Hollywood Exhausted, Angry, and Anxious After Years of Turmoil
🧵I wrote in the @nytimes about why Hollywood isn’t relieved that Paramount rather than Netflix is poised to win Warner Bros: “After years of tumult-Covid, strikes, streamer wars, wildfires- Hollywood is exhausted, angry, resentful and anxious. https://t.co/alYpuAuAp0
Amazon MGM’s Crime Thriller Holds Steady, Serves Prime Video Growth
#AmazonMGM’s new crime thriller #Crime101 starring #ChrisHemsworth, #HalleBerry & #MarkRuffalo held well at US #BoxOffice, grossing 3.4M on 3rd 3-day weekend, just a -38.2% drop from last weekend, despite losing -554 theatres on FRI and facing #Scream7 (vs #TheBeekeeper’s 6.7M,...
Faith‑Based Sequel Slumps 60% Weekend, Misses Original
Despite being received with as strong WOM as the original film, #Lionsgate’s faith-based sequel #ICanOnlyImagine2 definitely won’t have the same staying power at US #BoxOffice, after grossing just 3.1M on 2nd 3-day weekend, a harsh -60% drop from opening (vs...
No Role Modelz
No Role Modelz is now the 3rd most streamed 2014 song on Spotify. The song has became more and more valuable over time. It’s the type of song that catalog investors would love to own.
Industry Complacency Fuels Ongoing Hollywood Consolidation
Want to know why consolidation keeps happening? People within industries just don’t see problems with it. A lot of the major Hollywood players are fine with the Paramount merger. https://t.co/lWXZRyUNqb
CNN Faces Moral Test Under MAGA‑Friendly Leadership
Will anyone at CNN take a principled stand as David Ellison reshapes the network to be more MAGA friendly? Or will everyone just go along with the new direction? Watch the full episode of Power Lines on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nWEG5jUrP2Q?si=H_0XcKiJMFeLe3fe
Warner & Paramount Skydance Deliver 200 Shows, Boost Market Leverage
Warner Bros makes roughly 80 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Paramount Skydance makes roughly 120 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Massive combined leverage as a third-party content supplier on the open market.
Ellison Vows Unchanged DCU Creatives, Marketing Faces Shake‑up
Too early to tell, although #DavidEllison made a commitment to keep the creative heads of both WB and Paramount as they are, so if he keeps his promise, nothing changes to the #DCU or #DCStudios at least on the short...
Sony's Alleged Claim About FromSoftware Likely False, Jeopardizing Future Collaborations
It is not a lie. It's exactly what happened. Although, I get where Lance is coming from because Sony doesn't have to care about what From says -- but if it doesn't, would it ever get to work with From...
Hollywood's $81B Takeover Sealed in Six Months
Six Months, 9 Offers and $81 Billion. How Hollywood’s Nasty Takeover Was Won. W/@jtoonkel @laurenthomas @davidamichaels https://t.co/TFOmN7A5Zq
Video Success Mirrors Audio's Catalog‑First Strategy
We used to think audio was all about the catalog, but it turns out that might be just as true when it comes to video... h/t @michaelbeach https://t.co/RhM8t8AN6c
David Ellison Secures $2.8B Warner Bros. Deal Over Netflix
Power, politics and a $2.8-billion payout: How Paramount's David Ellison topped Netflix to win Warner Bros. Discovery. @latimes https://t.co/6HgvA4tXeH
Netflix Forces Paramount Debt, Secures Streaming Dominance
"Netflix’s real triumph was driving up the price Paramount had to pay and saddling the newcomer with enough debt to hobble any challenge to Netflix’s streaming dominance." -- @HolmanJenkins https://t.co/4V3TUD31y8
Paramount Wins Antitrust Battle, Faces Junk‑Debt Merger Challenge
"In a world in which antitrust has become a political weapon, Paramount had the upper hand. Its reward means it will now have to combine two companies whose debt is junk-rated and find a media business model that works." https://t.co/Lx1hXs4Ijz...
Paramount's Survival Hinges on Deal, Ellisons' Influence
There is always a chance when government is involved, never rule this out. But I still see the odds in #Paramount’s favor for 2 reasons: 1- the Ellisons are one of the richest and most well connected families in the U.S. 2-...
Paramount's Bold Move Beats Netflix, Secures Warner Bros.
