Deadline: Taylor Kinney Returning To ‘Chicago Fire’ For Season 12 After Leave of Absence

Story from Deadline:

Severide is back. After a 10-month break, Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney is set to return to NBC‘s firefighter drama at the start of its upcoming 12th season.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery’s Adria Alpert Romm To Retire As Chief People Officer, WPP’s Jennifer Remling Tapped To Succeed Her

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery said today that Chief People and Culture Officer, and longtime partner and advisor to CEO David Zaslav, Adria Alpert Romm, will step down at the end of June.

Deadline: BBC Studios Doc Unit Hire

Story from Deadline:

BBC Studios has named Georgia Moseley as Head of the Documentary Unit and Katharine Patrick as its Senior Creative Director.

Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery Signs With Taiwan Mobile, TAICCA To Bring Taiwanese Content To International Markets

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros Discovery has signed a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Taiwan Mobile and Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) to create and distribute Taiwanese original content locally and across international markets.

Deadline: Sony TV Head Of Production Ed Lammi To Retire After 36 Years At Studio

Story from Deadline:

Ed Lammi, Sony Pictures Television’s EVP Production, will be departing at the end of December after a 36-year career at the studio.

Deadline: Paramount Closes $1.62B Sale Of Simon & Schuster To Investment Firm KKR

Story from Deadline:

Paramount has completed the $1.62 billion sale of book publisher Simon & Schuster to investment firm KKR, nearly a year after a richer sale to Penguin Random House ran aground over regulatory issues.

Broadband TV News: HGTV to launch in the Netherlands

Story from Broadband TV News:

Warner Bros. Discovery is to launch HGTV in the Dutch market early next year.

Bizasia: SAT lifts ban on Punit Goenka holding any key managerial positions at ZEE

Story from Bizasia:

Punit Goenka can breathe a sigh of relief after the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) ruled in his favour in an ongoing dispute.

Hollywood Reporter: ‘Daredevil’ TV Series Lands New Showrunner, Directors

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Marvel Studios’ Daredevil television series has a new creative team.

Deadline: NBCU SVP Content & Consumer Insights Sumithra Barry Departs Amid Division Layoffs

Story from Deadline:

NBCUniversal veteran Sumithra Barry is leaving the company after almost two decades.

Warner Bros Discovery pays $1.8 million to get max.com domain name

Warner Bros. Discovery paid about $1.8 million for Max .com.

Hollywood Reporter: Fox Strikes TV Licensing, Distribution Pact with Canada’s Bell Media

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Fox Entertainment Global, the nascent international distribution arm of the U.S. network, has unveiled a licensing and distribution deal with Canada’s Bell Media.

Deadline: Charter CEO Calls Disney Carriage Deal “A Significant Step Forward,” But Q3 Video Revenue Falls 9% Due To Distribution Fight And Broadband Results Hit Stock

Story from Deadline:

Charter CEO Chris Winfrey acknowledged the company’s Disney carriage fight contributed to a loss of 320,000 video customers during the third quarter, but said the deal that resulted from the dispute represents “a significant step forward for the video ecosystem.”

Deadline: Comcast Faces Skepticism On Wall Street As Ad Decline Accelerates, Strike Toll Mounts And Broadband Experiences Buffering

Story from Deadline:

Wall Street gave decidedly mixed reviews to Comcast‘s third-quarter earnings report, even though the numbers beat analysts’ expectations on both the top and bottom lines.

Deadline: Amazon Cruises Past Q3 Estimates, Touts 25% Viewership Gain For ‘Thursday Night Football’

Story from Deadline:

Amazon reported third-quarter results well ahead of Wall Street forecasts, with total revenue at $143.1 billion and earnings per share of 94 cents.

Deadline: BBC News Exec Jess Brammar Becomes Content Boss Charlotte Moore’s Right-Hand Woman

Story from Deadline:

The BBC exec who has overseen the creation of the new domestic-global news channel is to take up a role as Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore‘s right-hand woman.

Deadline: Comcast Shrugs Off Domestic Ad Dip To Top Wall Street Q3 Estimates; Peacock Hits 28M Paid Subscribers

Story from Deadline:

Comcast beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter revenue and earnings despite an 8% year-over-year drop in domestic advertising.

