Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Nintendo and Illumination target $200M-plus Easter opening for “Super Mario Galaxy”
The upcoming “Super Mario Galaxy” film is being positioned to generate more than $200 million domestically over the Easter holiday weekend, leveraging the franchise’s multigenerational appeal. Analysts reference the 2015 “Avengers: Age of Ultron” $191 million opening as a performance benchmark.
Also developing:
By the numbers: K‑Love seeks FCC approval to acquire WFCC
Movistar Plus has signed a deal to broadcast Spain’s premier mixed‑martial‑arts promotion, WOW, beginning with the WOW 27 Madrid event on March 7. The agreement provides full coverage on the Deportes por M+ channel, with the main card also airing on Vamos por M+ for wider reach. Backed by former UFC champion Ilia Topuria and football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, the promotion features lightweight and flyweight title fights. This marks a renewed push to bring MMA into mainstream Spanish television.
Free TV Australia has struck a deal with PacificAus TV to deliver live National Rugby League matches across its Pacific partner broadcasters. The arrangement gives 18 free‑to‑air stations in 12 nations access to two live NRL games and one delayed match...
Capcom announced that its new title Resident Evil Requiem sold five million copies within five days, making it the fastest‑selling entry in the franchise’s history. The figure nearly matches the lifetime sales of Street Fighter 6, which required two years to...
Sarah J. Maas announced she has reclaimed the master rights to her works, giving her full control over any television adaptation of the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series. She emphasized that future adaptations will reflect her vision and...
Sony Pictures Television is selling its 30% share in The Whisper Group after five years of partnership. The divestiture returns Whisper to private ownership, with external financing to fund its strategy and an employee equity plan. During Sony’s tenure, Whisper’s...
Foxtel Group has appointed former NBL executive Ted Helliar as Director of Engagement, Community and Fandom for its Kayo Sports and Fox Sports brands. In the role, Helliar will oversee all social and creator teams, aiming to deepen fan connections...
Fremantle announced Ben Crompton as its new Global Head of Entertainment, effective March 2026. Crompton arrives from NBCUniversal, where he oversaw International Unscripted, developing formats and IP worldwide. He previously launched Lime Pictures US, delivering hit shows for Netflix, MTV,...
British streaming platforms are abandoning the traditional subscriber‑growth model in favor of targeting high‑net‑worth viewers. Executives now prioritize Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) by offering premium tiers that promise seamless, personalized experiences. Data‑driven curation, early‑release access, and 8K streaming are...
In the inaugural episode of "In The Vicinity," Tim Hanlon interviews Madhive CEO Jim Wilson about the future of local media. Wilson argues that broadcasters must reinvest linear TV cash flow into digital and streaming capabilities to stay competitive. He...
Gille Klabin, after a traditional distributor release of his debut, chose self‑distribution for his $296,000 horror‑comedy “Weekend at the End of the World.” He partnered with aggregator Bitmax for technical delivery, kept full rights, and used data‑driven micro‑ads, tiered pricing,...
Cable operators Charter and Comcast are doubling down on customer‑service initiatives and bundled pricing to stem broadband subscriber losses. Charter promises up to $1,000 annual savings when customers combine broadband with two mobile lines, while Comcast has introduced price‑lock, all‑inclusive...
Philo CEO Andrew McCollum announced his departure after more than a decade, naming COO Mike Keyserling as his successor effective immediately. McCollum will transition to Executive Chairman, continuing to shape long‑term strategy. The streaming service, which offers over 80 premium...
David Ellison’s Skydance is set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a $111 billion transaction priced at $31 per share, representing roughly a five‑times multiple to the pre‑deal market price. The deal awards CEO David Zaslav about $800 million in proceeds and...
Tennis Channel’s direct‑to‑consumer streaming service, launched in 2024, is now available through Amazon Prime Video Channels at $11.99 per month. The partnership expands the network’s reach beyond its own platform and follows similar moves by smaller streamers like Fox One....
