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  • Blockchain.com invests in OpenWorld to expand RWA tokenization and institutional services

    Blockchain.com invests in OpenWorld to expand RWA tokenization and institutional services

    Blockchain infrastructure firm OpenWorld has teamed up with Blockchain.com to expand its real-world asset tokenization ecosystem through institutional trading, liquidity, and distribution support, according to a Tuesday statement.

    The partnership also includes a strategic investment from Blockchain.com as the companies work together on RWA initiatives and digital asset infrastructure.

    “We’ve made a deliberate decision to build OpenWorld’s infrastructure layer alongside best-in-class institutional counterparties,” Matthew Shaw, CEO and co-founder of OpenWorld stated. “Blockchain.com brings the execution depth, product breadth, and regulatory infrastructure that our clients and pipeline demand.”

    Through the multi-year collaboration, Blockchain.com will provide execution capabilities and institutional market infrastructure to support OpenWorld’s token issuance, treasury management, and advisory activities.

    The companies aim to build a more integrated platform for institutions seeking to issue and manage tokenized assets.

    OpenWorld and Blockchain.com said the partnership reflects growing institutional interest in RWA tokenization, as investors increasingly look for onchain access to traditional asset classes.

    “Partnering with OpenWorld is a natural step forward for our institutional business,” Al Turnbull, Managing Director, Institutional Client Services at Blockchain.com, noted. “OpenWorld has built a powerful foundation for token launches and real-world asset tokenization. By connecting our networks, we are delivering a seamless, secure pipeline for institutions looking to launch tokens and manage digital assets at scale.”

    The companies plan to pursue joint go-to-market initiatives and expand adoption of tokenized assets across institutional and private markets.

  • Russia’s State Duma passes major bill regulating crypto market with transition period until 2027

    Russia’s State Duma passes major bill regulating crypto market with transition period until 2027

    Russia’s parliament has adopted a major crypto regulation bill that creates the country’s first comprehensive framework for digital currency circulation.

    The legislation establishes rules covering crypto exchanges, brokers, custodians, and other market participants while defining how individuals and businesses can buy, store, and trade digital assets.

    Under the new framework, crypto use will be permitted through licensed intermediaries, but digital assets cannot be used to pay for goods and services within Russia. The law allows a wider use of crypto in foreign economic activities as the government seeks to support cross-border transactions.

    The main provisions are scheduled to take effect in September 2026, with a transition period lasting until July 2027.

    Regulators will also continue developing related rules covering crypto taxation, liability for violations, and measures against fraudulent transactions.

    This is a developing story.

  • These Massive Antivirus Deals for July Will Keep Your PC, Phone, and Tablet Safe and Secure

    These Massive Antivirus Deals for July Will Keep Your PC, Phone, and Tablet Safe and Secure

    Updated July 21: Maintaining good digital hygiene is more important than ever in this age of black hat hackers, phishing schemes, and lots of other ways to compromise your PC and other devices. Performing regular safety checks is a first step, but your security solution isn’t complete without an antivirus program that will detect and eliminate malware, Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more on your desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

    Security has always been a major priority at PCMag, and we’ve been testing and reviewing antivirus software for decades. We use hundreds of authentic pieces of malware on our test hardware in order to test thoroughness, along with a full suite of other digital threats and incursions from multiple angles. We also go through extra bundled features, including parental controls, firewalls, phishing protection, and more. Our process closely replicates real-world scenarios to keep our reports up-to-date. While many antivirus programs do offer free versions, those are not as regularly updated or dependable as the paid versions, so for better protection, a subscription is recommended. Here are the five best antivirus deals we have in July.

    Why You Need Antivirus

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    Why You Need Antivirus

    Bitdefender Deals

    Bitdefender Total Security

    5 devices, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android


    $54.99
    at Bitdefender

    $109.99
    Save $55.00


    Get Deal

    We’ll start off with one of the best protection suites on the market at a 50% price drop. Bitdefender Total Security received the PCMag Editors’ Choice award as a “feature-rich suite that protects all your computers, phones, and tablets.” They’re currently offering a 365-day plan on five devices for $54.99, a big discount from the standard subscription price. As the name implies, you get total protection for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, including malware scan and browser protection, a spam filter, and even anti-theft features.

