WGA Warns Warner‑Paramount Merger Would Be Disastrous
WGA statement on Warner shareholders approving Paramount deal: The proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery would be a disaster for writers, the entertainment industry, consumers, and the country. While shareholders approved this deal today, this merger is far from final. This proposed acquisition is exactly what our nation’s antitrust laws are designed to prevent. We are confident California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his fellow State Attorneys General will investigate this transaction fully and follow the law.
Ari Emanuel's 2025 CEO Pay Soars to $67.4M
Ari Emanuel’s Pay Package as CEO of TKO Group Jumps to $67.4 Million in 2025 https://t.co/WHbgJ250rc
HBO to Produce Six‑Episode Series on Vrabel‑Russini Sc
Just waiting for the release to hit my inbox that HBO is developing a six episode limited series on the Vrabel-Russini scandal from the DTF ST. LOUIS creators
Paramount Merger Wins Overwhelming Shareholder Approval
WBD shareholder vote tally on Paramount merger: * For: 1.743 billion shares * Against: 16.3 million shares * Abstain: 2.37 million shares https://t.co/SuUqxaA7dz via @variety
Investors Reject $888M Zaslav Parachute; Board Still Pays
This just in. Warner Bros. Discovery investors cast votes representing 1.4 billion shares AGAINST David Zaslav's golden parachute, that could cost the company $888 million. The board has indicated it will pay him the money, regardless of the...
Fewer Emmy Submissions May Elevate Dark‑horse Shows
With Emmy Submissions Likely to Drop Again, Smaller Field Could Boost Dark Horse Series and Performers https://t.co/VCyRIf470u via @variety
Broadcast Networks Should Prioritize NFL Over Entertainment?
Should Broadcast Networks Scrap Entertainment Programming? Broadcast TV = Sports or More Specifically @NFL 🏈🏈🏈 https://t.co/QGAFvtVgGb
ABC Overtakes ESPN for MNF, but ESPN Dominates Draft
Monday Night Football is now viewed more on ABC than on ESPN, but viewers still choose to tune in to ESPN for their #NFLdraft coverage. Holla @andrewelkadi for the #mediarights insights.
Final Season of The Chi Debuts May 22
The eighth and final season of #TheChi will premiere on Friday, May 22 on #ParamountPlus. The 10-episode season will have weekly episode drops. #streaming $PSKY
TBPN Trades On‑air Promos for $800K Ad Inventory
TBPN has a barter deal with AdQuick, the out-of-home advertising partner on the campaign, in which the show is giving AdQuick on-air promotion in exchange for the ad inventory (valued at $800,000) https://t.co/Foc8OdkVwf via @variety
Hollywood Stars Rally Against Paramount‑Warner Merger, 4,000 Sign
Hollywood Petition to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Tops 4,000 Names as Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola, Holly Hunter and More Join the Fight https://t.co/MUBlyV48X0 via @variety
DOJ Shifts Sports Broadcasting Act Probe to Vegas
DOJ probe into Sports Broadcasting Act moved to Vegas this week as officials met with TV station operators at NAB convention to discuss sports TV marketplace and the SBA. W/@DanaMattioli https://t.co/1oyi55NoJX via @WSJ
Sports Powers TV
Front Office Sports Takes Big TV Swing With Daily Syndicated Show: Sports Is ‘What’s Really Driving Broadcast Television These Days,’ Jeff Zucker Says (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/zk3rdR1f4P via @variety
Warren: Paramount‑Warner Merger Still Faces Antitrust Battle
"The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger isn't a done deal," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said after the shareholder vote. "State attorneys general across the country are stepping up to stop this antitrust disaster. We need to keep up this fight." https://t.co/SuUqxaA7dz
Warner Bros Shareholders Approve $111B Paramount Takeover Despite Backlash
News: Warner Bros. shareholders overwhelmingly approve controversial $111-billion Paramount takeover amid growing opposition in Hollywood and beyond. https://t.co/iHnN5ov2ML
Fonda Warns Warner‑Paramount Merger Threatens Media Diversity
Jane Fonda on WBD-Paramount shareholder vote: "Today’s decision by Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to advance a merger with Paramount is a serious setback — for our industry, for the workers who sustain it, for consumers, and for the fundamental democratic values...
Warner Discovery Shareholders Overwhelmingly Back Paramount Merger
Warner Discovery stockholders overwhelmingly approve sale to Paramount, WBD says. "Based on the preliminary vote count from today's Special Meeting, WBD stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the adoption of the merger agreement with Paramount."
