Deadline: ‘Batgirl’ Film Extra To Sue Warner Bros After Being Hit By Motorbike On Glasgow Set Of Doomed Movie

Story from Deadline:

Film extra Cristina Stanovici has detailed the severe injuries she suffered when she was hit by a speeding motorbike on the Glasgow set of the Batgirl movie.

Broadband TV News: Viaplay and Formula 1 ink Netherlands deal

Story from Broadband TV News:

Viaplay Group and Formula 1 have entered into a strategic partnership in the Netherlands that will see Viaplay customers able to access F1 TV Pro as part of their subscriptions alongside Viaplay’s Formula 1 coverage.

Deadline: NBCUniversal Promotes Rachel Smith To Oversee Reality & Doc Programming; Replaces Rod Aissa On Permanent Basis

Story from Deadline:

NBCUniversal has found its permanent lifestyle and documentary chief.

Deadline: Disney Distribution EVP & GSM Ken Caldwell Retiring After Near Four-Decade Run; Successor To Be Named

Story from Deadline:

Deadline has confirmed that Disney Distribution EVP and General Sales Manager of North America, Ken Caldwell is retiring at the end of 2023.

Deadline: Showtime’s Amy Israel To Exit, Becoming Latest Departure In Paramount Ranks

Story from Deadline:

There’s more change at Showtime.

Deadline: The XFL, Backed By Dwayne Johnson And Dany Garcia, To Merge With Spring Rival USFL

Story from Deadline:

The XFL, whose latest revival as a springtime alternative to the NFL has been steered by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia, is merging with the USFL.

Deadline; Byron Allen On His $10B Offer For ABC And Other Disney Networks: “Capital’s Not An Issue”, But Bob Iger “Is Not Ready” Yet To Pursue Linear Sale

Story from Deadline:

Media entrepreneur Byron Allen, one of many parties interested in acquiring ABC and other linear TV assets from Disney, said he has “access to plenty of capital,” and Disney’s internal deliberations are the main factor preventing a formal sale process from starting.

Hollywood Reporter: James Gunn Confirms 3 Stars Who Will Continue Their Roles in the New DC Universe

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

For anyone out there who might be confused about the future of DC Universe projects, James Gunn completely understands the challenge of keeping apprised on the latest developments.

Variety: Warner Bros Discovery May Favor Local Partnerships Over Worldwide Max Rollout, Says JB Perette: ‘We Have the IP to Be a Survivor’

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros Discovery’s JB Perrette warns that the global streaming market faces pain and consolidation over the next three to five years, but he says that the merged group has what it takes to be among the big five groups that pull through.

Deadline: ‘The Daily Show’ To Return Mid-October With Guest Hosts; Permanent Host Expected To Start In 2024

Story from Deadline:

After the majority of late-night shows revealed that they were returning next week, The Daily Show has set its own plan.

Deadline; HBO’s Casey Bloys On End Of Writers Strike: “I’m Happy It’s Done”

Story from Deadline:

Casey Bloys is the first senior executive to address the end of the strike publicly.

Variety: Late Night Talk Shows Return: Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert, Meyers and Oliver Set Comebacks

Story from Variety:

TV’s late-night hosts plan to return to regular production as of Monday, October 2, ending a months-long pause in a national routine caused by Hollywood labor troubles.

Deadline: ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’ Sets Return With Writers

Story from Deadline:

Not wasting any time, just a couple of minutes after the WGA announced that the strike is ending, Bill Maher revealed that his Real Time will return this week.

Hollywood Reporter: Liberty Media Proposes Sirius XM Combination

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Liberty Media said Tuesday that it has communicated a proposal to a special committee of the board of Sirius XM Holdings, outlining the terms of a proposed combination of the Liberty SiriusXM tracking stock group, with the satellite radio giant, led by CEO Jennifer Witz, to form a “new, consolidated public company.”

Deadline: CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus To Retire In April 2024, Handing Reins To President David Berson

Story from Deadline:

Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports and the division’s 27-year leader, will retire next April and hand the reins to David Berson, who has been president of CBS Sports for more than 10 years.

Broadband TV News: ProSiebenSat.1 deepens ties with MFE MediaForEurope

Story from Broadband TV News:

German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 is intensifying its hook-up with Italian media company MFE MediaForEurope in the face of declining advertising revenues and competition from US streaming players.

