‘Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery Of Nymph Circle’ Pops As Long Running Franchise Powers On – Specialty Box Office
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery Of Nymph Circle opened in North America with a $810,000 debut on 894 screens, marking the first theatrical release in the region that is self‑distributed by Bandai Namco Filmworks. The film follows a strong opening trend for the long‑running Gundam franchise, which previously earned $882,000 on 784 screens for Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Beginning and amassed a $1.2 million domestic total. In Japan the title has already grossed $14.7 million, while Canada contributed over 11 % of the U.S. opening weekend. Critical reception is solid, with a 92 % Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Forza Horizon 6’s Early Access Rakes in $140 Million in Its First Weekend
Forza Horizon 6’s premium early‑access launch delivered over $140 million in revenue within its first two days, despite a $120 price tag per copy. The title set franchise records, peaking at more than 181,000 concurrent players—double the full‑release peak of Horizon 5. Critics...
Disney’s Next Battle Won’t Be Against Netflix
Disney reported Q2 revenue of $25.2 billion, a 7% year‑over‑year rise, and adjusted earnings of $1.57 per share. While its Disney+ SVOD segment grew 11% sequentially, the company signaled a strategic pivot toward monetizing its vast intellectual property through physical experiences....
OpenAI Paid $100 Million for a Talk Show. James Murdoch Is Eyeing an Even Bigger Deal. The Hot New Asset...
James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems is in late‑stage talks to buy New York Magazine and the Vox Media podcast network for $300 million or more, aiming to fuse premium journalism with creator‑driven audio. Earlier this year OpenAI paid over $100 million for the tech talk...
Netflix Expands NFL Slate With International Flair, Thanksgiving Eve & More in Its Biggest Package of Games Yet
Netflix is expanding its live‑sports portfolio for the 2026 NFL season, adding a historic Week 1 game in Australia, the league’s first Thanksgiving Eve matchup, and a Christmas Day doubleheader. The streamer will also air a Week 18 regular‑season finale and the NFL Honors...
Netflix’s Greg Peters on Why It Walked Away From the Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Netflix co‑CEO Greg Peters explained why the company abandoned its $82.7 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, citing a valuation that exceeded the benefit to members. The decision triggered a $2.8 billion termination fee but underscored Netflix’s focus on organic growth through...
Will Smith to Star in Amazon MGM Action Thriller ‘Supermax’
Will Smith will headline the Amazon MGM Studios action‑thriller Supermax, directed by David Gordon Green. Amazon MGM secured worldwide rights to the Miramax‑originated project for a reported $70 million, marking a major streaming‑first deal. The film, Smith’s first non‑franchise studio movie in...
Premier League + and Why Owning the Broadcast Isn’t Owning the Fan
The Premier League and UEFA are launching direct‑to‑consumer streaming services—Premier League + in Singapore and a UEFA Champions League platform aimed at India and Indonesia. Both will deliver all live matches in‑house, relying on league‑produced commentary and 24/7 content. Critics...
The Indies Are Dying. Long Live the Indies
The Cannes Marché 2026 revealed a stark slowdown in traditional indie film deals as the historic pay‑one television window collapses under streaming pressure. Without pre‑sale guarantees, distributors are reluctant to fund high‑budget projects, pushing producers toward equity financing and alternative...
Rusk Media Ropes in Jalaj Kukreja as General Manager – Brand Partnerships, IP Integrations
Jalaj Kukreja has been appointed General Manager of Brand Partnerships and IP Integrations at Rusk Media, bolstering the firm’s push toward advertiser‑led storytelling. He arrives from Mygate, where he expanded digital ad revenue through agency alliances such as GroupM, Dentsu, Publicis, Havas...
Why Is Dropout Changing so Much? CEO Sam Reich Explains
Dropout.tv CEO Sam Reich says the company’s flurry of new projects—Blu‑rays, a 24/7 streaming channel, licensed outside content, a Superfan tier, an animated anthology, and a crowdfunded board game—have been in development for years and coincidentally converged in 2026. Early...
Mark Ruffalo Assumes “I’m Already On A List” For Opposing Paramount-Warner Bros Merger: “Vindictive Motherf*ckers”
Actor Mark Ruffalo is leading a high‑profile campaign against Paramount’s hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would concentrate media power under the Ellison family. He has mobilized a petition that now boasts nearly 5,000 signatures and warned that similar...
