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
In this episode, Digiday hosts Tamika Baziel, a B2B creator, who explains why she audited and ultimately severed her partnership with Hootsuite after learning of its collaboration with ICE and concerns about surveillance culture. She details her systematic audit process—using Google searches, AI keyword filters, Reddit insights, and a spreadsheet—to evaluate past and potential brand deals for ethical alignment, especially regarding DEI, AI ethics, and corporate values. Baziel emphasizes the importance of creators maintaining control over their IP and refusing to support brands that conflict with their personal morals or replace human creativity. The conversation also touches on broader industry trends, such as creators pulling back from brands over political or ethical issues.
Samsung Ads has introduced an Immersive Carousel ad unit for Samsung Smart TV home screens across Europe, allowing up to five interactive tiles that rotate automatically or can be navigated with the remote. The format appears on the home screen,...
In this episode of the Box Office Podcast, host Scott Mendelson and regulars Jeremy Fuster, Lisa Layman, Max Deering, and guest Mariah E. Gates discuss the weekend’s box‑office performance, highlighting the strong hold of the animated hit "GOAT" and the...
Topshelf Records announced it is ending its relationship with Washington, D.C. punk band Ekko Astral and will not release their forthcoming album *The Beltway Is Burning*. The label cited the ongoing feud between frontwoman Jael Holzman and former drummer Miri...
Isaac Hayes’ estate settled its lawsuit against former President Donald Trump over the unauthorized use of the 1966 hit “Hold On, I’m Coming.” The estate had sued for $3 million, citing more than 130 instances of the song at campaign events,...
IKEA is returning as the principal sponsor for Australian Survivor: Redemption, extending its partnership with Network 10 and Paramount+. The renewed deal deepens in‑show integration, featuring IKEA‑branded food rewards, sleep solutions, and daily gift‑card competitions during pivotal moments. The brand cites...
Meta’s new Facebook creator monetization program has exploded to 12 million participants, yet the platform still distributes only about $2 billion to creators each year. By contrast, YouTube shares more than $30 billion, and Instagram Reels generate $50 billion in revenue with minimal payouts....
Dragami Games announced that Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, originally slated for March 26, 2026, has been delayed to an unspecified date. The postponement stems from significant updates required for both the new Switch 2 build and the...
News: Paramount is investigating a litigation threat against its president Jeff Shell by a man with an *interesting* background who claims to have represented Shell as a consultant and now says Shell disclosed confidential company information to him. This is...
Mattel Studios announced Rob David’s promotion to Senior Vice President of Animation, effective immediately. In his new role, David will oversee development, creative and production for both adult and children’s animated series across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms, including YouTube....
DYPING: ESCAPE, the horror‑typing sequel from Heaviside Creations, will debut on PC via Steam on March 13 at $9.99, published by PLAYISM. The title builds on a free Unityroom hit that amassed over 500,000 plays, adding a deeper narrative and...
CBS has renewed the flagship FBI series for a ninth season while cancelling its two spin‑offs, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. Season 8 posted a 0.38 rating in the 18‑49 demographic and attracted 6.14 million live‑plus‑same‑day viewers, a solid performance by...
The Music Artist Coalition’s open letter denounces AI music startup Suno for mass‑producing unlicensed tracks that dilute artist royalties and enable streaming fraud. It highlights Suno’s output of roughly 7 million tracks per day and Deezer’s finding that 85 % of AI‑generated...
Mario Gabelli highlighted at the Barron’s Roundtable 2026 that value investors should target mispriced experiential assets such as media, sports franchises, and entertainment companies. He cited Madison Square Garden Sports as trading at roughly half its calculated intrinsic value and...
Free ad‑supported streaming TV (FAST) has become the new normal in 2026, reshaping audience habits, advertising models, and content monetisation. International programming, especially Asian dramas and anime, generated $8 billion in streaming revenue between 2020‑2024, while FAST sports channels grew 105%...
Amazon Ads reports a surge in demand for UEFA Champions League advertising on Prime Video, attracting brands across automotive, financial services, lifestyle and travel. Brand‑lift studies show average lifts of 20% in favourability, 14% in familiarity and 21% in purchase...