Deadline: Jake Gyllenhaal Was Almost ‘Batman’ For Director Christopher Nolan

Story from Deadline:

Screenwriter David S. Goyer dropped some insider information on a new episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast.

Deadline: Rupert Murdoch Pay Rises To $23 Million In FY23, His Last Full Year As Fox Chair; CEO Lachlan Package At $21.7 Million

Story from Deadline:

More news on the Murdoch front as the Fox Corp. proxy filed today shows Rupert with a 24% pay increase in fiscal 2023 to $22.9 million from $18.9 million.

Deadline: Rick Cordella Elevated To President Of NBC Sports

Story from Deadline:

NBCUniversal has promoted veteran executive Rick Cordella to president of NBC Sports, reporting into Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group.

Deadline: Wall Street Opines On Lachlan Murdoch As Rupert’s Successor Faces Business Headwinds, Uncertain Future

Story from Deadline:

Lachlan Murdoch has had a lot to prove and the stakes just got quite a bit higher as Murdoch senior is set to depart the Fox and News Corp. boards, formalizing a transition underway for years.

Broadband TV News: Mike Fries moves to UK

Broadband TV News: Mike Fries moves to UKStory from Broadband TV News:

As the cablenet has withdrawn from parts of Europe, Liberty Global’s UK operations have become increasingly significant, with the company holding half of Virgin Media O2, half of All3Media, 10% in ITV and 5% in Vodafone.

TBI Vision: Amazon Prime Video to introduce advertisements from 2024

Story from TBI Vision:

Amazon is to introduce advertisements on its Prime Video service from next year, the retail giant has said.

Deadline: Paramount Pictures Promotes Brooke Robertson To Head Of Global Communications & Media Relations

Story from Deadline:

Entertainment Corporate Communications pro Brooke Robertson has been upped to Paramount Pictures’ Head of Global Communications and Media Relations.

Media Leader; ‘Truly astonishing’: Rupert Murdoch retires from News Corp

Story from Media Leader:

Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of the boards of News Corp and Fox Corp, effective mid-November, ending an unprecedented seven-decade career as one of media’s truly iconic global figures.

Deadline: Rupert Murdoch Stepping Down As Chairman Of News Corp., Fox; Lachlan Murdoch Sole Chair Of Both

Story from Deadline:

Rupert Murdoch will be stepping down shortly as chairman of the board of Fox and News Corp., the companies said Thursday.

Deadline: Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries Says All3Media Sale Is “Bittersweet”; Confirms ITV Back In For Producer

Story from Deadline:

Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries has said that the sale of All3Media will be a “bittersweet” moment, as it launches an auction for the British super producer.

Deadline: Sky Germany Sale Ruled Out?

Story from Deadline:

Sky CEO Dana Strong has seemingly rule out a sale of Sky’s German unit, Sky Deutschland.

Broadband TV News: Liberty Global to reopen Telenet offer as simplified squeeze-out

Story from Broadband TV News:

Liberty Global’s takeover of Telenet has entered its final stages with the company offering to buyout the remaining smaller shareholders.

Broadband TV News: Walt Disney rebrands FOX in Netherlands and Flanders

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Walt Disney Company has unveiled a new name and visual identity for the TV channel FOX is the Netherlands and Flanders.

Deadline; Max Sports Tier: Warner Bros. Discovery’s JB Perrette And Luis Silberwasser On Its Role In NBA Renewal Talks And The Delicate Task Of Managing Pay-TV Relationships In The Streaming Era

Story from Deadline:

After years of talk — mostly by the previous corporate regime — a live sports streaming tier is finally coming to Max.

Deadline: Max Adding Live Sports Tier; $10 Monthly Service Will Be Included At No Charge For Existing Subscribers Through Next February

Story from Deadline:

Making good on years of promises by the corporate overseers of Turner Sports, Warner Bros. Discovery is adding a live sports tier to Max.

Deadline: Chris Evans On Captain America, His Apprehension About Taking The Role, Stepping Back From The MCU & More

Story from Deadline:

Chris Evans is sharing his thoughts on his Captain America character, his initial reluctance to take on the role and why he’s not ready to return to the MCU anytime soon.

