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The 17th edition of the Durban FilmMart concluded with a boisterous awards ceremony, drawing over 1,100 delegates from 56 countries. The event cemented its position as a vital lynchpin for African screen industries. Despite funding challenges and a shift from traditional dates, the mood was optimistic as creators tackled hot-button topics like AI, funding models, and monetization.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is returning to the microphone to co-host a new limited podcast series titled "High Stakes" alongside prominent journalist Kara Swisher. The series will focus heavily on the upcoming 2026 U.S. midterm elections and is set to premiere on Wednesday, October 14. Produced under a deal with Vox Media—which is owned by James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems—the partnership grants Clinton a split of the advertising revenue generated from the episodes. The collaboration will run weekly as a special third installment of Swisher’s existing podcast for New York Magazine, "On With Kara Swisher."
The annual Mipcom conference in Cannes highlighted a transformative shift in media, focusing on how YouTube serves as a crucial bridge between digital and linear platforms. Industry leaders from major studios and networks gathered to discuss audience fragmentation and the integration of social video into modern distribution strategies. Analysts like Evan Shapiro and executives from NBCUniversal and the BBC emphasized that YouTube is no longer seen as a competitor, but rather as an accretive partner. By embracing platforms like YouTube, legacy media companies are finding innovative ways to drive viewers back to live television and streaming services.
ITV Studios kicked off the Mipcom market in Cannes by showcasing a broad slate of scripted and unscripted series. Ruth Berry highlighted that the company is representing 11 fresh original formats despite global industry downturns. The studio's active presence comes while ITV is undergoing a corporate separation. NBCUniversal's Sky is acquiring the broadcast and digital platform, leaving ITV Studios as a standalone entity amid ongoing market rumors.
David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, shared a farewell video with employees ahead of the company's merger with Paramount, orchestrated by David Ellison's Skydance. After four and a half years leading WBD, Zaslav expressed gratitude for the staff's dedication and creativity in a video message featuring a montage of the studio's iconic content.
David Berson, the head of CBS Sports, is set to take over the expanded sports operations at Skydance following its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. As part of this major corporate leadership transition, current Warner Bros. Discovery sports executive Luis Silberwasser will exit the company.