‘David Ellison Scares the Shit Out of Me’: How Paramount Beat Out Netflix, Won Warner Bros. and Will Change Hollywood Forever https://t.co/Pt6DwlK7fc
Warner Boards Unanimously Approve WBD‑PSKY Merger
Warner says in SEC filing that 'The boards of directors of WBD and PSKY have unanimously approved the Merger Agreement...'
CNN Journalists Fear Paramount Takeover, Still Committed
Journalists at CNN are fearful for what's ahead if Paramount takes over - but want to just do the job My conversation with @ailsachang on NPR's All Things Considered, coming up at 4.35/6.35p
Zaslav and Stankey Sacrificed
Well, WB employees have lost the moment #DavidZaslav stepped into their lives as CEO. Their loss started in 2020 when Zaslav started to lure #JohnStankey at At&T into letting Zazzy execute his evil plan, behind the backs of #WarnerMedia’s team...
Paramount Pays Netflix $2.8 B Breakup Fee for WBD Deal
Netflix Says Paramount Has Paid $2.8 Billion Breakup Fee for Warner Bros. Discovery Deal https://t.co/tPYGdECLW7
From Hollywood’s Most Hated to $790M Dealmaker
Three years ago, David Zaslav was called "the most hated man in Hollywood." Now he's pulled off one of the biggest deals in media history, engineering a bidding war that earned him $790.5 million. How it all happened, with @LaurenSHirsch: https://t.co/jaz2VIbdCe
Termination Fee Dwarfs Terminator Franchise's Global Box Office
This $2.8 billion termination fee is bigger than the combined global box office of Paramount’s Terminator franchise https://t.co/cWW1JErDM4 via @Lucas_Shaw @MichelleF_Davis
Paramount Pays Netflix $2.8B Termination Fee for WBD Deal
Netflix, in SEC filing, says Paramount 'on behalf of WBD, paid the $2,800,000,000 termination fee owed to Netflix in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.'
David Ellison Secures Warner Bros Deal After Netflix Backs Out
Last Saturday, Netflix was the heavy favorite to buy Warner Bros. What changed? How did David Ellison pull it off? Why did Netflix back off? Behind the scenes of one of the biggest deals in business history with @MichelleF_Davis and @joshua_sisco...
Warner Bros and Paramount Finalize Agreement, Says CRO
Warner Bros Chief Revenue And Strategy Officer: Warner Bros, Paramount Signed Agreement As Of This Morning $WBD $PSKY
Warner Execs Stunned by Paramount Deal, Consider Sale
Warner Town Hall: Management sounds shell shocked about the Paramount deal. Do they really want to sell? https://t.co/XWnrLMB7zM
Paramount‑Warner Merger Unites Film, News, and Social Media
Paramount, Warner Bros deal would unite film, news and social media forces in the age of Trump My analysis for NPR: https://t.co/zsdkP7wB8K
Albania Lifts TikTok Ban After Safety Upgrades
TikTok returns to Albania after government-imposed ban Albania has lifted its government-imposed ban on TikTok. The suspension followed the death of a teenage boy, with officials citing online bullying concerns. The Albanian government says TikTok has introduced stronger safety and moderation measures. The platform...
CNN Staff Fear Sale to Paramount Amid Shaky Stewardship
Anderson, cooped. Jake, tapped. Erin, burnt. Kasie, hunted. Wolf, blitzed. Fears are running high among CNN staff after parent company Warner cleared the way for a sale to Paramount, which has been a shaky custodian of its own journalism assets https://t.co/c3LvI7HQXl
CNN Staff Fear Warner‑Paramount Merger Will Damage Journalism
CNN Staffers Fear Warner Bros.-Paramount Deal Will Hurt Their Journalism and Network’s Financial Health https://t.co/c3LvI7Hj7N via @variety
Emerald Fennell Holds #1, Targets $100M U.S. Run
#EmeraldFennell felt the impact of #Scream7 monstrous previews, but remains at #1 and only 1M+ grosser among holdovers yesterday at US #BoxOffice, as romance #WutheringHeights starring #MargotRobbie & #JacobElordi grossed a solid 1.1M on 2nd THU, a -53.9% drop from...
Deal Secures Beloved IP, Expands Monetization, Locks AI Control
The Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Bros. deal can be best understood through four objectives. 1. Buying IP that audiences already love — because nobody builds DC or Harry Potter from scratch. 2. Protecting valuable IP—after this deal closes, Netflix will lose "fat tail"...
