• Apple Inc. plans to spend $1 billion each year to produce films for theatrical release as a way to attract more subscribers to its Apple TV+ streaming service, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment, but the company is reportedly talking to studios about partnering to release some of its upcoming titles, such as Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon.” (Bloomberg)
  
• The CW laid off 15 employees across the marketing/promotional and finance divisions, including some senior vice presidents, according to sources. Nexstar Media Group Inc. declined to comment but the news of the latest cuts comes less than two months after Chris Spadaccini joined the CW as chief marketing officer. (Deadline)
  
• The Walt Disney Co. and Walt Disney World workers reached a tentative agreement for a pay raise to a minimum of $18 an hour, which also includes eight weeks of paid child-bonding leave, for existing workers by the end of the year. The deal comes after some members of a coalition of six unions, which together represent around 42,000 Walt Disney World workers, protested outside the theme parks earlier this month. (Deadline)
  

AMC Will Charge More for Their Best Seats. Younger Americans Are on Board

Morning Consult

The Latest Idea to Bolster New York City’s Subway: Taxing Your Netflix Subscription

Jimmy Vielkind, The Wall Street Journal

Lawmakers are considering a sales tax on streaming services such as Netflix Inc. to prevent fares from rising on New York’s subways as state budget talks head toward a critical deadline next week.

2023 Oscars: Multiplatform +7 Day Ratings Indicate Nearly 20M Watched Show

Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter

After seven days of viewing across linear and digital platforms, the telecast drew an average audience of 19.9 million total viewers and scored a 4.43 rating among adults aged 18 to 49.

Actors’ Equity Launches Political Action Committee Ahead of 2024 Election

Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter

The PAC will raise money for federal candidates who back greater arts funding, expanded healthcare coverage and support workers’ rights.

Gwyneth Paltrow expected to testify in ski collision trial

Sam Metz, The Associated Press

Gwyneth Paltrow and the man who broke four ribs after the two collided at a Utah ski resort seven years ago are both expected to testify on Friday in a trial over his claims that the movie star’s recklessness caused his concussion and lasting physical injuries.

Ling Ma, Beverly Gage among authors honored by book critics

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press

Ling Ma’s sharp and surreal “Bliss Montage” and Beverly Gage’s sweeping biography of the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, “G-Man,” were among the winners Thursday night of the National Book Critics Circle awards.

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Consumer Products Line Includes Action Figures, Apparel, Drinkware & Fleece Throws

Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline

Ahead of the “John Wick: Chapter 4” premiere, Lionsgate has unveiled its largest consumer products program to date for the film.

Paramount to Remake Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo,’ Robert Downey Jr. Eyes Lead Role

Adam B. Vary, Variety

Paramount Pictures has preemptively acquired a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 classic psychological thriller “Vertigo,” as a possible starring vehicle for Robert Downey Jr.

Benedict Wong, ‘Bel-Air’ Star Jabari Banks Set for English-Language Remake of ‘Bad Genius’

Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter

Callina Liang will also star in the project from Picturestart and Picture Perfect Federation.

With Films Like ‘Inside,’ One Actor Does the Heavy Lifting

Carlos Aguilar, The New York Times

Filmmakers behind movies that place one character in one location discuss the challenges this type of project brings.

Trial witness against Theranos’ Elizabeth Holmes sues Disney, Hulu over miniseries

Jonathan Stempel, Reuters

A key prosecution witness whose testimony helped convict Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes of fraud sued Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) on Thursday over a recent Hulu miniseries that he says defamed him by portraying him as corrupt.

Fox Renews 2 Drama Series, Including Alert: Missing Persons Unit

Ryan Schwartz, TVLine

A pair of Fox dramas will live to see another day: The network has renewed Alert: Missing Persons Unit and Accused for Season 2, TVLine has learned.

‘SNL’ Postproduction Workers Ratify First Contract, Officially Calling Off Strike Threat

Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter

The bargaining unit of 12-20 staffers (the number of those working on the show fluctuates per episode) unanimously supported the tentative agreement in the vote on Wednesday.

