark Kanto theme park in Tokyo, Japan, which it plans to open in early 2026. (Blooloop)
Travel &
hospitality-
Despite initial customer backlash, Southwest Airlines reported strong baggage fee revenue since May, with no negative impact on web traffic or customer behavior. (Skift)
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American Airlines' CEO stated the airline will not use AI for airfare pricing in ways that erode consumer trust, amid industry debate and backlash. (Simple Flying)
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Electric vehicle charging stations have become the highest-converting feature for Hilton hotel bookings, leading to more reservations than traditional filters like pools, on-site dining, or free breakfast. (Skift)
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44% of global consumers lack confidence in the travel industry’s ability to protect them from AI-powered fraud, including identity theft and account takeover fraud. (Jumio)
Gaming
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D&D web series "Critical Role" is set to start development on their first video game in partnership with AdHoc Studio. (Variety)
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Nintendo Switch 2 is now the fastest-selling console in US history, selling 1.6M units during its launch month. (gamesindustry.biz)
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"Forza Horizon 5" surpassed 3M copies sold, making Microsoft's racing game the top new PS5 game of 2025. (gamesindustry.biz)
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Roblox launched a new Learning Hub, enabling students to access dozens of interactive educational experiences on the platform in one place. (gamesindustry.biz)
