Europe News

• Rakuten TV has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to launch 20 new Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels across Europe. • The new offering consists of a variety of thematic fiction channels and brands centered around single intellectual properties. • The service is now available to viewers in the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, and the Nordic regions.

• Intel has announced a planned €5 billion expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing facilities located in Ireland. • This move has increased investor interest in US-listed AI infrastructure multinationals that maintain significant operational footprints across Europe. • Such cross-Atlantic strategies are critical as they allow companies to leverage local European policy support and subsidies for chip production.

• Rakuten TV has launched 20 free ad-supported streaming channels (FAST) provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment across several European markets. • The new lineup, consisting of single-program and scripted-genre feeds, debuted this week in the U.K., Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, and the Nordics. • This expansion increases the platform's available linear and on-demand content options without requiring additional costs from viewers.

• The European Parliament voted 414-224 to initiate a verification procedure against the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) party over alleged violations of EU values. • Founded in August 2024 by eight parties including Germany's AfD, Poland's Confederation, and France's Reconquete, the ESN recently added Italy's National Future party. • The procedure is significant because a finding of non-compliance could result in the ESN losing its official EU party status and critical funding.

• The Council of Europe has announced the results of the fourth call for projects under its Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions. • Seven European series have been selected to share a total funding pool of $2.4 million. • The initiative aims to strengthen cultural dialogue across Europe by supporting collaborative television and online storytelling.

Meeting begins this morning after president threatens to pull American troops out of Europe as he arrived in Ankara yesterdayTrump renews call for US to take over Greenland as he arrives for Nato summitNato leaders are meeting in Ankara, Turkey today for what was meant to be a “Trump-proof” summit: short and sweet, with little space for any drama or outbursts from the notoriously unpredictable US president.Yeah, good luck with that. Continue reading...

• A new study analyzes how digital platforms and social media influence the distribution of journalistic content across South-East Europe. • The research maps regional regulations for online media and highlights how sponsored political content often displaces organic news feeds during election campaigns. • This shift matters as it demonstrates how platform algorithms and paid promotions can marginalize independent journalism and distort public access to information.