Deadline: Lionsgate Suspends Non-Writing Producer Deals; Assistants & Execs To Be Paid Through At Least End Of Month

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate Television has joined other studios in suspending overall and first-look deals with non-writing producers who are not rendering services due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Hollywood Reporter: Bill Maher Holds Off on ‘Real Time’ Return as Writers Guild Talks Set to Resume

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Bill Maher will not return to his HBO show Real Time this week.

Deadline: ABC Calls Up More ‘Monday Night Football’ Simulcasts For Strike-Hit Fall Schedule

Story from Deadline:

ABC is loading up on a slew of extra NFL games in a bid to bolster its fall schedule.

Deadline: CNN Is “Back On Track” After Turmoil, Says Anderson Cooper

Story from Deadline:

Anderson Cooper believes the storm has passed at CNN.

Deadline: DirecTV And Nexstar Set Multi-Year Carriage Renewal, Ending Impasse That Had Deprived Millions Of Viewers Of Key Channels Since July

Story from Deadline:

A week after Charter and Disney made peace on the distribution front, DirecTV and Nexstar have set a multi-year carriage renewal, ending a dispute that started in early July.

New York Post: Disney in talks with local TV station owner Nexstar to sell ABC: sources

Story from New York Post:

Disney has quietly held early talks to sell its ABC network to local TV station owner Nexstar Media as the Bob Iger-led company looks to unload the property, The Post has learned.

eOne Takeover; Deadline: eOne President Of International Distribution Stuart Baxter Exiting Ahead Of Lionsgate Sale Closure

Story from Deadline:

eOne’s long-serving President of International Distribution, Stuart Baxter, is leaving ahead of the Yellowjackets and The Rookie studio’s $500M sale to Lionsgate, we can reveal.

Deadline: Amazon’s UK Content Chief Dan Grabiner Exiting

Story from Deadline:

Amazon’s UK content arm, which is behind series such as Clarkson’s Farm and The Rig, is saying goodbye to its boss.

Viaplay Group Crisis; Advanced Television: Schibsted acquires 10.1% Viaplay stake

Viaplay Group Crisis; Advanced Television: Schibsted acquires 10.1% Viaplay stakeStory from Advanced Television:

Norway-based Schibsted, a family of digital brands, has informed the Oslo Stock Exchange that it now owns a minority stake of 10.1 per cent in Viaplay Group.

Hollywood Reporter: Fox Shareholders Sue Board for Allegedly Embracing Election Falsehoods in Pursuit of Profits

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Fox Corp.’s board of directors has been sued in a lawsuit accusing the company’s directors of adopting an illegal business model centered on chasing profits by intentionally broadcasting falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election.

Deadline: Disney-Spectrum Deal “Met All Of Our Objectives” And Subscriber Losses From 10-Day Blackout Were “Much Less Than We Had Anticipated,” Charter CFO Jessica Fischer Says

Story from Deadline:

In the first public comments by a Charter executive since a carriage renewal with Disney, CFO Jessica Fischer said the deal “met all of our objectives” and a preceding blackout resulted in only moderate TV subscriber losses.

Deadline: NBCUniversal Ups Sezin Cavusoglu To SVP Unscripted Current Production

Story from Deadline:

Sezin Cavusoglu is expanding her role at NBCUniversal with a promotion to Senior Vice President, Unscripted Current Production, from her previous VP position.

Hollywood Reporter: Fox News Taps Lawrence Jones as Co-Host of ‘Fox & Friends’

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

In a change to its morning show, Fox News is adding Lawrence Jones as a co-anchor of Fox & Friends, where he will join longtime hosts Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt on weekday mornings.

Variety: Can The CW Survive Without Superheroes and Teen Soaps?

Story from Variety:

The CW systematically stripped away its superhero dramas and teen-centric soaps during the 2022-23 television season, taking the foundation of its primetime programming slate down to the studs.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Has Been “Really Shut Down” By Strikes, CFO Says, But Free Cash Flow Is Rising As Company Is “Unable To Deploy Capital” For Production

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels echoed recent sentiments from Netflix and other major TV and film producers, saying the industry must resolve the ongoing strikes and “get back to work.”

