Deadline: Lionsgate Ups Adam Frank, Jill Anderson To Lead Transactional Home Entertainment

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate has promoted Adam Frank and Jill Anderson to lead worldwide transactional home entertainment as it hit a market share milestone in the business, which includes transactional EST (electronic sell-through), VOD and packaged media.

Deadline: The CW To Launch On New Affiliate Stations In Seattle And Pittsburgh As Part Of Broader Deal With Sinclair Timed To Start Of College Football

Story from Deadline:

The CW and Sinclair Broadcast Group have reached an affiliate renewal deal spanning 35 markets, including the launch of the broadcast network on stations in Seattle and Pittsburgh.

Deadline: ESPN’s Wendi Nix Latest On-Air Talent To Exit Network

Story from Deadline:

Wendi Nix, the host of College Football Live, has announced on Instagram that her time at ESPN has ended after 17 years.

Deadline: ‘Harry Potter’ Star Bonnie Wright Laments Ginny Weasley’s Lack Of Screen Time In The Franchise’s Films

Story from Deadline:

Ginny Weasley was measly in the “Harry Potter” film franchise.

Broadband TV News: Viaplay and CH Media add oneplus to Viaplay Select’s DACH footprint

Story from Broadband TV News:

Viaplay Group and Switzerland’s CH Media have agreed a multi-year partnership covering more than 900 hours of Viaplay Select’s content for CH Media’s oneplus streaming service.

Broadband TV News: UPC becomes Play in Poland

Story from Broadband TV News:

The legal merger of UPC Polska and P4 (Play) has taken place today (August 31).

Deadline: Elaine Bauer Brooks Departing As Head Of Development At CBS Media Ventures

Story from Deadline:

Elaine Bauer Brooks will be leaving her post as EVP, Development and MultiPlatform Content at CBS Media Ventures after nine years at the company.

Deadline: NBCUniversal Ups Mark Marshall To Chairman Of Global Advertising And Partnerships

Story from Deadline:

Mark Marshall, a nearly 10-year veteran of NBCUniversal, has been promoted to Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships.

Hollywood Reporter: David Zaslav Says Mark Thompson Will Bring “Transformational Leadership” to CNN

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

It’s official: Mark Thompson will be the new leader of CNN.

Deadline: BBC News Channel Reviewing If It Needs More Presenters As Five Female Anchors Remain In Limbo

Story from Deadline:

The BBC is carrying out a review to establish whether it requires more news channel presenters as five senior female anchors remain in the dark about their future.

Deadline: Mark Thompson Named Chairman And CEO Of CNN

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery made it official on Wednesday: Mark Thompson will become chairman and CEO of CNN.

Deadline: ‘The Flash’ Sees 1.1M Households In Weekend Debut On Max, Down From ‘Black Adam’

Story from Deadline:

DC’s The Flash, the Justice League spinoff movie starring Ezra Miller in the title role, pulled in 1.1M US households in it’s Live+2 Day window on Max per Samba TV.

Deadline: Disney, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek Hit With Another Investors Suit Over “Fraudulent” Streaming Costs

Story from Deadline:

Disney has been hit again with another lawsuit from investors over the alleged sleight of hand accounting the company used to hide streaming losses.

Deadline: Disney To Offer Free Cricket As It Fights Back In India’s Streaming Wars

Story from Deadline:

Disney is planning to offer free cricket on smartphones and tablets in India as it fights back against subscriber loss at its Indian streaming service Disney+ Hotstar.

Deadline: Former Warner Bros & eOne Sales Veteran Joins Euro Distributor Eccho Rights

Story from Deadline:

With Mipcom on the horizon, Sweden’s Eccho Rights is building out its sales team by hiring well-respected exec Tess Charman.

Broadband TV News: Viaplay Group extends Danish 3F Superliga football rights to 2030

Story from Broadband TV News:

Viaplay has renewed its rights to games from Denmark’s top football league for a further six seasons.