Nour to Launch Aswatna Talent Agency for Palestinian Artists
DJ Nour Alsholi, known as Nour, announced the launch of Aswatna, a Palestinian‑owned talent agency debuting on May 30. The agency, whose name means “Our Voices,” will represent musicians, visual artists, and performers, offering dedicated management, booking, and branding services. Aswatna...
Annapurna Interactive: Mixtape Won't Be Delisted Due To Music Lisences Expiring
Annapurna Interactive confirmed that its narrative‑driven game Mixtape will not be delisted because the publisher paid for perpetual music licenses. Creative director Johnny Galvatron told Kotaku the soundtrack rights have no expiration, avoiding the fate of titles like Rock Band...
Cord Cutting Is Getting More Expensive, Roku Rolls Out Major Update to Roku TVs, & Roku Players, & More
Cord‑cutters face higher monthly bills as major streaming services announced price hikes, while Roku launched a significant software update for its TVs and streaming players that adds AI‑driven recommendations and a refreshed interface. At the same time, a landmark media...
Political Money Is Flowing to Influencers. But From Whom?
Social media influencers are increasingly hired by political campaigns to promote candidates without public disclosure. The New York Times reports that TikTok star Carlos Espina was paid $100,000 by Tom Steyer’s California governor campaign, funneling the money through a Texas...
Andrew Owens Takes on Role of IMG Artists’ Vocal Artist Manager
Tenor Andrew Owens has been promoted to Vocal Artist Manager at IMG Artists, a role he assumes after twelve years on the agency’s roster. Owens, who has performed with leading opera houses such as Seattle Opera and Opernhaus Zürich, will...
Square Enix Shows Improvements in Latest Financial Report, But Without a New Expansion, MMO Revenue Fell
Square Enix’s FY2024 report shows a 34.9% rise in operating income to roughly $345 million, buoyed by strong sales of HD remakes such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Dragon Quest titles. Income from PC and smart‑device platforms surged 64%, highlighting the...
Canal 13 Bets on Multiplatform Innovation
Canal 13 is expanding its content ecosystem by launching a new production hub in Chile and rolling out a slate of reality, cultural and micro‑drama formats. The network is reviving its reality series “Vecinos al límite” while premiering a second...
HC2 Secures A TV Property In Titletown
HC2 Broadcasting announced the acquisition of low‑power TV station WGBD‑LD in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for a nominal $1. The deal, approved by the FCC, transfers ownership from Word of God Fellowship, the Daystar‑linked entity, to HC2. CEO Les Levi signed...
DAVIarena, Colombia’s Latest Music Venue, To Open In November With Juanes
BeatHub Entertainment announced the opening of DAVIarena, a 17,200‑seat arena in Medellín slated for a November 14 debut headlined by Colombian star Juanes. The venue, designed by HOK, is backed by a $84 million private investment and naming‑rights sponsorship from Davivienda,...
LinkedIn Reportedly Planning To Launch Thousands Of Creator-Led Events
LinkedIn is gearing up to host up to 4,000 paid creator‑led events each year, aiming to enlist more than 1,000 creators by mid‑2027. Early pilots with high‑profile professionals have already generated $19 million in Premium Event revenue over the past six...
Barry Weiss’s RECORDS Promotes Andrew Saltman to SVP of Artist Development, Sara Gil to General Manager
Barry Weiss’s RECORDS announced two senior promotions on May 14, 2026. Andrew Saltman was elevated to Senior Vice President of Artist Development, overseeing a combined marketing and digital team for both the New York‑based label and its Nashville imprint. Sara Gil was...
Why CTV Strategy Needs a Reset in an Agent-Driven Ecosystem
Connected TV (CTV) is poised to move from a branding‑only role to a performance engine as AI‑driven agents compress the consumer journey. The article argues that fewer clicks and impressions make traditional digital signals less reliable, while CTV still captures...
Electric Entertainment Seeks New Partnerships in Latin America
Electric Entertainment used its Los Angeles screening to pitch a robust slate for Latin America, headlined by the franchise *The Librarians*—three films, two seasons and a new series in development. The lineup also includes *Leverage: Redemption*, *The Ark*, *One Big Happy Family* and the...