Deadline: HBO’s ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’ To Return To Air Without Writers

Story from Deadline:

Bill Maher is going back to work without his writers.

Deadline: Disney’s ABC Stations Could Be Bought By Nexstar With “Little Friction” If They Are Sold Off, Company Advisor Tom Carter Says; Hails “Progress” In Lengthy DirecTV Carriage Dispute

Story from Deadline:

Tom Carter, a longtime former Nexstar exec who is now a senior advisor to the CEO and board of directors, says the company could acquire Disney’s local ABC TV stations with “little friction” if they become available.

Deadline: Disney Entertainment TV Studios Suspend Deals With Producers, Including Yara Shahidi, Justin Hartley & Billy Porter, Will Pay Assistants Amid Strikes

Story from Deadline:

Disney has become the latest entertainment company to suspend additional overall and first-look deals four and a half months into the WGA strike.

Deadline: ‘Aquaman 2’ Director James Wan Addresses Rumors That Amber Heard’s Role In The Sequel Was “Pared Down”

Story from Deadline:

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan responded for the first time to allegations that Amber Heard’s role in the film was “paired down,” as the actress has put it.

Broadband TV News: Starz hires Sofia Chang

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sofia Chang has been appointed executive VP, chief distribution officer, at the global media streaming company Starz.

Hollywood Reporter; Disney-Charter Deal: Wall Street Dissects Wins, Losses and Impact on Disney+, ESPN and Pay TV

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Two industry giants collided in showdown that led to a blackout for millions of pay TV customers — but then still managed to strike a deal.

Deadline: ‘Batgirl’ Directors On Feeling “Sad” Watching ‘The Flash’ & Why Axing Of DC Film Is “The Biggest Disappointment Of Our Careers”

Story from Deadline:

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were the directors behind Batgirl, the DC film at Warner Bros. with Leslie Grace in the titled role.

Deadline: ‘Harry Potter’ Franchise Director David Yates On Max TV Series; Has Upcoming Projects That Are “A Million Miles Away From Wizards”

Story from Deadline:

When it comes to Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchise filmmaker David Yates returning to the Max TV series, he tells Deadline, “Never say never.”

Variety: ‘Modern Family’ Adds New Residence at TBS

Story from Variety:

The popular sitcom “Modern Family” is picking up some new real estate — while keeping its other homes.

Broadband TV News: Barny Mills new CEO of Sky Deutschland

Story from Broadband TV News:

Barny Mills, currently CFO of Sky Deutschland, will become the German pay-TV operator’s new CEO.

Deadline; WWE, UFC Merger Is Official: New TKO Group Unveils Growth Strategy, Board, As Stock Hits The NYSE

Story from Deadline:

UFC, the mixed martial arts powerhouse, has officially tied the knot with Vince McMahon’s professional wresting juggernaut WWE, creating a new company called TKO Group that started trading on the New York Stock Exchange today.

Deadline: HGTV Sells ‘The Brady Bunch’ House At A Loss & Below $5.5M Asking Price

Story from Deadline:

HGTV has sold The Brady Bunch house and it did so at below the asking price and below the price they paid when they purchased it back in 2018.

Deadline: Disney Top Executives Assure Staff Of Commitment To FXX, Freeform & Other Cable Nets Dropped By Charter

Story from Deadline:

Disney CEO Bob Iger’s bombshell July comments that the linear TV business “may not be core” to the company brought a lot of anxiety for those working at any of the Disney’s linear networks.

Deadline; Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden And ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro On Spectrum Carriage Deal: “This Is The Future Of Our Business”

Story from Deadline:

With the ink still drying on a closely tracked carriage renewal with Charter, Disney execs Dana Walden and Jimmy Pitaro told Deadline in an interview that the agreement’s details suit the current streaming/linear hybrid environment.

Deadline: NBCUniversal Studio Group & CBS Studios Suspend Deals With Producers, Including Lorne Michaels & Phil McGraw, Amid Strikes

Story from Deadline:

More studios are suspending additional overall and first-look deals almost four and a half months into the WGA strike.