Deadline: Disney+ Not Going Forward With ‘Nautilus’ UK Series As Part Of Cost-Cutting Content Removal

Story from Deadline:

Nautilus, the UK live-action Captain Nemo series commissioned by Disney+ two years ago, is no longer headed to the streamer, Deadline has learned.

Digital TV Europe: DAZN and Warner Bros. Discovery renew Eurosport deal

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Sports streaming service, DAZN has extended its distribution partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery for an additional three years, to provide DAZN subscribers in select European territories access to Eurosport.

Hollywood Reporter: Where Have All the DC Fans Gone?

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

It’s been more than a decade since Man of Steel ushered in the DCEU, and 10 years this very week since Ben Affleck was announced to play Batman in Zack Snyder’s cinematic saga.

Hollywood Reporter: Arleen Sorkin, Original Voice of Harley Quinn and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Actress, Dies at 67

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Arleen Sorkin, who portrayed Calliope Jones on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives and served as the original voice of the DC Comics character Harley Quinn, had died. She was 67.

Deadline; ITV & All3Media: Deal Not Dead Just Yet As Prep Begins On Auction Of ‘The Traitors’ Producer

Story from Deadline:

ITV may have balked at All3Media’s $1.3B price tag last month, but Deadline hears that the British broadcaster is yet to fully walk away from a deal for The Traitors producer.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Reboots Hunt for CNN Chief

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery is back in the hunt for a new executive to oversee CNN.

Deadline: Donald Trump & Tucker Carlson’s GOP Debate Counter-Programming Full Of Fox & CNN Digs, Jeffrey Epstein & A Lot Of Self-Pity

Story from Deadline:

Jumping the gun on Fox News’ GOP debate tonight, Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson made it clear to Rupert Murdoch that revenge is a dish best served online.

Deadline: Nexstar-DirecTV Carriage Battle Grinds On As Football Season Nears Kickoff

Story from Deadline:

To the relief of many in the embattled pay-TV business, which faces its most uncertain fall season in decades along with existential angst due to cord-cutting, a reliable viewer draw is about to return.

Deadline: CNN Hub With Live Stream And New Programming To Launch On Max

Story from Deadline:

CNN, whose brief foray into subscription streaming was snuffed out shortly after the close of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in April 2022, is officially getting real estate on Max.

Deadline: Disney+ Close To 2024 Target Of 50 EMEA Originals, Says Streamer

Story from Deadline:

Disney+ has “pretty much” hit its target of creating 50 original international titles, according to its Europe content boss.

Deadline: Lionsgate & STX Form Domestic Distribution Partnership; Neil Burger’s ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’ First Movie Dated

Story from Deadline:

Deadline first reported about a year ago that Lionsgate was in talks with STX to distribute and market the Bob Simonds-run studio’s movies, and today we can report that both companies have closed a deal.

Deadline: Disney+ Sets Cast For UK Thriller ‘Playdate’ & Unveils First Look At Keanu Reeves In Formula 1 Series ‘Brawn’

Story from Deadline:

Disney+ has set cast for UK psychological drama  Playdate, adapted from Alex Dahl’s best-selling novel of the same name, and revealed details of its latest unscripted slate from Britain.

Advanced Television: Uninterrupted La Vuelta a España on Warner Bros Discovery

Story from Advanced Television:

The stage is set for the Grand Tour cycling season’s conclusion as La Vuelta a España gets underway from Barcelona on August 26th.

Deadline: James Gunn Teases A DCU World Map & Says He Wouldn’t Want Chris Pratt Playing Himself In ‘Peacemaker’

Story from Deadline:

James Gunn and Peter Safran are rebuilding the DC Universe and giving fans what they want. The studio co-head is teasing a world map for the comic book heroes from the DCU.

Viaplay Group Crisis - Advanced Television; Bank: Viaplay under pressure

Story from Advanced Television:

Investment bank Jefferies has updated its forecasts for streaming service Viaplay, and they do not make the best of reading.

