Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Know What's Happening in Entertainment
Block family power struggle threatens sale of Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette empire
Twin heirs John Robinson Block and Allan Block are locked in a battle over the future of Block Communications. John has ordered a valuation to explore a possible sale, while Allan, the current CEO, says any transaction would destroy the family legacy.
Netflix has secured U.S. streaming rights to the freshman NBC sitcom *Happy’s Place*, slated to debut on the platform on April 1, 2026. The series, created by Kevin Abbott and headlined by country star Reba McEntire, follows Bobbie inheriting a tavern and discovering a half‑sister partner. The show is already in its second broadcast season and has been renewed through a third season on NBC. This acquisition follows Netflix’s recent pickup of another NBC comedy, *The Hunting Party*, and builds on the success of McEntire’s earlier series *Reba* on the service.
Co‑op Live in Manchester has opened Europe’s first AI‑driven, frictionless self‑serve market, built with Oak View Group, AiFi and Boxbar Tech. Shoppers tap a cashless card, pick items, and leave while computer‑vision cameras track each purchase. The system is designed...
Audible introduced the Read & Listen feature, letting users see synchronized text while listening to audiobooks within the Audible app. The tool differs from Whispersync by keeping both formats in a single interface, though users must purchase both the ebook and audiobook....
Emerald Holding acquired MJBiz, the premier cannabis B2B event, for $120 million in 2022, betting on a booming market. Since the purchase, exhibitor numbers have slumped from roughly 1,400 to 557 and attendance data has become opaque, reflecting a broader industry...
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF will overhaul their linear TV portfolio under a reformed national broadcast treaty, shutting down ARD alpha, tagesschau24 and ONE by December 31 2026. The restructure consolidates remaining services into three jointly‑operated channels—phoenix for news, neo for...
The UK games trade body TIGA is urging the government to boost the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC) in the upcoming Autumn Budget, proposing a 53% credit rate for projects with budgets up to £23.5 million. It also recommends expanding qualifying...
The Canterbury Tales attraction in Canterbury city centre has reopened after a six‑year Covid‑induced shutdown, under new owners Lewis Hunt and Mica Dougan. The venue now features state‑of‑the‑art hologram projections, immersive soundscapes and personalized rooms that adapt language and music...
The Akron Zoo announced a $21 million, 16‑acre expansion of its Pride of Africa exhibit, the largest project in its 73‑year history. The plan adds a state‑of‑the‑art indoor‑outdoor giraffe habitat where guests can feed the animals, alongside new enclosures for wildebeests,...
Microsoft has been granted a set of patents describing AI‑driven “help sessions” that can take over a player’s controls when they become stuck. The system uses machine‑learning to detect difficulty, prompts the user, and then hands control to either a...
Ziggo Sport has secured a four‑year extension of its Dutch broadcast rights to UEFA’s flagship club competitions, keeping the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League through the 2030/31 season. The package will be delivered across six linear channels, 20...
Gardens by the Bay announced Wetlands by the Bay, a 5‑hectare expansion slated for phased opening from late 2028. The development will feature a teamLab immersive art experience that blends indoor installations with outdoor kayak tours across restored wetlands. Over...
The Trump administration is reviewing Tencent’s gaming investments for potential national‑security risks. Senior officials are assessing the Chinese conglomerate’s stakes in Riot Games, Epic Games, Supercell and other Western studios. The review comes amid heightened U.S.–China tensions and just before...
The episode highlights Audible's new $8.99 standard plan, which offers unlimited access to Audible originals, nearly 200 former Wondery+ shows, and one audiobook per month, with a limited-time $5.99 introductory rate. It also covers Apple Podcasts' debut speaking slot at...
Paramount announced a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, paying $31 per share—a 150% premium to the pre‑talk price. The deal includes a $7 billion regulatory fee and a $2.8 billion breakup fee for Netflix, which withdrew its bid. Combining Paramount, CBS,...
ElevenLabs, a leader in generative AI for voice, speech, music and video, is gearing up for the 2026 NAB Show where it will demo its latest offerings. The company highlights breakthroughs in controllability and consistency that move AI from experimental...
