And The Oscars Go To...

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Happy Thursday, Future Party. In a darkly cheeky marketing move from Neon, the indie distributor has cordially invited “all Fortune 500 CEOs” to a free screening of Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice — a film about a South Korean worker who, pushed to the brink by a ruthless job market, begins eliminating his competition in increasingly literal ways while vying for a single open job. Neon added that the movie “speaks to our gracious executive leaders and the culture they have cultivated.” Satire that lands with a wince.

The Academy Awards will broadcast on YouTube starting in 2029… ending an over 50-year relationship with ABC.

The Big Picture: Almost all of the major awards shows have migrated to streaming as rising costs and declining viewership have made it harder for networks to justify renewing deals. But streaming could allow these shows to reach far more eyeballs than in recent years, helping reduce worrying trends.

Behind The Curtain: YouTube has gotten its first Oscar-hosting gig.

Final Tally: The Academy’s viewership woes have been brewing for more than a decade, especially as the roster of nominated films has increasingly diverged from the movies that actually pop at the box office. That disconnect — compounded by cord-cutting — has turned the Academy Awards into a more niche broadcast. For perspective, last year’s ceremony averaged 18.1 million viewers, compared to a peak of 55.2 million for the 1998 show, the year Titanic swept.

Still, the Oscars remain the preeminent awards show — and the most-watched of them all — which means YouTube has landed the crown jewel. Now comes the hard work of reclaiming the cultural throne.

Next Category: This may not qualify as a hot take, but expect the 2033 awards show — the final year of YouTube’s deal — to be the highest-rated show in a long time… despite which movies are in contention.

AI has changed how consumers shop, but people still drive decisions. Levanta’s research shows affiliate and creator content continues to influence conversions, plus it now shapes the product recommendations AI delivers. Affiliate marketing isn’t being replaced by AI, it’s being amplified.

Download the full report

Eighteen top Hollywood players have formed the Creators Coalition on AI (CCAI) — a working group to create standards and procedures on how AI should be deployed in the entertainment industry.

Why It Hits: AI has arrived on Hollywood’s doorstep. That has left many industry creatives and talent feeling as though Silicon Valley is coming to pull the rug out from under the business after years of streaming disruption. In response, CCAI could help spark one of the largest labor movements in modern history — aimed at keeping humanity at the center of artistry.

Behind The Scenes: CCAI hopes to be “a central coordinating hub to upgrade our industry’s systems and institutions,” starting as an advisory council for studios, guilds, and productions.

Generative Credits: CCAI’s founding members stress that the group isn’t anti-AI; rather, it aims to ensure the technology is deployed ethically, doesn’t undermine sound business principles, and protects human labor — essentially “drawing a line between those who want to do this fast and those who want to do this right.”

While CCAI has been in the works for months, the founders decided to push forward its public debut after Disney announced a deal with OpenAI, which “completely blindsided” Hollywood, according to Kwan, who (with producing partner Jonathan Wang) hatched the idea of the coalition. No wonder representatives from WGA, PGA, DGA, SAG, the Teamsters, and Producers United gathered with CCAI’s founders to discuss next steps.

Coming Soon: With multiple unions heading into contract negotiations next year, CCAI could potentially help coordinate an unprecedented, unified set of demands around AI.

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43.3% of you voted Neutral — depends on the execution in yesterday’s poll: How do you feel about public alter egos (in music, film, or pop culture)?

“Method acting can be a slippery slope. What we’re calling an alter ego feels like a safer, for-profit way to get actors noticed, but not necessarily for the sake of quality acting or believability. It would be interesting to know if the actors themselves feel they get anything out of it.”

“If an alter ego allows deeper truths to emerge and a more authentic expression, then it adds to the art. It shouldn’t exist simply to confuse or be a gimmick.”

“Why should we silo anyone? These are artists finding clever ways to be creative. I don’t think the medium or platform matters.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

👀 YouTube is pulling its data from Billboard over how the publisher now weighs free and premium listenership.

🎙️ A new study found that video podcasts are upending the effectiveness of host-read ads.

📺 Peacock is rolling out “Arrival Ads” — ads that start as soon as you open the streamer.

🤖 OpenAI is exploring going public next year at a $750 billion valuation.

🚗 A California judge has ruled that Tesla must rename “Autopilot” or risk having its vehicle sales suspended in the state.

🫀 Brain–computer interface startup Science Corporation is developing a machine designed to keep donor organs viable for longer.

🤳 YouTube is giving select creators the ability to build a chatbot based on their likeness.

🎮 YouTube is also inviting some creators to use a new feature in Gemini that allows them to generate video games.

📱 Facebook is looking to limit the number of links users can post unless they pay for verification.