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By Hanna Rantala LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Hit television series "Fallout" ups the stakes as it returns to screens for a sophomore season, its stars and makers say. "You can play it two ways," actor Walton Goggins said as he premiered the new season in London on Tuesday. "You can play it safe, rely on what happened in season one, or you can go for broke. And we went for broke." Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, the live-action series centres on three main characters; former vault dweller Lucy (Ella Purnell), Maximus, a member of the Brotherhood of Steel (Aaron Moten) and Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Goggins), a former movie star and mutated bounty hunter. The new season picks up where the season one left off, with Lucy looking for her father Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), and pairing up with The Ghoul on a post-apocalyptic adventure through the Mojave Desert to New Vegas. The show's executive producer, Jonathan Nolan, said audiences could expect "more of everything". "More madness, more humour, more violence. We just try to outdo ourselves," he said. The second season also shows a new side to Lucy as her optimistic attitude clashes with The Ghoul's nihilistic worldview on their way to Sin City, said Purnell. "She's in the wasteland now and she has to survive. You can't always do that by being nice," Purnell said. "I don't want to spoil it, but we'll see what happens to that moral compass." The new season introduces Justin Theroux in the role of Robert House, the ruler of the New Vegas strip, and a major character in the franchise. "It's a bit intimidating," said Theroux. "The players of this game and the fans of the show are really sort of the shareholders, so you don't want to disappoint them. But I worked very hard to hopefully not do that." Also joining the cast are actors Macaulay Culkin and Kumail Nanjiani, as well as a host of new creatures, brought to life by puppeteers. The eight-episode second season of "Fallout" starts streaming on Prime Video on December 17, with a new episode released weekly. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Stephen Coates)

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By Milana Vinn and Dawn Chmielewski NEW YORK, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery's studios and streaming unit is expected to reduce streaming costs for consumers by bundling Netflix and HBO Max, according to two people familiar with the proposal. In recent talks with Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix said the potential combination of its streaming service with HBO Max would benefit consumers by lowering the cost of a bundled offering, the sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters. They requested anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations. Netflix’s argument seeks to address potential regulatory concerns that combining one of the nation’s leading subscription video streaming services with a top rival would reduce consumer choice and raise prices, the sources said. The services are not currently offered as a bundle by either company.  Warner Bros Discovery has been exploring a sale of all or part of its business, which includes film and television studios, cable networks such as HBO and CNN, and the HBO Max streaming service. Reuters reported in October that Netflix was actively exploring a bid for Warner Bros Discovery's studio and streaming business, a tie-up that was seen as potentially reshaping the streaming landscape. Now, by framing the acquisition as pro-consumer, Netflix aims to build a case that the deal should withstand a potential regulatory challenge, according to the sources.  Reuters previously reported that Netflix had submitted a mostly cash offer for the studio and streaming unit. Other bidders for Warner Bros Discovery – Paramount Skydance and Comcast – also would use HBO Max, together with the Warner Bros film and television library, to bolster their streaming services. Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment. If Netflix's bid is successful, the deal is expected to expand Netflix's movie and television library. But the sources familiar with the matter said the potential combination of the two services is unlikely to radically expand its market share because the vast majority of Netflix customers also subscribe to HBO Max. The combination of HBO Max and Paramount Skydance's Paramount+ would create a top-tier streaming service in the U.S., capable of challenging Netflix and Walt Disney's Disney+ in terms of volume and breadth of content, wrote Bank of America media analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich in a recent report. HBO Max would similarly lift NBCUniversal’s Peacock service, which has yet to turn a profit. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast. “Comcast risks being left behind as PSKY or NFLX scale (their streaming services), limiting Peacock's reach and weakening NBC's ability to compete in the global media market over time,” Ehrlich wrote. A successful acquisition would give Netflix control over Warner Bros’ vast library of content, including the entire HBO catalog, the Warner Bros film archive, and DC Comics properties.  “Netflix is the clear streaming leader in subscribers,” Ehrlich wrote, adding: “It still lags other media companies on deep IP libraries that could offer potential use cases for theme parks, experiences, Broadway shows, gaming and merchandising.” To be sure, Netflix faces its own political headwinds, from criticism by the Pentagon over its content to Republican lawmakers warning that a takeover of Warner Bros Discovery could give it too much control and reduce consumer choice. Alphabet's YouTube remains the country’s largest streaming platform by viewership. (Reporting by Milana Vinn and Dawn Chmielewski in New York; Editing by Dawn Kopecki, Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)