Norwegian post‑hardcore trio Hammok has signed to indie powerhouse Sargent House and announced their sophomore album, When Does This Place Become Our Scene, due June 5, 2026. The lead single “The Scene,” accompanied by a Christoffer Bya‑directed plexiglass‑set video, was born on...
Organic search traffic to the United States' leading tech publications has plunged 58% since 2024, according to Growtika’s Ahrefs‑based analysis. Combined visits fell from a 2024 peak of 112 million to just 47 million in January 2026. The Verge suffered the steepest...
Build a Rocket Boy announced another round of layoffs, citing organized espionage and corporate sabotage that hampered the launch of its latest title, MindsEye. CEO Mark Gerhard said an investigation with external partners has produced overwhelming evidence and is moving...
Dielectric has installed its RingMaster broadband FM and manifold combiner system at Farnsworth Peak, creating a new master antenna that now supports 13 FM stations for Bonneville International and other broadcasters. The upgrade replaces a 40‑year‑old infrastructure that was not...
Screen Producers Australia announced that four senior overseas executives will attend SCREEN FOREVER 40, the country’s flagship screen industry conference on the Gold Coast from 28‑30 April 2026. The delegation includes Sophie Green of Bankside Films, Antoine Nugou of Mediawan...
The LCK staged its inaugural overseas roadshow in Hong Kong on Feb. 28‑Mar. 1, 2026, drawing over 15,000 fans and selling out tickets within two minutes. The event showcased the league’s shift from expanding viewership numbers to deepening fan connections through live...
NEXUS and Playwith Korea will globally launch Seal M on CROSS, a mobile MMORPG built on the CROSS on‑chain gaming platform, on March 19, 2026. The title reimagines the classic Seal Online with cartoon‑style graphics, combo combat and new blockchain‑linked...
South Korea’s six leading music‑industry bodies have formed a coalition to combat AI‑driven copyright infringement, declaring a state of emergency and a "war" on unauthorized use. The group, chaired by KOMCA president Lee Si‑ha, issued a joint declaration demanding consent‑based...
The Fix the Tix Coalition, led by the National Independent Venue Association, sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee urging stronger provisions in the House TICKET Act (S.281). The coalition seeks full price transparency, a total ban on speculative...
A recent Edison Research chart shows podcasts and AM/FM radio each capturing roughly 40% of spoken‑word listening time, suggesting a tie. The author argues the metric is misleading because it excludes the rapidly growing video‑first podcast consumption on platforms like...
Spotify announced a Podcast Partner Manager role in London to lead relationships with video and audio creators across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. The position focuses on attracting video creators to view Spotify as a primary distribution and monetisation...
Apple Music announced Transparency Tags, a new metadata requirement that forces record labels and distributors to label AI‑generated artwork, tracks, compositions, and music videos. The tags are optional for now but will become mandatory for future deliveries, placing disclosure responsibility...
The E.W. Scripps Company agreed to buy Lexington’s ABC affiliate WTVQ for $15.8 million, creating a duopoly with its existing NBC station WLEX pending regulatory clearance. Scripps CEO Adam Symson said the deal will deepen market scale and fund more neighborhood...
Danny Wimmer Presents has unveiled Aftershock 2026, the largest‑ever lineup with over 140 acts spread across five stages in Sacramento’s Discovery Park. Headliners include Tool, My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit and Pierce The Veil, marking the festival’s first foray into...
CAG Osaka, originally Cyclops Osaka, announced it will disband its fighting‑game division after nearly ten years and withdraw from Street Fighter League Pro‑JP 2026. The move will see top players Fenrich, Eita and Uryo leave the roster once their contracts...
KEXP, a Seattle‑based non‑profit radio station, is overhauling its audio playout and asset management infrastructure across nine studios. The legacy Dalet Galaxy system is being replaced by OrangeLogic’s cloud‑based OrangeDAM for digital asset management and Broadcast Radio’s Myriad 6 on‑prem playout...
