Amazon's 'Project Hail Mary' Hits $141M Worldwide, Debut Blockbuster
Project Hail Mary opened to $80M domestic and $141M worldwide, per Amazon. Net budget a little less than $200M. Looks like this could be its first global Hollywood-style blockbuster after a decade of making original movies…. https://t.co/FNpnEsqWCB
NAB President Discusses Sports Media Policy Shifts
From retooling the Sports Broadcasting Act to the migration of NFL games to streaming—a ton of sports media stories are winding their way through D.C. these days. Which is why I asked NAB president Curtis LeGeyt to join the pod...
DIRECTV Joins Fight to Undo Nexstar‑Tegna Merger
🚨News Flash: @DIRECTV intervenes in the D.C. Circuit case in agreement with @NEWSMAX and several cable broadband associations seeking to reverse @FCC approval of the @NXSTMediaGroup-@TEGNA merger, which closed March 19. Can they really unscramble the egg? https://t.co/5CxQWIVDs9
Broadcasters and Newsmax Seek Court Block on Nexstar‑Tegna Deal
Several state broadband associations -- plus @NEWSMAX -- today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to block @NXSTMediaGroup-@TEGNA merger, which closed on March 19, 2026, the same day the $6.2 billion deal was approved by the...
ABC's Risky Bachelorette Casting Backfires Spectacularly
"WHAT were they thinking??" @marymacTV concludes that ABC thought Taylor Frankie Paul would amp up 'Bachelorette' ratings. But it was playing with fire. @latimesent https://t.co/82uO036If3
Reality TV Stars Earn Little, Not Rich Until Years Later
Reality TV “stars” aren’t getting rich early. Year 1 for new names: $0 guarantees. ~$2K–$5K per episode *only* if you make the final edit and *only* paid after it airs. Takes ~5–6 years to earn real money. No union leverage.
AI Doc Explores Apocaloptimist Future, Disney Banter
This week, I talk to producers Diane Becker and Ted Tremper about The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. (Say that three times in a row, fast.) And @mattbelloni.bsky.social and I banter Disney leadership. https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-business/stories/ai-doc-producers-disney-ceo-josh-damaro
Fox Clears Groom’s Past After Multimillionaire Show Probe
While working on Bachelorette story I went down the rabbit hole of reality casting debacles and found this oldie but goodie from 2000. Fox Says 'Multimillionaire' Show Probe Absolves It Concerning Groom's History https://t.co/gsft3sAS5x
ABC's Bachelorette Revamp with Taylor Paul Costs Millions
“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul was supposed to return an aging “Bachelorette” franchise to glory. That decision blew up on ABC and cost it tens of millions of dollars. W/@wongalum https://t.co/DilR3zuVRQ
Access Hollywood’s Axing Highlights Linear TV’s Decline
"Telling your entertainment news program that they’re gone the weekend before the Oscars is very weird," one insider told Status Hollywood correspondent Brian Lowry. Lowry details what the cancellation of "Access Hollywood" says about the state of linear television—and why Trump’s...
Nexstar's Billions Can't Stop Newsroom Cuts
This could be the least credible thing @AGomezFCC has ever said in public office, but I’ll defer to the experts: “Despite hundreds of billions in free cash flow, Nexstar recently made numerous cuts to its newsrooms nationwide.” If @NXSTMediaGroup CEO...
Nielsen Delays Viewer Snapshot Amid Gauge Controversy
Scoop: Nielsen continues to grapple with 'Gauge' rage and is delaying even further the release of the monthly viewer snapshot after streamers grew riled by reports of a downturn in their ratings... https://t.co/c5ggPzpYln via @variety
Schiff Pushes Bipartisan Federal Film Incentive to Save Hollywood Jobs
Sen. Adam Schiff Touts Federal Film Incentive to Counter Hollywood Job Losses: ‘It Needs to Be Bipartisan’ https://t.co/eHLQkdZ8QS via @variety
CBS News Cuts Highlight Profitless Retrans Model
The irony of the $PSKY CBS news cuts are that news does not drive retrans and should be sold or shuttered entirely to help fund NFL costs CBS already shuttered late night, news should be next to go - makes you...
Disney Expands Reach by Adding Sara to The View
I’m obviously not unbiased here, but good on Disney to bring on Sara/CNBC talent to The View. Helps to expand all of our worlds.
