Director and Producer Earn Millions for Sanitizing Film
The director and producer of Michael got paid millions more for the trouble of sanitizing the movie, per @tgbuckley. https://t.co/pWvvzwlzn3 https://t.co/kUaaQ4OirM
Big Firm Buying Small One—Unless Owned by Ellison
When a $9 billion company combines with a $900 million company, it is buying the $900 million company.* Use whatever language you like... *Unless the $900 million company is owned by David Ellison. https://t.co/nYS3D359sO
IHeart and SiriusXM Explore Merger of Radio Giants
NEW: IHeart and SiriusXM are discussing a deal that would combine the largest radio station owner and the largest satellite radio company in the US. Scoop with @ashleyrcarman and @MichelleF_Davis https://t.co/7NEFbCv6jz
Larry Jackson Pushes Kanye's Comeback, Wins Corporate Bets
The return of @kanyewest is being championed by a music executive named Larry Jackson, a protege of Clive Davis & Jimmy Iovine. I spoke to Jackson about his relationship w/Ye and how he's convinced companies to bet on him again. https://t.co/7ouU0Dilty
Alex Cooper's Media Empire Faces Unexpected Growing Pains
Great reporting from @ashleyrcarman on media darling Alex Cooper and her struggles to build a media business.
Bill Ackman Urges Fixes as UMG Shares Keep Sliding
Shares in Universal Music Group, home to Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, keep falling. @BillAckman has ideas on how to fix it, but UMG hasn't been listening. Inside the bizarre tango between music's biggest mogul & one of Wall Street's loudest voices: https://t.co/ohgGcYL4eu
Netflix Shares Tumble over 10% on Muted 2026 Outlook
Netflix shares are down more than 10% after the company didn’t forecast a big jump in earnings for 2026. https://t.co/a0WNdW74jd
Netflix Halves Original Movie Output yet Still Leads Industry
Netflix has cut back its output of original movies by more than 50% from four years ago. (It still releases the most original movies of any company.) https://t.co/62UYKNMzD7
Streaming Bonuses Apply to Just 4.4% of Shows
Three years ago, Hollywood labor unions pushed for members to get streaming bonuses for hit shows. Last year, only 4.4% of programs would have qualified. Most of them were on Netflix. https://t.co/yCM7k2EnGb https://t.co/thdvInkmYh
Robot K‑Pop Boy Band Performs in Futuristic Office
Last month in Seoul, I saw a robot boy band dance across an office designed like a space ship. Unclear if it was the future or a total lark, but @soheefication wrote about the company trying to bring Korean pop into...
Ye's $33M LA Shows Boost by Spotify, Live Nation
Ye sold $33M worth of tickets across two nights in LA, including one of the highest-grossing nights in music history. Perhaps more significant: Spotify playlisted a song from his new album and Live Nation is partners with the promoter for his...
Politicians Push Generous Tax Incentives Across Regions
The people responsible for this are politicians who've offered generous tax incentives in New Jersey, Georgia, the UK and beyond.
Netflix Prices up 150% Since 2013, Will Keep Rising
Netflix has increased its prices by 150% since 2013. The price increases will continue until customers tell the company to stop. https://t.co/2R8oGAahLC
Hollywood Week: Netflix Hikes, Disney Stalls, Social Media Warning
Five things you need to know about Hollywood this week: Netflix’s price hike, Disney’s rough start and a social media addiction statement.
Project Hail Mary Surpasses $300M, Down 23%
Project Hail Mary has eclipsed $300 million in worldwide ticket sales. It dropped just 23% from last weekend. https://t.co/vmL9tuJxBa
SABEW Honors Our Warner Bros Coverage, Labels CNBC Small
Flattered/honored that our @SABEW honored our coverage of the Warner Bros deal with its best in business prize. Also intrigued to learn that CNBC qualifies as a medium to small news organization. https://t.co/P3KGdZSgkQ
Amazon's Biggest Film Opening Revives Theatrical Ambitions
Amazon’s most ambitious movie to-date delivers the company’s biggest opening ever. A big boost to Amazon’s theatrical ambitions after 3 misses to start the year.
BTS Album Features Spotify's Current Top 14 Songs
The 14 songs on the new @bts_bighit album are the 14 most popular songs on Spotify right now. https://t.co/eFGcGwd66H
BTS Returns After Army, Announces Long-Awaited Album Tour
BTS is about to return after three years in the South Korean Army. Then spoke Sohee and me about their long-awaited album/tour.