Massive Media Mergers Keep Missing Value Creation
AT&T paid $85.4B for Warner Bros. and failed to create value. Disney paid $71.3B for Fox and has struggled to consistently wring value out of it. Discovery paid $43B for Warner Bros. and failed to create value. Paramount will pay $111B...
Paramount Gains, Ellisons Burdened by Massive Debt
Who really won in Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Discovery? Plus new details on the mountain of debt awaiting the Ellisons. My debate with Bill Cohan @PuckNews ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/xl4sfxLQQD
California May Counter Warner‑Paramount Merger with Robust State Law
California legislators could hit back at the Warner-Paramount deal by passing a strong state level merger law.
Amazon MGM Begins Production on God of War Series
#AmazonMGM is full on their iconic video game adaptations era, releasing our first look at the #GodofWar streaming series, unveiling a still of #Kratos and #Atreus, to announce that production of the series based on the popular game has officially...
Netflix Rejects Warner Bros. Deal Amid Price War Concerns
Nuance and Depth are Paramount to Understanding this Story ... @crupicrupicrupi Delivers. See What I did There? Netflix Says No to Warner Bros. After Price War, Beltway Concerns: https://t.co/Yhskq9nksa via @sportico
Ellisons Pull Off Record LBO of Warner, CNN
The Ellisons nab Warner and CNN in the biggest leveraged buy-out in history. Who's going to run it? https://t.co/KOQeZ3NQTy
Warner Bros' Debt Curse Threatens Media Conglomerate Survival
If you need something to look forward to, remember that Warner Bros. is Cootie Corp. It poisons all who swallow it: Time Inc. AOL, AT&T, Discovery. The only question is how long it will take the Warner curse--and debt--to kill...
Threads Adds Rich Link Previews for Podcast Clips
🚨 NEW 🚨 Threads now supports rich link previews for podcast video clips, making it easier for creators to drive viewers from short clips to full episodes. Podcast creators can upload a video clip and add a link that directs audiences...
Washington Hasn't Demanded Station Sales for Nexstar‑TEGNA Merger
D.C. Memo: Nexstar CEO Sook – Washington Has Not Said Company Needs to Sell Stations to Close TEGNA Deal | $NXST @NXSTMediaGroup $TGNA @TEGNA https://t.co/md3Cz4tI5F
Paramount+ Can’t Recover $7.7B UFC Deal With Subscriptions
How Can Paramount+ Recoup Its $7.7 Billion UFC Bet? Subs Won’t Do It 👇https://t.co/zU9AQ6MVr4 via @sportico
CNN's Ownership Shift Signals Media's Legitimacy Crisis
Nothing uncertain about it: CNN is fucked. This is the last nail in the coffin of American mass media as a legitimate actor. For CNN, a Change in Ownership Means a Suddenly Uncertain Future https://t.co/JFGHcIaQYc
Warner Bros. Gains 78% Stock Surge After Hollywood Merger Battle
Hollywood's mega-merger battle ends with Warner Bros. as the real winner with a 78% stock bump since September - https://t.co/Ue55w8GTQk
Sarandos Missed Industry‑changing Deal, Netflix Still Ahead
I’d say yes overall, but arguments can be made to the opposite as well. In #TedSarandos case for instance, truth is that #Netflix didn’t need WB, it’s already miles ahead of everyone else even without WB. And he walks away with...
Param
As Paramount Skydance Grabs Warner Bros. and Netflix Bows Out, the Mood Inside All Three: Champagne Toasts vs. ‘Gut Punch’ https://t.co/7WOc11cdK3
Hollywood Fears Netflix vs Paramount Studio Takeover Showdown
WaxWord: For months Hollywood has been transfixed and horrified by the prospect of either Netflix or Paramount winning the day. On the one hand, the streaming service that has become the most dominant force in the entertainment industry was threatening...
Schiff Demands Independent Review of Paramount Merger
Sen. Adam Schiff: “What was true for Netflix is still true now for Paramount. The merger of two of Hollywood's biggest studios must be subject to the highest levels of scrutiny, free from White House political influence, to determine...
Zuffa Boxing Near Sky Sports UK Media Rights Deal
TKO’s Zuffa Boxing is on the precipice of a media rights deal with Sky Sports for the U.K. market. The latest news in The Varsity: https://t.co/whUqSmkk1E
Netflix Rejects Warner Bros Deal Amid Price War
Netflix Says No to Warner Bros. After Price War, Beltway Concerns 👇https://t.co/Yhskq9nksa via @sportico @crupicrupicrupi