Fox’s Lachlan Murdoch Expects Regulators to Put Conditions on Paramount-WBD Merger
Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch warned that U.S. regulators will likely attach a third‑party content‑licensing condition to the $110 billion Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger. He also noted that CNN, under David Ellison, will continue to challenge Fox News as a strong competitor. Murdoch reiterated Fox’s preference for targeted, non‑scale‑driven acquisitions, citing recent podcast deals and the success of its Fox One streaming service. The executive highlighted the firm’s solid NFL rights position and confidence in sustaining subscription‑price growth.
Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers to Receive Special Honors at 2026 GLAAD Awards
Creator Quinta Brunson, SNL alum Bowen Yang, and comedian Matt Rogers will be honored at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards. Brunson receives the GLAAD Vanguard Award, while Yang and Rogers share the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for elevating LGBTQ visibility....
SAG-AFTRA Chief Says Union Will Render Verdict on Warner Bros. Sale to Paramount ‘When the Time Is Right’ | Video
SAG-AFTRA executive director Duncan Crabtree‑Ireland told TheWrap the union is still evaluating Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and will issue a formal verdict when the timing is right. The union’s media and labor‑economics team has been crunching data on each offer...
Where to Watch the 2026 NAACP Image Awards
The 57th NAACP Image Awards return to Pasadena’s Civic Auditorium on Feb. 28, airing live on BET and simulcast on CBS and multiple Paramount networks. Two new categories—Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Literary Work — Journalism—expand recognition to technical craft and socially conscious reporting....
Stephen Colbert Taunts Trump Over State of the Union Ratings After His Own Go Up 7% | Video
Stephen Colbert used his Thursday monologue on "The Late Show" to mock President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, noting the speech’s 11% drop in Nielsen viewership to 32.6 million. Colbert highlighted his own program’s ratings surge, claiming a 7%...
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Caterina Scorsone Sounds Off on Amelia’s Season 22 Sabbatical and Her New Love Interest
Caterina Scorsone explained Amelia Shepherd’s return to Grey's Anatomy after a seven‑episode sabbatical sparked fan excitement and highlighted the character’s mental‑health struggles following a traumatic season‑21 climax. The actress revealed that Amelia’s break was both narrative‑driven and a response to...
Paramount-WBD Pact Is ‘Not a Done Deal,’ California AG Teases ‘Vigorous’ Investigation
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that the Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery merger is not finalized, citing an open state investigation. Paramount’s $31‑per‑share offer has been deemed superior, prompting Netflix to step aside. Regulators must still clear the deal amid concerns...
Netflix Unscripted Live Events Head Sahara Bushue Exits
Netflix’s unscripted live events division is undergoing a leadership change as Sahara Bushue, the director of unscripted series, has left the company. Bushue was responsible for recent projects such as the Star Search reboot, Rhythm & Flow, and Building the...
Media Needs ‘Self-Critical Reflection’ After Years of Negative Trump Coverage, Axel Springer CEO Says
Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner urged media outlets to conduct a self‑critical reflection after repeatedly misreading Donald Trump’s electoral appeal, calling the coverage predictable and polarising. Speaking at Semafor’s “Restoring Trust in Media” summit, he highlighted the need for curiosity‑driven...
Ex-BBC News CEO Denies Anti-Trump Bias Amid $10 Billion Suit
Former BBC News CEO Deborah Turness acknowledged that a Trump‑focused Panorama documentary failed editorial standards, yet she rejected claims of institutional anti‑Trump bias. The documentary’s edit prompted President Donald Trump to file a $10 billion defamation suit against the BBC, which...
PMK Names Leah Sparkes VP, Ulisses Rivera Joins as Senior Account Director
PMK Entertainment announced two senior hires: Leah Sparkes as Vice President of Television, Film and Premium Content, and Ulisses Rivera as Senior Account Director in its Strategic Communications Group. Sparkes arrives with more than two decades of high‑profile publicity experience...
Brendan Carr Blasts ‘Out of Touch’ Media, Declares ‘This Isn’t Reagan’s FCC’
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr used a Semafor media summit to defend his leadership, labeling mainstream news outlets as "drastically out of touch" with the American public. He rejected comparisons to Ronald Reagan’s FCC, insisting his approach is a...
Washington Post Editor Confronts ‘Human Cost’ of Layoffs, Says Jeff Bezos Is Committed to Paper
Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray acknowledged the "human cost" of this month’s layoffs, which saw more than 300 staffers cut, but framed the reductions as essential to stabilize finances and return the paper to break‑even. He emphasized owner Jeff...
Showrunner Mara Brock Akil Sets Debut Novel ‘The Revelation of Dionne Daphne’
Veteran showrunner Mara Brock Akil is publishing her first novel, “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne,” on June 30, 2026 through Storehouse Voices, a Crown Publishing imprint. The story follows Dionne, a 30‑something NYC beauty editor whose seemingly perfect life unravels...
Film Independent Unveils 6 Recipients of 5th Annual Amplifier Fellowship | Exclusive
Film Independent announced the six recipients of its fifth‑annual Amplifier Fellowship, each awarded a $30,000 unrestricted grant and a 12‑month mentorship program. The cohort—Akil Rashad Anderson, Aurora Brachman, Claire Brooks, A. Sayeeda Moreno, Philip Thompson and Thanh Tran—covers both fiction...
Disney+ Taps Daniel Burman as Latin America Original Content Head
Disney+ has appointed Argentine filmmaker Daniel Burman as head of original content for Latin America, starting March 25. Burman will lead creative development, talent cultivation, and integrate Latin American storytelling into Disney’s global portfolio. He brings experience from founding Oficina...
Politico Expands to Australia With ‘Playbook’ Newsletter
Politico announced it will launch a Canberra‑based edition of its flagship “Playbook” newsletter in the third quarter of 2026, marking the outlet’s first foray into the Australian market. The company rehired Ryan Heath as Australia Launch Editor to lead the effort...
‘The View’ Hosts ‘Take Offense’ to BAFTAs Editing Out ‘Free Palestine’ But Not the N-Word: ‘Should’ve Been a Knee-Jerk Reaction’
The View’s panel condemned BAFTA and the BBC for allowing an audible N‑word slur, uttered by a Tourette’s audience member, to remain in the live broadcast while a pro‑Palestine speech was edited out. The hosts argued that an immediate apology...
Retiring Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob to Be Honored at CinemaCon
Ellis Jacob, who has steered Canada’s Cineplex for 23 years, will receive Cinema United’s Legend of Cinema Award at CinemaCon in April. Under his leadership, Cineplex grew into the fourth‑largest theater chain in North America. Jacob also chaired Cinema United’s...
Cinemark Q4 Revenue Slips 5% Year Over Year Despite ‘Zootopia 2,’ ‘Avatar 3’ Box Office
Cinemark reported fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue of $776 million, a 5% year‑over‑year decline despite the strong box‑office draw of “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar Fire and Ash.” Attendance fell 13% to 44.3 million, and earnings per share slipped to 16 cents, missing analyst expectations. Concession sales dropped to $302.4 million,...
How Warner Bros. Could Supercharge Netflix’s Advertising Business | Analysis
Netflix’s potential acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO Max could dramatically accelerate its fledgling advertising business. By adding Warner Bros.’ premium library, Netflix would expand ad inventory and attract higher‑value advertisers, pushing its ad‑supported revenue toward a $9 billion target by...
CinemaCon Adds Panel Showcasing Angel, Row K and StudioCanal Slates
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...
