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
CJ ENM’s 2025 slate cemented its status as a global IP powerhouse, with dramas like *Bon Appétit, Your Majesty* topping Netflix’s non‑English TV chart for two weeks and staying ten weeks total. Other scripted hits such as *Typhoon Family* and *Dear X* achieved top‑10 placements and number‑one rankings across multiple streaming platforms worldwide. Youth‑focused series *Study Group* and *Head Over Heels* earned top honors at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, while the reality format *Couple Palace 2* won gold at the Venice TV Awards, marking a first for Korean formats. These achievements underscore CJ ENM’s expanding influence in both scripted and unscripted international markets.
Fox Footy and Kayo Sports unveiled their 2026 AFL broadcast lineup, keeping most shows unchanged but swapping Tom Hawkins for Nathan Buckley on Friday Night Footy. Buckley steps aside due to his coaching duties at Geelong, while Hawkins joins Garry...
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) submitted reply comments to the FCC’s proceeding on the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, urging the agency to accelerate the transition. NAB emphasizes the need for additional licensees to adopt the next‑generation system and ultimately...
New Hampshire PBS (NHPBS) has completed a statewide air‑chain upgrade to support ATSC 3.0, with Heartland Video Systems delivering design, hardware, and remote commissioning. The project replaced legacy ATSC 1.0 encoders with Harmonic XOS units, added HEVC‑DASH capable equipment, and installed a...
Electronic Arts’ free‑to‑play battle‑royale Apex Legends has been added to the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, scheduled for November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The tournament will feature 40 national teams in a round‑robin group stage, with the top 20 advancing...
Sphere Entertainment posted FY 2025 revenue of $1.22 billion, an 8% year‑over‑year increase, while narrowing its operating loss to $229.6 million. Adjusted operating profit surged 138% to $261.8 million, reflecting the impact of excluding depreciation, amortization and other non‑cash items. Q4 revenue jumped 28%...
Omnicom reported 2025 revenue of $17.3 billion, a 10% increase helped by the final month of its IPG acquisition and favorable foreign‑exchange effects. Media & Advertising accounted for 58% of revenue and grew 15.7%, while adjusted operating margins held just above...
iHeartMedia released a study with Collage Group highlighting bicultural Latinos as a “cultural and economic force.” The research finds they represent 40% of U.S. Hispanics, wield $4.1 trillion in purchasing power and consume audio primarily in English while still valuing Spanish...
The Australian Esports League has teamed up with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to launch the Victorian Virtual Grand Prix, a student‑focused esports tournament. Primary school pupils will race in‑person on February 28 at Kingsville Primary, while secondary students compete online...
Rocket League Championship Series announced Michelin as its newest official partner, extending the tire maker’s brand into the esports arena. Michelin’s logo will appear in‑game, on broadcasts, social channels, and other media assets. The partnership was unveiled alongside the RLCS 2026...
Advances in live‑streaming, mobile‑first design, and random number generators have reshaped online casino experiences. High‑resolution 4K cameras, OCR and AR enable seamless live dealer games from providers like Evolution and Playtech. HTML5‑optimized mobile apps, now exceeding 30 in New Jersey,...
Distribution and the human attention premium That marketing and distribution become the principal challenges of scaling content in an attention landscape awash in it seems like an obvious outcome as production costs collapse. But it has not yet emerged as a...
Senate Democrats Demand Answers From David Ellison About Paramount Skydance’s Dealings With Trump in Warner Bros. Takeover Bid, Accuse CEO of ‘Pattern of Evasion’ https://t.co/jeeblW2lVw via @variety
Topgolf International announced David McKillips as its new chief executive officer, effective February 23, 2026. McKillips arrives with more than three decades of experience in family entertainment, most recently steering CEC Entertainment through a $350 million strategic investment and a Chapter 11...
Sandra Stern to Depart as Lionsgate TV Group Vice Chairman After 40-Year Executive Career https://t.co/CZJTNhEDPP via @variety
CBS’s Paramount unit has equipped Baltimore’s WJZ‑13 with an augmented‑reality/virtual‑reality (AR/VR) studio, extending a technology already live in markets such as New York and Los Angeles. The new system will debut on Monday, delivering immersive, hyper‑local weather graphics and dynamic, 3‑D sports...