ESPN, NFL Network Still Won’t Leak Draft Picks
It has become an annual thing but once again on the record: ESPN and NFL Network front-facing reporters will not tip picks (if they find out early) on social during the first round of the Draft.
Warner Bros. Discovery's Shareholder Meeting Ends in Ten Minutes
The Warner Bros. Discovery shareholder meeting lasted all of 10 minutes, not including the terrible on-hold music that preceded the 10 a.m. ET start time https://t.co/SuUqxaA7dz via @variety
Shareholders Back Paramount Deal, Reject Exec Payouts
Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Paramount’s Megadeal, but Vote Against Exit Pay Packages for Zaslav and Other Execs https://t.co/SuUqxaA7dz via @variety
Connor Tomlinson Launches Video Podcast with PAVE Studios
Connor Tomlinson to Launch Video Podcast in First Project After Leaving 'Love on the Spectrum,' Part of PAVE Studios' New Slate of History Shows https://t.co/ItoPFViZDr via @Variety
OpenAI's TBPN Launches Emmy FYC Campaign
TBPN, the Tech-Bro Show Now Owned by OpenAI, Is Launching an Emmys FYC Campaign https://t.co/Foc8OdkVwf via @variety
Pittsburgh's Film Trail
TV Talk: Film locations trail debuts along with Pittsburgh entertainment industry timeline in windows Downtown + director talks filming thriller #BasicPsych locally + #ThePitt finale rates, via @TribLIVE - https://t.co/u47BLYMGhI https://t.co/ojnhL59Xry
Nashville Media Market Climbs, NBA Eyes Grizzlies Relocation
Nashville definitely on the rise as a media market. Currently ranks No. 25 overall in the U.S.. It was No. 30 five years ago. Memphis is the No. 51 media market. Five years ago, was No. 53
Peacock Gains 2 Million Subscribers Yet Remains Unprofitable
With February's Super Bowl/Olympics/NBA All-Star Game run, Peacock added 2 million subscribers to 46 million total. It's still losing money. (charts via @THR) https://t.co/bkeeUKzYCy
Gulf States Seek Influence Through Media Consolidation Deal
The question is what the Gulf states want from a deal that will put two Hollywood studios and two news networks — CNN and CBS — under one roof. https://t.co/NsWJ7L7DEr
Peacock's Revenue Surge Paired with Rising Losses
So Peacock reported revenues doubled in the quarter parent Comcast had the Super Bowl, Winter OLY and NBA all star game, but so did losses. Comcast shares trading up in preopen, but my question is when will Peacock reach profitability?...
Lawmakers Push Streaming, Privacy, and Age‑verification Reforms
Policyband Headlines ■ Ohio Democrat Ready to Regulate TV Sports on Streaming Platforms ■ @Comcast Lost 65,000 Broadband Sub But Added 435,000 Wireless Lines In Q1 ■ @FCC Grants John Malone Legal Control of @GCIAK Liberty Despite Owning Less than 7% of...
Goodell Joins Disney's Push for 2027 Super Bowl
Now even NFL boss Roger Goodell is getting in on Disney's months-long bid to promote the 2027 Super Bowl (of course, the NFL is now a 10% owner of Disney's ESPN).... https://t.co/Bs6iVSzFJI via @variety
Peacock Adds Subscribers, Revenue up, Losses Widen
Peacock gained 2M subs to reach 46 million in Q1. Peacock nearly doubled revenue to $2.1 billion, while its quarterly operating loss doubled to $432 million https://t.co/ZtG8X95Lrf
Comcast Earns $2.2B From Events, yet Q1 Profit Falls
Comcast Generates an Extra $2.2 Billion From Olympics, Super Bowl, But Sees Q1 Profit Slip https://t.co/ZtG8X95Lrf
Netflix Launches $25 B Buyback to Lift Share Price
Netflix Authorizes $25 Billion Stock Buyback in Bid to Boost Share Price https://t.co/COT0WpNmfh via @variety
Hastings' Board Exit May Signal Confidence in Netflix
Does Reed Hastings stepping down from Netflix board signal confidence? $NFLX The LightShed Podcast, Ep. 310. With @BrandoLightShed and @WaltLightShed https://t.co/pD4lVXS0q3
Wondery Podcast Service Ends After May 21
Wondery has a closing date: The podcast app and service will shut down after May 21.