The Atlanta Braves are launching their own regional sports network, BravesVision, to become the franchise’s official local TV home starting next season. The network will produce more than 140 games plus pre‑ and post‑game shows and will distribute content via...
TelevisaUnivision reported a 5% YoY revenue decline to $4.8 billion in 2025, but highlighted the Direct‑to‑Consumer (DTC) segment as a bright spot. The Spanish‑language streamer Vix achieved full‑year profitability, contributing roughly a quarter of total revenue and 20% of adjusted OIBDA,...
X announced new anti‑AI‑bot measures, including user‑added tags for AI‑generated posts and upgraded detection tools, while simultaneously promoting its Grok chatbot across the platform. Head of product Nikita Bier emphasized the need to protect the “human pulse” of X from synthetic...
The 2026 Magna Charta arena rankings place Madrid’s 17,453‑seat Movistar Arena at the top of Europe, reporting just under 2 million tickets and a $155 million gross. Close behind, Manchester’s 23,500‑capacity Co‑op Live logged 1.4 million tickets and nearly $150 million, highlighted by Bruce...
$AMC 10K firmly puts bankruptcy back on the table. To quote: In order to achieve net positive cash flows from operating activities, revenues will need to increase from current levels to levels at least in line with pre-COVID-19 revenues. However, there...
Night Street Games announced that its debut title, Last Flag, will launch on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on April 14. The game is a 5v5, team‑based capture‑the‑flag shooter featuring 20‑minute, low‑pressure matches set in a retro...
Meanwhile at the British #BoxOffice, Brazilian sensation #TheSecretAgent aka #OAgenteSecreto had a strong debut for a Latin American film in the UK, beating even #SentimentalValue’s. #WagnerMoura had spectacular $560k opening weekend, including $228k from previews. #2 biggest local debut ever for...
Maureen McCollum has been hired as Vice President of Content for Milwaukee NPR affiliate WUWM 89.7. The former Wisconsin Public Radio journalist and host will steer the station’s editorial strategy and drive its shift toward a multi‑platform public media model. McCollum...
Direct-to-consumer is still a big opportunity, even for the biggest artists in the world. That’s the opportunity EVEN saw. Build the infrastructure once, make it work at every scale, and help artists turn moments into sales. The company just powered J....
New: Paramount has made a new and improved offer for WBD. Expect WBD to respond soon. https://t.co/CW7caCn4xm
The New York Times now has more bundle subscribers than those who pay for news‑only, reflecting a strategic shift toward ancillary products such as Wordle, cooking guides, and The Athletic. The company has stopped offering a pure news subscription to new customers,...
Former U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice, a Netflix board member, publicly criticized President Donald Trump on a podcast, prompting the president to demand her removal from the board. The outburst coincides with Netflix’s $82.7 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros....
NEXUS and PLAYWITH KOREA report 1.33 million global pre‑registrations for Seal M on CROSS, a mobile MMORPG that launched its registration window on February 11. The title adapts Seal Online’s cartoon‑style visuals and combo‑based combat for smartphones while integrating with the CROSS on‑chain full‑stack ecosystem....
TEGNA has added two new 30‑minute “9News” broadcasts at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on its MyNetwork TV affiliate KTVD‑20 in the Denver‑Boulder market, also streaming via the 9News+ app. The 5:30 p.m. slot competes directly with NBC Nightly News on KUSA‑9. TEGNA...
King of Meat, a multiplayer party platformer backed by Amazon Game Studios and developed by Glowmade, launched in October 2025 with a high‑budget trailer and a MrBeast Gaming promotion. Despite the star‑powered marketing, the game never attracted a sustainable player base,...
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro told CNBC that rumors of a Disney spinoff are unfounded, emphasizing that ESPN is a core component of Walt Disney Company’s long‑term strategy. He highlighted the network’s integrated approach, linking ESPN’s content with ABC broadcasts and...