Deadline; Paramount Streaming Reorg: Chief Product Officer Rob Gelick Out As Streamer Merges Units

Story from Deadline:

Paramount is restructuring its streaming operations.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Shakes Up Consumer Products Division

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery will overhaul the executive structure of its global consumer products and franchises division, the unit that oversees the management of its intellectual property as well as DC Comics.

Deadline: Paramount Vet Georgia Arnold’s Exit Sparks Restructure At Social Impact Division

Story from Deadline:

Last month, it emerged Paramount Global vet Georgia Arnold was exiting after nearly three decades, and we’ve now learned her departure has sparked a global restructure of the company’s Social Impact unit.

Deadline: Apple Hikes Price Of Apple TV+

Story from Deadline:

Apple is raising the price of a handful of subscription services led by Apple TV+, which will now cost $9.99, up from $6.99.

TBI Vision: Warner Bros’ Discovery’s head of programming in Germany exits after 15 years

Story from TBI Vision:

Warner Bros’ Discovery’s head of programming in Germany, Anke Greifeneder, is stepping down after more than 15 years with the company.

Viaplay Group Crisis - Broadband TV News: Viaplay Group puts back Q3 financials

Story from Broadband TV News:

Viaplay Group’s Board of Directors has announced it’s rescheduling the publication of its Q3 2023 financial results amid potential recapitalisation of the Group and the potential sale of part of the business.

Deadline: Tracy Spiridakos Leaving ‘Chicago P.D.’ After Season 11

Story from Deadline:

The upcoming (abbreviated) eleventh season of NBC’s Chicago P.D. will be the last for Tracy Spiridakos, Deadline has confirmed.

Deadline: Disney Set To Sell Indian Operation To Reliance Industries In Deal Valuing Biz At $10B

Story from Deadline:

Disney could be offloading its Indian operation in a deal valuing the business at $10B.

Hollywood Reporter: Paramount+ to Roll Out Premium and Ad Tiers in Multiple Markets, Including Canada and Australia

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount+, the flagship streaming service of Paramount Global, has unveiled the rollout of premium and advertising subscription tiers in key international markets.

Deadline: Sony Pictures Television Taps Tania Missad As Head Of Research, Strategy & Analysis

Story from Deadline:

Sony Pictures Television has hired Tania Missad as EVP of Research, Strategy and Analysis.

Deadline; All3Media Sale: Bidding Moves To Final Stage As Frontrunners Emerge Including Goldman Sachs

Story from Deadline: 

The auction for All3Media has reached its final stage and frontrunners have emerged to acquire the The Traitors super-indie.

Deadline: ‘Last Week Tonight’: John Oliver Jokes On Reason Why O. J. Simpson Doesn’t Star In The ‘Sweeney Todd’ Musical

Story from Deadline:

John Oliver got back to talking about politics on Last Week Tonight and took a swipe at O.J. Simpson.

CNBC: Paramount’s Shari Redstone is open for business, but business may not be open for her

Story from CNBC:

Shari Redstone may have missed her window.

Deadline: Matthew Vaughn Suggests Marvel Studios “Make Less Films & Concentrate On Making Them Great”

Story from Deadline:

Matthew Vaughn is no stranger to the superhero genre being the director of Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class and has a suggestion for Marvel Studios and DC as “superhero fatigue” continues to be a topic of conversation.

BBC News: Netflix raises prices despite password crackdown success

Story from BBC News:

Netflix is raising prices for some of its subscription plans, despite the success of its recent crackdown on password sharing.

Deadline: Elita Fielder Adjei Named VP Of Communications For CBS Stations

Story from Deadline:

Elita Fielder Adjei has been named vice president of communications for CBS Stations.

Deadline: Disney Unveils ESPN Financials As It Preps Standalone Sports Segment

Story from Deadline:

Disney offered a first glimpse under ESPN‘s hood ahead of earnings next month when it plans to break out Sports as its own business segment — part of a restructuring initiated by CEO Bob Iger.

Deadline: ProSiebenSat.1 Restructures Seven.One Entertainment Group With Networks Head Daniel Rosemann & Joyn Boss Exiting

Story from Deadline:

European TV giant ProSiebenSat.1 has restructured its Seven.One Entertainment Group — with the changes seeing top German channel manager Daniel Rosemann exiting after 15 years and the CEO of Joyn also leaving.

Deadline: To the Max

Story from Deadline:

At Deadline Towers at least, there had been real anticipation about Gerhard Zeiler‘s Monday Morning Media Mastermind address.

