Beware Hollywood's digital demolition: as if your favourite films never existed

The article discusses the alarming trend of media deletion in Hollywood, where significant amounts of content are being removed from digital platforms, effectively erasing parts of cultural history. Notable examples include the removal of extensive archives from Comedy Central, MTVNews.com, and Cartoon Network, which have been redirected to less comprehensive streaming services. This trend reflects a broader industry shift towards prioritizing profit over the preservation of cultural artifacts, with executives like David Zaslav leading the charge. The practice of shelving completed films for tax benefits, as seen with projects like Batgirl and Coyote vs Acme, raises concerns about the future of creative work and the opportunities for artists. The article draws parallels to historical instances of media destruction, emphasizing that the current digital landscape is not as secure as it seems, with many indie films at risk of being lost due to unreliable archiving practices. The author warns that the disregard for media preservation today mirrors the attitudes of Hollywood nearly a century ago, suggesting that the industry may be on the brink of a new era of lost media.

- Hollywood is increasingly deleting significant amounts of media content, erasing cultural history.

- Executives prioritize profit over preservation, leading to the shelving of completed films.

- Historical parallels highlight a long-standing neglect of media preservation in the industry.

- The current digital landscape poses risks for indie filmmakers and their works.

- The trend reflects a broader cultural disregard for the historical value of media.