Wuthering Heights Earns $200M, Modest Profit for Warner
Wuthering Heights just hit $200 million at the worldwide box office. A good number for a period drama, but the movie cost Warners about $85 million, so still not a big moneymaker for the studio.
Merger News Drives Entertainment Earnings Conversation
What’s News in Earnings: Merger News Dominates the Entertainment Business -- @benfritz and I discuss quarterly results and challenges ahead. https://t.co/sZopc3Z4Bf
Gen‑AI Video Tools Should Prioritize Quality over Speed
Elizabeth Stone, Netflix's chief product & technology officer, said most gen-AI video platforms don’t operate from a filmmaker's perspective. She said InterPositive's tools are designed to help produce higher-quality content — not make it faster or cheaper https://t.co/w8xyM2pXhz
Netflix Shares InterPositive AI with Partners, Not Public
Netflix will offer access to InterPositive’s AI-powered tech to its creative partners and does not have plans to sell it commercially in the marketplace https://t.co/w8xyM2pXhz via @variety
75k AMA Equals TV Viewership
While a massive number, it’s not actually. If my math is right, it’s about 75k AMA which approximates TV viewership. Global yet significantly smaller than SC. Love to know what percent is US and by sport. Regardless, YT is destination...
TNT Secures Exclusive U.S. FIBA Rights Amid Merger Uncertainty
This is exactly the type of deal I discuss in today's newsletter ... will a Paramount/WBD merged company do these smaller sports rights deals anymore? The calculus will definitely change for TNT ... https://t.co/DvKzUkqcDr
Paramount CEO Pledges Unwavering Focus on Truth and Trust
When asks about plans for CNN, Paramount CEO David Ellison tells CNBC that we want to be in the truth business, we want to be in the trust business and that’s not going to change.
Hollywood Execs Prioritize Cost Cuts over Creative Talent
After Hollywood turned on David Zaslav for being too much of a bean counter/financier, I’m sure The Town will appreciate David Ellison’s answer to being asked how many layoffs are coming w/ merging w/ WBD: “We absolutely need to rationalize the...
CBS Morning Show Embraces Soft Segments After Years of Resistance
CBS' morning show has for years taken pride in its resistance to the softer side of AM news, like cooking segments and lifestyle reporting. But now the program is poised to reverse its stance.... https://t.co/b2KevEZz2g via @variety
CBS This Morning Shifts to Lifestyle, EP Shawna Thomas Departs
More shake-ups at 'CBS This Morning,' where EP Shawna Thomas will leave as the program gets set to pursue some of the lifestyle and soft-news content it previously avoided.... https://t.co/b2KevEZz2g via @variety
Merger Threats Undermine TNT Sports Strategy and Leadership
This week’s CNBC Sport newsletter is out: *Why TNT Sports’ strategy no longer makes sense if WBD & Paramount come together *Jeff Shell’s future up in the air *There will be no David Ellison/David Zaslav “men in blazers” photo on the...
CBS Postpones JD Vance Town Hall Indefinitely
New: The CBS News town hall with @JDVance, which had been slated to air on March 14, has been postponed indefinitely.
Netflix Gains $2.8B After Dropping Warner Deal
Netflix, After Walking Away From Warner Bros. Deal, Will ‘Move Forward’ With ‘$2.8 Billion in Our Pocket That We Didn’t Have a Few Weeks Ago,’ CFO Says https://t.co/ztTl2wiPxD via @variety
Netflix CFO Dismisses Full-Season NFL Rights, Eyes Warner
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann throws some cold water on idea of wanting full season rights to a sport such as NFL. Of course they also said not interested in big deals before going after Warner so....
Netflix CFO Declares Company Pro‑human Amid AI Push
"We're also pro-human." - Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann at Morgan Stanley conference while talking about importance of AI.
Netflix CFO Confident Regulatory Approval for Warner Acquisition
"We had high confidence" of getting through regulatory, says Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann on pursuit of Warner's studios and streaming operations.
Netflix CFO Says Company Remains Small, Poised for Organic Growth
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann says at Morgan Stanley conference that the streaming company "is small" with a runway for organic growth.
NFL's Free Over‑Air Access Sparks Broadcast TV Backlash
Why is the @NFL, the Most Broadcast Friendly League, Under Attack by Broadcast TV Advocates? "the overwhelming majority of NFL games ARE ON broadcast and, more importantly, EVERY single NFL game is available over-the-air in each team’s local market [for free]" $CMCSA...
