Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Super Mario Galaxy film targets $200M+ opening weekend
Nintendo and Illumination are positioning the upcoming "Super Mario Galaxy" movie to open with more than $200 million domestically over the Easter holiday weekend. The strategy leans on the franchise’s multigenerational appeal and a family‑focused release window, with analysts citing the 2015 "Avengers: Age of Ultron" $191 million opening as a benchmark.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K-Love seeks FCC approval to acquire WFCC
OpenAI announced today that it is shutting down Sora, its AI video‑generation product, and terminating a $1 billion partnership with Disney. The move reflects mounting compute expenses and a strategic pivot toward enterprise and developer‑focused AI offerings.
German teleshopping channel Channel21 filed for preliminary insolvency in Hanover, just days after celebrating its 25th anniversary. A court‑appointed administrator will decide whether the broadcaster can continue operating or must be restructured. The filing reflects a broader crisis in the...
Synamedia announced ContentArmor Edge Watermarking, an industry‑first solution that embeds forensic watermarks directly into the compressed video stream at the CDN edge. The technology cuts insertion and extraction times in half, delivering end‑to‑end piracy disruption in under five minutes. By...
Leonine Studios announced that CEO Fred Kogel’s contract has been extended to 2028, cementing his leadership of the German‑based production and distribution group. The move follows Leonine’s rapid rise since its 2019 launch to become the largest independent studio in...
Elon Musk has put a hold on X’s newly announced revenue‑sharing policy that would give creators more weight for impressions from their home region. The plan, unveiled by head of product Nikita Bier, sparked immediate backlash from creators who said most...
Picnic’s new PIQ analysis shows that roughly one‑third of open‑web video players shrink after the initial page load, while 15% continue playing after users scroll past and 12% of sites host multiple videos simultaneously. The study highlights a gap between...
Brands are leveraging extended reality—AR, VR, and MR—to solve concrete marketing challenges, from cutting product returns to accelerating sales cycles. The article outlines eight real‑world examples, including BMW’s mixed‑reality showroom, IKEA’s AR placement tool, and Walmart’s enterprise‑scale VR training. Global...
Orange and investment fund Verdoso have entered an exclusivity agreement to explore the sale of Globecast, Orange’s media services arm. Globecast, a 24‑year‑old provider, delivers satellite, fibre and IP‑based distribution for thousands of broadcasters, rights holders and platform operators worldwide....
The European audiovisual sector generated roughly €142 billion in 2024—about $155 billion—driven largely by consumer spending, which contributed over half of the total. Record production saw 2,523 feature films across 36 markets, while streaming viewers devoted 78% of SVoD time to TV...
RTL AdAlliance’s fifth Living Room Study shows 83% of Europeans watch video content in the living room, far outpacing the bedroom (46%). This preference is 25 points higher than in the United States. Streaming on TV sets has risen, with...
Global Distribution Services has added two FAST channels to the UK Freeview platform: Music and Memories on channel 290 and Outdoor Channel (paired with World Fishing Network) on channel 291. Both services employ a waterfall monetisation model, server‑side ad insertion...
Deloitte’s 20th‑year Digital Media Trends survey shows US streaming spend flat at $69 per month, while fan‑identified viewers are driving higher engagement and spend. 68% of subscription video‑on‑demand (SVoD) users now carry an ad‑supported tier, and fans spend $71 monthly—27%...
Italy’s advertising market in 2025 is now led by digital, with the “extended” digital segment projected at €9.6 billion (about $10.6 billion), representing 45% of total spend. OTT platforms dominate that slice, contributing €4.3 billion (~$4.7 billion). Traditional media investment slips to €5.8 billion (~$6.4 billion),...
KSI will stream Dagenham & Redbridge's National League South match against Hampton & Richmond on March 28 via his YouTube channel, offering free worldwide access. The partnership involves DAZN and the National League, aiming to make the fixture the most‑watched...