Prime Video Unveils Thursday Night Football Schedule for the 2026 NFL Season
Prime Video announced its fifth season of exclusive Thursday Night Football, delivering a 17‑game slate that runs from a preseason matchup on August 27 through a Wild Card playoff in mid‑January 2027. The schedule kicks off with the Buffalo Bills hosting...
AI Has A Trust Problem That Advertisers Are Somehow Still Expected To Fix
A new survey of 1,048 U.S. adults shows that while AI usage is surging, trust is plummeting. Nearly two‑thirds of respondents say they distrust AI tools, even as adoption climbs to roughly 68 percent. Advertisers are being asked to bridge the...
Cord Cutting Today: Another Cable TV Channel Shuts Down as Free Streaming Keeps Taking Over
The cord‑cutting roundup highlights a cable channel ending its linear broadcast and launching a free, ad‑supported streaming service, underscoring the shift away from traditional pay‑TV. Fubo pulled its bid for NBA broadcast rights, while Comcast‑spun‑off networks like MS Now and CNBC...
Connoisseur Completes Its S.F. Bay Area Market Entry
Connoisseur Media, the fast‑growing radio‑station owner founded by Jeff Warshaw, has completed its entry into the San Francisco‑Oakland market. The move builds on the group’s recent acquisition of San Jose stations, which were obtained through a debt‑assumption merger with Alpha Media. Kalil...
From Sony Music Publishing’s $4 Billion Catalog Deal to Live Nation’s ‘Blue Dot Fever’ Rebuttal… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
Sony Music Publishing confirmed a deal to buy Blackstone’s Recognition Music Group catalog, a portfolio of over 45,000 songs valued between $3.5 billion and $4 billion. The Red Hot Chili Peppers sold their recorded‑music catalog to Warner Music Group for more than $300 million...
Upfront Buzzwords Spike Interest: What Are The Real Meanings?
During this year’s upfront week, advertisers are inundated with buzzwords such as “business outcomes,” “agentic AI,” and “fandom.” The piece stresses that linear TV still commands strong brand‑building power, especially through live sports like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which...
Ratings Roundup: ESPN Secures Top Viewed Second Round Game 4 of Stanley Cup on Cable; NBA Draft Lottery Viewership Up...
ESPN posted a series of record‑breaking viewership numbers across its sports portfolio in 2026. The college softball regular season generated more than 2 billion minutes watched and averaged 292,000 viewers, while the First Take reunion with Stephen A. Smith and Skip...
Softer Ad Outlook Leads An Analyst To Downgrade Gray
Gray Media reported a softening of core advertising revenue in its Q2 outlook, prompting Guggenheim analyst Curry Baker to lower his 1‑year price target for GTN to $7 from $8 while keeping a Buy rating. The station group’s shares were...
Buffalo Bills Jump From Audacy to Cumulus for Radio Flagship
The Buffalo Bills have announced a return to FM radio, moving their flagship broadcast from Audacy’s AM station WGR to Cumulus Media’s WGRF-FM "97 Rock." After a 14‑year stint on AM, the team will air games on the higher‑fidelity FM...
European Commission EVP Henna Virkkunen on Film Funding Overhaul and Paramount-WBD Merger: It ‘Might Have to Be Reviewed Under Several...
European Commission EVP Henna Virkkunen defended the EU’s new AgoraEU programme at Cannes, explaining it will integrate the existing Creative Europe cultural and media strands while adding a dedicated MEDIA+ component for news media. Film makers and producers voiced concerns...
Spotify Expands Video Podcast Distribution as Apple Podcasts Integration Nears
Spotify has broadened its video podcast distribution by linking its Distribution API with five hosting platforms—Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans and Podspace—allowing creators to push video episodes directly to Spotify and earn revenue through the Partner Program. The company also announced...
Europe’s Creator Economy Reaches 8.6 Million Income-Generating Creators, Report Finds
The Creator’s Hub report shows Europe’s creator economy now includes 8.64 million income‑generating creators and was valued at €28 billion (≈$30.5 billion) in 2025. It projects the market will expand to €135 billion (≈$147 billion) by 2032, a 25.1% CAGR, outpacing the global creator economy’s...