NEP Europe has relaunched its OB unit as EU‑03, a software‑centric mobile production truck designed for 1080p HDR live events. The upgrade fully adopts SMPTE ST 2110, allowing broadcasters to run license‑based, scalable workflows that blend software and hardware. Based in...
Swiss media group CH Media will embed German streaming service RTL+ into its oneplus platform on 23 March 2026, creating a bundled offering that also includes Paramount+ and a slate of Swiss originals. The integration delivers selected RTL+ titles—reality, drama and family...
Famed casino operator back in play? - $CZR reportedly exploring a sale after takeover interest incl. Tilman Fertitta - Shares +20% on the news but still near 5yr lows - Trades ~8x Adj. EBITDA - Some room for improved bid, but ~$30B EV vs...
Nu Deal: Inter Miami Joins MLS’ Top Tier for Stadium Naming Rights ⚽️https://t.co/cfqksyH7BG via @sportico @JustBirny
FreeWheel’s Voice of the Viewer study shows that 85% of European streaming users watch ad‑supported tiers, with 83% satisfied overall. Content choice drives satisfaction, cited by 73% of respondents, while 47% exclusively use ad‑supported plans and 49% deliberately chose them....
New pod: Guggenheim's Michael Morris breaks down the NFL's upcoming media deals from a Wall St. perspective. https://t.co/0ipMqZmiL8
ESPN’s ‘Women’s Sports Sundays’ Show the Limits of Legacy Media - Guest OpEd from @HaleyRosen 👇 https://t.co/aqNy6s6WqT via @sportico
Lifetime announced new original‑movie agreements with Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment and Taraji P. Henson’s TPH Entertainment. Latifah will executive‑produce three Lifetime films, while Henson will helm two projects in partnership with FOX Entertainment Studios. Both deals reinforce Lifetime’s focus on bold, female‑driven storytelling and...
The BBC has appointed Storm Fagan as its chief technology and product officer, tasking her with leading the newly created BBC Media Tech division. The unit will consolidate product and technology teams from the broadcaster and BBC Studios into a...
Multiple video games including Valorant, Fortnite, Rocket League, and EA FC saw local servers temporarily taken down this week in Bahrain and the UAE. This comes after drone strikes hit 3 AWS facilities across the two countries. EU servers, but with...
The Handball-Bundesliga has appointed Dyn Media to take over the technical development of its international streaming service, HBL TV, starting summer 2026. The league’s OTT platform, already available in over 80 countries, will expand to more than 100 markets where...
Prose Ventures has launched the AI Music Creators Accelerator, an eight‑week program that supports human musicians using generative AI tools. The inaugural cohort presented a diverse demo day on February 27, streamed publicly on Twitch and later on YouTube. Founder...
Create Music Group announced a $450 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $2.2 billion. The capital structure blends debt and equity, while the founding team retains majority ownership. Minority investors include Ares Management, Flexpoint Ford and 2 Mile Capital. The raise follows...
University researchers warn that newsrooms partnering with prediction‑market and betting platforms risk eroding public trust. Recent deals let election, policy and geopolitical odds appear alongside reporting at outlets such as the AP, CNBC, CNN and Dow Jones. Similar financial ties...
G2 Esports announced a four‑player roster for Riot Games' Teamfight Tactics, marking the organisation's entry into the autobattler scene. The lineup features French talent Muhammed “Canbizz” Canbaz, Emre “Double61” Demirtas, Enzo “Enzosx” Bordonzotti, and Laurent “Pas de Bol” Cidere, all...
CD Projekt Red announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will join Xbox Game Pass on March 10, accessible to Premium and Ultimate subscribers on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The title will arrive with all post‑launch updates, including the Edgerunners content, and supports...
A Madrid investigating court has summoned Cloudflare chief executive Matthew Prince to appear on April 7th over alleged non‑cooperation with Spain’s anti‑piracy efforts. LaLiga and Movistar Plus+ claim the U.S. firm ignored more than a hundred takedown requests, allowing roughly 38 percent of...
JioStar launched a massive anti‑piracy campaign during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, blocking 420 illicit sites and removing 36 illegal IPTV apps that had amassed over 26 million downloads. The Delhi High Court injunction enabled the suspension of 141 piracy...
