Ted Sarandos Says Failed Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hardened Netflix’s M&A Muscles
Netflix co‑CEO Ted Sarandos said the company’s $82.7 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery taught Netflix to prioritize investment discipline over ego. After Paramount Skydance secured the assets for roughly $111 billion, Netflix walked away and collected a $2.8 billion termination fee. Sarandos highlighted that the experience sharpened Netflix’s merger‑and‑acquisition muscle and early‑integration know‑how.
Paramount Boss Promises 45-Day Theatrical, 90-Day TVOD Before Streaming Windows
Paramount CEO David Ellison announced a new release strategy that guarantees a 45‑day theatrical window followed by a 90‑day transactional video‑on‑demand (TVOD) period before films move to Paramount+. The pledge comes as the studio pushes for industry backing of its...
HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Premiere Episode Generates 8.5 Million Views in 72 Hours, Up 44% From Season 2 Debut
The season‑three premiere of HBO’s teen drama "Euphoria" attracted 8.5 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max within the first 72 hours, a 44% jump over the Season 2 debut. The episode also propelled the series to the No. 1 spot on Max worldwide,...
This Week’s MPN Video Podcast: Why Live Sports Streaming Still Breaks — And How to Fix It
The Media Play News podcast hosted by David Bloom and Daniel Frankel featured NetSkrt CEO Sig Luft discussing why live‑sports streaming continues to falter. Luft highlighted persistent CDN bottlenecks, edge‑delivery constraints, and latency issues that jeopardize viewer experience and real‑time...
StreamTV Europe: FAST Channel Operators Advised to Keep It Local
At the StreamTV Europe forum, leading FAST operators—including Samsung TV Plus, TCL, Your Channels, and France 24—emphasized that European success hinges on localized content. Panels highlighted that dubbing, subtitles, and region‑specific genres drive higher engagement than generic feeds. Real‑world cases such as...
CinemaCon 2026: Social Media Can Help Movie Theaters, Not Hurt Them
Cinema United and TikTok unveiled a report at CinemaCon showing that TikTok activity drives theater attendance, not the opposite. Analyzing four diverse releases—*The Housemaid*, *Sinners*, *Wicked: For Good* and *Zootopia 2*—the study found week‑over‑week TikTok engagement rose in lockstep with box‑office...
Second LA Vertical Drama Market to Take Place May 7-10
The LA Vertical Drama Market (LAVDM) will convene in Hollywood from May 7‑10, 2026, marking its second edition. The event expands its slate to more than 50 industry speakers, eight vertical labs, ten expert panels, and a series of VIP gatherings....
Neon Bows Horror Movie ‘Alpha’ on Digital Retail Platforms, on Disc June 23
Neon Bows began offering the indie horror film Alpha for rental and purchase on digital platforms on April 14, 2026. The movie will arrive on Blu‑ray on June 23, distributed by Alliance Home Entertainment, and will feature an interview with...
Netflix: Sony Pictures’ Actioner ‘Thrash’ Tops Weekly Streaming Through April 12
Netflix’s latest Sony Pictures original, the disaster‑action film Thrash, topped the weekly streaming chart through April 12 with 37.7 million views, outpacing the next three #1 titles by roughly 60 percent. The Adam McKay‑produced movie led both the overall and English‑language movie rankings, while the...
Theater Chief Blasts Paramount-WBD Merger, Calls for Longer Windows
Michael O’Leary, chief of Cinema United, used his CinemaCon address to slam the proposed Paramount‑Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, warning that further consolidation would concentrate power and hurt exhibitors and consumers. He highlighted that the average theatrical window for...
‘Zootopia 2’ Leads March Disc Sales, Though ‘Wicked: For Good’ Remains No. 1 for 2026
Disney’s *Zootopia 2* claimed the No. 1 spot on March 2026 physical‑media sales, topping the chart for three of the four weeks it was on shelves. The sequel’s strong debut helped Disney overtake other releases, while Universal’s *Wicked: For Good* retained the year‑to‑date...
Doc ‘Spring of the Vanishing’ Available Digitally April 14 From Virgil Films
The documentary *Spring of the Vanishing* will be available for rent or purchase digitally on April 14 through Virgil Films. Directed by Emmy‑winner Andrew Glazer, the film follows the 2018 disappearance of 18‑year‑old Jorge Domínguez in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and his...
StreamTV Europe: As Fragmention Grows, the TV OS Takes Control
At StreamTV Europe in Lisbon, industry leaders declared TV operating systems the new gatekeepers of content discovery, user engagement, and advertising as streaming continues to fragment. Panels highlighted how OS providers such as Roku, V, Whale TV, and Google TV...
‘Greenland 2’ Settles Into Top Spot on Disc Sales Charts
Lionsgate’s sequel *Greenland 2: Migration* debuted at No. 1 on the Circana VideoScan chart, leading overall disc sales for the week ending April 4, 2026. The title generated $17.8 million at the domestic box office and saw HD formats account for 47% of its...
Nickelodeon Animation Studios Now Operates Under CBS Studios Umbrella
Nickelodeon Animation Studios has been transferred to the CBS Studios business unit, marking the second major studio migration after BET Studios. The move is part of a broader consolidation effort led by George Cheeks, chair of TV media at Paramount Skydance....