Bethesda game director Todd Howard said the studio is not ignoring AI but is using it only for data‑driven tasks, not for creative content. He described AI as an analytical tool to speed up big‑data and player‑behavior analysis while preserving...
The Viralist Group, founded in September 2022, now represents over 200 creators—more than 90% of whom identify as AAPI or BIPOC—and commands a combined audience of 500 million across platforms. The agency has partnered with over 1,300 global brands, positioning itself...
Influencer Darla Bundus, who commands over nine million followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat, has shifted her strategy from rapid growth to deliberate restraint. She now accepts fewer brand deals, posts less frequently, and emphasizes transparency around personal health...
Six Flags CEO John Reilly was asked about the rumored "Enchanted Parks" trademark during the Feb. 19, 2026 earnings call and offered no comment, leaving the speculation unresolved. He reiterated that the company is actively evaluating its portfolio but did not signal...
Riot Games unveiled the inaugural League of Legends Americas Cup, slated for March 4‑8 in São Paulo. The tournament pits the second‑ and third‑place teams from the LCS Lock‑In and CBLOL Cup in a double‑elimination bracket, with opening best‑of‑three matches followed by...
The #Avatar franchise has sustained ~20 years of TV viewership. Animation = ~15% of annual domestic BO. Kids entertainment = 2nd largest genre share of original/new BO hits (2021–25). Yet Paramount still pulled #TheLegendofAang #TheLastAirbender from theaters. Make it make...
PG Connects Summit Malmö launches May 27‑28, 2026 as a two‑day, focused networking event in partnership with MeetToMatch and powered by Xsolla. The summit replaces the traditional conference model, offering private lounge tables, meeting zones, and a blend of matchmaking...
Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) is concerned about all the foreign money tied to Paramount's efforts to acquire WBD. In letter to Paramount CEO David Ellison, Licarrdo writes: "this acquisition raises serious national security, data-protection, and editorial-independence concerns that warrant full...
Top pop acts are abandoning the traditional city‑hop tour in favor of multi‑night residencies, with Harry Styles booking 30 shows at Madison Square Garden and Bad Bunny delivering 29 nights in San Juan. The model slashes freight, crew and venue...
Upstream, formerly TheViewPoint, launched an automated platform that handles direct‑sold CTV campaigns at the ad‑server level, deliberately avoiding programmatic intermediaries. The solution integrates directly with publishers, bypassing SSPs and DSPs, and is already used by NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Paramount and...
The E.W. Scripps Company appointed Oliver Gray as vice president of network sports and client partnerships, leveraging his experience leading Amazon’s NFL Thursday Night Football sales. The Bay Area Lyme Foundation named David Walsey executive director, bringing pharma communications expertise to...
Senate Democrats are intensifying pressure on Paramount CEO David Ellison after he refused an in‑person antitrust hearing on the proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The senators, led by Chuck Schumer and Cory Booker, accused Ellison of a "pattern of...
The UK government announced a £4 billion Industrial Strategy allocation targeting creative industries, with the British Business Bank taking a leading role. A £45 million cornerstone investment was made in Redrice Ventures, a seed‑stage investor for creative firms. The Bank is also...
Scopely announced a majority‑stake acquisition of Istanbul‑based Loom Games, the studio behind the mobile puzzle title Pixel Flow, at a valuation exceeding $1 billion. Pixel Flow, launched in late 2025, has already attracted more than ten million players worldwide. The financial...
Former U.S. soccer star Jozy Altidore has joined NBA All‑Star Russell Westbrook and Echo Capital in financing a United Soccer League franchise slated to relaunch in Oklahoma City in 2028. The venture is anchored by a $1 billion mixed‑use entertainment district...
Could EU Regulators Favor Paramount Over Netflix in Battle for Warner Bros. Discovery? https://t.co/fkGFzUlDW1 via @variety
Viaplay Group reported a SEK 637 million operating loss for Q4 2025 after acquiring full ownership of Allente, its Nordic TV platform. Net sales rose to SEK 4,978 million in the quarter but fell to SEK 17,682 million for the full year, down from SEK 18,490 million. The company...
Interactive Entertainment Scotland, backed by UKIE and studios nationwide, released a manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. It outlines three priority areas: a task‑and‑finish policy review, enhanced access to long‑term funding, and expanded talent development through education and...