Hollywood Reporter: Comcast NBCUniversal Teams With USC Annenberg to Evaluate Company’s Efforts for Access and Equity

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Comcast NBCUniversal and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism are teaming up to measure NBCUniversal’s efforts to create more access and equity in the creative economy.

Hollywood Reporter: Why Comcast, Roku and Warner Music Exited Earnings Season With Improved Investor Sentiment

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Media, entertainment and technology giants have wrapped up the latest quarterly earnings parade, which highlighted advertising challenges and continued cord-cutting.

Hollywood Reporter: Paramount Global Boss Bob Bakish Named MIPCOM Personality of the Year

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Bob Bakish, president and CEO of Paramount Global, has been named the personality of the year for the upcoming MIPCOM Cannes television confab, which runs from Oct. 16 to 19.

Deadline: BBC, ZDF & Other Euro Public Service Networks See Viewer Engagement Dwindling — Ampere Study

Story from Deadline:

The BBC, ARD/ZDF and other major European public service networks have seen viewer engagement in their services dive by nearly a fifth in the past six years, an Ampere Analysis study revealed today.

Broadband TV News: Eurosport and Discovery+ to screen US Open across 45 markets

Story from Broadband TV News:

Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe has announced plans for coverage of the US Open in 45 markets across Europe, with exclusivity in 40 of them.

Hollywood Reporter: James Gunn Says He’s Not Making a “Young Superman” Movie Despite Ditching Henry Cavill

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

James Gunn is making a Superman movie with a younger actor than former Man of Steel Henry Cavill, but that doesn’t mean he’s making a “young Superman movie” per se.

Deadline: Don Lemon Says He Feels Vindicated After CNN Tumult, Teases Next Career Move

Story from Deadline:

Don Lemon made his first extended comments since he was fired from CNN, telling podcast host Kara Swisher that he feels “vindicated” following the exit of CNN leadership after his departure.

Deadline: ‘The Flash’ Movie Gets Streaming Premiere Date On Max

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Pictures and DC’s The Flash, which hit theaters in June, now has a date for its streaming debut on Max: the superhero pic starring Ezra Miller will bow Friday, August 25.

Broadband TV News: ARD to decide about channel closure by the end of the year

Story from Broadband TV News:

German public broadcaster ARD wants to decide by the end of the year which linear TV channel it will discontinue as part of its cost-saving measures.

Deadline; Hasbro: Olivier Dumont To Head Entertainment Division Following eOne Sale, Gabriel Marano To Run TV & Zev Foreman To Oversee Film

Story from Deadline:

Hasbro has set its leadership team for its “asset-lite” entertainment division, a series of moves that come after the toymaker sold eOne to Lionsgate for $500 million and it “right-sizes” its entertainment footprint with a focus on kids content.

Deadline: Former Max Exec Julie St. Aubin Cooks Up New Position At Food Network

Story from Deadline:

Julie St. Aubin, who was one of the execs responsible for Max’s Selena + Chef, is moving to the Food Network.

Deadline: Paramount Global Stock Dips After Company Ends Its Effort To Sell A Stake In BET Media Group

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global shares dipped 2% Thursday morning after word surfaced Wednesday night that the company had abandoned its effort to sell a stake in BET Media Group.

Broadband TV News: Paramount Global abandons plans to sell majority BET stake

Story from Broadband TV News:

Paramount Global no longer intends to sell a majority stake in BET Media Group, including VH1 and the BET itself.

Deadline: Chloe Melas Joins NBC News After Departure From CNN

Story from Deadline:

Chloe Melas is joining NBC News as an entertainment correspondent based in New York.

Deadline: Apple Buying Or Partnering With ESPN Is A “No-Brainer” To One Wall Street Analyst, And “Much More Attractive” Than Full Disney Acquisition

Story from Deadline:

With sports now a “golden goose” begetting streaming progress for Apple, it would be a “no-brainer” for the tech giant to partner with or even fully acquire ESPN.

Daily Mail: Could Apple buy Disney? Insiders debate the possible $160-billion deal

Story from Daily Mail:

Disney CEO Bob Iger has reignited speculation that he intends to sell the iconic entertainment company to tech giant Apple — following last week's earnings call.

