Quark's

As many of us here migrated from Reddit during the blackout, I thought some here would be interested in the calls for Facebook and Instagram blackouts in Canada in response to Meta’s blocking of links.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/3673419

Non-Paywall Article

Here’s something to fill some gaps in your viewing schedule. While not science fiction, this show could appeal to SNW fans and deserves a bigger audience.

SurrealEstate is a Canadian live-action supernatural drama with a light leavening of horror, produced for CTV Sci-Fi Channel, and picked up Syfy. The first season also ran on Hulu in the US after its linear run. It was canceled by Syfy US, then uncanceled when it got picked up by the Syfy channels in Europe.

It’s quirky, full of gentle ironic humour, in the way Canadian shows can be. Tim Rozon of Wynonna Earp stars along with Sarah Levy of Schitt’s Creek. Melanie Srofano (Captain Betel in SNW) directed two episodes in the first season and was reportedly back to do more.

Similar to SNW, SurrealEstate mainly episodic with light serialization coming from character arcs. It has a generally positive vibe, with a team of intriguing and diverse characters solving mysteries and clearing houses of supernatural detractions so that they can ‘achieve their true market value.’

From the season one promotional listing:

Real estate agent Luke Roman is the owner of The Roman Agency, a boutique residential real estate brokerage specializing in "metaphysically engaged" properties, also known as haunted houses. Luke has a special connection to the spiritual realm; he can not only sense the presence that might inhabit a client's house, he can often communicate and negotiate with it. Along with his team, Luke takes on the houses nobody else can or will.

If you haven’t seen season one, I firmly recommend catching it on demand on CTV (which is offering it currently offering it free to non-subscribers), on the Syfy app or on Hulu.

Bruce Horak (Hemmer) is a long-standing theatre performer. He and some longtime colleagues have come up with an innovative and eccentric Goblin: MacBeth.

Beyond its initial run in Bruce’s hometown of Calgary, the production is scheduled for a two week run at the Stratford Festival in October and is just starting a run at Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach festival.

From the Stratford Festival listing…

"Goblin:Macbeth is a blast of pure creative genius. Unpredictable, unrestrained and uninhibited, it is the stage equivalent of a theme park funhouse ride." Calgary Herald

Enjoy the Scottish play like never before with Goblin:Macbeth, coming to the Meighen Forum!

In a tale of three goblins stumbling upon the complete works of William Shakespeare, Rebecca Northan, Bruce Horak and Ellis Lalonde blend improvisation, fantasy and tragedy in an electrifying and fresh interpretation of the classic play. When goblins come to the Stratford Festival, anything can happen!

This is very off topic for a Star Trek focused instance, but I thought some of the Quark’s regulars might be interested in the public interest issues raised in this situation.

For context, the Canadian federal Parliament passed legislation that would tax very large internet aggregator platforms that monetize news links without entering into payment arrangements with news sources. The law is not yet in effect, and the regulations make that work that haven’t even been put out for formal public consultation (a lengthy process). Meta and X have proactively blocked links to anything they believe are Canadian news sites. This includes access to the Canadian Parliamentary Access Channel (CPAC) and the national public broadcaster CBC and other private sources that are carrying required emergency broadcasts.

cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/967873

The NWT government and city of Yellowknife are describing in tweets, Instagram messages etc. how to search key evacuation information on CPAC and CBC. The broadcast carriers have a duty to carry emergency information, but Meta and X are blocking links.

While internet access is reportedly limited in Yellowknife, residents are finding this a barrier to getting current and accurate information. Even links to CBC radio are blocked.

So whats everyone watching on Thursday (nights) now that SNW has wrapped up? I'm looking for recommendations

Edit: I'm currently watching outlander, waiting for the wheel of time s2, DISCO and snowpiercer s4

This is interesting, and perhaps a signal of some evolving thinking between Sheri Redstone and Baklish.