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By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.  European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.  If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically. Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. EUROVISION AIMS TO BE NON-POLITICAL The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150 million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.    This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict. Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. "We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said. Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, who did a PhD on the contest, said it was a "watershed moment" for the competition. "This is a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU… I think it probably has to go to a vote," Jordan said.  Ben Robertson from fan site ESC Insight noted the potential impact of a loss in audience, but added without Israeli inclusion, Eurovision risks becoming more isolated.  NORWAY CALLS PROPOSED CHANGES 'PROMISING' The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Luxembourg's RTL broadcaster backed the proposed changes, while Norway's NRK broadcaster described the EBU's signal of major change as "promising". If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.   Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules. It also noted KAN's support for Israeli acts that have delivered what they described as memorable Eurovision performances. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, additional reporting: Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid, Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Borut Zivulovic in Ljubljana and Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Gerhard Mey and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

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By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – U.S. pop star Sabrina Carpenter on Tuesday demanded that the White House stop using her music after the Trump administration featured one of her songs on a social media video showing ICE agents apprehending people. The video, shared by the White House on Monday, features Carpenter's 2024 hit song "Juno." It showed federal immigration enforcement officers chasing people and detaining them while bystanders recorded the activity on their cell phones. The caption reads, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye" – in a nod to lyrics in the song – decorated with emoticons. "This video is evil and disgusting," Carpenter, 25, wrote on X. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda." In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?" Carpenter, a Grammy Award-winning singer, joins the list of more than two dozen musicians, including Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, who have objected to President Donald Trump's use of their music. Trump, now in his second non-consecutive term, has an active social media presence. Members of his communications team often post short videos that feature popular songs to illustrate the president's efforts to deliver on his campaign promises. Monday's video appeared to promote the aggressive campaign that the administration has pursued to crack down on illegal immigration since his second term began in January. Critics, including Pope Leo, have taken issue with the way in which the Trump administration has sought to carry out its immigration agenda, including arrests at courthouses, on street corners of Hispanic neighborhoods and raids of apartment buildings where those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally live. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Frank McGurty and Deepa Babington)

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By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) – U.S. pop star Sabrina Carpenter on Tuesday demanded that the White House stop using her music after the Trump administration featured one of her songs on a social media video showing ICE agents apprehending people. The video, shared by the White House on Monday, features Carpenter's 2024 hit song "Juno." It showed federal immigration enforcement officers chasing people and detaining them while bystanders recorded the activity on their cell phones. The caption reads, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye" – in a nod to lyrics in the song – decorated with emoticons. "This video is evil and disgusting," Carpenter, 25, wrote on X. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda." In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?" Carpenter, a Grammy Award-winning singer, joins the list of more than two dozen musicians, including Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, who have objected to President Donald Trump's use of their music. Trump, now in his second non-consecutive term, has an active social media presence. Members of his communications team often post short videos that feature popular songs to illustrate the president's efforts to deliver on his campaign promises. Monday's video appeared to promote the aggressive campaign that the administration has pursued to crack down on illegal immigration since his second term began in January. Critics, including Pope Leo, have taken issue with the way in which the Trump administration has sought to carry out its immigration agenda, including arrests at courthouses, on street corners of Hispanic neighborhoods and raids of apartment buildings where those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally live. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Frank McGurty and Deepa Babington)

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Dec 1 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery has received a second round of bids, including a mostly cash offer from Netflix, in an auction that could conclude in the coming days or weeks, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Bankers for Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix worked over the weekend on improved offers for all or part of Warner Bros, the source added. The bids are binding, giving the board scope to approve a deal quickly if terms are met, though they have not been described as final, the person said. Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment. Bloomberg News first reported the development. Last week, Warner Bros asked bidders to submit improved offers by December 1 after receiving preliminary buyout bids from Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board had rejected Paramount's mostly cash offer of nearly $24 a share for the company, valuing it at $60 billion, and publicly announced it would evaluate strategic options for the studio. The parent of HBO and CNN in October said it was exploring its options for sale. Any potential deal involving Warner Bros Discovery would further consolidate the media industry after the $8.4 billion merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, which capped a drawn-out process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. The studio behind the "Harry Potter" and DC Comics film franchises announced plans in June to split into studio-centric and cable-focused units by next year to separate its growing streaming business from its lagging cable network unit. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