    Avast Deals

    Avast One Ultimate

    5 devices, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android


    $49.99
    at Avast

    $109.99
    Save $60.00


    Get Deal

    Avast One Ultimate excels at all the antivirus marks we evaluate, with additional features not found in other packages that make it worth considering. That includes a robust VPN with no bandwidth or server limits, and an Email Guardian that scans messages in the cloud and filters out malicious attachments before they land on your PC. Protection is available for up to 30 devices, depending on your plan, which should be enough coverage for most users. Avast does offer a free version called Avast One Essential, but the paid version is definitely worth it, especially at a 57% discount.

    McAfee Deals

    McAfee+ Advanced

    Unlimited devices, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS


    $89.99
    at McAfee

    $199.99
    Save $110.00


    Get Deal

    McAfee+ Advanced has one of the most thorough product offerings in the business. Users get all-in-one protection for an unlimited number of Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and ChromeOS devices from the start — a rarity these days. Financial tools include bank and credit card transaction monitoring, monthly credit score and reports, identity monitoring, personal data cleanup, and more, in addition to the antivirus protection that comes standard with every tier. This offer is for the individual plan, but there’s also a family plan available that covers up to two adults and four children on unlimited devices. PCMag’s expert gave McAfee+ high marks for its top test scores and praised its ability to remove abandoned online accounts and its effective social media privacy controls, earning it an “Excellent” overall rating.

    Norton Deals

    Norton Antivirus Plus

    3 devices, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android


    $39.99
    at Norton

    $94.99
    Save $55.00


    Get Deal

    Norton AntiVirus Plus racked up impressive scores in independent lab tests and our own hands-on evaluation, and it offers a wealth of useful features, such as Data Protector, which battles ransomware by preventing malicious programs from modifying documents in specified directories. Norton’s intelligent firewall taps into a massive online database to evaluate network permissions for known programs individually, without bombarding you with notifications. The suite’s straightforward online backup also gives you access to up to 2GB of cloud storage, the ultimate security against attacks on your data. With this deal, the $94.99 annual fee for a single license drops to $39.99.

    Recommended by Our Editors

    Surfshark Deals

    Surfshark One

    5 devices, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android


    $67.23
    at Surfshark

    $444.15
    Save $376.92


    Get Deal

    Surfshark is best-known for its award-winning virtual private network, but adding a robust security suite on top is a logical extension of its brand. Surfshark One scored well during a hands-on malware protection test, and our expert appreciated that it supports Windows, macOS, and Android. Recent revised testing has impressed us with its thoroughness and diverse feature set, though we did note that its long-term commitments can be cumbersome. Your mileage may vary, but if you need VPN-centric features over others, this is a good option at a discounted price.

    More Antivirus Deals

    *Deals are selected by our commerce team

    Want to save even more on all of today’s hottest hardware and software? Our deals page should be your destination.

    FAQ

    Why Do I Need an Antivirus Program?

    Being connected online opens up your devices to a host of threats and they can become infected by downloading malware from a malicious attachment, visiting sketchy websites, or even hidden on an innocuous USB drive. A quality antivirus product will stand between you and the hazards of the World Wide Web.

    What Is the Best Antivirus?

    Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and Norton AntiVirus Plus received perfect and near-perfect scores from independent testing labs, Bitdefender from three labs and Norton from four. Both earn high scores in our hands-on tests, and both offer more features than some security suites, including a hardened browser for financial transactions, Wi-Fi security monitoring, a feature that blocks ad trackers, and automatic detection of missing security patches. These two get our Editors’ choice stamp of approval and should be at the top of your list of possible options.

    What Is the Best Free Antivirus? 

    Avast One Basic received the PCMag Editors’ Choice award in addition to its “Outstanding” rating, earning excellent lab scores on multiple platforms and offering protection for Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows—all for free. If you’re looking for a more typical antivirus rather than an almost-suite, AVG Antivirus Free uses precisely the same antivirus protection engine as Avast, but without the crowd of suite-level features. Our experts have put together a comprehensive list of free antivirus solutions for you to check out at your leisure. 

    Can I Get a Free Trial?