Arbitrators Issue Stark Rebuke to CAA Leadership
A pretty stunning rebuke of the CAA leadership by the arbitrators overseeing its fight with defectors who started Range Media. Details via @eriqgardner ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/BXxjGwkXt1
Trump Poised to Acquire Media Stakes via Netflix Debt
Did not have President Trump buying Netflix debt on my bingo card. How long until he is taking direct stakes in the media business? Remember Jared's Affinity Partners "pulled out" of part the Paramount investor group in December. $PSKY $WBD...
Josh Elliott Poised to Join CBS Mornings Lineup
Status Scoop: Former “GMA” host Josh Elliott has eyed as a possible new host on “CBS Mornings.” I’m told in the coming weeks, several special guests will be rotating on the show, and Josh will likely be one of those...
Ellisons Move First as AI Copyright Remains Uncertain
March 2nd, 2026 was a big day for AI and media. The Supreme Court refused to say whether AI can own a copyright. Paramount $PSKY told investors that merging its tech stack is priority number one in a $101 billion...
Gayle King, Nate Burleson Remain on CBS Mornings Amid Revamp
Gayle King, Nate Burleson will stay with CBS Mornings even as CBS News readies strategy to make the AM program more competitive.... https://t.co/7qgPNWm3pG via @variety
HBO Reached 54 Million Domestic Subscribers in 2017
Time Warner FY17 10-K: "At December 31, 2017, Home Box Office had approximately 54 million domestic subscribers, including subscribers to HBO NOW and through Home Box Office’s digital distribution partners." https://t.co/4lw2HM9qU0
Wall Street View: NFL Media Deals Unpacked by Guggenheim
New pod: Guggenheim's Michael Morris breaks down the NFL's upcoming media deals from a Wall St. perspective. https://t.co/0ipMqZmiL8
ESPN's Women's Sports Sundays Expose Legacy Media's Limits
ESPN’s ‘Women’s Sports Sundays’ Show the Limits of Legacy Media - Guest OpEd from @HaleyRosen 👇 https://t.co/aqNy6s6WqT via @sportico
All3Media Merger Unites “The Traitors,” “MasterChef,” “Peaky Bl
Banijay’s Marco Bassetti and Jeff Zucker on the Surprise All3Media Merger That Puts ‘The Traitors,’ ‘MasterChef’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ Under the Same Roof https://t.co/zM40xh5TTV via @variety
Paramount/WBD Deal Likely Survives, Lawsuit Threat Looms
Antitrust experts don't see Paramount/WBD deal getting blocked by DOJ or abroad, but any lengthy probes abroad could buy state AGs time to assemble a lawsuit — Will they have a legit enough antitrust case to win in court? Uphill battle. @axios https://t.co/czZPajmweE
Versant's CNBC Use Governed by Five-Year Comcast License
Things I Did Not Know About Versant, Chapter 1: 'Our use of the CNBC brand is subject to a trademark license agreement with Comcast that provides an initial term of five years, which may be extended'
Axios Media Trends Returns with Key Media and Politics Updates
@Axios Media Trends is back after a brief break 👶🍼 Today's edition: — 🍿Scoop: Sarandos never met w Trump or any WH officials last week — ⚖️Paramount regulatory next steps — 📢Midterm messaging mapped — 📺Jeff Zucker intv. on his next big bet Subscribe: https://t.co/d8VFQJHDMm
NFL Boosts Rights Revenue Without Dropping Current Partners
The NFL will generate more money from its rights, without replacing existing partners. $FOXA $PSKY $DIS $CMCSA $AMZN The LightShed Podcast, Ep. 303. With @BrandoLightShed and @WaltLightShed https://t.co/87a3KpxJEZ
JFK’s Sports Law Faces Scrutiny in Streaming Era
Will anyone dare call it Bay of Pigskin? JFK’s endorsement of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, an @NFL-friendly antitrust law, is coming back to haunt the New Frontier in the age of @Netflix, @Peacock, @YouTubeTV, and @Amazon @PrimeVideo. @BasedMikeLee,...