A24 to Adapt Nick Brucker’s White Smoke with Cumberbatch
EXCLU: Even though the book doesn’t drop till 2027, A24 has optioned rights for Nick Brucker’s next novel WHITE SMOKE with plans to adapt into a TV series with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to star and produce https://t.co/3e8OOt4Dx4
Spurs‑Blazers Opener Draws 5.7 Million Viewers
Strong 5.7 million viewers for Game 1 of Spurs-Trail Blazers first round series on NBC on Sunday night (1 million of those on Peacock's stream). Hopefully Wembanyama comes back soon from that concussion.
Lobbyists Absurdly Doubt Small Streamers' NFL Bidding Power
See this a lot in D.C. lobbying, where advocates test the limits of an argument to an absurd degree: Is the @NFL seriously saying to @FCC Chief of Staff @Watson__Greg that @philoTV, @AMC_TV and @Crackle_TV (owned by Chicken Soup for...
Losing Goodell’s Antitrust Immunity Could Spark NFL Chaos
In an April 17 meeting with @FCC staff, @NFL General Counsel Ted Ullyot came armed with a 17-page slide deck. This page is a visualization of the alleged ensuing chaos if @nflcommish Roger Goodell lost his antitrust immunity in the...
Gulf States Eye Takeover of CBS and CNN
Three Gulf States are about to claim ownership of companies that own CBS and CNN. Who are they exactly and what do they want? I went looking. Latest for @TheAnkler https://t.co/PtldZMTkBC
NHL Hits Highest U.S. Regular-Season Ratings in 14 Years
The @NHL scored its best regular-season viewership in the U.S. in 14 seasons....that dates back to 2012-13, according to my colleague @AustinKarp. That also makes it the best under the current rights deals with ESPN and TNT. https://t.co/OpvNt1craU
Parents Demand Transparency as FCC Reviews Kids TV Ratings
Years ago, Congress passed a law that empowers parents to decide the types of TV programs that are appropriate for their kids by standing up a TV show ratings system. But recently, parents have raised concerns with the industry’s approach—including with...
FAST Complements, but Won’t Replace Paywalled Live Sports
There’s nuance to “FAST’s booming popularity” and live sports economics IMHO — so let’s summarize the nuances before unpacking them further below: • FAST is best understood today as a complementary distribution and monetization layer, but not a replacement for premium...
TV Q&A: VSeeBox, NCIS Ratings, Verizon Fees
TV Q&A: What’s the deal with the vSeeBox? How do the #ncis shows compare ratings-wise? Why was @Verizon attempting to charge for on demand shows that should be free? Via @TribLIVE https://t.co/SOn4JNF5sH https://t.co/xcHphXlwft
DOJ Probes Sports Streaming Pricing Competition and Bidding
Antitrust attorney Charlie Beller hints at what DOJ is looking at in its probe of sports moving to streaming. "The key antitrust question is whether the process by which those prices are set remains competitive. Are multiple parties able to...
NFL Takes Fight to FCC Over Sports Streaming
As federal regulators scrutinize the migration of sports to streaming, the NFL is going on the offensive. Top execs make trip to DC for meeting with senior FCC staffers. https://t.co/8qAgNq0k3L
Government Blocks TV Reform, Risking Bankruptcy and Limited News
Exactly: if American government will not let the private sector rationalize the local TV station industry, it’s just a matter of time before a bankruptcy judge does it. And then we’re left with no newspapers and a feeble lifeline BBC-like...
Trump Media Appoints Former Hulu Exec Kevin McGurn Interim CEO
Trump’s Media Company Hires Kevin McGurn, Former Hulu and Vevo Exec, as Interim CEO https://t.co/dQ4uq3ymf6 via @variety
NHL TV Ratings Surge 30% on ESPN/ABC
Very good year for the NHL as far as viewership on ESPN/ABC. ESPN averaged 760K viewers across 54 games on ABC and ESPN, up 30 percent over last year. New measurement helps, as do increased games on ABC. But we definitely...
Silo Season 3 Launches on Apple TV July 3
Season 3 of #Silo will begin #streaming on #AppleTV on Friday, July 3 with weekly one episode drops through September 4. $AAPL
Hollywood Shames CEO Whether He Wins or Loses
David Geffen, WBD investor and Zaslav ally, says about Hollywood's attitude toward the CEO: “If you win, they shit on you. If you lose, they shit on you. How do you win? The win for David is not the money.”...