Deadline; Martin Ellis Dies: 2nd Assistant Director On ‘A Dog’s Journey’, ‘The Flash’ Was 44

Story from Deadline:

Martin Ellis, a beloved second assistant director who worked on films such as A Dog’s Journey and the upcoming Monster High The Movie 2, and television shows including The Flash and The Power, died August 22 at his home in Vancouver, family friend and producer Seth William Meier confirmed to Deadline.

Hollywood Reporter: After Mega-Writer Suspensions, Industry Braces for More Blows

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Greg Berlanti. J.J. Abrams. Bill Lawrence. Mindy Kaling.

Hollywood Reporter: Disney and Spectrum Cut New Carriage Deal, Ending Blackout and Returning ESPN and ABC to Lineups

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Disney and Spectrum have a deal, just in time for Monday Night Football.

Deadline: Disney And Spectrum Reach Carriage Agreement, Ending Epic 10-Day Impasse In Time For ‘Monday Night Football’; Eight Networks To Remain Dark In Deal Touted As “Innovative Model For The Future”

Story from Deadline:

Disney and Charter Communications have reached a carriage renewal, ending a 10-day impasse that drew intense scrutiny to the shifting economics of pay-TV in the streaming era.

Hollywood Reporter: Hulu Offering 30 Percent Discount on Live TV Streaming, Amid Disney and Spectrum Cable Dispute

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Hulu has dropped the price of its live TV streaming service, giving cord-cutters a rare discount on the Hulu + Live TV platform.

Deadline: ‘Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom’ Teaser Trailer: Jason Momoa Returns To DC Universe In Sneak Peek Of Film Sequel

Story from Deadline:

A teaser trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was dropped on Sunday showing Jason Momoa back in the DC Universe in the sequel that’s dropping on December 20.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav Says Industry Must Focus And Fight To Resolve Strikes As They Spill Into The Fall

Story from Deadline:

David Zaslav said today that Warner Bros. Discovery had anticipated putting Hollywood strikes in the rear-view mirror this month, but with no end in sight, “We are really going to fight to get this resolved.”

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: Chuck Todd Signs Off As Moderator Of ‘Meet The Press,’ Successor Kristen Welker Says She’ll Approach New Role “As A Reporter”

Story from Deadline:

Chuck Todd signed off of his final broadcast as moderator of NBC News’s Meet the Press by handing his successor, Kristen Welker, a reliable alarm clock and telling viewers that he’ll be focusing on network projects tied to bridging the political divide.

Hollywood Reporter: State Governors Call on Disney and Spectrum to Cut a New Carriage Deal

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The Disney-Spectrum carriage dispute has hit the state houses in New York and North Carolina.

Deadline: Charter CEO Chris Winfrey Reports Little Progress In Carriage Talks With Disney, Says A Leaner TV Bundle “Could Stick” With Spectrum Customers

Story from Deadline:

Charter CEO Chris Winfrey indicated that little progress has been made in the week-long carriage fight with Disney and said a leaner, ESPN-free TV bundle “could stick” with price-sensitive Spectrum customers.

Deadline: Media Giant Rips Cable Operator’s “Indifference” On Eve Of U.S. Open Finals And NFL Kickoff; Wall Street Firm Predicts ESPN Parent Will Make Concessions

Story from Deadline:

With its carriage fight with Charter about to enter its second week, Disney issued a statement blasting the Spectrum TV owner’s “indifference” to customers and a Wall Street investment bank predicted a compromise by the ESPN parent.

Deadline: Hulu + Live TV Offering Short-Term Discount Amid Disney-Charter Fight

Story from Deadline:

Hulu + Live TV revealed Friday that it has begun offering new and eligible returning subscribers to its service a discounted rate of $49.99 per month for three months.

Deadline: Disney Entertainment Television Names Chunguang Yu SVP Data & Advanced Analytics

Story from Deadline:

Data and analytics executive Chunguang Yu has joined Disney Entertainment Television, Networks & TV Business Operations as SVP, Data, Measurement and Advanced Analytics.

Hollywood Reporter: What Happens If Disney Can’t Agree With Comcast on a Price Tag for Hulu

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

How much is Hulu worth, exactly?

Digital TV Europe: Disney and Comcast move up Hulu sale talks with valuation likely ‘way more’ than US$27.5bn”

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Hulu’s future could be decided sooner than had been previously thought, after Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said talks with Disney are due to begin 30 September.