Banijay and All3Media Merge Into Multi‑billion‑dollar Powerhouse
Banijay and All3Media Strike Merger Deal to Form Multi-Billion Dollar Production Group https://t.co/S2DGE01t3X via @variety
Skeptical of GOT Movie Rumors; Owners May Greenlight It
On the #GameOfThrones movie news: be wary of any development reports not accompanied by a studio quote. That said, given the incoming ownership's hunger for franchise IP, I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually happens.
Fitch Downgrades Paramount‑Skydance Debt to Junk After WBD Deal
Paramount Skydance Debt Downgraded to Junk Status by Fitch Ratings Following Warner Bros. Discovery Deal https://t.co/bBiUN3grT5 via @variety
Versant Aims to Acquire Top‑earning Media Properties
Versant, the newest company in the media sector, is getting ready to tackle some of the most lucrative properties in the business..... https://t.co/Hf3JAskeC5 via @variety
Versant Eyes Major Sports Rights Amid NFL Opt-Out
Versant Sees Chance to Snatch Big Sports Rights as NFL Opt-Out Looms https://t.co/Hf3JAskeC5 via @variety
Murdoch: Ellison‑Backed CNN Will Challenge Fox, Yet News Is Tough
How would he know about running news? Lachlan Murdoch Says Ellison-Backed CNN Will Be “Strong Competitor” Of Fox News, But “Running News Is Hard” https://t.co/E0JCNrMqTL
Arab Sovereign Funding Spurs Soft Power Concerns in $110B Deal
Paramount’s $110 Billion Warner Bros. Deal Backed by Arab Sovereign Funds Raises Soft Power Concerns https://t.co/YAzJc52Fgq
S&P Puts PSKY Ratings on CreditWatch, Negative Outlook
Just in: S&P Global Ratings placed all its ratings on global diversified media company PSKY, including the 'BB+' issuer credit rating and our issue-level ratings on its debt, on CreditWatch with negative implications
Legacy Media Mindset Doomed; Ellisons Get Digital Right
Consistently and without fail, the biggest mistake former TV and studio executives make is retrofitting legacy media economics into digital media models. The Ellisons aren’t building a legacy media conglomerate. They understand the tech and more importantly the new medium...
Versant Investor Call Launches with CEO Lazarus, CFO Kini
Versant investor call is about to begin CEO Mark Lazarus and CFO/COO Anand Kini are on the call.... $VSNT
Optimum CEO Urges FCC to Break up Local Media Triopolies
D.C. Memo: @Optimum CEO Pitches @FCC Chairman @BrendanCarrFCC on @NXSTMediaGroup/@TEGNA Merger Conditions. Dennis Mathew urges FCC leader to require 'divestiture of Big-4 triopolies in a local market' $NXST $TGNA | https://t.co/aAaKQ9Pivw
Paramount's 25% CW Stake Equals CBS and Warner Combined
Fun fact: Paramount will now own 25% of the CW Network. CBS and Warner each held 12.5% stakes so...25%.
Legacy Streamers Stuck on Repackaged Old Content
This is the problem with all legacy media streaming services - will be fascinating to see if David Ellison & team can change this narrative at $PSKY
Mass Media and Tech Layoffs Threaten Economic Stability
Genuine q as I’m no economist: seems like plenty more media/tech layoffs incoming — Paramount/WBD, big tech w/AI, decline of trad media, etc — so an abundance of well paid people fighting for no jobs in markets that don’t want...
RedBird Reshapes Streaming Landscape with Major Studio Deals
Friday: RedBird helps Paramount pry Warner Bros. away from Netflix. Monday: RedBird helps Artists Equity ink major streaming deal with Netflix.
Land Your Music on TV Shows Like Selling Sunset
Getting Your Music Placed in TV Shows Like; Selling Sunset, Holiday Wars 📺 This is what you do ↴
Netflix's First Big Theatrical Release Tests Fantasy Revival
I'm excited for @netflix's #Narnia movie for three reasons. 1. It's the streamer's biggest theatrical step 2. It will test franchise IP reactivation/fantasy hunger 3. I love Greta Gerwig See how the film is tracking and what it means for the industry. https://t.co/xij6SmW3BX
Paramount Poised to Outshine Warner Bros Discovery
Tale of Two Slide: Can Paramount Suceeed where Warner Bros Discovery Failed? Today: (Top) — $PSKY + $WBD 2021: (Bottom) — WarnerMedia+Discovery https://t.co/qQblRU5byq https://t.co/nR1QFgHVJU