Your guide to what’s happened this week in the media, entertainment and technology industry.

Comcast complicates Disney and Hulu deal
Comcast and Disney struck a deal, on the future of Hulu. Disney said it has taken “full operational control” of the streaming service, however Comcast said it will ultimately sell its 33% Hulu stake to Disney but not for a few years. According to Bloomberg, it is the most complex arrangement the companies could have possibly come up with after entering into a “put/call agreement” that won’t be exercised until at least January 2024.

ITV drops Jeremy Kyle Show 
ITV has dropped confrontational talk show The Jeremy Kyle Show from its linear schedule and removed all previous episodes from its on-demand service the ITV Hub following the death of one of its guests. The show, which regularly included on-screen lie detector tests and the revelation of DNA results, should be permanently cancelled, according to MPs. The Guardian reported the programme’s production team would be offered counselling with the ITV staff and show’s production team “shocked and saddened.” 

DNEG ’ReDefines’ VFX for China and India
The UK-based VFX firm DNEG has launched a new offering called ReDefine, which will focus on offering visual effects and animation services to expanding international markets such as China and India. Broadcast Now reported, ReDefine will operate alongside DNEG, and will be based in a new studio facility in Mumbai, which will be home to more than 600 staff.

Vodafone to launch 5G services in July 
Vodafone has confirmed it will turn on its 5G service in the UK on 3 July. The company will rely on equipment from the Chinese telecoms provider Huawei, among others, to deliver the service and said the benefits of the next-generation mobile network would include faster and more reliable data speeds for customers in busy areas.

Apple launches revamped TV app
The updated app for iPhone, iPad, Apple TVs and compatible smart TVs was rolled out this week after it was announced in March, offering users the ability to subscribe to individual channels with a redesigned interface and more advanced personalisation. According to Engadget, Apple claims there are now more than 100,000 films and TV series on iTunes, including a large collection of 4K HDR content that you can rent or buy. 

Microsoft and Sony enter streaming games deal 
Microsoft and Sony have formed a partnership on video games streaming, despite being fierce competitors. It is expected Sony will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud service to host its upcoming PlayStation streaming service. The BBC reported, the firms said they would also work together on semiconductors and artificial intelligence applications.

Netflix to buy British production company 
According to chief content officer Ted Sarandos, Netflix is in talks to buy a British production company after growing its UK staff from 15 to 100 staff. According to TVB Europe, he sees the company existing alongside the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. This year Netflix is producing or co-producing 50 British programmes including Cambridge Analytica docudrama The Great Hack and football drama The English Game with Julian Fellowes.

San Francisco bans facial recognition
Legislators in San Francisco have banned the emerging technology and is the first US city to do so, reported the BBC, all new surveillance technology must now be approved by city administrators. Those in favour of the move said the technology as it exists today is unreliable and represented an unnecessary infringement on people’s privacy and liberty.

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