AI video platforms are democratizing content creation, allowing solo creators to produce cinema‑grade shows and brands to generate hundreds of ad variants at scale. Experts say speed and output will increase tenfold, but success will hinge on owning strong intellectual...
CFOs are moving upstream in the marketing process, joining planning discussions before budgets are set and demanding rigorous financial justification. Agencies such as VaynerMedia, Blue Chip, and Brave Bison report that finance teams now scrutinize contribution margin, LTV‑to‑CAC, payback periods,...
Creator talent agencies are abandoning the legacy deal‑brokering model in favor of multi‑platform operations that place creators at the core. Companies like Shorthand Studios and Night Media have demonstrated rapid audience growth and secured sizable funding, such as Night Media’s...
Virgin Media O2 announced David Melcon as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective April 2. Melcon arrives with more than 25 years of telecom finance experience, most recently serving as CFO of Vivo, Telefónica Brazil, where he helped double market value and...
The U.S. Trade Representative released its 2025 Notorious Markets List, identifying 37 online and 32 physical venues that facilitate trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy. The report spotlights the surge in illegal streaming of live sports, especially as the United States...
APRA AMCOS is hosting the CISAC board in Sydney, the first such gathering in 25 years, as part of its centennial celebrations. The meeting brings together heads of major collective‑management societies—including ASCAP, JASRAC, PRS for Music and SOCAN—to discuss the...
Chingari, the Indian short‑video app turned paid private‑live‑streaming platform, reported a 53% year‑on‑year drop in operating revenue for FY25. Revenue fell to Rs 44 crore, while the company’s loss narrowed to Rs 8.8 crore after cutting expenses by more than half. The pivot shifted...
Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said the company will pursue new sports‑rights opportunities as NFL contracts are renegotiated, positioning USA Sports to fill gaps left by larger networks. NBC’s Bob Costas revealed that the Sunday Night Baseball pre‑game will be trimmed...
The television industry is moving from an advertising‑centric view of value to an upstream focus on intellectual property (IP) as a capital asset. While ad yield still matters, executives are now assessing financing structures, rights ownership, and extension potential before...
Banijay’s Marco Bassetti and Jeff Zucker on the Surprise All3Media Merger That Puts ‘The Traitors,’ ‘MasterChef’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ Under the Same Roof https://t.co/zM40xh5TTV via @variety
If Trade Desk has not felt rising competition yet, just wait. $TTD $AMZN The LightShed Podcast, Ep. 303. With @BrandoLightShed and @WaltLightShed https://t.co/CI8LQ71sUY
ACA Connects is heading to Capitol Hill amid a hyper‑partisan climate and a fresh war in Iran, urging lawmakers to consider the mounting cost pressures on small and midsize cable operators. The association is pushing for a comprehensive rewrite of...
Seaport Entertainment Group reported Q4 2025 consolidated revenue of $45.1 million, a modest 1% year‑over‑year increase, while net loss narrowed to $33.2 million, or $2.61 per share, a 56% improvement. Adjusted EBITDA rose sharply—up 40% on an exclusionary basis—despite headline declines driven...
SCTE announced AMC Networks as the first-ever programmer to co‑host TechExpo26, joining Charter as headliners for the September‑October event in Atlanta. The partnership highlights the industry’s move toward convergence, where operators and media providers align network innovation with viewer experiences....
At the ACA Connects Summit, NCTC CEO Lou Borrelli confirmed that video remains central to the cooperative’s offering, announcing new authentication capabilities for ESPN Unlimited alongside existing Fox One access. He said NCTC will follow Charter’s direct‑to‑consumer video‑bundle strategy to...
TEGNA agreed to pay a $6,000 settlement to the FCC to resolve a probe into its Flagstaff station KNAZ’s failure to maintain timely public inspection files. The settlement cleared the FCC’s concerns, allowing the renewal of KNAZ’s broadcast license. This...
MGM Rewards has relaunched a status‑match program that grants a 90‑day Gold or Platinum trial to guests who present a competing loyalty card and ID in person. Applicants must enroll by June 30 2026, and can extend the status to 2028 by...