    The nice thing about free antivirus apps is that you can try a bunch before picking your favorite. But really, you can do the same with most commercial antivirus apps. Our top antivirus picks all offer a free trial, either for 30 days or 14 days. With some there are no strings attached. Others, such as Norton and McAfee, require that you sign up with a credit card and cancel before the trial ends. In addition, many of them also offer a 30-day or 60-day money-back guarantee.

    Which Antivirus Brands Offer the Biggest Discounts?

    Just about every antivirus rewards new customers with a first-year discount, meaning you don’t pay list price until the second year. These discounts change frequently, but they’re always clearly marked on the app’s pricing page. If price is a big factor for you, do a price-check on all the antiviruses you’re considering and then purchase the one you prefer right away, while the discount is still current.

    About Our Experts

  • Action Xtreme Expands Into U.K., Ireland Distribution With John Hannah-Starring ‘Bad Day at the Office’ (Exclusive)

    Action Xtreme Expands Into U.K., Ireland Distribution With John Hannah-Starring ‘Bad Day at the Office’ (Exclusive)

    Action Xtreme is expanding into the U.K. and Ireland film distribution space with the release of the John Hannah-led Bad Day at the Office.

    The adrenaline-fueled POV action thriller, produced and directed by Chee Keong Cheung and also starring Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, Man on Fire), will receive its U.K. premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August. It’s set to open the prestigious Midnight Madness strand before launching nationwide in cinemas across the U.K. and Ireland this October.

    The move represents a significant milestone for the U.K.-based studio. Alongside an expanding production slate, Action Xtreme is working on international partnerships, talent development initiatives and its pioneering MA in Action Filmmaking with Falmouth University. In addition to overseeing the theatrical release of productions in the U.K. and Ireland, the company will also selectively acquire commercially driven action and genre titles that “align with the brand.”

    Bad Day at the Office is shot entirely from the first-person perspective using GoPro cameras. The film follows a man (Hannah) who wakes in a hotel with no memory of who he is, only to discover a dead body in the bath and an army of assassins closing in. Forced to go on the run and uncover the truth while fighting for survival, he discovers he may not be the man he thought he was.

    “Shot in the style of first-person shooter video games with cine-literate wit, humor, ferocious pacing and a cracking soundtrack, this is an anarchic, ultra-violent and hilarious thrill ride of pure, cinematic carnage,” said festival director at Edinburgh Emma Boa. “The ultimate Midnight Madness experience.”

    Cheung, also CEO of Action Xtreme, added: “Bad Day at the Office is exactly the kind of bold, cinematic experience Action Xtreme was created for… Seeing our first theatrical release launch with a festival premiere at Edinburgh’s Midnight Madness, before rolling out nationwide, makes this an incredibly exciting moment for the company.”

    Co-CEO Andreas Roald said distribution has been “a key component” of their strategy. “Over the last few years we’ve focused on building Action Xtreme into far more than a production company… We’ve created a platform that develops action filmmakers, produces films and now brings those films directly to action audiences. Distribution has been a key component of our strategy.”

    The studio’s recent productions include Nigerian action thriller Son of the Soil, which became one of Netflix Africa’s most successful action releases following theatrical runs across multiple territories. Upcoming productions include sci-fi thriller The Experiment, starring Rhona Mitra and Famke Janssen, as well as several international co-productions currently in development.

  • Disney and Kraft Heinz Ink-Wide Ranging Brand Deal Across Media and Experiences

    Disney and Kraft Heinz Ink-Wide Ranging Brand Deal Across Media and Experiences

    In a wide-ranging brand deal unlike anything in recent memory, The Walt Disney Co. and Kraft Heinz have inked a multiyear “strategic alliance” that will span media and experiences, bringing Kraft Heinz brands to Disney’s film and TV content, as well as to the company’s vast theme parks and cruise business.

    Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though it will include 10 Kraft Heinz brands, including Heinz (best known for Ketchup, of course), Philadelphia (cream cheese) and Kraft Mac & Cheese getting prime placement within Walt Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim, as well as on Disney cruises departing out of North America.

    The experiences element of the deal will also include new menu items, and new condiment stations across the parks. Kraft Heinz will also have a presence at D23 this summer with sauces from the company’s sauce vault.