Variety: HBO, Max Marketing Team Hit With Layoffs

Story from Variety:

Layoffs have hit the streaming marketing team at HBO and Max.

Digital TV Europe: Movies, factual and kids chief latest to exit Viaplay

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Nicholas Hadley-Kamptz is the latest senior exec to exit the Viaplay Group, with the head of movies, factual and kids exiting the Nordic firm as part of its widespread restructure.

Advanced Television: India bars Zee MD from merger with Sony

Story from Advanced Television:

India’s Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will complete its investigation into the case pertaining to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd owners Subhash Chandra and Punit Goenka within 8 months, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch said in a revised order.

Deadline: Disney Sued By Film Finance Partner TSG, Which Claims Media Giant Used “Every Trick In The Hollywood Accounting Book” To Hoard Slate Profits

Story from Deadline:

Disney has been hit with a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court by film financier TSG, which claims that the media giant used “nearly every trick in the Hollywood accounting book” to hoard hundreds of millions in profit.

Deadline: Saima Mohsin Wins Right To Sue CNN For Unfair Dismissal & Discrimination After Injury On Assignment

Story from Deadline:

Former CNN journalist Saima Mohsin has won the right to take the news network to an employment tribunal in the UK with her claim of unfair dismissal and discrimination after she was injured on assignment in Israel.

Deadline: Selina Wang Moves To ABC News From CNN; Rachael Bade and Asma Khalid Join Political Team As Contributors

Story from Deadline:

Selina Wang is joining ABC News as senior White House correspondent after being based at CNN’s Beijing bureau as the network’s sole correspondent in China.

Deadline: Lucasfilm Closing Singapore VFX & Animation Studio After Two Decades

Story from Deadline:

Lucasfilm is closing its Singapore visual effects and animation studio after nearly two decades, potentially leading to around 300 layoffs.

Broadband TV News: ARD to drop SD distribution on Astra in 2025

Story from Broadband TV News:

German public broadcaster ARD will terminate the SD distribution of its TV channels via the Astra satellite system (19.2° East) at the beginning of 2025.

Broadband TV News: Liberty Global hands Infosys development of Horizon platform

Story from Broadband TV News:

Liberty Global has expanded its collaboration with Infosys to evolve and scale its digital entertainment and connectivity platforms.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Shutters IStreamPlanet

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery has shuttered iStreamPlanet, a Seattle-based company that allowed users to stream live and traditional TV over the internet.

Deadline: Gabe Gutierrez Joins NBC News’s White House Team

Story from Deadline:

NBC News’s Gabe Gutierrez is joining the network’s White House team as senior White House correspondent.

Deadline; CNN Unveils Lineup Overhaul: Abby Phillip And Laura Coates Get Nighttime Shows, Phil Mattingly and Kasie Hunt To Host In Mornings

Story from Deadline:

CNN unveiled an overhaul of its lineup, with Abby Phillip getting the 10 p.m. ET primetime slot, while Phil Mattingly will co-anchor CNN This Morning along with Poppy Harlow, and Kasie Hunt will helm Early Start.

Deadline: ‘Shazam’ Star Zachary Levi Calls Out Hollywood For Output Of “Garbage” Content

Story from Deadline:

Zachary Levi is causing a stir once again with his comments about Hollywood. The Shazam! star was at a fan event where he called out the film industry for the “garbage” content they output.

Deadline: ‘The Marvels’ Director On Superhero Movie Fatigue & Why Her Film Is Different

Story from Deadline:

Nia DaCosta is the director of The Marvels and is opening up about superhero movie fatigue and why her film is different from the rest.

Deadline: Fox Corp. Chief Legal And Policy Officer Viet Dinh To Leave Exec Post For Advisory Role

Story from Deadline:

Viet Dinh, a key strategic and business leader at Fox Corp. and a longtime consiglieri in the Murdoch empire, is leaving his executive post in the wake of the Fox News settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.

