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.
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By the numbers: K-Love seeks FCC approval to acquire WFCC
Mediassociates announced two senior‑level hires, naming Drew Corry vice president‑strategy and Abby Niziankiewicz vice president‑strategic media investment. Both roles are newly created at the independent media services firm based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Corry arrives from his AI advisory practice and former senior positions at IPG Mediabrands, bringing expertise to drive the agency’s proprietary PrecisionBrandingAi platform. Niziankiewicz joins from BIC’s Rocketbook division after senior marketing stints at BIC, LEGO and McKesson, where she will steer media investment across paid, earned and owned channels.
David Bialik stresses that loudness control is essential for radio streaming to keep listeners from constantly adjusting volume, especially when ads are louder than content. He cites AES standards—TD1008, AES71‑2018, AES77‑2023—recommending –24 LKFS for video streams and –16 to –17 LKFS for...
Meet Boston has signed a partnership to become the official destination partner for the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2026 Boston Major. The four‑day event will run Feb. 19‑22 at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, featuring 16 elite teams competing for a...
Universal’s chief marketing officer Michael Moses argues that theatrical movies are far from dead, noting that Gen Z and Gen Alpha actually crave the communal cinema experience. Drawing on his 25‑year career behind hits like *Wicked*, *Oppenheimer*, and the *Fast...
Junghun Lee, CEO of Nexon, said in an earnings release, “ARC Raiders, the biggest new game launch in Nexon’s history, is still growing and sustaining engagement 15 weeks after the October launch. The game has exceeded our most optimistic projections,...
South Korean developer Devsisters has opened pre‑registration on Android for CookieRun: OvenSmash, the franchise’s first real‑time PvP battle action game. The title pits teams of customizable Cookies against each other in three‑minute, 3D‑controlled matches set in the urban fantasy Platter...
Chartmetric’s 2025 Year in Music report reveals that songs now reach one billion Spotify streams in just 197 days, a 14‑fold speedup from 2015. Hit lifecycles are compressing, with older tracks dominating 2025’s Top 10 while new artists break into the ‘Superstar’...
Disney announced the preschool animated series “BeddyByes,” debuting on Monday, March 2 2026 on Disney Jr. and Disney Jr. On Demand, with 20 episodes arriving on Disney+ the following day. The show follows friends MeMo and BaBa on bedtime‑focused adventures across Planet BeddyByes, aiming to...
Tepper Sports and Entertainment CEO Kristi Coleman says Charlotte is emerging as a premier entertainment hub, backed by an $800 million renovation of Bank of America Stadium and a new 4,400‑seat music venue with Live Nation. The city’s visitor economy reached...
Google has released an official YouTube app for Apple’s Vision Pro headset, ending reliance on Safari or third‑party workarounds. The app, available through the VisionOS App Store, supports subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and all video formats including 360°, VR180, and...
The episode examines Edison Research’s latest podcast metrics, contrasting the Top Ten New Podcasts of 2025 with the broader Top 50 Podcasts of Q4, which includes stalwarts like The Joe Rogan Experience and Crime Junkie. The hosts highlight that none of...
Anna’s Archive, a piracy activist group, has begun seeding roughly 2.8 million Spotify tracks—about 6 TB of audio—via its torrent index, despite a New York court injunction and a $13 trillion lawsuit filed by Spotify and major labels. The leak follows a massive...
LatAm Live 2026, a new IQ report, maps the rapid expansion of Latin America’s live‑music ecosystem. Executives from festivals, venues, and touring agencies highlight how the region is becoming the opening act for the global festival calendar, driven by massive venues...
German esports organization FOKUS announced its entry into Counter‑Strike by fielding a brand‑new international roster assembled by former Virtus.pro and ENCE coach Jakub “kuben” Gurczyński. The five‑player line‑up features Swedish IGL Erik “ztr” Gustafsson, Romanian “volt”, Bulgarian AWPer Georgi “Jorko”...
Switzerland’s Paléo Festival Nyon has become the first outdoor music event in the country to operate its own solar farm. The 470‑square‑metre installation, featuring 261 photovoltaic panels, will generate roughly 100,000 kWh per year—covering at least half of the festival’s electricity...