Digital TV Europe: Disney cranks up rhetoric in carriage fee dispute with Charter

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Disney has upped the ante in an ongoing carriage dispute with cable operator Charter Communications in the US following the withdrawal of Disney content from the cableco.

Deadline - Disney-Spectrum Latest: Media Giant Rips Cable Operator’s “Indifference” On Eve Of U.S. Open Finals And NFL Kickoff; Wall Street Firm Predicts ESPN Parent Will Make Concessions

Story from Deadline:

With its carriage fight with Charter about to enter its second week, Disney issued a statement blasting the Spectrum TV owner’s “indifference” to customers and a Wall Street investment bank predicted a compromise by the ESPN parent.

Digital TV Europe: Endeavor Group to close WWE and UFC merger

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Endeavor Group is to finalises the merge with its subsidiary company Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and UFC on September 12.

New York Post: Disney execs reportedly think Bob Iger’s ‘end game’ is to sell company to Apple

Story from New York Post:

More than a dozen past and present Disney executives reportedly told CNBC privately that they believe Bob Iger’s “desired end game” is to “remain CEO as long as possible” — and then sell the company to Apple.

Deadline: Charter Faces Class Action Lawsuit In Carriage Standoff With Disney

Story from Deadline:

A class action has arrived at the doorstep of Charter Communications in its high-stakes carriage standoff with The Walt Disney Co.

Deadline: Paramount CEO Bob Bakish Acknowledges Wall Street’s Dim View Of Charter-Disney Battle, But Touts His Efforts To “Modernize” Pay-TV Relationships To Suit Streaming Era

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said the Disney-Charter carriage dispute took a “notable” financial toll on many pay-TV stakeholders, but he touted his efforts to “modernize” the company’s distribution relationships for the streaming era.

Deadline: David Zaslav Says Charter-Disney Fight Feels Like “A Moment” As Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Talks Carriage Deals, CNN & Hollywood Strikes

Story from Deadline:

“I don’t know that much in particular about this dispute, but it feels like this is a moment,” said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav about the current showdown between big cable provider Charter and the Disney.

Deadline: Disney Says Charter Dispute Is Driving A 60% Increase In Hulu + Live TV Subscriptions Relative To Internal Expectations

Story from Deadline:

Disney has seen a 60% jump in Hulu + Live TV subscriptions relative to internal expectations since a carriage impasse with Charter began, according to figures provided to Deadline by a Disney spokesperson.

Warner Bros Discovery to close some channels in Europe by 2024

RegularCapital has tweet on X that Discovery Science and DTX (Discovery Turbo Extra) will close at the end of 2023 in the following countries and territories:

Deadline: Comcast CEO Brian Roberts “Not Completely Surprised” By Charter-Disney Carriage Feud: “Each Company Is Dealing With Their Version Of This Transformational Moment”

Story from Deadline:

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts kicked off an appearance Wednesday at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia & Technology Conference by saying he’s “not completely surprised” by the Disney-Charter carriage battle.

Deadline: Hulu Stake Sale Kickoff Moved Up To September, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Reveals; Valuation For “Scarce, Kingmaker Asset” Likely To Far Exceed Initial $27.5B Benchmark

Story from Deadline:

Comcast and Disney have modified their Hulu agreement to enable the expected buyout of Comcast’s one-third stake in the streamer to begin on September 30 instead of next January.

Deadline: Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s Fund Acquires Big Stake In Lionsgate

Story from Deadline:

Liberty Strategic Capital, a private equity fund led by former Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, has acquired a hefty 5.5% stake in Lionsgate Class A voting shares at a strategically sensitive moment for the company as it prepares to close a $500 million acquisition of eOne and plans to split up its studio and streaming businesses.

Deadline; Disney-Charter Battle Makes Pay-TV Bundle’s Fadeout A Stark Reality For Streaming-Focused Media Companies And Investors: “The Lifeboats Have Already Been Burned”

Story from Deadline:

Just as this summer’s New York City wildfire smoke, Los Angeles’ hurricane and sneaker-melting heat have brought home the reality of climate change, the Disney-Charter carriage battle is foregrounding the fragility of the pay-TV bundle.