Some interesting details mixed in this assessment. Since there’s been relatively little promotion, thought others would appreciate the amplification.

I was only dimly aware that this was in the works, but it's truly impressive that they got basically the entire cast of the film to come back.

John Orquiola is continuing to give us solid original content on Screen Rant, defying my perception of it as a clickbaity outlet.

Christina Chong opens up a lot about her trajectory as a performer and her personal relationships that informed the 4 songs on the EP album.

Also noted for those who prefer physical media - she is selling CDs through her Spotify store. Copies are limited.

I'm really looking forward to this, weird as it will be to have so many recast roles.

This should fix the bug some users were experiencing where /c/DaystromInstitute posts were occasionally eliciting feelings of overwhelming bliss.

cross-posted from: https://kbin.projectsegfau.lt/m/moviesandtv@lemmy.film/t/26728

As picketers gathered in front of Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery locations, outgoing WGA East president Michael Winship said the AMPTP is different than in 2007-2008: "It's just gonna take a little while longer."

Paramount Global is often characterized as late to the party and at best an underdog.

It’s helpful perspective to compare then to how mammoth Disney is managing through its transitions.

By all accounts it’s continuing to flail, and Bob Iger’s tone-deaf mid-July public statements seem to be pouring accelerant on a reported dumpster fire of internal morale.

The adage regarding bad strategy executed by “generals fighting the last war” comes to mind. Bob Iger’s attempt to turnaround Disney is seeming a lot like Wellington’s infamous disasterous Crimean War strategy in the mid 19th century.

Many of Disney’s problems come with the territory of running a sprawling media conglomerate in 2023: The once-lucrative tent pole of linear TV is rapidly crumbling, while its theoretical replacement, streaming, is burning through cash. Interest rates are taking their toll. Audiences are growing bored with the seemingly unending number of superheroes, spinoffs and sequels from the vaunted studio…

Iger was already getting called out for attending the Sun Valley conference, a confab known as the “summer camp for billionaires,” after laying off some 7,000 people across the company to save money. But instead of laying low, Iger went on TV and, against the backdrop of idyllic Idaho mountains under a pink sky, absolutely wrecked his comms team’s week.

In the interview, Iger told journalist David Faber that Disney’s non-ESPN linear assets, which include ABC, the Disney Channel, FX and National Geographic, “may not be core,” and that the traditional TV business model was “broken.”

I found this Hollywood Reporter scan of investor reactions well done.

It addresses many of the points of speculation swirling around the Star Trek franchise. (It also gives me pause, as there’s a strong implication that Paramount and other AMTPT members are using the WGA and SGA-AFTRA strikes to cooldown excesses in competitive streaming production at the expense of the creators and talent.)

It covers Paramount Global’s quarterly earnings report, CEO Baklish’s statements around direct to consumer (DTC, i.e. streamers and Pluto) strategy, and the sale of Simon and Schuster.

TLDR: Don’t put credence in firesale narratives that would see the Star Trek IP sold off to another streamer / content producer - but expect tighter constraints and more careful playing of market niches/segments in greenlighting and scheduling new franchise content.

Here are some key points/excerpts…

1. Paramount Global got most of the bad news out to investors last quarter, taking the price punishment in one go. Between the strike and the sale of Simon and Schuster (as well as the debt restructuring announced last quarter) is now in a better cash position, able to lower its relatively high leverage (debt ratio). Its streamers are also expected to be closer to profitable.

… the second quarter saw the conglomerate beat Wall Street estimates and “speak to ‘significant growth’ in earnings for ’24,” the Wells Fargo expert noted. “Paramount is also expecting accelerating direct-to-consumer (DTC) ad revenue in the third quarter, better second-half free cash flow due to the strikes and should see more than 20 percent DTC global average revenue per user (ARPU) growth in ’24.”

