The Brief – Wednesday 18 February – Apple announces video to podcasts, Paramount given final chance and more

‼️Stephen Colbert said lawyers for CBS (parent company: Paramount) barred him from broadcasting an interview with Texas senate candidate James Talarico, a Democrat, as a preemptive bow to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Colbert aired the interview on YouTube instead. (Variety)

🎧 Apple have announced it’s bringing native video podcasting into Apple Podcasts, in a move that acknowledges the demand of audiences. Apple isn’t charging creators or hosting providers to distribute video, but it is charging participating ad networks an impression-based fee for serving dynamic video ads inside HLS video. (Apple Podcasts)

👐 Warner Bros. Discovery is allowing Paramount Skydance one week to make a its “best and final proposal.” The Warner board still maintains its preference for Netflix’s competing proposal, but has reopened talks with Paramount after it enhanced its offer last week. (Los Angeles Times)

📺 Anderson Cooper will leave the CBS News program 60 Minutes after nearly two decades stating he wants to spend more time with his young children. The editorial independence of CBS News and its flagship investigative show 60 Minutes, has been questioned since the network’s new owner, Davide Ellison hired Bari Weiss as the editor-in-chief. (The Guardian)

📱Meta has been granted a patent for an AI system capable of simulating a user’s activity on social media, including by posting after their death. (Business Insider)

📺 For the first time last year, a majority (52%) of Netflix’s original TV series were non-English-language, according to a research by Ampere Analysis. In comparison, just 44% of film releases in the streaming platform were non-English-language. (Ampere Analysis)

🚗 Global’s Global Player app is now available directly within all major car manufacturer’s infotainment systems. It comes as the app is now available via Android Automotive, as well as via Apple CarPlay. (Global)