Hollywood Reporter; Disney vs. Charter Spectrum: The Sticking Points, Where Things Stand and More

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Over Labor Day weekend — as families gathered for holiday barbecues and as ESPN was televising major sporting events like college football games and U.S. Open tennis — executives from ESPN’s parent company The Walt Disney Co. and the cable giant Charter Communications continued to have discussions about the ongoing carriage dispute that is keeping Disney’s channels off of Spectrum, Charter’s cable TV service.

Hollywood Reporter: Disney Gets Stock Price Target Cut by More Than $30 From Wells Fargo Analyst

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall cut his stock price target on the Walt Disney Co. by more than $30 on Tuesday but stuck to his “overweight” rating, predicting that investor focus would over time shift from near-term challenges to longer-term upside.

Broadband TV News: Warner Bros. Discovery rebrands Boomerang

Story from Broadband TV News:

Warner Bros. Discovery has today (September 4) rebranded Boomerang to Cartoonito across the Nordics, Turkey, Middle East and North Africa.

Broadband TV News: Warner Bros. Discovery hires Rogier van de Paverd

Story from Broadband TV News:

Rogier van de Paverd has been appointed director digital & ad sales Benelux at Warner Bros. Discovery, effective September 4.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Sees Earnings Hit From Strikes Of Up To $500 Million This Year

Story from Deadline:

The financial impact of ongoing actors and writers strikes has a number on it now, or one at least, as Warner Bros. Discovery said today it’s looking at a hit of $300 million to $500 million in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for 2023 due to the work stoppages.

Deadline: Labor Day Weekend Has Been “A Frustrating One For Millions Of Spectrum Cable Subscribers,” Disney Says In Latest Salvo, Adding Plug For Hulu TV Service And Rival Alternatives

Story from Deadline:

Disney put a finer point on its Sunday message to Spectrum customers, urging them specifically to switch to Hulu + Live TV or even rival streaming TV bundles like YouTube TV.

Broadband TV News: ARD to drop SD distribution on January 7, 2025

Story from Broadband TV News:

German public broadcaster ARD will cease the SD distribution of its TV channels across all transmission infrastructures on January 7, 2025.

Digital TV Europe: High View takes control of SPT’s German linear channels

Story from Digital TV Europe:

German media company High View has formally announced the takeover of all linear channels from Sony Pictures Television in German-speaking countries.

Digital TV Europe: Bertelsmann resilient despite financial challenges at RTL

Story from Digital TV Europe:

RTL-owner Bertelsmann has reported group revenues of €9.7 billion, for H1 2023, up 4.5% on H1 2022.

Deadline: Disney Hits Back At Charter Claims, Says It Offered “The Most Favorable Terms” In Extension Proposal To Keep ESPN & Other Networks From Going Dark

Story from Deadline:

Disney has hit back at claims by Charter Communications execs that the media company declined to pursue innovative carriage deals and instead just wanted to ram through price increases.

Deadline: Charter Executives Say Disney Rejected Their Proposed “New Model” Distribution Deal For Spectrum; “Moving On” From The Traditional Video Business Now A Distinct Possibility

Story from Deadline:

Addressing Thursday night’s carriage impasse with Disney, Charter Communications executives told Wall Street investors on a conference call today that their linear video business is “at the edge of a precipice.”

Deadline: Disney Hits Back At Charter Claims, Says It Offered “The Most Favorable Terms” In Extension Proposal To Keep ESPN & Other Networks From Going Dark

Story from Deadline:

ESPN and 18 other Disney networks as well as ABC stations have gone dark across Spectrum, the No. 2 cable TV service in the U.S.

Broadband TV News: Streaming and multiplex changes at TVP

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Polish public broadcaster TVP is encouraging viewers to switch from one of its streaming services to the main TVP VOD.

Advanced Television; Malaysia: HBO on Unifi TV

Story from Advanced Television:

Warner Bros Discovery and Unifi have announced an expansion of their partnership in Malaysia, with the launch of four HBO channels and the HBO GO streaming service.

C21 Media: MVTV to keep Boomerang on air in Thailand following deal with Warner Bros Discovery

Story from C21 Media:

Warner Bros Discovery and MVTV have agreed a deal that will keep kids’ and family channel Boomerang on air in Thailand after it had been set to go dark.