Remember when X started showing the location of accounts and everyone found out that a bunch of pro-Trump influencers were actually based in other countries? Now the company says it's changing up its revenue sharing program so people will only...
Marketers are reallocating a growing share of search spend toward generative engine optimization (GEO) as AI reshapes how users discover brands. A Scribewise survey shows 55% of U.S. marketers now budget for GEO, with 70% assigning 11%‑20% of their search...
JioStar released a BARC‑Nielsen study of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 showing that television and digital advertising audiences overlapped by less than ten percent. The low duplication indicates that integrated TV‑digital campaigns deliver substantial incremental reach, reaching distinct...
Everyone loves posting “bad brand deals” but never shows receipts. If brands are really sending insulting offers, call them out directly or nothing changes. Most of this is just rage bait for engagement. The only legit one going around right...
Rixos Radamis in Sharm El Sheikh has opened Aquamania Jungle Park, a new family‑focused water and wildlife attraction. At the same time, Emirates SkyCargo announced a dedicated pet‑booking team, while Radisson unveiled a plan to operate 100 net‑zero hotels by...
Cygames announced that the original Shadowverse free‑to‑play digital card game will cease operations on June 30, 2026 at 7 p.m. PT, with its direct successor, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, remaining active. Over its ten‑year run the title released more than 5,000 cards across 32 sets,...
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) is overhauling its sales organization to create an integrated, data‑driven monetisation engine that serves both traditional TV and fast‑growing digital platforms. The restructuring, led by COO Sandeep Mehrotra, appoints new chief sales officers for regional...
Status Scoop: With the first quarter set to wrap at week’s end, Bari Weiss’ relaunched “CBS Evening News” with Tony Dokoupil is on track for its lowest-rated first quarter of the 21st century in both total viewers and the advertiser-coveted...
OpenAI announced it is shutting down Sora, its AI‑powered video generation tool, effectively terminating a planned three‑year, $1 billion partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The deal, which would have given Disney access to Sora and allowed OpenAI to tap Disney’s...
Gaurav Dewani has rejoined Times Network as executive vice president, bringing more than two decades of experience across television, digital and live media. His prior stint at the network and recent role as revenue head at NDTV position him to...
My U.S. and worldwide PR packages get your music directly onto Google News, Bing News, Yahoo News, and in front of editorial desks that matter. Your next big break could be one press release away. Let's go! Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
Publicis Groupe announced it will no longer recommend The Trade Desk after a third‑party audit alleged transparency failures, prompting The Trade Desk to defend its platform. Omnicom has launched its own audit, while WPP and Dentsu have already reduced reliance...
OpenAI announced the shutdown of its Sora video‑generation app, prompting Disney to abandon its $1 billion investment and licensing deal. The split ends a high‑profile attempt to embed Disney characters in AI‑generated video and forces both firms to rethink AI strategy.
India’s media and entertainment industry crossed the ₹2.78 trillion ($33.5 bn) mark in 2025, a 9% YoY rise, and is forecast to reach ₹3.3 trillion ($39.8 bn) by 2028. The expansion is anchored by digital advertising, which grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore ($11.4 bn) and now...
The Federal Communications Commission gave the green light to Nexstar's $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna, forming a broadcast empire that reaches 80% of U.S. TV households. The approval triggered sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and a coalition of state...
Paramount and Skydance have lodged a $111 billion hostile offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, prompting veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher to publicly declare she will leave CNN if the deal closes. Her remarks underscore growing unease about tech‑billionaire ownership of news...
Netflix has terminated negotiations to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets, ending a multi‑billion‑dollar transaction that had engaged top investment banks. The collapse leaves both companies to reassess strategy as Netflix focuses on ad‑supported growth and WBD pivots...
The Pokémon Company and Nintendo confirmed that Pokémon Champions will debut on April 8, 2026 for both Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2, using a free‑to‑start model and a complimentary graphics upgrade for Switch 2 owners. The launch includes a Starter...
