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
Universal’s marketing machine has rolled out a wave of Super Mario Galaxy movie billboards across New York City, covering street corners, subway stations and the Nintendo Store. The campaign arrives just ten days before the sequel’s North American debut, echoing the aggressive promotion that helped the 2023 Super Mario Bros. film earn $1.3 billion worldwide. Co‑producers Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto are back, with Illumination’s Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic directing and Brian Tyler scoring. The rollout signals a coordinated effort to replicate the first film’s box‑office momentum.
Several state broadband associations -- plus @NEWSMAX -- today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to block @NXSTMediaGroup-@TEGNA merger, which closed on March 19, 2026, the same day the $6.2 billion deal was approved by the...
Two thoughts on reporting from @theinformation that early ChatGPT ad campaigns lacked performance data: - this is to be expected. Any early offering will feature limited functionality. Early adopters should be prepared to fill measurement gaps themselves. - Measuring and credibly asserting...
Minecraft World, a permanent Minecraft‑themed park, will open in 2027 as a new section of Chessington World of Adventures near London. The venture is a joint effort between Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments, promising a roller coaster, interactive block‑built play...
I’m not trying to stop anyone’s bag if they’re getting it ethically. But also… creators… you have no reason to pay that much for coaching if you are just starting out. That rate is for seasoned creators already pulling in...
Compositions are “nationalized” when it comes to streaming. The criminal part is likely because the composition royalties are actually paid by the US copyright office. So he defrauded US government.
.png?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios have announced a £50 million Minecraft‑themed land at Chessington World of Adventures, slated to open in 2027. The new zone will feature the world’s first Minecraft rollercoaster, interactive play areas, and themed retail and dining. It...
BTS’ ‘Arirang’ Nearly Doubles Harry Styles’ Opening-Day Spotify Numbers to Claim Year’s Top Streaming Bow So Far https://t.co/YDthslCdll via @variety
Reality TV “stars” aren’t getting rich early. Year 1 for new names: $0 guarantees. ~$2K–$5K per episode *only* if you make the final edit and *only* paid after it airs. Takes ~5–6 years to earn real money. No union leverage.
In 2023 WWE was sold to Endeavor for $9.3 billion, creating the TKO holding company that now combines WWE with UFC. During the sale process several parties submitted cash bids, including AE & E owner Tony Khan’s Base 10 vehicle, which offered $76.83 per...
Project Hail Mary opened with $33.1 million on Friday, including $12 million from pre‑release previews, marking one of the biggest opening days ever for a live‑action film that isn’t tied to an existing franchise. The Ryan Gosling‑led sci‑fi epic earned $190 million worldwide, outperforming...
The article introduces Part 1 of a two‑part series that decodes the terminology used in Publishers Marketplace deal announcements. It explains how writers can interpret sales figures, co‑agented deals, international rights, pre‑empts, exclusives, and multi‑book agreements to gauge an agent’s performance....
Actor John Stamos, now chief innovation officer of streaming startup Zeam, used his SXSW appearance—where he debated live‑streaming his first tattoo—to illustrate the company’s mission of delivering authentic, real‑time content. Zeam equips local TV stations with technology to broadcast events...
The NBA intervened to cancel the Atlanta Hawks' planned “Magic City Night,” a themed event that would have highlighted the city’s famous adult entertainment venue and featured a halftime performance by T.I. The decision underscores the league’s formal authority over...
Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, earned Rs 9.25 crore on its second day, bringing the two‑day Indian gross to Rs 51.92 crore. The film opened with a strong Rs 34.75 crore on day one but saw a sharp slowdown on day two. Over 3,400 shows were...
Sequel #ReadyOrNot2 is doing pretty well with paying auds tonight. B+ CinemaScore, same as first film. And RT aud score is at 88%. 3-day opening wknd #boxoffice shd come close to the $11M 5-day launch of 2019 pic. https://t.co/yIqOqEboRp
A Chicago jury rejected former manager Pat Corcoran’s $3.8 million claim against Chance the Rapper, finding no enforceable oral "sunset" agreement. The jury also upheld Chance’s 2021 countersuit for fiduciary breach, but awarded only $35 in damages, far below the $1 million...
In this episode, Planet Money chronicles its own journey to land a book deal, revealing the hidden economics of publishing—from literary agents pitching the idea, to crafting a proposal, and courting major houses amid industry consolidation. Host Alex Horowitz-Gazi and...
Row K Entertainment, a newly launched Hollywood distribution label, is confronting a cash‑flow crisis that has left dozens of vendors unpaid. The financial strain threatens the label’s ability to release indie titles and maintain relationships with talent and partners.
“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul was supposed to return an aging “Bachelorette” franchise to glory. That decision blew up on ABC and cost it tens of millions of dollars. W/@wongalum https://t.co/DilR3zuVRQ
Starz announced a 7% workforce reduction, affecting fewer than 40 employees, as it continues to reshape after its 2025 spinoff from Lionsgate. The cuts are part of a broader effort to reallocate resources toward a pure‑play streaming model and lower...
A wave of layoffs continues to sweep Hollywood and the broader media sector, with companies from Amazon and Warner Bros. to smaller studios like Blocks shedding tens of thousands of jobs since early 2025. The cuts, driven by lingering pandemic...
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has officially endorsed the Trump administration’s National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, praising its focus on strong copyright protections. The White House’s six‑pronged plan seeks uniform national AI standards and preempts state‑level regulations. Hollywood studios...
"Telling your entertainment news program that they’re gone the weekend before the Oscars is very weird," one insider told Status Hollywood correspondent Brian Lowry. Lowry details what the cancellation of "Access Hollywood" says about the state of linear television—and why Trump’s...