Variety: Warner’s Bleacher Report Takes Pivotal Role in Sports Streaming

Story from Variety:

Bleacher Report has a new type of game to analyze.

Deadline: Jamal Simmons, Kamala Harris’ Former Communications Director, Joins CNN As Political Commentator

Story from Deadline:

Another alum from Joe Biden’s administration has landed at cable news networks.

Deadline: Mega Merger Of Sony & Zee In India Given Greenlight

Story from Deadline:

The Indian mega-merger between Sony’s TV operations in India and Zee Entertainment has been given the greenlight, paving the way for a $10B TV partnership.

Deadline; Bob Iger On Linear Television, ESPN And Disney’s Streaming Pivot: “Thinking Expansively And Considering A Variety Of Strategic Options”

Story from Deadline:

Disney CEO Bob Iger shook up the entertainment industry and Wall Street last month when he declared to CNBC at Sun Valley that linear television may be non-core and that he’s looking for partners for ESPN as the company pivots to streaming.

Deadline: Disney “Very Comfortable With Current Liquidity Position” As Deadline Nears To Buy Rest Of Hulu

Story from Deadline:

Disney interim chief financial officer Kevn Lansberry said the company is “very comfortable with our current liquidity position” as the time approaches for it to buy Comcast’s one-third stake in Hulu.

Deadline: Lionsgate CFO Sees $30M Quarterly Hit From Strikes, Expresses Hope For “Mid-Fall” End To Walkouts

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate CFO James Barge said the dual Hollywood strikes are hurting revenue by roughly $30 million per quarter.

Deadline: Lionsgate Postpones Split Of Starz And Studio Until First Quarter Of 2024, Citing Strike, eOne Deal And “Disruptive Marketplace”

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said the planned split of Lionsgate and Starz will take place in the first quarter of 2024, a change from the prior outlook for early fall of this year.

Deadline; A+E Networks Shake-Up: Amy Winter & Tanya Lopez Exit, Elaine Frontain Bryant To Oversee Lifetime

Story from Deadline:

A+E Networks is the latest entertainment company to undergo a shake-up.

Hollywood Reporter: A Disney Sale to Apple? Don’t Count It Out This Time

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

A few weeks before Bob Iger sat down for that CNBC interview in which he said Disney’s linear TV networks, like ABC and FX, “may not be core” to the company’s business, a veteran Hollywood executive mused to The Hollywood Reporter on the possibility of a deal that would rock the industry: Apple buying Disney.

Deadline: Sony Pictures Entertainment First Quarter Profit Slides To $115 Million

Story from Deadline:

Sony Pictures Entertainment posted $115 million in operating income for the three months ending June 30, down 71% on a dollar basis from last year’s comparable first quarter despite a stronger theatrical slate.

Deadline: Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel Says Strikes Raise “Real Issues” That Will Take “Months, Not Days” For Parties To Resolve; Company Expects $25M In Monthly Revenue Impact

Story from Deadline:

Endeavor Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel pledged loyalty to company clients involved in Hollywood’s dual strikes as the company projected taking a $25 million monthly hit to revenue from the ongoing labor impasse.

Deadline: Endeavor Shrugs Off Strike Hit In Q2 To Beat Wall Street Expectations, Announces More Specific Date Range For Close Of WWE-UFC Merger

Story from Deadline:

Endeavor Group Holdings conceded its representation business took a hit from the WGA strike in the second quarter, but the company reported overall results ahead of Wall Street expectations.

Deadline: Charlie Ergen’s Dish Network & EchoStar To Merge, Combining Satellite, Broadband In All-Stock Deal

Story from Deadline:

Dish Networks and EchoStar said today the two public companies will merge, joining the satcaster, streaming services and a nationwide 5G network with a leading satellite communications business.

Deadline; Strike Impact On The CW “Won’t Hurt Our Forward Progress,” Nexstar CEO Perry Sook Says: “We Kind Of Like Our Chances In This Chaotic Environment”

Story from Deadline:

The CW had to delay four scripted shows produced by minority stakeholders Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount due to the writers and actors strikes, but it does not expect any further impact from the labor impasse.

