‘We’re in a Battle’: Chris Meledandri Makes the Case for Moviegoing’s Future
Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, discussed the future of cinema, praising Universal chair Donna Langley and emphasizing the need for industry leadership. He highlighted Illumination’s recent successes, including the $1 billion Super Mario film and the $5.6 billion‑plus Minions franchise, with the upcoming Minions & Monsters expected to push total earnings over $6 billion. Meledandri also explained the creative choice to set the new Minions movie in 1920s Hollywood, linking it to silent‑film comedy roots. He concluded that while cinema faces challenges, strong leadership can keep moviegoing thriving.
🎧 Would You Rather: Spend $22B on Roku or $18B on Shows?
Fox Corp. is buying streaming platform Roku for $22 billion, a move that pits a one‑time hardware acquisition against Netflix’s $18 billion annual content spend. The deal merges Fox’s existing assets—Fox News, Fox Sports, Tubi and its broadcast network—with Roku’s distribution reach,...
The World Cup Is Exposing Sports Media’s Big Blind Spot
The 2026 World Cup’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa shattered U.S. viewership records on Spanish‑language television, drawing 13.4 million viewers on Telemundo—far surpassing Fox’s 7.1 million English audience. The broadcast also became Telemundo’s highest‑rated telecast ever, with streaming consumption up...
The Hottest AI Video Startup Calls B.S. on the Movie-in-a-Prompt Fantasy
Luma AI, once a niche AI‑video startup, is abandoning the consumer‑focused "movie‑in‑a‑prompt" dream in favor of tools for filmmakers, advertisers and creative teams. COO Caroline Ingeborn says the company will solve real production problems rather than chase viral demos. Since...
6 CEOs Will Soon Control the Media’s Fate. What Could Go Wrong?
{"summary":"The post warns that a handful of CEOs—including those at Fox, Roku, Warner Bros., Paramount, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X—are poised to dominate the U.S. media landscape, a consolidation accelerated under the Trump administration and bolstered by a permissive...
🎧 Sean McNulty & Peter Kafka on Fox Buying Roku and What It All Means
Fox Corporation announced a $22 billion acquisition of Roku, marking a major pivot from its traditional linear‑TV focus to a broader digital and streaming presence. The deal gives Fox control of Roku’s hardware‑agnostic platform and its 60 million‑plus active devices, instantly expanding...
Sellers’ Guide: The Shows NBC and Peacock Want Now
The Ankler’s Sellers Guide reveals that NBC ordered eight pilots this year, signaling a modest revival of the traditional broadcast development model. Peacock, now approaching profitability, is actively buying genre‑bending series, especially “white‑wine thrillers,” while still courting outside studios. Both...
James Ellroy’s L.A. Is Dead — But Not The Crimes: ‘It Feels Un-Glamorized’
James Ellroy, the master of Los Angeles noir, has launched his latest novel, *Red Sheet*, the fourth installment of his second L.A. quartet. Set in 1962 amid the Cuban Missile Crisis, the book follows LAPD investigator Freddie Otash as he probes...
TV in 3: Could YouTube Steal the Emmys?; Connor Storrie’s Loophole
The Emmy broadcast contract with NBC expires after this year’s ceremony, opening the door for a new home. Industry insiders suggest YouTube, fresh off its acquisition of the Oscars streaming rights, could be the next bidder. The post also highlights...
TV’s Mount Rushmore, According to 50 Hollywood Insiders
The Ankler surveyed 50 seasoned Hollywood insiders to determine television’s Mount Rushmore, asking each to name four individuals who fundamentally shaped the medium. Respondents, representing a cross‑section of directors, producers, actors, executives and writers, voted anonymously and produced a clear...
🎧 The New Podcast Wars: Streaming Now
Motivational speaker Jay Shetty has signed a reported $100 million exclusive deal to bring his video podcast to Netflix and Spotify, marking a watershed moment in the evolving podcast landscape. The agreement underscores how streaming giants are now courting podcast talent,...
British TV’s YouTube Trap Is Coming for Hollywood
British broadcasters are increasingly dependent on YouTube, which now eclipses Netflix in average daily viewing time—99.1 minutes versus 93.4 minutes across 18 markets, including the U.S. and Europe. The platform’s growing clout was highlighted when YouTube’s EMEA head, Pedro Pina,...
TV Won the Prestige War. Movies Are In Their Revenge Era
The Ankler argues that television has seized cultural prestige, relegating movies to a revenge‑seeking phase. Peak TV turned showrunners into auteurs and made streaming the creative hub, while film became the domain for franchise churn. Recent streaming pullbacks and bold...
🎧 A24’s ‘Backrooms’ and the Rise of YouTube Filmmakers
A24’s horror releases *Backrooms* and *Obsession*, directed by former YouTube creators Kane Parsons and Curry Barker, topped the weekend box office, outpacing even *The Mandalorian* franchise content. The low‑budget films each pulled in more than $10 million, highlighting Gen Z’s appetite for...
Paramount-Warners: 3 Exec Showdowns About to Explode
David Ellison, who controls Paramount, is pushing a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery that would combine three TV studios, two film studios and two streaming platforms. The deal, slated for a third‑quarter close, promises $6 billion in cost savings but...