Globecast and Synamedia have launched a cloud‑based workflow that lets broadcasters receive Emirates FA Cup matches via IP or satellite for the first time. The solution combines Synamedia’s Quortex Link SaaS platform with Globecast’s managed services, covering Western Europe, the...
In order to celebrate the importance of diversity of theatrical offerings, exhibitors union #CinemaUnited formerly known as #NATO has just announced that, for the first time, #CinemaCon will have #AngelStudios, #RowKEntertainment & #StudioCanal with a panel on the main stage...
DOJ Ousts Antitrust Chief Gail Slater, Who Was Reviewing Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger https://t.co/l7b5hTZGvH via @variety
Deadmau5 publicly condemned an AI‑generated deepfake video that falsely showed him endorsing another DJ. He described the clip as “scary as fuck” and called for new laws to protect personal likenesses. The episode spotlights the pending NO FAKES Act, which...
With increasing popularity of rereleases, re-release focused distributor #Fathom unveils batch of all time classic reissues slated for 2026 at US #BoxOffice: #ABeautifulMind #BenHur #CitizenKane #FriedGreenTomatoes #GoneWiththeWind #ItsaWonderfulLife #OceansEleven #SilenceoftheLambs #TheBirdcage #TheFifthElement #TheMalteseFalcon #WillyWonkaAndtheChocolateFactory
Ubisoft in Paris just reported its Q3 + sounded pretty happy, beating their forecast. No Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake announcement yet, but they did confirm Rainbow Six Mobile has 18M pre-registrations and is due out worldwide on Feb 23. Call with...
LiveOne reported that artificial‑intelligence tools enabled it to slash its staff from 350 to 88, eliminating more than 250 jobs in fiscal Q3 2026. The company’s revenue dropped 31% year‑over‑year to $20.26 million, but its net loss narrowed to $1.95 million from...
In this episode, Matt Belloni talks with Shicong Zhu, head of West Coast Studios at DramaBox, about the rapid rise of vertical micro-dramas and their profitability. They explore how these short-form series are produced on shoestring budgets, which genres thrive...
In this episode, the AdExchanger team examines OpenAI's rollout of ads on ChatGPT, turning the chatbot into a new advertising canvas, and contrasts it with Anthropic's public criticism aired during a Super Bowl commercial. They break down the potential impact...
.@jayshetty Launches Perfect Strangers Production Shingle, Which Has Inked Netflix Deals for Two TV Series (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/XXud6rhNPc via @variety
CinemaCon’s 2026 edition introduces a first‑ever Film Showcase, giving indie distributors Angel Studios, Row K Entertainment and Studiocanal a prime stage alongside traditional majors. The move reflects exhibitors’ growing appetite for non‑tentpole content to keep screens fresh. Angel Studios closed 2025...
CinemaCon will debut a new CinemaCon Film Showcase panel on April 13, featuring independent distributors Angel, Row K Entertainment, and StudioCanal alongside traditional studio sessions. The three companies will present their upcoming theatrical slates, including Angel’s 2026 releases, Row K’s...
Valve announced that The International 15 will be held in Shanghai from August 20‑23, 2026, at the Oriental Sports Center. The indoor arena can accommodate up to 18,000 fans depending on configuration. Sixteen teams will vie for the title after...
Stingray Media has partnered with Jio TV, India’s largest digital entertainment platform, to launch a suite of FAST (free‑ad‑supported streaming TV) music and lifestyle channels. The rollout, facilitated by Canal Plus‑owned THEMA, makes more than 20 curated audio and video channels...
The National Advertising Division (NAD) ordered T‑Mobile to modify ads that suggested Verizon customers could face $147 per month in in‑flight Wi‑Fi charges, a claim the regulator deemed misleading. T‑Mobile’s calculation compared its free GoGo Wi‑Fi perk to an assumed Verizon...
PQ Media’s 2026 Global Advertising & Marketing Spending Forecast projects worldwide ad spend to climb 8.8% and total marketing spend to rise 9.8% this year. The new data have been incorporated into MediaPost’s composite forecast, lifting the average industry growth...
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) released the Direct Buy Addendum v1.0 along with updated General and Special Terms for digital advertising agreements, opening a 45‑day public comment window that runs through March 31. The framework is designed to replace bespoke contracts with...