Deadline: Priya Dogra Exiting Warner Bros. Discovery After 14 Years

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA boss Priya Dogra is exiting the company after 14 years in post and her role is being closed.

Deadline: David Noriega Joins NBC News And MSNBC As Los Angeles Correspondent

Story from Deadline:

David Noriega has joined NBC News and MSNBC as a correspondent based in Los Angeles.

Deadline: Fox Corp. Hits Quarterly Target Despite Advertising Dip

Story from Deadline:

Fox Corp. revenue stayed flat in the quarter ending June 30 compared with the year-earlier period, but it matched Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimate as earnings beat expectations.

Deadline; Adam Devine’s Marvel Theory: “Superhero Movies Ruined Comedies”

Story from Deadline:

Adam Devine has a bold theory about the effect that Marvel films had on the general audience and said that “superhero movies ruined comedies.”

Deadline: Paramount CEO Bob Bakish Says Streaming Bundling Will Increase, Possibly With Third Parties; Cites Evidence That Paramount+ Combo With Showtime Boosted Viewing

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish isn’t ruling out the possibility of the company teaming with other players in the media space to create a more viable streaming bundle.

Deadline: Paramount CEO Bob Bakish Says “We Remain Hopeful For A Timely Resolution” To Writers & Actors Strikes

Story from Deadline:

Bob Bakish, CEO of Paramount Global, has found himself on his second earnings call discuss a strike in Hollywood.

Deadline: Paramount Global Sees Tough Q2 In Film (‘Transformers’ Vs ‘Top Gun’), Muted DTC Growth But Otherwise Bests Forecasts; Streaming Losses Narrow, Stock Pops

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global had a rocky June quarter in film as Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts, not surprising, found it tough going against last year’s Top Gun: Maverick.

Deadline: Steven Soderbergh Pushed Warner Bros. To “Take The Meeting” With Christopher Nolan To Direct ‘Insomnia’

Story from Deadline:

Steven Soderbergh had a hand in Christopher Nolan landing the director’s chair for the 2002 thriller Insomnia.

Deadline: Dwayne Johnson Says ‘Black Adam’ Did Not Get A Sequel Because Of “A Vortex Of New Leadership” At Warner Bros. & DC

Story from Deadline:

In a just-released clip from his Peacock show Hart to Heart, Kevin Hart asks Dwayne Johnson why, given what Hart sees as a successful opening and “an appetite from your fan base,” Black Adam didn’t get a sequel.

Hollywood Reporter: Liberty Media CEO Says Bally Sports Is Paying for Atlanta Braves Rights After Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei is addressing the impact of struggles for regional sport networks on Major League Baseball teams, including his Atlanta Braves, which depend on local TV rights for a large share of revenues.

Deadline: Alyson Jackson Exits Warner Bros Discovery After 14 Years

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros Discovery’s long-serving exec Alyson Jackson has exited after 14 years in David Zaslav’s stable.

Hollywood Reporter: The CW Is Adding Jesus and Sports. But Its Top Programmer Says It’s Still the Same Network

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Brad Schwartz, who joined The CW as its entertainment president six months ago, hasn’t won over many diehard fans of the network after he canceled nearly all of its beloved scripted shows as part of a push by its new ownership, station group Nexstar, to make it profitable by 2025.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery’s Gerhard Zeiler to Deliver Mipcom Cannes Opening Keynote

Story from Variety:

Gerhard Zeiler, president of international at Warner Bros. Discovery, will give the opening keynote at the 39th edition of TV market Mipcom, which runs Oct. 16-19 in Cannes.