Deadline: Walt Disney Distribution Exec Matt Kalavsky Upped To SVP & General Sales Manager

Story from Deadline:

Disney distribution executive Matt Kalavsky has been promoted to Senior Vice President and General Sales Manager, Domestic Theatrical Distribution, for Disney Entertainment.

Deadline: Showtime To Shut Down Sports Division

Story from Deadline:

The changes at Showtime continue.

Broadband TV News: Netflix enters world of live sports

Story from Broadband TV News:

Netflix is to screen its own live golf event, The Netflix Cup, as drivers from its Formula 1: Drive to Survive compete with golfers from the Full Swing series.

Broadband TV News: Disney discount boosts subscriber take-up

Story from Broadband TV News:

A £1.99 for 3 months campaign by Disney+ has helped the House of Mouse triple its subscriber acquisition rate.

Variety: Paula Reid Named CNN’s Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent

Story from Variety:

Paula Reid, has been named CNN‘s chief legal affairs correspondent, a vote of confidence in the reporter who joined the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet in 2021.

Broadband TV News: Liberty Global acquires 100% of Telenet

Story from Broadband TV News:

Liberty Global has acquired 100% of the Belgian operator Telenet following a simplified squeeze-out.

Deadline: BBC Studios Exec Caroline Stone Heads To Pathé UK

Story from Deadline:

Former BBC Studios exec Caroline Stone has joined the UK-branch of French film company Pathé, Pathé Productions, in the newly created role of commercial director.

Deadline; Warner Bros. Discovery Unveils European Launch Details For Max Streamer Including In France As International Boss Gerhard Zeiler Talks Up Synergies: “We Are On The Way To $5B And Who Knows Where We Will End Up?”

Story from Deadline:

The Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streamer will launch in 22 European countries in spring 2024 and France and Belgium later next year, the media outfit revealed today.

Deadline: ‘Kick-Ass’ Director Matthew Vaughn Teases Reboot & Shares ‘Kingsman 3’ Update

Story from Deadline:

Matthew Vaughn, director of the Kick-Ass film franchise, is teasing the reboot movie and saying that none of the previous actors are coming back but leaves the door open for future installments.

Hollywood Reporter; Netflix Earnings Preview: Analysts Cut Stock Price Targets As Wall Street Resets Expectations

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Netflix is expected to post strong subscriber gains when it reports its latest quarterly results on Oct. 18, but you couldn’t tell that from the stock’s performance since the global streamer’s July earnings update, when it added 5.9 million subscribers to total 238.4 million global paid memberships.

Deadline: Chris Evans Ponders Return To Stage; Chukwudi Iwuji On Landing ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy 3’ Gig As Marvel Stars Make NYCC Appearance During Actors Strike

Story from Deadline:

Don’t say the ‘M’ word.

Media Guardian: Disney execs consider radical shake-up as crisis hits centenary celebrations

Story from Media Guardian:

As Disney celebrates a glittering century of global success this week, behind closed doors its top executives are contemplating what could be the most radical shake-up in the history of the world’s biggest entertainment company.

Deadline: Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer Sees Pay Rebound In Fiscal 2023

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer‘s compensation rebounded to prior levels in fiscal 2023, reaching $21.5 million.

Variety; ‘We’ve Barely Scratched the Surface’: Kevin Feige Reflects on Marvel Studios’ Impact Since ‘Iron Man’

Story from Variety:

In advance of The Walt Disney Co.’s 100th anniversary on October 16, Variety connected with leaders and filmmakers from across its wide creative empire, including Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Studios.

Digital TV Europe: DAZN becomes world’s largest investor in women’s football broadcast

Story from Digital TV Europe:

DAZN Group has announced it has become the world’s largest investor in women’s football broadcasting, with the creation of a new department dedicated exclusively to women’s sport.

Advanced Television: Disney, Comcast need help to value Hulu

Story from Advanced Television:

Disney and Comcast have failed to reach a price that both will be happy with for US streaming service Hulu.

Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery Sets Out International Licensing Structure Following Robert Blair’s Exit; David Decker Expands Role

Story from Deadline:

In the past few minutes, Warner Bros Discovery has set out plans for its new look international sales team following Robert Blair‘s exit.