2. Don’t expect the Redstone family to break up Paramount Global to achieve a sale.

Steven Cahall, the Wells Fargo analyst also shared his take on what he described as some investors’ “M&A dream.” Mentioning a value of around $25 billion on Paramount’s studio and content assets, Cahall shared: “We can think of five well-heeled buyers for content/studios in isolation, but only one to two (and maybe zero) if networks/DTC are part of a deal.” While “M&A works with a break-up,” he believes that Shari Redstone-controlled owner National Amusements wouldn’t go for that option, writing: “Unfortunately, we think NAI would only consider a deal for the whole.”

3. Paramount Global’s doing a reasonable job of managing the hand it was dealt (in terms of selling off assets) and is moderating its streaming strategy.

MoffettNathanson analysts Robert Fishman and Michael Nathanson, “Although we remain skeptical, Paramount believes DTC can ultimately turn into a meaningful profit driver,” they noted. “Management seemed to concede that it had narrowed the scope of its DTC ambitions, saying it is rejiggering its content strategy to focus on the demographics that have already flocked to the platform with an eye towards increasing engagement and thus reducing churn.”

4. Paramount is doing better in curbing the free fall of linear television

Beyond Wall Street, Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley also commented on Paramount’s latest financial and operating update. “In an environment where traditional TV is under increasing pressure, Paramount brought some stability to its TV Media segment with revenue dropping just 2 percent,” he noted. “However, our experts caution that what’s important to see is the fall season given the degree of impact that the writers and actors strike will bring to Paramount’s lineup.”

From the recent AMA

$1.62 billion is less than Paramount Global was seeking for Simon & Schuster, but a $200 million cancellation payout on the last court-blocked deal, and several years of profitability from the publishing arm, makes for a bit of a wash over 4 years of attempted divestment.

As a Treklit fan, I’m sad to see the franchise publisher going separate ways, but Paramount never seemed inclined to make anything of the possible synergies with its publisher. And Paramount will always own all the rights for its licenced tie-in fiction whatever the relationship.

Hopefully, this influx of cash will help Paramount reduce its overall debt without making it a target for a takeover funded with its own money.

Giving Christina Chong’s original pop Britpop music a bit more of a boost here.

This new single and video appears to be honouring her identity as a biracial child, including several clips from family home videos of her childhood.

For a more intense piece, with dancers, try Two Flames released last month. She directed that official video herself.

cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/715946

cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/715805

Thanks again to all who joined in the creative fun on Canvas. It’s been great getting to cooperate with you in this midsummer enthusiasm.

Our efforts have stood up fairly well, despite a touch of final hours encroachment by an enthusiastically growing flag of Ireland and what seems to be an extension of the Trans flag. I guess a wordmark in violet was too great a temptation for them to resist interacting with.

Edited: TIL the colours of the Trans flag. My bad for not knowing them already

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/2920188

This is an opportunity for any users, server admins, or interested third parties to ask anything they'd like to @nutomic@lemmy.ml and I about Lemmy. This includes its development and future, as well as wider issues relevant to the social media landscape today.

Note: This will be the thread tmrw, so you can use this thread to ask and vote on questions beforehand.

Original Announcement thread

I am looking for a jacket I could wear to work on a casual Friday.

If you loved La’an’s song in SNW Subspace Rhapsody, you will want to check out Christina’s recently released album and EP.

Two official music videos have been released to date, with a third to drop in two days.

cross-posted from: https://startrek.website/post/690519

-- The SNW command delta is complete.

-- A user from another instance has taken the lead on an original Constitution-class.

-- Worf has a wordmark.

The fandom is making a good showing (if not as overwhelming as the My Little Pony space).

If you haven’t yet tried (or succeeded) in dropping a pixel, just head to the Canvas and login identifying your instance and username. You’ll be sent a PM with a confirmation code to authenticate your login.

Once in you can just drop pixels or join a faction. So far there are two active Star Trek factions: Quark’s (short name QUARK) and The Klingon Empire (short name KLINK) that you can join.