Resident Evil Requiem emerged as the best‑selling video game of February 2026, topping PlayStation, Xbox and PC storefronts. The overall video‑game market grew 1% year‑over‑year, while content spending remained flat thanks to a 27% surge in subscription services. Hardware revenue...
Rosie Millard outlines ten practical rules for orchestras to grow concert attendance, drawing on her experience at Paris’s Philharmonie. The tips emphasize strategic marketing, dynamic pricing, diverse programming, and an inviting venue atmosphere. Millard argues that a holistic approach—combining digital...
This could be the least credible thing @AGomezFCC has ever said in public office, but I’ll defer to the experts: “Despite hundreds of billions in free cash flow, Nexstar recently made numerous cuts to its newsrooms nationwide.” If @NXSTMediaGroup CEO...
Meta rebranded Facebook as a metaverse company in late 2021, with Mark Zuckerberg forecasting a billion users for its virtual world platform Horizon Worlds. After two years of heavy investment, the service never exceeded a few hundred thousand monthly active...
Charter Communications announced it will shut its Appleton, Wisconsin call center on May 21, 2026, affecting 313 employees. The company said the workload will be transferred to other U.S.-based centers and staff can relocate to technical repair sites or apply...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated for a May 1, 2026 release and early tracking predicts a domestic opening of just over $55 million. The sequel reunites the original cast, adds high‑profile names like Lady Gaga, and has already amassed 14 million...
Wheatstone will demo two new products at the 2026 NAB Show. The VMX mixing engine provides a single backend for multiple LXE, Glass, Strata consoles and WheatNet IP facilities. The VML virtual broadcast console runs in any HTML5 browser on...
Entravision Communications announced that board member Lara Sweet will depart, ending her tenure that began in October 2023. Sweet, who also serves on the board of data‑science firm MediaAlpha and previously held the Chief People Officer role at Snap Inc.,...
Tencent Music Entertainment’s stock slid 28.8% after the company reported a 15.9% revenue rise but a decelerating 13.2% subscription growth and announced it would stop reporting monthly active users and ARPU. The move triggered analyst downgrades, price‑target cuts and a...
VideoAmp has broadened its VXP cross‑platform planner by adding first‑party data integrations with satellite radio giant Sirius XM and in‑theater advertising network National CineMedia (NCM). The move unifies audio and cinema audience metrics within a single planning tool, giving marketers a more...
Newsmax founder Chris Ruddy testified at a February Senate Commerce Committee hearing to oppose Nexstar Media Group’s $4.5 billion merger with TEGNA. He aimed to present himself as a Capitol Hill influencer after failing to sway President Trump and FCC Chairman...
The irony of the $PSKY CBS news cuts are that news does not drive retrans and should be sold or shuttered entirely to help fund NFL costs CBS already shuttered late night, news should be next to go - makes you...
A TripleLift study finds that 49 % of connected‑TV (CTV) ads still use traditional 15‑ and 30‑second spots designed for linear television, despite record streaming viewership and ad spend. High‑impact formats such as pause ads, overlays, and native units boost brand...
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a province‑wide ban on ticket resale above face value, aiming to curb scalpers and protect consumers. The IFPI Global Music Report shows Canada’s recorded music revenues rose 5.6% in 2025 to $957.9 million, driven largely by...
Graham Media Group has promoted Stephanie Slagle to vice president, chief revenue officer and general manager of Detroit’s NBC affiliate WDIV Local 4. Slagle, who previously served as the company’s CRO, brings more than three decades of experience building digital agencies...
CBS News has laid off dozens of reporters after billionaire David Ellison took control, installing Bari Weiss as editor‑in‑chief. The post warns that the FCC chair and President Trump are threatening broadcast licenses and labeling critical war coverage “criminal,” while...
California’s SB 576 now obliges streaming ads to match the perceived volume of surrounding content, shifting compliance responsibility to the platforms that deliver the ads. The rule exposes a split in ad‑tech workflows: client‑side insertion (CSAI) offers little control over audio,...
Netflix and Warner Music Group announced a strategic partnership to produce documentary series and feature films centered on WMG’s artists and songwriters. The collaboration will be executed through Unigram, WMG’s production arm, which will develop each project with the artists...
Roblox announced it will begin charging creators a fee for publishing brand integrations, with charges scaling based on user traffic and engagement, slated to roll out in 2027. The policy is presented as a move to standardize ad labeling, improve...
Netflix is paying up to $600M for an AI film startup founded by Ben Affleck. The tool edits footage after a director shoots, and David Fincher already used it on a Brad Pitt film. Studios want lower costs and tighter control, while...
Scoop: Nielsen continues to grapple with 'Gauge' rage and is delaying even further the release of the monthly viewer snapshot after streamers grew riled by reports of a downturn in their ratings... https://t.co/c5ggPzpYln via @variety
Cardi B’s Little Miss Drama Tour has generated over $32 million after 17 of its 35 North American arena dates, selling 209,622 tickets. Attendance averages 12,330 per show, with peaks above 13,800 in Las Vegas, Detroit, Seattle and Dallas. The tour...
Sen. Adam Schiff Touts Federal Film Incentive to Counter Hollywood Job Losses: ‘It Needs to Be Bipartisan’ https://t.co/eHLQkdZ8QS via @variety
I’m obviously not unbiased here, but good on Disney to bring on Sara/CNBC talent to The View. Helps to expand all of our worlds.
Making the hard, unpopular decisions that MUST be made 👏👏 @bariweiss $PSKY Paying for the NFL means a lot of existing money losing programming needs to be shuttered
I'll have more on the CBS News cuts in tonight's email, but for now... the cuts are affecting a number of correspondents (will give them time to announce the news themselves) and hitting the Washington, D.C., bureau especially hard.