Variety: Byron Allen Says Buying ABC Would Be a ‘Real Possibility,’ Vows to ‘Chase It Down’ When Disney Is Ready

Story from Variety:

After making it known in September that he’s interested in acquiring ABC from Disney for a price tag of $10 billion, Byron Allen assures Variety he still has his eyes set on ABC and promises he’s ready play ball when Disney is ready to sell.

BBC News: RTÉ 'will be insolvent by spring' without funding

Story from BBC News:

Irish broadcaster RTÉ will be insolvent by next spring if it does not receive proper funding, its director general has said.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Plans Post-Season ‘Peloteros’ Baseball Broadcasts With Focus on Hispanic Audiences

Story from Variety:

As Major League Baseball‘s post-season continues, Warner Bros. Discovery wants to talk baseball or beisbol.

Variety; ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Releases Writers and Directors as Marvel Plans Overhaul of Series

Story from Variety:

“Daredevil: Born Again” is undergoing a major creative overhaul, Variety has confirmed.

Variety: Google Will Drop Claim That YouTube TV Is ‘$600 Less Than Cable’ After Charter Complaint to Advertising Board

Story from Variety:

Google said it will no longer claim that YouTube TV is “$600 less than cable” in its advertising, after an industry ad-review board found the assertion was potentially misleading.

Broadband TV News: Blackstone targets Disney+ Hotstar

Story from Broadband TV News:

The private equity firm Hotstar are reportedly held talks with Disney about taking a stake in its Indian streaming operation Hotstar.

Deadline: CW Hires Ryan Sharkey As Senior VP, Programming, Content & Strategy

Story from Deadline:

Ryan Sharkey has been named senior vice president, programming and content strategy at CW. He replaces Kevin Levy, who left the network in June.

New York Post: Disney CEO Bob Iger ‘overwhelmed and exhausted’ during company slump

Story from New York Post:

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger has reportedly been left “overwhelmed and exhausted” by the challenge of righting the ship at the Mouse House, whose tanking stock price has spurred activist investor Nelson Peltz to further boost his stake in the firm.

BBC News; WWE & UFC merger: Lawrence Epstein on potential for joint events and fighter pay

Story from BBC News:

Lawrence Epstein has seen UFC undergo huge changes and hit major milestones since he joined full time in 2007.

Bizasia: Disney holds talks with Gautam Adani & Sun TV to sell Star India & Hotstar

Story from Bizasia:

Disney has reportedly held talks with Gautam Adani and Sun TV Network owner Kalanithi Maran to sell its linear television business and digital streaming platform in India.

Broadband TV News: TVP inks key football deal

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Polish public broadcaster TVP has signed an agreement with the country’s Football Association PZPN securing exclusive rights to a host of competitions until 2027.

Broadband TV News: Dutch channel MAX means in the Benelux it’s still HBO Max

Story from Broadband TV News:

Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service Max will keep the name HBO Max when it launches in the Benelux region next year.

C21 Media: SRMG, Warner Bros Discovery partner on Arabic-language platform Asharq Discovery

Story from C21 Media:

MENA-based media group SRMG is partnering with Warner Bros Discovery to launch Asharq Discovery, a new free-to-view Arabic-language platform.

Deadline: New CNN Boss Mark Thompson Praises Staffers In Video Message, Says That Conventional TV “Can No Longer Define Us”

Story from Deadline:

CNN‘s new chairman and CEO Mark Thompson officially started in his job leading the network on Monday, telling staffers in an internal video message that the news organization needed to make advancements in digital and that conventional TV “can no longer define us.”

Hollywood Reporter: Disney Promotes Lylle Breier to Executive VP of Marketing Partnerships and Special Events

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Lylle Breier has been promoted to executive vp of marketing partnerships and special events at the Walt Disney Co.

Deadline: Great American Living Channel Rebrands To Reflect Focus On Faith-Based Programming

Story from Deadline:

Great American Media is making a change to its Great American Living cable channel.

Deadline: Fox Entertainment Global Hires David Smyth As EVP, Sales

Story from Deadline:

Fox Entertainment Global, the international distribution division of the broadcast network, is staffing up.

Deadline: Fremantle Spain Boss Heads To ITV Studios To Head Up Iberia Production Unit

Story from Deadline:

Fremantle Spain boss Nathalie Garcia is heading to ITV Studios to head up a new entity helming evergreen formats in the nation.

Deadline; Another Headache For Disney: Activist Investor Nelson Peltz Is Back And Said To Be Seeking Board Seats

Story from Deadline:

Activist investor Nelson Peltz, who dropped a long battle with Disney early this year, has amassed a large stake in the media giant and is said to be seeking board seats.