Brazil Games, together with Abragames and ApexBrasil, will bring over 30 studios to GDC 2026, showcasing Brazil as a co‑development hub. The delegation spans development, publishing and production services across PC, console and mobile. A mini‑booth will feature titles such as...
Netflix will remove the mobile rhythm game Hello Kitty and Friends: Happiness Parade on March 17, 2026, with the last playable day on March 16. The title, launched on the platform in November 2022, amassed over one million Android installs....
YTL Live announced that UK insurer Aviva has secured the naming‑rights for its new 20,000‑capacity arena in Bristol, now branded Aviva Arena. The venue, being transformed from the historic Brabazon Hangars, is slated to open in late 2028 and will...
ABC’s Wednesday comedy block posted record audience gains on Feb. 4, 2026, driven by Valentine’s‑themed episodes. “Shifting Gears” season‑finale attracted 6.90 million viewers, a 59% lift over its live‑same‑day numbers, and a 0.99 rating among adults 18‑49. “Abbott Elementary” delivered 5.93 million viewers and...
Barb’s 2025 report shows YouTube viewing on UK TV sets climbing sharply, with half of children aged 4‑15 and 20% of over‑55s tuning in weekly. YouTube now accounts for 54% of its UK viewership via television, surpassing any single channel’s...
Sony Music Group France announced the acquisition of Spookland, a Paris‑based independent label and publishing company best known for representing French singer‑songwriter Jain. The deal, whose financial terms were undisclosed, transfers recorded‑music and publishing rights, as well as the full...
In a FixEd podcast episode, newsletter veteran Dan Oshinsky outlines how AI, quality content, and strategic partnerships will shape newsletters in 2026. He warns that AI‑powered inbox tools could either elevate newsletters into curated feeds or diminish engagement if they...
TEGNA has secured a multi‑year extension to broadcast Seattle Kraken NHL games on its twin Seattle‑Tacoma stations, KCPQ and KZJO. The deal reinforces TEGNA’s local sports portfolio as the company approaches the final stages of its merger with Nexstar Media...
TikTok has introduced a U.S.-focused Local Feed that surfaces geographically relevant videos based on device signals. The move arrives as local journalism grapples with shrinking newsrooms and dwindling consumer willingness to pay for news. By embedding hyperlocal content in its...
Arc Raiders, Embark Studios' retro‑futuristic extraction shooter, has seen its Steam concurrent player count tumble from roughly 410,000 in January to about 290,000—a near‑30% drop—while daily active users halved from 3.2 million to 1.6 million across platforms. The decline arrives just weeks...
Time Addressable Media Store (TAMS) is a cloud‑native, open‑source API that lets broadcasters retrieve short, time‑based media segments instead of whole files. Deployed in several pilot projects, it promises to cut storage costs, accelerate production and enable tool‑agnostic workflows across...
AWAL has entered a strategic partnership with Italy‑based Artist First, granting its roster localized marketing and promotional support to break into the Italian market while allowing Artist First to remain an independent entity. Artist First, founded in Milan in 2009,...
Starbreeze Entertainment reported a 18.8% rise in 2025 revenue to SEK 221 million ($24.5 million), yet the company posted a larger net loss of SEK 402.7 million ($44.6 million). Quarterly sales slipped 10.7% in Q4, driven by a decline in third‑party publishing and mixed performance of...
Walmart’s advertising arm surged 46% in 2025, generating nearly $6.4 billion, while the broader company posted $713.2 billion in revenue. Walmart Connect alone grew 41% in Q4, and the Vizio acquisition added high‑minimum‑price inventory. AI chatbot Sparky, now tested with ads, drives...
Clear Angle Studios announced TopoTrack, a new processing service that boosts mesh tracking and stabilisation for 3D FACS expression sets and 4D performance sequences. The platform promises high‑resolution animation from HMC footage, streamlining VFX pipelines while preserving nuanced actor performances....
Gracenote’s latest data shows sports programming on the five leading U.S. SVOD services grew 52% year‑over‑year, with the overall catalogue expanding 20%. Paramount+ surged ahead of Prime Video and Netflix, delivering more than twice the sports content after securing UFC...