    But it also includes media, where one can imagine Kraft Heinz brands being integrated into Disney feature films or TV shows (think of the role Mercedes-Benz played in Devil Wears Prada 2 for example), or as part of event coverage, such as next year’s Super Bowl on ESPN (where ad space is at a premium, as it always is).

    “From going to the movies and watching a TV show to going to a theme park, it’s all about bringing people together around these shared passion points and fandom for some of these properties that I know Disney has across their vast portfolio, and it’s also what our 100-year-old plus brands have also already done,” says Todd Kaplan, the CMO of Kraft Heinz North America, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “It allows us to show up in these mealtime moments that matter most to consumers when they’re having these shared experiences, whether it’s at a park, on a cruise ship, at a hotel or resort in fully integrated ways to meet fans where they are, and sometimes those things are even at home when you’re watching.”

    “We’re gonna have storytelling-driven collaborations, media integrations, experiential activations inspired by all of Disney’s iconic franchises and major sporting events,” he adds.

    Kaplan says that the companies are still thinking about the specific places they will work together, with the multiyear nature of the deal giving them a runway to discuss what each company has coming down the pipe in terms of products, films, shows and other things. Kraft Heinz, given its vast portfolio of products, is among the largest marketers in the U.S.

    “It’s really making sure we can fully integrate our efforts across them all as we look to activate and bring some of these really interesting properties to life,” Kaplan says. “As we look across their whole ecosystem of entertainment platforms and properties, how and when we choose to integrate across the life of this long-term partnership, we’re really excited about the opportunity to create new opportunities and unlock new value for both of our organizations.”

    And more than anything, it is about merging one of America’s best-known entertainment brands, and connecting it with the owner of some of its best known food brands.

    “Disney Corporate Alliances is focused on working with iconic brands with shared values to create meaningful experiences that bring families closer to the stories and places they love,” said Becca Vodnoy, senior VP of corporate alliances at The Walt Disney Co. “The collaboration with Kraft Heinz is the perfect demonstration of another brand that understands how families connect through everyday moments, and together we will build creative experiences for our consumers across our destinations, platforms, and fan touchpoints.”

    “Why we’re doing it is, Disney and Kraft Heinz share something really rare: For generations families have grown up with both of our companies and our brands, whether it’s watching your favorite Disney movie, whether it’s with Kraft Mac and Cheese, whether it’s reaching for Heinz at the dinner table, our brands are really woven into everyday family traditions,” says Kaplan. “We have these storied, iconic brands that have been around for many many years, and so the partnership is not about creating this artificial connection, it’s actually about building upon the memory structure that consumers already have of both of our brands, and bringing these moments to life in new ways.”

    And among Hollywood companies it’s the sort of deal only Disney could do, from the Super Bowl and big-budget films to streaming shows and cruise ships.

  • FAST Provider Wedotv Launches in India With Samsung TV Plus (EXCLUSIVE)

    FAST Provider Wedotv Launches in India With Samsung TV Plus (EXCLUSIVE)

    FAST channel provider wedotv has struck its first distribution deal in India, bringing four channels to Samsung TV Plus and reaching millions of Samsung Smart TV users across the country.

    The agreement adds wedotv Big Stories, wedotv Cars, wedotv Movies and wedotv Sports to the platform. wedotv Big Stories is produced in partnership with Big Media, while wedotv Cars is created with Motorvision. The lineup spans factual entertainment, automotive programming, film and sports content.

    The deal extends wedotv’s push into Asia and follows the company’s broader international expansion since 2023. It also marks wedotv’s 13th territory for Samsung TV Plus channel launches, following recent rollouts in the Middle East and North Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

    “The launch of our FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus in India marks an important step in wedotv’s international expansion and our continued investment in high-growth markets,” said Iza Piotrowska, senior VP of global business development, wedotv. “India represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving streaming market, and this partnership allows us to bring curated, globally relevant content to a highly engaged audience.”

    Samsung TV Plus counts more than 100 million monthly active users worldwide and comes pre-installed on Samsung Smart TVs and select devices without requiring a subscription. The service carries more than 4,300 ad-supported linear channels across 30 countries.