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By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.  European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.  If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically. Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. EUROVISION AIMS TO BE NON-POLITICAL The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150 million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.    This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict. Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. "We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said. Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, who did a PhD on the contest, said it was a "watershed moment" for the competition. "This is a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU… I think it probably has to go to a vote," Jordan said.  Ben Robertson from fan site ESC Insight noted the potential impact of a loss in audience, but added without Israeli inclusion, Eurovision risks becoming more isolated.  NORWAY CALLS PROPOSED CHANGES 'PROMISING' The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Luxembourg's RTL broadcaster backed the proposed changes, while Norway's NRK broadcaster described the EBU's signal of major change as "promising". If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.   Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules. It also noted KAN's support for Israeli acts that have delivered what they described as memorable Eurovision performances. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, additional reporting: Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid, Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Borut Zivulovic in Ljubljana and Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Gerhard Mey and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.  European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.  If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically. Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. EUROVISION AIMS TO BE NON-POLITICAL The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150 million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.    This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict. Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. "We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said. Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, who did a PhD on the contest, said it was a "watershed moment" for the competition. "This is a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU… I think it probably has to go to a vote," Jordan said.  Ben Robertson from fan site ESC Insight noted the potential impact of a loss in audience, but added without Israeli inclusion, Eurovision risks becoming more isolated.  NORWAY CALLS PROPOSED CHANGES 'PROMISING' The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Luxembourg's RTL broadcaster backed the proposed changes, while Norway's NRK broadcaster described the EBU's signal of major change as "promising". If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.   Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules. It also noted KAN's support for Israeli acts that have delivered what they described as memorable Eurovision performances. Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, additional reporting: Charlotte Van Campenhout in Brussels, Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid, Klaus Lauer in Berlin, Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Borut Zivulovic in Ljubljana and Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Gerhard Mey and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

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Dec 1 (Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery has received a second round of bids, including a mostly cash offer from Netflix, in an auction that could conclude in the coming days or weeks, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Bankers for Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix worked over the weekend on improved offers for all or part of Warner Bros, the source added. The bids are binding, giving the board scope to approve a deal quickly if terms are met, though they have not been described as final, the person said. Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment. Bloomberg News first reported the development. Last week, Warner Bros asked bidders to submit improved offers by December 1 after receiving preliminary buyout bids from Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board had rejected Paramount's mostly cash offer of nearly $24 a share for the company, valuing it at $60 billion, and publicly announced it would evaluate strategic options for the studio. The parent of HBO and CNN in October said it was exploring its options for sale. Any potential deal involving Warner Bros Discovery would further consolidate the media industry after the $8.4 billion merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, which capped a drawn-out process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. The studio behind the "Harry Potter" and DC Comics film franchises announced plans in June to split into studio-centric and cable-focused units by next year to separate its growing streaming business from its lagging cable network unit. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

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By Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan SHANGHAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Disney's Zootopia 2 became the highest-grossing animated foreign film ever in China, despite generally muted interest in overseas movies in the country. As of Monday morning Beijing time, box office tracker Maoyan showed Zootopia 2's local box office tally reaching 1.95 billion yuan ($275.6 million) in its first six days of release. "It is Disney's most important movie in China this year, for sure," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of China digital consultancy Chozan, with its themes of personal resilience and societal harmony resonating with local audiences. Its runaway success in China – where Zootopia 2 sales accounted for around 95% of all movie ticket sales over its opening weekend – is particularly notable given the changing environment for foreign films in China over the nine years since the first Zootopia film was released. The original Zootopia also became China's most popular foreign animated film when it was released in 2016. Hollywood films were caught up earlier this year in the China-U.S. trade war. Beijing curbed the number of U.S. films that were allowed to be shown in China in retaliation for higher tariffs on Chinese goods – a move analysts said would only have a limited impact, given the waning influence of foreign films in China. AN EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE Hollywood studios once looked to China, the world's second-largest film market, to help boost their box office performances. But domestic movies increasingly have outperformed Hollywood fare in China. Earlier this year, local animation "Ne Zha 2" eclipsed Pixar's "Inside Out 2" to become the world's highest-grossing animated film of all time after raking in nearly $2 billion at the Chinese box office. Even so, Disney seemed confident that Zootopia 2 would find a significant audience in China, with Chief Executive Bob Iger travelling to Shanghai for a local premiere a fortnight ago. In addition, Disney partnered with China Eastern Airlines on a Zootopia 2-themed plane.  And the Shanghai Disneyland resort is home to the world's only Zootopia-themed land, which opened in 2023 to capitalise on local affection for the original film. "Disney is heavily reliant on huge blockbuster releases, which in turn become IP and monetise through experiences, merchandise and other areas," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore, adding that in spite of geopolitical tensions and an uncertain macroeconomic environment, China remains a "massive and expanding market for its theme parks, movies and merchandise." According to Chris Fenton, author of "Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, and American Business," a potential downside of Zootopia 2's success could be the false hope it might give Hollywood studios that China could be rekindling a love affair with foreign films.  "Beijing doesn't view Hollywood as a solution to restrained consumer spending [in China], so I wouldn't read into this being a pivot on Beijing's part," he said. "Beijing knows if Hollywood sees some continued promise in their market, filmmakers will continue to kowtow to Beijing's storytelling requirements." ($1 = 7.0750 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan in Shanghai)

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