M&I Broadcast Services, part of Valsoft, has introduced OmniPlayer 3, its flagship radio‑automation platform, to the U.S. market. The software, already a staple in the Dutch radio sector and used by the BBC, promises to streamline workflows and future‑proof broadcast operations....
iHeartMedia filed an FCC minor‑change application to shift WROV‑FM’s city of license from Martinsville, Va., to New Castle, Va. The FCC’s Audio Division rejected iHeart’s claim that the move would serve a larger population, citing a staff engineering analysis that shows...
Pollstar’s 2025 Magna Charta report reveals Europe and the UK generated $2.74 billion from the Top 100 tours, a drop of about 8 percent in both gross and tickets compared with the previous year. Imagine Dragons led the region with 1.48 million tickets and...
ILMC 38 will convene in London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel from Feb. 24‑27, 2026, bringing together the live‑music ecosystem amid a volatile market. Greg Parmley highlighted the growing divide between thriving mega‑tours and struggling mid‑size venues, prompting dedicated sessions on the middle...
In this episode, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman discusses Sony’s recent slate—including new Spider‑Man, Jumanji, Resident Evil, and the original animated film Goat—and how the studio thrives without its own streaming platform by partnering with giants like...
Funny to see CBS promote Nielsen ratings showing robust competition for U.S. TV audiences that contradict its parent company’s antitrust narrative that Netflix is too dominant… https://t.co/z1adVe6D1T
The Daily Express has launched a new Express Premium subscription, offering ad‑lite reading, exclusive journalism, and perks like the Daily Expresso newsletter and enhanced commenting. New subscribers can try the service for £1 in the first month and receive priority...
Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, is still courting Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) even though a shareholder vote is set for March 20. Netflix, the rival bidder, gave WBD a one‑week waiver on exclusivity, allowing direct talks with Paramount but...
Chipotle topped spot‑cable advertising for the week of Feb 16‑22, 2026, ranking only behind NCAA basketball promos on iHeartMedia’s Media Monitors. The fast‑casual chain out‑performed traditional advertisers such as Liberty Mutual, Progressive, and Chase, which also posted strong activity. Spot‑television rankings...
Radio stations face mounting obsolete gear as technology advances, prompting a shift toward leaner facilities and consolidation. The article outlines a step‑by‑step plan for inventory audits, staff communication, and systematic removal of outdated equipment. It emphasizes documentation, recycling, and potential...
MSC Cruises is overhauling its 2026 entertainment slate, adding AI‑powered robotic dogs and humanoid robots, new original game shows, and refreshed music and production shows across its fleet. The pilot on MSC Bellissima will expand to Asian sailings and the...
Dr. Peter Attia has finally been pushed off the CBS News contributor rolls -- just as parent Paramount Skydance is about to make its 'best and final' offer for Warner https://t.co/Zjfxf7QXbH via @variety
Penn Entertainment announced the appointment of three independent directors—Heather Ace, Jeffrey Fox and Fabio Schiavolin—expanding its board from eight to eleven members and ending a two‑year dispute with activist investor HG Vora Capital Management. In exchange, Vora withdrew the lawsuit it...
NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution used this year’s London TV Screenings to debut three flagship series – the ensemble drama The Five-Star Weekend starring Jennifer Garner, the high‑octane thriller Prisoner featuring Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle, and the character‑driven comedy Dog Park....
HeartMedia’s new study defines a growing audience – bicultural Latinos who identify equally as American and Hispanic – and highlights their media habits. Radio remains dominant, reaching nine‑in‑ten of this group each month, while 90% regularly consume English‑language content and...
SPI International has rolled out its FilmBox+ streaming service in Bulgaria and Serbia through a partnership with telecom operator A1 Group. The launch builds on FilmBox+'s existing presence in Poland, Hungary and Romania, extending the brand’s reach in Southeast Europe....
Maryana Brown has been appointed head of content at Creatorville, bringing a multi‑award‑winning background in platform‑native productions across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and podcasts. Previously, she held senior roles at LADbible Group and Strong Watch Studios, where she launched high‑view formats....
ABC has ordered a six‑part crime drama titled Pilli Sisters PI, created and written by actress‑author Tasma Walton. The series follows Indigenous sisters running a private investigation firm in Fremantle, Western Australia, and will be filmed across the state. Production...