‘Power Book II’ Sets Opening Weekend Ratings Record for Starz

Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter

Season three of the drama debuts with nearly 6 million cross-platform viewers over three days.

Casey Bloys Would Have Taken “Another 2 Seasons” of ‘Succession’

Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter

The HBO boss talked about his company’s legacy and post-merger future at the final keynote of this year’s Series Mania festival.

‘Succession’: The Real People Who Inspired the HBO Hit

Natalie Jarvey, Vanity Fair

Before Logan Roy, there was Rupert Murdoch. Without Vice, there would be no Vaulter. Meet the larger-than-life figures who inform the series’ love-to-hate-them characters.

Amazon’s ‘Butch & Sundance’ Series Sets Showrunners

Peter White, Deadline

The adaptation, which has Regé-Jean Page and Glen Powell in talks to star, will see Alex Metcalf serve as showrunner with Kaz Firpo and Ryan Firpo serving as co-showrunners.

Robin Thede Enters Development on HBO Comedy Series ‘Disengagement’

Selome Hailu, Variety

Robin Thede, creator and star of “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” has set a new comedy series for development at HBO.

Anderson Cooper to Host Sunday Primetime Series for CNN

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

The show, “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper,” will feature investigations, interviews and long-form journalism.

Twitter says it’s killing legacy verified checkmarks starting on April 1st

Mariella Moon, Engadget 

Legacy verified users will have to pay to keep their status.

Spotify Has Spent Less Than 10% of Its $100 Million Diversity Fund

Ashley Carman, Bloomberg

Spotify Technology SA’s $100 million Creator Equity Fund, designed to promote diversity in music and podcasts following controversial comments by the company’s star podcaster Joe Rogan, spent less than 10% of the money on that work as it rounded out its first year.

China Says It Opposes Forced Sale of TikTok

Raffaele Huang, The Wall Street Journal

Biden administration demands that video app divest itself from its Chinese parent or face a U.S. ban.

TikTok Lost Customers When It Took Away Music in Australia

Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg

The number of people using TikTok in Australia fell after the company limited the music some people could put in their posts, results that suggest the company is still dependent on its access to popular songs. 

TikTok’s ad business is growing around live sports as platform faces possible U.S. ban

Lillian Rizzo, CNBC

TikTok is becoming a go-to location for digital advertising for companies – even during live sporting events, the sweetest spots for marketing campaigns.

Snap Is Offering Its Image Filter Technology to Let Shoppers Try on Clothes Virtually

Aisha Counts and Alex Barinka, Bloomberg

Snap Inc., the parent company of video-messaging app Snapchat, is launching its first product line aimed at business customers.

Source: Beyoncé, Adidas Mutually Agree to Part Ways

Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter

In 2018, the singer entered a creative partnership with Adidas, where she relaunched her Ivy Park activewear line.

The Weeknd is officially the most popular artist in the world

Christian Edwards, CNN

The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is statistically the most popular musician on the planet, according to Guinness World Records (GWR).

Hybe to Sell SM Entertainment Stake After Losing to Kakao in K-Pop Bid Battle

Patrick Frater, Variety

Hybe Corp., the talent powerhouse behind K-pop sensation BTS, said on Friday that it will sell its share stake in agency rival SM Entertainment. The move would finalize Hybe’s admission of defeat in a dramatic takeover battle in which it was out-gunned by Korean tech leader Kakao Corp.

Police sue rapper Afroman for using footage of home raid in his music videos

Maya Yang, The Guardian

Ohio officers, who conducted a botched raid of rapper’s home, are suing for invasion of privacy and emotional distress.

Katy Perry accused of ‘mom shaming’ by ‘American Idol’ contestant

Lisa Respers France, CNN

In an episode aired earlier this month, 25-year-old Sara Beth Liebe tried out for the singing competition in front of Perry and her fellow judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.