Best Podcast Advertising Platforms in 2026
Podcast consumption surged in 2025, with 55% of U.S. adults listening in the past month and weekly listening time up 355% since 2015. Global podcast ad spend is projected to exceed $4 billion this year, prompting brands to shift budgets toward...
Live Nation Pens Booking Deal at Brazil’s Nubank Parque
Live Nation has signed a 10‑year booking agreement for São Paulo’s newly renamed Nubank Parque, targeting roughly 150 shows through 2034. The venue, formerly Allianz Parque, was rebranded after fintech Nubank won naming rights in a fan vote. The deal gives...
Reading International Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
Reading International reported Q1 2026 revenue of $45.1 million, up 12% year‑over‑year and the strongest top‑line since 2019. Operating loss narrowed to $3.6 million, a 47% improvement, while EBITDA turned negative $0.8 million after the prior‑year gain from a New Zealand property sale disappeared. Cinema...
Week in Review: Sky Closes In On ITV Deal, Byron Allen Buys BuzzFeed, and Ofcom Releases Draft Code for SVOD...
Sky is weeks from finalising a £1.6 bn (≈$2 bn) takeover of ITV's broadcast arm, separating its linear channels and ITVX from the production‑focused ITV Studios. The deal, negotiated by Comcast’s US lawyers, ties part of the price to ITV’s ad‑revenue outlook...
To Sell TV, The New ‘Premium’ Is ‘Fandom’
The 2026 TV upfronts marked a clear pivot from traditional premium programming to a focus on audience quality, with broadcasters championing "fandom" as the new benchmark. Executives highlighted AI‑driven performance metrics, dynamic ad formats, and real‑time measurement as core selling...
HC2: Counting On 5G Broadcast and LPTV Viewer Loyalty
HC2 Broadcasting, the low‑power TV (LPTV) arm of Innovate Inc., posted a solid first‑quarter performance, highlighting its pivot toward 5G broadcast services. Revenue rose 12% year‑over‑year to roughly $150 million, while the company leveraged under‑used spectrum to attract new viewers. Management...
Mistplay Launches Audience Network for Rewarded Advertising Following Acquisitions
Mistplay has unveiled the Mistplay Audience Network, a rewarded advertising platform that merges its own inventory with assets acquired from Connected Rewards and MyChips. Integrated under the LoyaltyPlay suite, the network gives advertisers access to users across finance, shopping, fuel,...
UK Global Screen Fund Opens Video Game Release Funding Programme
The British Film Institute, through the UK Global Screen Fund, has introduced a Video Game Release funding programme to aid international launches of UK‑developed narrative games. Backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the scheme offers non‑recoupable grants...
ESPN’s YouTube Clip Crew Built an Empire With Billions of Views
ESPN has turned sports highlights into a core product, amassing over 100 billion YouTube views and maintaining the largest U.S. TikTok sports brand with nearly 58 million followers. The network operates a dedicated clipping team that creates multiple formats for each broadcast,...
Nexon Q1 Net Income Rises 118% to $360.7m
Nexon posted a record first‑quarter net income of ¥57.2 billion ($360.7 million), a 118% year‑over‑year increase, helped by a ¥14.5 billion ($91.4 million) foreign‑exchange gain. Revenue rose 34% to ¥152.2 billion ($959.9 million, up from the prior year), driven by strong sales of Embark Studios' Arc Raiders...
Person of the Week: Byron Allen – and the Growing Power of African American-Owned Family Offices
Byron Allen, comedian‑turned‑media mogul, used his family office Allen Family Capital to acquire BuzzFeed for $120 million, marking a high‑profile entry into digital media for an African American‑owned family office. The deal highlights the growing financial clout of Black‑owned investment vehicles,...
Square Enix FY26 Operating Income Surges 34.9% Despite Net Sales Decline
Square Enix reported FY26 operating income of ¥54.7 billion ($345 million), a 34.9% YoY increase, even as net sales slipped 8.3% to ¥297.6 billion ($1.8 billion). The boost came from strong HD releases such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Dragon Quest remakes, alongside cost‑optimisation...
Orange Belgium Signs DAZN Deal
Orange Belgium and its VOO subsidiary have sealed a distribution deal with streaming giant DAZN, bringing Belgian football—including the Jupiler Pro League, Challenger Pro League and Women Super League—plus the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, LaLiga, Ligue 1, NBA and NFL to...