FaZe Vegas, a top Call of Duty League franchise, announced a partnership with Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, naming the chain its official sandwich partner. The deal includes jersey branding, curated social‑media content, and fan‑perks that unlock special rewards after each team victory....
Mewgenics, the cat‑breeding tactical roguelike from Tyler Glaiel and Edmund McMillen, recouped its entire development budget within three hours of its February 10 launch and set a new Steam concurrency record with 83,956 players on February 11. Within the first day, players...
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined became Japan’s best‑selling physical game last week, moving 456,552 units across three platforms. The PS5, Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch each secured a top‑three spot, underscoring the title’s cross‑platform appeal. By contrast, the next‑best seller, Nioh 3, sold just...
Social platforms are experiencing a revenue surge, with YouTube reporting $60 billion and Reddit posting a 70 % YoY increase in Q4. At the same time, regulators worldwide are moving to restrict under‑16 access, as Australia bans it and the EU, US,...
Sound Royalties announced a record $135 million in funded contracts for 2025, doubling its assets under management from referred business. The Florida‑based firm expanded its financing portfolio to include YouTube AdSense, concert touring, and TV licensing across more than 30 countries....
TV Talk: First time ever @catchycomedyfun collects all of Lucille Ball's series (+ specials, movie, doc) in one #CatchyLovesLucy programming block + terrible #Neighbors show up on @HBO + #MayorOfKingstown gets Pa. Film Tax Credit $ via @TribLIVE - https://t.co/AjjY0Vi1zz...
ABC’s Thursday night lineup delivered record‑breaking multiplatform audiences for three of its flagship dramas. The Jan 29 episodes of “9‑1‑10,” “9‑1‑10: Nashville,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” each posted their highest Total‑Viewer numbers since their season premieres, with 8.20 M, 6.99 M and 6.21 M viewers...
Sega Sammy reported nine‑month results ending December 31, 2025, with net sales up 4% to ¥335.2 billion but operating income plunging 55% YoY to ¥19.8 billion. The company recorded a ¥30.4 billion ($198.6 million) impairment on Rovio, the Angry Birds developer it bought for ¥776 million in...
Elisa Serrani’s new observatory report shows that the surge in music press releases has outpaced journalists’ ability to process them, turning volume into noise. The Italian market, used as a micro‑cosm, demonstrates a sharp rise in promotional material while editorial...
Hjalmar Vikström, co‑founder and chief development officer of 10 Chambers, announced his departure after ten years leading the studio that created the cooperative horror shooter GTFO. He guided the team from a nine‑person early‑access effort to the full 1.0 release in...
The article argues that the internet’s long‑standing focus on outrage‑driven engagement is reaching its limits, as users hit a tolerance threshold. AI‑powered platforms now amplify cynicism, turning noise into a trust‑eroding force. In this new landscape, scarcity has shifted from...
Elon Musk’s The Boring Company has been chosen by Universal’s Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District to build a high‑speed Tesla tunnel linking Universal Orlando Resort with the new Epic Universe expansion. The 25‑year agreement tasks the firm...
If you want to batch 30 days of videos fast, stop filming full videos and start filming reusable clips.
The European Programmatic TV Initiative (EPTVI) has launched Stage Two of its roadmap, moving from strategic planning to concrete solutions for scaling programmatic TV across Europe. The new phase will produce three core deliverables – North Star principles, reusable core...
Dartsee, a leader in interactive social gaming, has launched Darts Class, its 13th game designed to let players practice and improve their dart skills. The new mode offers three difficulty levels and two gameplay modes, with targets that shrink and...
Artificial intelligence is reshaping user‑generated content (UGC) for marketing teams, turning raw consumer footage into polished ad assets at scale. AI‑driven platforms now analyze performance data, generate scripts, and edit videos, enabling brands to launch authentic creatives within hours instead...
Buffalo Wild Wings teamed with Grammy‑winning artist T‑Pain to launch a brand‑specific anthem, “Let’s Go Buffalo Wild (A Pick 6 Love Song),” promoting its new Pick 6 Meal for Two. The meal bundle, priced at $19.99 nationally, includes two entrées, two sides,...
Framestore has teamed up with i*wot studios, the creators behind Amazon’s The Wheel of Time, to develop an AI‑enabled platform that unifies production workflows across film, TV, animation, immersive experiences, social media, user‑generated content and gaming. The platform will consolidate...