    “India is an important growth market for Samsung TV Plus, and we’re committed to building a compelling TV viewing experience by partnering with leading content providers,” said Kunal Mehta, general manager, head of business development, Samsung TV Plus India. “Adding wedotv’s portfolio broadens the range of premium international channels available on the service and reinforces our strategy of delivering high-quality, free streaming content to Samsung TV users across the country.”

    Wedotv is the advertising-supported streaming arm of Video Solutions AG, a Swiss media company, and operates channels available via its own website and apps as well as on partner platforms including LG Channels, VIDAA/Hisense, Zattoo and Freeview, among others. The company’s channels currently reach viewers across the U.K., Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

  • Worldcoin’s WLD Jumps 8% on Grayscale ETF Filing

    Worldcoin’s WLD Jumps 8% on Grayscale ETF Filing

    In brief

    • Grayscale has filed with the SEC to launch the first U.S. ETF tied to Worldcoin, the biometric crypto project co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
    • The Grayscale Worldcoin ETF would hold WLD and trade on Nasdaq under the ticker GWLD, with BitGo as custodian and BNY Mellon as transfer agent.
    • WLD rose around 8% on the news, though it remains down about 5.5% on the week.

    Worldcoin’s WLD token jumped after asset manager Grayscale filed to launch the first US exchange-traded fund tied to the biometric crypto project, moving to bring Sam Altman’s eye-scanning venture a step closer to Wall Street.

    WLD climbed about 8% over 24 hours following the filing to an intraday high of $0.387, trimming a rough week that still left it down around 5.5% over the past seven days, per CoinGecko data.

    On Monday, Grayscale filed an S-1 registration statement for the Grayscale Worldcoin ETF, a “passive” vehicle that would hold WLD—the native token of the World Network—and track its price through the CoinDesk Worldcoin Benchmark Rate, according to the filing.

    If approved, the fund would list on Nasdaq under the ticker GWLD using the exchange’s generic listing standards for commodity-based trusts—meaning it could launch without a separate SEC rule change once WLD meets Nasdaq’s eligibility criteria. BitGo Bank & Trust would custody the tokens, while the Bank of New York Mellon would serve as transfer agent and administrator, the filing shows. WLD is the 55th-largest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of around $1.4 billion, according to CoinGecko.

    Sam Altman’s eye-scanning project

    Worldcoin—rebranded simply “World” in 2024—was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to build a global “proof of personhood” system. It uses a spherical device called the Orb to scan people’s irises, issuing a unique “World ID” meant to prove someone is a real human rather than an AI bot, and hands WLD tokens to verified users. The project has drawn regulatory scrutiny over its biometric data collection in the EU and in countries including Brazil and Kenya.

    The ETF filing is the latest sign of institutional appetite for the token. Last year, Nasdaq-listed Eightco built the first corporate treasury around WLD, amassing one of the largest disclosed stakes in the cryptocurrency.

    Grayscale’s ETF expansion

    The filing continues Grayscale’s drive to broaden its crypto ETF lineup. The firm converted its flagship Bitcoin trust into an ETF after a landmark court win over the SEC, later launched an Ethereum fund, and has filed for or rolled out products tied to Dogecoin, Solana, XRP, Litecoin and Chainlink, among others.

    For now, the filing is only a first step: the fund can’t trade until the registration takes effect and WLD clears Nasdaq’s listing bar. But if it does, it would give everyday investors their first way to hold Worldcoin through a U.S. brokerage account.

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  • Anurag Kashyap, MIFFest Jury President, Searches for ‘a New Cinematic Language’

    Anurag Kashyap, MIFFest Jury President, Searches for ‘a New Cinematic Language’

    Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap, whose latest directorial feature “Bandar” marks his return behind the camera, is at this year’s Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) as jury president while also leading a masterclass titled “Unfiltered Realism.” But rather than having all the answers, the veteran filmmaker is hoping to discover something new.

    “As jury president, what I’m really looking for is a new cinematic language,” Kashyap tells Variety. “I’m interested in seeing how younger filmmakers tell stories in ways my generation couldn’t.”

    Kashyap believes today’s filmmakers are entering an entirely different creative landscape. AI tools, social media and an overwhelming abundance of information have transformed not only how films are made but also how audiences receive them.