Deadline; ‘Last Week Tonight’: John Oliver Throws Darts At Former Fox News Host Tucker Carlson

Story from Deadline:

John Oliver was back at it again with Last Week Tonight on Max and threw some darts at frequent target Tucker Carlson.

Deadline: CW Parent Nexstar Says Disney-Charter Deal Is A “Positive” For Broadcast TV

Story from Deadline:

In a boosterish, 12-page slide deck issued this morning, top station group owner and CW parent Nexstar Media Group made the case for broadcast television and saluted last month’s Disney–Charter carriage deal.

Deadline: ‘Blade Runner’ Chops Northern Ireland Filming Plans; Amazon Will Return Funding Money

Story from Deadline:

Blade Runner is the latest big-budget product to announce changes to its shooting schedule this year, with the TV series no longer set to be filmed in Northern Ireland.

Deadline; Michael Chiarello Dies: Former Food Network Star Was 61

Story from Deadline:

Michael Chiarello, a celebrity chef and a former star of Food Network, has died at the age of 61.

Deadline: DreamWorks Animation Hit With Layoffs, Cuts 4% Of Its Staff

Story from Deadline:

DreamWorks Animation is making cuts and slashing four percent of its staff.

Deadline; Nick Wilkinson Dies: Casting Director for ABC Television Was 69

Story from Deadline:

Nick Wilkinson, a casting director for ABC Television and Theatre Communications Group, died Sept. 29 on the Hawaiian island of Kauai from a heart attack at age 69.

Deadline: ‘Magnum P.I.’ Showrunner On If Canceled Show Will End Season 5 Part 2 On A Cliffhanger

Story from Deadline:

Magnum P.I. is ending its run on NBC with Season 5 Part 2 and fans of the show have been wondering if the series would have a proper sendoff.

Deadline: Roy Wood Jr. Quotes Doug Herzog While Explaining Why He Left ‘The Daily Show’: “You Don’t Own These Jobs. You Rent Them”

Story from Deadline:

Roy Wood Jr. offered more of an explanation Thursday on why he decided to leave The Daily Show.

Media Guardian: News Corp sells stake in gambling startup Betr after initial investment of $70m

Story from Media Guardian:

News Corp has sold its shares in gambling startup Betr less than a year after its launch and having received a record $210,000 fine from regulators in April.

Deadline: ‘Star Wars’ Movies Head To Disney Linear Networks, Will Be Shared With Turner Nets Under New Deal

Story from Deadline:

In addition to streaming on Disney+, all 11 live-action Star Wars movies will now also be available on Disney’s linear networks — including broadcast (ABC) and cable (FX nets, Freeform) — starting this month.

Sports Mole: Apple wants to take over global F1 TV rights

Story from Sports Mole:

Apple has reportedly set its sights on a major Formula 1 deal.

Deadline: Amazon Global Communications Operations Undergo Layoffs

Story from Deadline:

There are layoffs happening today across Amazon communications divisions domestically and in several other countries, sources tell Deadline.

Broadband TV News: UPC boosts channel offer in Slovakia

Story from Broadband TV News:

UPC Slovakia has made HD versions of TV Paprika and Spektrum available to its subscribers.

Deadline; Paul Noble Dies: Longtime Sony Pictures Marketing Co-Head Was 51

Story from Deadline:

Paul Noble, a veteran executive who served as co-head of global theatrical marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment since 2021, has died. He was 51.

The company confirmed to Deadline that Noble died September 9 of bulbar ALS at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood. He has been diagnosed in summer 2021.

“Paul was a rare and marvelous human being, possessed with an abundance of positivity, warmth, humor and kindness,” Sony Chairman Tom Rothman wrote in an email to staff. “He faced his diagnosis with courage and grace and in doing so set a remarkable example for his family and, indeed, for all of us. To say he will be missed is of course an understatement.”

Following a decade-plus film-marketing career marketing at top agencies in London, Noble joined Sony Pictures in Los Angeles in 2015, initially as SVP International Marketing and later EVP before being promoted to Co-President of International Marketing in 2018. He was upped to Co-President of Global Marketing alongside Andre Caraco the following year.

When SPE merged its theatrical, home entertainment and TV distribution marketing operations in October 2020, Noble was charged with managing the new division, along with Danielle Misher and Lexine Won, as Caraco stepped down.

