Reuters Entertainment News Summary

Netflix expands its podcast library with new shows from Kate Hudson and Martha Stewart, deepening its partnership with iHeartMedia in a bid to boost engagement and attract more subscribers.

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Netflix expands iHeartMedia partnership, adds Kate Hudson, Martha Stewart podcast shows

Netflix is adding ​several new podcast shows to its content library, including ones by Hollywood star ​Kate Hudson and celebrity lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, deepening its video podcast ‌partnership ​with iHeartMedia. The move comes amid Netflix's push to expand its entertainment offerings with formats such as podcasts and live sports events, as the streaming giant seeks to boost engagement and draw more subscribers in a mature streaming market.

Fox strikes $22 billion deal for Roku to fuel streaming ‌push

Fox Corp is buying Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $22 billion, marking a significant bet for the broadcaster that the streaming platform will strengthen its advertising business and expand online reach for its sports and news content. The deal, announced on Monday, gives Fox access to the more than 100 million households using Roku's platform, potentially helping the cable TV-reliant media company build a larger digital ‌audience, better target ads, and reduce its reliance on traditional distribution.

French watchdog orders conservative news channel CNews to comply with pluralism rules

France's media regulator on Monday ordered rolling news channel CNews ‌to comply with rules on pluralism and diversity of opinion, putting the ultra-conservative channel owned by billionaire Vincent Bollore one step away from disciplinary action. The channel, which critics have likened to the U.S.' Fox News for its opinion-driven format and polarising tone, has been accused by media watchdogs and opponents of near-constant coverage of immigration and security, which they say fuels far-right narratives.

British presenter Jeremy Clarkson reveals he has cancer on TV show

British television presenter Jeremy Clarkson, best known ⁠for hosting the "Top Gear" ​motoring show, has revealed that he had been ⁠diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Clarkson, 66, one of Britain's most popular and high-profile TV figures, made the disclosure during filming for his Amazon documentary show "Clarkson's Farm" for episodes which were broadcast on Wednesday.

Older, not wiser 'Jackass' crew ⁠reunite for final emotion-filled film

Extreme stunt and prankster collective "Jackass" put their body parts on the line one more time in "Jackass: Best and Last," billed as their fifth and final feature film. "Oh, it's it. Stuntmen and milk both ​have an expiration date, so I feel like it's time to stop," said the group's leader, Johnny Knoxville, attending the movie's premiere in London on Monday.

‘Toy Story 5’ ⁠tackles tech tensions and tween girl trials

For actor Joan Cusack, who voices the animated cowgirl Jessie in Disney's “Toy Story 5,” it was important that the film tell a different kind of story — one centered on the experiences of girls. “I mean, ⁠we’re ​half the population,” she told Reuters.

‘Fallout’ producer lauds tax breaks for luring show to Hollywood

As guests milled around a cavernous sound-stage that houses one of the sets from the Amazon Prime Video series “Fallout,” writer and producer Jonathan Nolan hailed the role tax incentives played in bringing the production to California. The first season of the series, which is a big-budget adaptation of a videogame ⁠set in a post-nuclear wasteland, was shot in New York. California was able to lure the production west in its second season, with $25 million in tax rebates.

Abdullah Ibrahim, South African ⁠pianist and anti-apartheid champion, dies at 91

Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, ⁠whose music buzzed with the bustle of South Africa's townships, resounded to the vastness of its savannah landscapes and was adopted as a rallying cry for the anti-apartheid movement, has died aged 91, the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday. No cause of death was given. Ibrahim ‌layered American jazz and spirituals ‌on top of the rhythms and melodies of southern Africa to create a musical voice that challenged ​the brutality of his country's white supremacist government.