    Looking back on more than two decades of filmmaking, Kashyap pushed back on a common assumption. “Staying real isn’t a choice,” he added. “Whether I’m directing, producing or acting, you have to stay real. Only then can you fully play out reality and truly engage your audience.”

    He acknowledges that earlier in his career, limited budgets and available technology naturally pushed his films toward grounded storytelling. But he argues that authenticity has never been about visual style.

    Rather than seeing authenticity as a branding strategy, Kashyap believes local stories resonate globally precisely because they remain deeply rooted in their own cultures.

    Across Asia, Kashyap sees filmmakers share many of the same challenges despite working in different industries. “South Korea, Japan, China and India all have mature film industries,” he says. “But we’re all facing the same problem – audiences have shorter attention spans, and streaming platforms have created endless choices.”

    Those concerns echo comments Kashyap made earlier this year about the pressures facing contemporary cinema, particularly independent filmmaking in an increasingly fragmented viewing environment.

    Rather than offering a blueprint for filmmaking, Kashyap hopes the masterclass will become a conversation – one where he’s as eager to learn as he is to share his own experiences.

    “I have many questions myself as well,” he says. “I’m hoping to find some answers, have meaningful conversations during the festival and maybe discover another clue about the future of cinema.”

  • XRP jumps 4% as traders watch ‘triangle breakout’ toward $1.35

    XRP jumps 4% as traders watch ‘triangle breakout’ toward $1.35

    • Volume increased during the breakout attempt, with CoinGecko showing 24-hour trading volume of about $1.27 billion.

    $XRP held above the $1.08-$1.10 area through the session, keeping the short-term recovery structure intact.

    Technical Analysis

    • The key short-term level is $1.13. A sustained break above it would confirm the triangle breakout watched by traders and bring $1.35 into focus.

    • The hourly structure has tightened into a symmetrical triangle, with price compressing between lower highs and higher lows before the latest push higher.

    • The daily chart remains more cautious. $XRP is still trading inside a descending channel, with the 100-day and 200-day moving averages above price and sloping lower.

    • The $1.24-$1.28 area remains the bigger resistance zone because it lines up with the channel’s upper boundary and major moving averages.

    • Support remains strongest around $1.02-$1.06, where buyers have repeatedly stepped in over recent weeks.

    What traders should watch

    • $1.13 is the immediate breakout level. Holding above it would strengthen the short-term bullish setup.

    • $1.14 is the next nearby level after marking the top of the latest 24-hour range.

    • $1.24-$1.28 is the major resistance zone that $XRP needs to clear before the daily chart turns meaningfully stronger.

    • $1.02-$1.06 remains the key demand zone. Losing it would expose $0.88-$0.92.

  • Lisa Nandy Stays in Post as U.K. Culture Secretary, Kanishka Narayan Appointed First AI Minister

    Lisa Nandy Stays in Post as U.K. Culture Secretary, Kanishka Narayan Appointed First AI Minister

    Despite new Prime Minister Andy Burnham undergoing an extensive cabinet reshuffle, incumbent culture minister Lisa Nandy is set to remain in post.

    Nandy, who has been a member of Parliament since 2010 as representative for the constituency of Wigan, was appointed secretary of state for culture, media and sport by previous Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July 2024, shortly after the Labour party won the general election, making her the 12th minister in the post in almost as many years.

    Her two-year stint has also made her one of the longest-serving. She previously served as the shadow cabinet minister for international development and shadow housing minister.

    Nandy took office during a period of uncertainty for the U.K.’s screen sector in the wake of the Hollywood writer and actor strikes, post-pandemic inflation coupled with a downturn in the ad market and slashed budgets from broadcasters and streamers. She is currently overseeing the BBC’s royal charter renewal, including its funding mechanism, as well as the U.K. arm of the Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery merger, in which she said she was “minded to intervene.”

    Other major deals in the U.K. include Comcast-owned Sky’s recent acquisition of public service broadcaster ITV, which has yet to receive regulatory approval, as well as potential bidders for its soon-to-be-spun-off production arm ITV Studios.

    Meanwhile Burnham has also appointed Kanishka Narayan as the first minister for AI, jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

    Narayan was previously parliamentary under-secretary of state in the science, innovation and technology department. He was elected in July 2024 as the MP for Vale of Glamorgan.