NFL Funding Forces Unpopular Cuts to Existing Programming
Making the hard, unpopular decisions that MUST be made 👏👏 @bariweiss $PSKY Paying for the NFL means a lot of existing money losing programming needs to be shuttered
Movie Industry Suffered Most From Monoculture Collapse
An in-depth look at how the death of the monoculture hit the movie industry harder than other media in today's @TVREV Week In Review. https://t.co/HcFn5mLebG
AGs and DirecTV Lawsuits Persist After Nexstar‑Tegna Merger Closed
The offices of the state AGs and DirecTV said their lawsuits seeking to block the Nexstar-Tegna merger will continue to move forward, notwithstanding Nexstar’s announcement that the deal has closed. https://t.co/2Y4mvyhfS4 via @variety
Netflix Treats K‑Pop Demon Hunters Directors Like Showrunners
Netflix is paying the KPop Demon Hunters directors like elite TV showrunners AND giving them a share of merch sales to return for a sequel. All the details ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/nO22PPaCo7
Nexstar's Leverage Risks Collapse Amid Cord‑cutting Competition
IMO: Highly leveraged @NXSTMediaGroup could be buying a melting ice cube that can’t withstand fierce competitive Big Tech vectors that result in diminished ad and retransmission consent revenue fueled by rampant cord cutting. If things like the 39% cap get...
ABC Pulls Bachelorette Promo After Taylor Frankie Paul Controversy
ABC Scrambles to Delete ‘Bachelorette’ Season 22 Promo Content Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Fallout https://t.co/GNfqNcaea9 via @variety
Nexstar‑T
D.C. Memo: @NXSTMediaGroup-@TEGNA Deal Sails Through @BrendanCarrFCC in a Speedy 121 Days; CEO Sook Makes a Few Minor Concessions But That’s It; Nexstar has two years to sell six TV stations but in the end, it might not...
New Corporate Office Brings Unexpected Challenges, Says Amaro
'Well, this was not the first thing I thought I'd have to deal with,' said Josh Amaro after settling in his new corporate office.... https://t.co/3leJgBVOff
Nexstar Completes Tegna Acquisition After FCC, DOJ Approval
Nexstar says it's closed Tegna deal. "Nexstar has closed its acquisition of TEGNA Inc. following approval of the transaction from the Federal Communications Commission and the United States Department of Justice."
DOJ, FCC Clear Tegna‑Nexstar Deal, Forming Largest Local Broadcaster
Both the DOJ and the FCC have approved the merger of Tegna and Nexstar, a deal that would create the largest owner of local stations in the US. https://t.co/BcB7uDquKX
ABC Faces Tens‑Millions Loss Without Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette
ABC Will Lose Tens of Millions of Dollars if Taylor Frankie Paul’s ‘The Bachelorette’ Doesn’t Air https://t.co/oj2XuZOd0L
Disney Pulls Bachelorette Season Amid Controversy, Backs Family
Disney statement on The Bachelorette: “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of 'The Bachelorette' at this time, and our focus is on supporting the...
Melania Docs Pulls 747k Views, Ranks Fourth
MELANIA generated 747,157 views on Prime Video in its debut week, big for a documentary but only 4th place on the Luminate streaming movies chart.
CNBC Adds 5 AM “Morning Call” Before Squawk Box
Just in: CNBC is launching "Morning Call,' a 5 AM program that will precede 'Squawk Box.' Morgan Brennan will host....
DOJ Refuses Politically‑motivated Fast‑track on Paramount‑Warner Deal
DOJ Will ‘Absolutely Not’ Fast-Track Review of Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal for Political Reasons, Antitrust Chief Says https://t.co/sQogt9Eyeq via @variety
Nexstar Refuses Station Divestitures Amid Consolidation Concerns
Nexstar has not offered to make any station divestures to try to appease states concerned about media consolidation resulting from its deal to merge with Tegna, says California AG Rob Bonta.
NY AG Warns Pay‑TV Rates Will Jump Post‑merger
NY AG Letitia James says pay-TV prices will spike if Nexstar-Tegna deal goes through because they will demand higher carriage fees and those costs ultimately get passed on to consumers.