DOJ, FCC Clear Tegna‑Nexstar Deal, Forming Largest Local Broadcaster
Both the DOJ and the FCC have approved the merger of Tegna and Nexstar, a deal that would create the largest owner of local stations in the US. https://t.co/BcB7uDquKX
New LA Publication Launches with In‑Depth Mayor Race
My friend @sherlyholmes has started a new publication devoted to Los Angeles, our home. She's started with a bang: an in-depth look at the mayor's race. I would also recommend checking out the daily newsletter (because LA sorely needs one). https://t.co/sZjwB3dCSl
Netflix's K‑Pop Demon Hunters Tour May Feature Virtual Girls
Netflix is planning a global KPop Demon Hunters concert tour for next year. Promoters are salivating. But… who will perform as the girls? It may be entirely virtual. Scoop —> https://t.co/PDg34hVJOo
Neon’s Oscar Wins Reveal Indie Film Profit Surge
Neon has been a fixture at the Oscars since its founding a decade ago. We obtained some finances that are very revealing about the state of the indie film business. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-16/oscars-2026-how-much-neon-made-from-a-best-picture-oscar
Phil Saves Canceled Show by Switching to YouTube
Netflix was going to cancel the show and Phil wanted to keep doing it. Ergo, YouTube. https://t.co/S6fVQvk4QH
Hollywood's Oscars: Six Years of Existential Crisis
For the sixth year in a row, Hollywood enters the Academy Awards in some stage of an existential crisis. https://t.co/jozy6DM9bL
AI Boom Threatens Gaming Jobs, Industry Faces Reality
Everyone is looking for work as AI proliferates. A sobering look at the state of gaming from @jasonschreier https://t.co/ihXWMQ5psR
Live Nation Near Settlement of DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit
Big news: Live Nation is close to settling the DOJ’s antitrust suit. Scoop with @joshua_sisco and Leah Nylen https://t.co/WhfJruM2fX
Netflix Quit Warner Bid After Paramount's Final Offer
Ted Sarandos says Netflix knew it would pull out of the Warner Bros bidding as soon as it saw the final Paramount offer. We spent 40 minutes on Saturday discussing why Netflix didn’t match and what the Paramount deal means...
David Ellison Secures Warner Bros Deal After Netflix Backs Out
Last Saturday, Netflix was the heavy favorite to buy Warner Bros. What changed? How did David Ellison pull it off? Why did Netflix back off? Behind the scenes of one of the biggest deals in business history with @MichelleF_Davis and @joshua_sisco...
Warner Bros Declares Paramount Deal Superior, Challenges Netflix
Warner Bros says the Paramount deal is now superior. The ball is in Netflix’s court.
WBD Pauses, Reviews Paramount Bid; Netflix May Renegotiate
After months of noisy fighting in public, these talks are once again quiet. WBD will take some time to assess the latest Paramount bid and Netflix will have a chance to amend its current agreement (if necessary).
Paramount Submits Upgraded Offer to Acquire WBD
New: Paramount has made a new and improved offer for WBD. Expect WBD to respond soon. https://t.co/CW7caCn4xm
Trump’s Brief Pledge to Avoid WB Sale Fizzles
Donald Trump’s vow to stay out of the WB sale lasted all of a couple weeks. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-21/trump-threatens-netflix-with-consequences-over-rice-board-seat?taid=699a45d18e21f400010da132&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=business&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
Paramount Skydance May Up Offer; Netflix Watching
This has been another noisy week in the Warner Bros. sale, and yet it still comes back to the same question. Will Paramount Skydance increase its offer? If it does, by how much? And, will Netflix match?
Night Raises $70M to Expand Gaming Business
News: Night, a leading talent representative for creators like @KaiCenat, has raised $70 million to expand its business in gaming (and other areas).
Warner Bros Eyes Paramount Deal Despite Netflix Matching Right
New: Warner Bros. is considering re-engaging with Paramount following its latest offer + pressure from some shareholders. WB still has a binding deal with Netflix, which would have the right to match any offer. Scoop with @MichelleF_Davis https://t.co/WLdpdeS0gc
YouTube TV Launches $65 Sports‑only Package
In the next few weeks, YouTube TV is going roll out a packages that will finally let sports fans pay for only live sports channels. It costs $65 a month. New in this week's newsletter: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-02-08/youtube-to-offer-sports-only-tv-package-at-a-22-discount