Nintendo announced it will cut Switch 2 manufacturing by roughly 33% following weaker-than‑expected holiday sales. The move comes amid lingering tariff costs, price hikes on accessories and a competitive market, putting pressure on the company’s 2026 console strategy.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has closed Dark Outlaw Games, a first‑party studio founded by Call of Duty veteran Jason Blundell, and laid off roughly 50 employees. The move comes just weeks after the February shutdown of Bluepoint Games, underscoring a broader...
Disney's shares fell short of the broader market rally as the entertainment giant navigates a CEO transition following Bob Iger's retirement. The leadership change has sparked investor caution and speculation about the company's strategic direction.
Garth Brooks' 'Fun' has been certified 2x Platinum in the United States for selling 2 million copies, a strong showing for the album that features collaborations with Blake Shelton and Trisha Yearwood. https://t.co/E8uTPgaDEa
LG Electronics unveiled a slate of new exclusive programming for its LG Channels during the NewFronts event in New York. The lineup includes a puppy‑soccer tournament called World Pup, a culinary lifestyle channel “All Chewed Up,” an expanded Fantasy Life sports...
Garth Brooks' 'Beyond the Season' has been certified 4x Platinum in the United States for selling 4 million copies, making it one of the best-selling Christmas albums in country music history. https://t.co/XslPmwC3tp
Rushfield Quixote tilting at those windmills... The Paramount-Warner Deal Isn’t Inevitable. It’s Starting to Unravel, by @richardrushfield https://t.co/lWK9gdhl8z
The 2026 WNBA draft’s No. 1 pick will command a $500,000 base salary, more than six times the $78,831 rookie pay of 2025’s top pick, Paige Bueckers. The league’s salary cap expands to roughly $7 million, making the top rookie’s share about...
Meta announced that creators on Instagram and Facebook can now embed up to 30 clickable shopping links directly within a Reel. The feature expands affiliate and brand partnership options, eliminating the need for third‑party link‑in‑bio tools. Facebook limits product tags...
Nielsen postponed its February audience measurement report after major streamers complained that a recent methodology change caused a sudden drop in their reported viewership. The delay highlights the sensitivity of streaming platforms to Nielsen’s data, which serves as the industry’s...
Television formats are shifting from simple production templates to dynamic narrative systems that function like operating systems for intellectual property. The new model leverages algorithmic discovery, creator ecosystems, and multi‑surface storytelling, allowing content to flow across long‑form episodes, short clips,...
Former Mets star Keith Hernandez still receives roughly $5,000 each year from his 1992 guest appearance on the sitcom Seinfeld. The cameo, in the episode “The Boyfriend,” has generated residual checks for more than three decades. Hernandez discussed the ongoing...
OpenAI announced it will end its partnership with Disney and shut down the Sora video generation app. The move comes after mounting regulatory scrutiny and concerns about deep‑fake misuse. Disney will explore other AI vendors while OpenAI refocuses on text‑based...
Mike Tomlin, the former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, has signed with veteran sports‑media agent Sandy Montag, head of The Montag Group now operating under The Team. The partnership positions Tomlin for broadcast contracts as NFL networks and streaming services vie...
Executives and talent aren’t a 1:1 comparison. But if Casey Bloys hits the market in 2027, it could rival JJ Abrams (2020), Christopher Nolan (2021), and Taylor Sheridan (2025) as one of Hollywood’s most consequential free agency moments
Sky Business and Netflix have forged their first partnership to broadcast Tyson Fury's return fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in UK and Irish pubs on April 11. Sky Business secured exclusive commercial rights to stream the event in hospitality venues, while...
Marathon is the textbook example of a first-party franchise you nurture until it blossoms. If Sony's not willing to do that then what's the point. https://t.co/n1RGCTnk9p https://t.co/rLyuki5pLs
Client questions I hear most: -Can you forecast where audience taste is going? -How does Title X actually stack up vs comps? -Who is the actual audience, how do they behave, what are their other preferences? -How can we improve the bottom line...