McDonald’s Doc Shows Marketers Storytelling Beyond Ads
McDonald’s ‘Meal Ticket’ Basketball Documentary Offers Path for Marketers With Stories Too Big for Commercials https://t.co/EJVbiQi4xA via @variety
California AG Leads Multi-State Lawsuit to Block $6.2B Nexstar‑Tegna
California Attorney General Rob Bonta Files Lawsuit Seeking to Block $6.2 Billion Nexstar/Tegna Broadcasting Merger. Other states part of suit include NY, VA, CO, IL, CT and OR. https://t.co/yZIDbjQZLK
Netflix Denies Requiring Plot Recaps, Calls Claim Absurd
Netflix Execs ‘Laughed’ at Claim the Streamer Demands Movies and TV Shows Restate Plot Points for Viewers: ‘There’s No Such Principle’ https://t.co/VgOY88myNu
SNL Debuts Short-Form ‘The Rundown’ on Peacock, YouTube
‘SNL’ Launches Short-Form Series ‘The Rundown’ on Peacock & YouTube; Colin Jost Picks a Favorite Cold Open in First Episode https://t.co/AidNDfO7Dv via @variety
Disney's Data Monolith Split Tests New CEO's Resolve
Bob Iger leaves The Walt Disney Company $DIS with a giant database—or “monolith”, like the "Mad Men" episode from Season 7—at the center of its business. The newly announced reorg splits that database in two—one for streaming, one for theme parks. Nobody...
Netflix's K‑Pop Demon Hunters Tour May Feature Virtual Girls
Netflix is planning a global KPop Demon Hunters concert tour for next year. Promoters are salivating. But… who will perform as the girls? It may be entirely virtual. Scoop —> https://t.co/PDg34hVJOo
Toyota, Fox Team up to Boost Car Ads via Baywatch
Toyota and Fox hope to rev up car advertising on TV with a season-long sponsorship of Baywatch https://t.co/ZEm5Gvu2YN
New Disney CEO D'Amaro Declares Company Operating From Strength
Disney's Josh D'Amaro era begins following Bob Iger handoff. D'Amaro stresses to investors that, unlike some media co. rivals, Disney is "operating from a place of strength." w/ @smasunaga @latimes https://t.co/32Tp2humwh
Disney Remains Unique, Ready for Innovation and Growth
Alluding to Paramount's pending WBD deal, D’Amaro said “while others in our industry are consolidating just to compete, or struggling to be relevant in a fragmented and disrupted world, Disney is in a category of one," poised for "innovation and growth."...
New Disney CEO Pledges Creative Excellence as Guiding North Star
Josh D’Amaro, on His First Day as Disney CEO, Tells Employees ‘Creative Excellence Will Remain Our North Star’ https://t.co/BqHmrp80dk via @variety
Analyst Urges Disney to Ditch Linear TV Distraction
"We view linear TV as a distraction for D'Amaro and not where we, nor investors, want to see Disney allocating capital and resources," Greenfield wrote. Media analyst Rich Greenfield of Lightshed Partners, who for years implored Disney to get out of...
WME Cuts 3% Workforce, Cites Industry Upheaval
WME Laying Off 30 Staffers, 3% of Headcount, After Going Private Last Year: ‘Our Industry Is Undergoing Profound Change’ https://t.co/gUlwX6zxPb via @variety
MSNOW Reshuffles: Velshi Takes 11 A.m., Morning Joe Moves
MS NOW Shake-Up: Ali Velshi Seizes ’11th Hour,’ ‘Morning Joe’ Cedes 9 A.M., Ana Cabrera Slides in Daytime Overhaul https://t.co/e2DZ9wmvcn via @variety
Mike Foss Reveals ESPN Studio’s Future Direction
New pod: Mike Foss (@foss) - the guy who oversees all of ESPN's studio shows - dishes on McAfee, Stephen A., SVP and where everything is headed. https://t.co/qYyCGcWxrY
Oscar Viewership Has Halved in Three Decades
Amazing how many people are triggered by my dumping on Oscar ratings yet this viewership chart says it all 1996 - 45 million 2006 - 36 million 2016 - 34 million 2026 - 18 million
Oscars Lose Nearly 2 Million Viewers, Predictions Miss
Oscars down almost 2m viewers from last year. Lots of What I’m Hearing readers wildly overshot in their guesses and will not be getting a stylish Puck hat… https://t.co/erwld2eQNM
CBS Evening News Falls Below 4M Viewers, Sparks Alarm
Suddenly, “CBS Evening News” is back where executives at the news division behind the show hoped never to return --- the show captured under 4M viewers last week, a level that spurred alarm when the program was under John Dickerson...
DIRECTV Slashes MySports Pack to $45/Month
DIRECTV's MySports Genre Pack is $45/month for 2 months. Everything you need for March Madness. Notice in the graphic the $64.99/month regular price is crossed out -- that used to be $69.99 for the same plan. First time I saw...