During his long career as a senior creative executive, he oversaw foreign campaigns for pics including Furious 7, Despicable Me 2 and Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds as well as such Sony hits as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Venom and Peter Rabbit. The Spider-Man spinoff Venom was a shot in the arm for Sony’s Marvel canon in 2018, posting a record October opening of $80.2M en route to a $855 million global take.

Noble is survived by his wife, Esme, and two children Rudy and Jean.

Digital TV Europe: Discovery+ boost subscription prices in US and Canada

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Warner Bros. Discovery-backed streaming service discovery+ has hiked prices for its ad-free monthly subscription in the US from $6.99 to $8.99.

Deadline: Netflix Business Affairs Execs Bryony Gagan, Amy Paquette, Tim Mizrahi & Stephen Zager Exit As Part Of Restructure

Story from Deadline:

Netflix is going through some more changes on the corporate side.

X: Warner Bros Discovery elevates Janhavi Vyas as Head of Marketing- South Asia

Story from X:

Warner Bros Discovery elevates Janhavi Vyas as Head of Marketing- South Asia.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max Is Tops In Streaming Satisfaction, According To Analytics Report

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max ranked highest in total customer satisfaction among U.S. subscription-streaming services, according to Whip Media’s 2023 Streaming Satisfaction Report.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery International Boss Gerhard Zeiler Sets New Leadership Team Following Spate Of Exits

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery international boss Gerhard Zeiler has set a new leadership structure for his team following a spate of exits in the past few weeks.

Hollywood Reporter: ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sets Return Date at NBC

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Saturday Night Live will once again be live in October.

Deadline: Jenna Boyd Named Head Of Scripted Series Development At Disney Branded Television

Story from Deadline:

Veteran kids’ and family entertainment executive Jenna Boyd has joined Disney Branded Television as SVP of Development.

Digital TV Europe: Netflix reportedly planning price hike for ad-free tier

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Netflix is reportedly planning to increase the price for its ad-free offering when the SAG-AFTRA Hollywood actors strike draws to a close.

Deadline: DirecTV Cautions Warner Bros. Discovery Over CNN Max; Warner Bros. Discovery Says Streamer’s Goal Is To “Reach New Audiences”

Story from Deadline:

In another latest salvo amid tensions between video providers and programmers, DirecTV sent a letter to Warner Bros. Discovery warning that offering CNN as part of its streaming package risks violating the contract between the two companies.

Deadline: Lamar Chase Promoted to SVP Current Programming At Sony Pictures Television

Story from Deadline:

Sony Pictures Television has promoted Lamar Chase to SVP, Current Programming. Reporting to EVP Current Programming Marie Jacobson, who heads the indie studio’s current scripted series department, Chase will continue to work alongside Morgana Cabrera-Rosenberg who was promoted to SVP, Current Programming in March.

Deadline: Disney Must Face Pared-Down Antitrust Suit On Live Streaming Pay TV, Says Federal Judge

Story from Deadline:

A federal judge in California ruled today that a class action antitrust lawsuit against Disney can go forward, though he struck down a chunk of the case, which was filed last fall.

Deadline: Discovery+ Sets First Price Hike Since 2021 Launch

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery has implemented the first price hike for Discovery+ since the streaming service launched in the U.S. in January 2021.

Houston Teams Astros and Rockets save AT&T SportsNet Southwest from axe

Story from X:

Houston Teams Astros and Rockets Buy Out RSN From Warner Bros. Discovery.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery France Boss Pierre Branco Becomes Latest International Exec To Depart

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery France boss Pierre Branco has become the latest international exec to depart the company.

Deadline: Who Are The ‘SNL’ Season 49 Hosts, Cast & Guests? What’s The Show’s Schedule?

Story from Deadline:

While Season 48 of Saturday Night Live was cut short by the writers strike in May, the iconic late-night show is set for a full Season 49 this winter.

Broadband TV News: Fox rebrands in the Balkans

Story from Broadband TV News:

Fox has now officially rebranded as Star Channel in the Balkans.

Deadline: ‘Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver Congratulates Writers For Fair Deal, Hopes Actors & Crews Also Get A “Piece Of The Pie”

Story from Deadline:

“We missed so much [during the last five months] that it would take a whole new version of Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire to cover it,” said John Oliver as he returned to the Last Week Tonight desk.