March 2nd, 2026 was a big day for AI and media. The Supreme Court refused to say whether AI can own a copyright. Paramount $PSKY told investors that merging its tech stack is priority number one in a $101 billion...
Netflix, After Walking Away From Warner Bros. Deal, Will ‘Move Forward’ With ‘$2.8 Billion in Our Pocket That We Didn’t Have a Few Weeks Ago,’ CFO Says https://t.co/ztTl2wiPxD via @variety
Research firm Ampere Analysis reports that female gamers constitute 48% of the global gaming population, roughly 922 million players across 21 markets. Despite near parity, women are underrepresented on consoles and PC, favoring narrative‑driven, single‑player and mobile experiences. The study identifies...
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann throws some cold water on idea of wanting full season rights to a sport such as NFL. Of course they also said not interested in big deals before going after Warner so....
"We're also pro-human." - Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann at Morgan Stanley conference while talking about importance of AI.
TeamTO, a veteran European animation studio, announced the creation of TeamTOKO Animation, an anime‑inspired production division dedicated to original 2D and 3D series and feature films. The new unit operates as a distinct, creator‑led creative hub while the studio maintains...
"We had high confidence" of getting through regulatory, says Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann on pursuit of Warner's studios and streaming operations.
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann says at Morgan Stanley conference that the streaming company "is small" with a runway for organic growth.
The Gernert Company and Bookcase Literary Agency announced a partnership to jointly represent self‑published and debut authors of commercial fiction aimed at women, including romance. The collaboration pools the agencies’ editorial, sales, and rights expertise to broaden market reach. By...
Tencent took a 15 percent stake in Arrowhead Game Studios. Some players starting lashing out at a recent Chinese New Year cosmetics bundle with a certain meme that was quickly banned on the Discord.
Why is the @NFL, the Most Broadcast Friendly League, Under Attack by Broadcast TV Advocates? "the overwhelming majority of NFL games ARE ON broadcast and, more importantly, EVERY single NFL game is available over-the-air in each team’s local market [for free]" $CMCSA...
The March 2016 audio‑industry roundup highlights a surge in streaming growth, financing activity, and subscriber milestones. Spotify secured a $1 billion debt facility tied to an IPO and hit 30 million users, while Tidal celebrated three million subscribers amid legal disputes. SoundCloud launched...
A pretty stunning rebuke of the CAA leadership by the arbitrators overseeing its fight with defectors who started Range Media. Details via @eriqgardner ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/BXxjGwkXt1
Sad to see the layoffs happen again, but there's more to this story. Build A Rocket Boy's CEO alleges criminal actions and espionage against the company are being litigated. https://t.co/oF7JqdMa2c
Google announced a major overhaul of its Play Store fee structure following its settlement with Epic Games. The standard in‑app purchase commission drops from 30% to 20%, with an extra 5% service charge applied in the EEA, UK and US....
Did not have President Trump buying Netflix debt on my bingo card. How long until he is taking direct stakes in the media business? Remember Jared's Affinity Partners "pulled out" of part the Paramount investor group in December. $PSKY $WBD...
Update: After a 30+% rally in Netflix, it now trades at a premium to Colgate and P&G. Investors really didn't like the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition and the stock has rallied every single day since they exited the bidding war...
Mometu, a free ad‑supported streaming service for independent cinema, has launched the nine‑month Mometu Short Film Showdown. The competition curates up to 25 genre‑specific short films each month, streaming them for 30 days and returning 85% of generated ad revenue...
Google is overhauling its policies on alternative app store sideloading and in-app billing, as well as its fee structure in Google Play. These changes will be rolled out starting in June. https://t.co/zaX2n1nIq0
Gayle King, Nate Burleson will stay with CBS Mornings even as CBS News readies strategy to make the AM program more competitive.... https://t.co/7qgPNWm3pG via @variety