Broadband TV News: Christian Hug to lead Diversity, Equity & Inclusion International department at Warner Bros. Discovery

Story from Broadband TV News:

Christian Hug has been named as Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the international level for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Deadline: All3Media Still Up For Grabs But Hefty Debt Pile & $1.3B Valuation Could Slow Down Sale Of ‘The Tourist’ & ‘Traitors’ Firm

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery and Liberty Global’s bid to sell The Tourist and Traitors maker All3Media could be hampered by concerns over a hefty debt pile and weighty £1B valuation.

eOne Takeover - Deadline: Entertainment One’s Steve Bertram Reflects On “Incredible Ride” As He & Michael Lombardo Set Exits Following Lionsgate Acquisition

Story from Deadline:

Following the announcement Thursday morning that Lionsgate has agreed to acquire Entertainment One from Hasbro for $500 million, eOne’s top film and TV executives, Steve Bertram, President, Film & TV, and Michael Lombardo, President, Global Television, are preparing to exit.

Deadline: Max Will “Soon” Add News & Sports To Its Streaming Mix, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Says, Though No Timeline Is Given

Story from Deadline:

Sports and news programming will be coming “soon” to Max, according to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 Results Hit By ‘The Flash’ And Soft Ad Climate, But Free Cash Flow Doubles To $1.7B

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery reported spotty financial results in the second quarter, but delivered better-than-expected free cash flow.

Deadline: ProSiebenSat.1 Sees Earnings Nosedive 49% As TV Ad Market Continues To Falter

Story from Deadline:

Soon after announcing plans to cut 400 roles, European giant ProSiebenSat.1 Media has seen profits plunge 49% and revenues fall.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels On Strikes Savings “In Low $100M Range”; Release Dates Remain Fluid, Outlook “Assumes Return To Work In Early September”

Story from Deadline:

While Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav on this morning’s Q2 earnings call for the conglom is “hopeful that all sides will get back to the negotiating room soon and that these strikes get resolved in a way that the writers and actors feel that they are fairly compensated,” Warner Bros Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels served up info that there were “modest cash savings” when it came to the dual strikes.

Hollywood Reporter; Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Strikes: “We’re in Uncharted Waters”

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav struck a conciliatory, yet urgent tone over the Hollywood writers and actors strikes during his studio’s second-quarter financial analyst call Thursday.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Sheds 1.8 Million Streaming Subscribers During Max Launch Quarter

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery lost 1.8 million streaming subscribers from April 1-June 30, the quarter during which it launched new combined streamer Max.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 Results Hit By ‘The Flash’ And Soft Ad Climate, But Free Cash Flow Doubles To $1.7B

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery reported spotty financial results in the second quarter, but delivered better-than-expected free cash flow.

eOne Takeover - Variety: Lionsgate Closes Deal to Acquire eOne From Hasbro for $500 Million

Story from Variety:

Lionsgate has acquired Entertainment One’s (eOne) TV and film operations from Hasbro for approximately $500 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year.

Hollywood Reporter: WWE Posts Record Revenue Amid “Most Successful” WrestleMania, Ratings and Attendance Gains

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Sports entertainment powerhouse WWE, which has agreed to merge with Endeavor’s UFC to create a live sports and entertainment titan, reported higher second-quarter earnings and record revenue on Wednesday, exceeding Wall Street expectations for several financial metrics.

Viaplay Group Crisis - Broadband TV News: PPF Group becomes Viaplay shareholder

Story from Broadband TV News:

PPF Group has acquired a 6.3% stake in Viaplay for an undisclosed fee.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming Comms Exec Chris Willard to Exit After 14 Years at HBO

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery streaming comms senior vice president Chris Willard is exiting the company to pursue other interests after 14 years working with the HBO team, Variety has learned.

Deadline: Vice Media Executives Depart After Bankruptcy Sale Is Completed

Story from Deadline:

Vice Media announced a series of leadership changes on Tuesday, a day after its bankruptcy sale was closed.

Deadline: Deal Done! Vice Media Formally Closes Sale, Starts “Exciting New Era”

Story from Deadline:

Vice Media is putting bankruptcy, and years of seeking a buyer and fresh cash, behind it, as the edgy digital news and lifestyle brand announces today it’s completed the sale to a consortium of former lenders led by Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital.