Hollywood Reporter; TV Ratings: CNN’s ‘King Charles’ Premiere Flops

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The reign of King Charles — the CNN show, not the British monarch — began rather quietly Wednesday.

Advanced Television: Sony-Zee merger at risk again

Story from Advanced Television:

The on-off merger between tow Indian entertainment giant, Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) and Sony Corp’s India production and broadcasting divisions is again at risk of collapsing.

Deadline: ‘Chicago Fire’ Star Alberto Rosende To Exit Series

Story from Deadline:

After four seasons starring as Blake Gallo, Alberto Rosende is set to exit from Chicago Fire following a final appearance in the Season 12 premiere, Deadline has learned.

RTÉ: Cuts to content announced by RTÉ over 'financial challenges'

Story from RTÉ:

RTÉ has announced a minimum of €10 million in cuts to expenditure planned for next year.

Deadline: NASCAR Revs Seven-Year TV Deals With Fox, NBC & New Partners Prime Video, TNT

Story from Deadline:

The green flag has dropped on NASCAR‘s next USA TV rights deals.

Deadline: BBC Studios Scripted Boss Says “We Need To Think About How To Create Drama & Comedy At A Lower Tariff”

Story from Deadline:

BBC Studios Scripted MD Mark Linsey has said the production community “needs to think about how to make drama and comedy at a lower tariff” amidst a tricky economic situation.

Hollywood Reporter: Fresh Off Bellator Acquisition, PFL Inks Multi-Year Deal Renewal With ESPN

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Fresh off its blockbuster acquisition of Bellator, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has inked a new multi-year deal with its U.S. broadcast partner ESPN.

Deadline: Lionsgate Promotes Kate Nexon To President, Domestic TV & Digital Distribution

Story from Deadline:

Kate Nexon has been promoted at Lionsgate.

Deadline: David Zaslav Hints At Potential Reunion With Ex-CNN Boss Chris Licht, Reflects On Jeff Zucker Exit And Reaffirms Plan To Avoid Making It An “Advocacy Network”

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav gave former CNN chief Chris Licht a warm endorsement, even hinting at the possibility that the TV news vet could work again with the company.

Deadline; Disney Board Shuffle: Former Sky Chief Jeremy Darroch, Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman Appointed Directors As Francis A. deSouza Plans To Surrender His Seat

Story from Deadline:

The Walt Disney Co. has added former Group CEO of Sky Jeremy Darroch and Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman to its board of directors and said Francis A. deSouza plans to surrender his seat at the end of his term.

Deadline: Disney Linear TV Networks “Not For Sale,” CEO Bob Iger Says, Though “Unbelievably Rigorous” Internal Review Continues To Gauge Their Long-Term Strategic Value

Story from Deadline:

Shifting away from sentiments he expressed in an interview last summer that Disney‘s linear TV networks “may not be core” to the company, Disney CEO Bob Iger said they are “not for sale.”

Daily Mail: Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond to leave The Grand Tour https://

Story from Daily Mail:

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are set to leave The Grand Tour, bringing an end to a 20-year-long partnership.

Variety; Going Private: What’s Next for Ari Emanuel, TKO, WME and Other Assets as Silver Lake Makes Its Move

Story from Variety:

After two and a half years as a public entity, Endeavor is on the verge of going private again.

Deadline: Jeff Grossman, Amy Kuessner Upped To EVP Programming For Paramount+, Pluto TV

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Streaming has elevated the top programming executives at flagship platform Paramount+ and free, ad-supported service Pluto TV.

Deadline: Paramount Advertising Chief John Halley Says Current Mix Of Streaming, Linear And Digital Is “A Big Mess” For Buyers And Sellers, “But We’re Going To Work Toward A Better Future”

Story from Deadline

Paramount Advertising President John Halley says the current marketplace, with free and subscription streaming, digital inventory and linear TV as well as uncertainty about measurement is “a big mess” for both buyers and sellers.

Variety: TVB, Hong Kong’s Top Broadcaster, to Lay-Off 300 Staff and Cut Channels

Story from Variety:

Television Broadcasts (TVB), long the dominant free-to-air TV operator in Hong Kong is to dismiss 300 staff, or 8% of its already reduced workforce, in a further cost cutting move.

Daily Mail: WWE backstage chaos during CM Punk return - everything we know so far

Story from Daily Mail:

CM Punk made his shock return to WWE on Saturday night to close their Survivor Series premium live event, and while his hometown crowd of Chicago was elated to see him, it appears precious few of his peers were as excited.

Deadline: ‘Doctor Who’ Shakes Up Writers’ Payment Structure After Disney+ Boards BBC Sci-Fi Series

Story from Deadline:

Doctor Who, the long-running BBC sci-fi series, has shifted away from a residual model for its writers since Disney+ came on board as a partner, we understand.

Deadline: ‘Fast & Furious 9’ UK Production Entity Fined $1M After Stuntman Suffered Brain Damage In Set Accident

Story from Deadline:

The UK production entity behind 2021’s Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga has been fined £800,000 ($1 million) after one of its stuntmen suffered brain damage after a fall during production.

Viaplay Group Crisis - X EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy UK told of Newspaper reports in Sweden reporting 3 broadcasters are interested in Viaplay Group

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

Media Boy UK on X has tonight been told by Media Boy UK on X Follower "rangman106" at Newspaper reports in Sweden is reporting a following broadcasters are interested in buying (all or shares) in Viaplay Group:

Broadband TV News: Axel Springer to close BILD TV channel

Story from Broadband TV News:

German media company Axel Springer will shut down linear TV channel BILD on December 31, 2023.

Deadline; Disney’s Fiscal 2023 Results: Content Spending Eases, Streaming Proceeds Eclipse Affiliate Revenue As ESPN Penetration Falls To 71M Households

Story from Deadline:

Disney crossed a key threshold in fiscal 2023, taking in more revenue from streaming than from linear TV for the first time.

Broadband TV News: Sky and A+E Networks Germany renew carriage deal

Story from Broadband TV News:

The channels from A+E Networks Germany will continue to be available on Sky Deutschland’s pay-TV platform.

Deadline: Saudi-Backed Professional Fighters League Buys Bellator From Paramount Global, Says Roster “Now Equal In Stature To UFC”

Story from Deadline:

Mixed martial arts outfit Professional Fighters League (PFL) has acquired Bellator from Paramount Global, saying the deal includes top fighters and creates “a roster now equal in stature to UFC.”

Deadline; ‘FBI: Most Wanted’: Alexa Davalos Not Returning For Season 5 Of CBS Drama

Story from Deadline:

With two Hollywood strikes, it’s unclear when CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted will return for a fifth season, but when it does, it will be without one of its series regulars, Alexa Davalos.

Deadline; Shantel VanSanten Moves From ‘FBI’ To ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ For Season 5

Story from Deadline:

Shantel VanSanten is moving from FBI to FBI: Most Wanted for the latter show’s fifth season.

Deadline: CNN Sets ‘King Charles’ Premiere Date

Story from Deadline:

CNN has set November 29th as the premiere date for King Charles, the primetime limited series hosted by Gayle King and Charles Barkley.

Deadline: Max Slashes Price Of Ad Tier To $3 A Month In New Streaming Offer

Story from Deadline:

Looking to goose subscriber numbers heading into the holidays, Max is slashing the monthly price of its ad-supported tier to $2.99.

Variety; Box Office: ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel Lands on Top With $44 Million, ‘The Marvels’ Collapses With Historic 78% Drop

Story from Variety:

The odds were ever in favor of “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which emerged victorious in a busy box office weekend despite opening slightly behind expectations.

FT: Leonard Blavatnik’s entertainment empire plans media acquisition spree

Story from FT:

Sir Leonard Blavatnik is planning to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in buying up media businesses and producing new TV, films and theatre, according to the boss of the Ukraine-born billionaire’s entertainment empire.

Deadline: Matt Bomer Says “There’s Legitimate Talk” About Reviving ‘White Collar’

Story from Deadline:

A long in the works revival of White Collar may be coming to fruition.

Deadline: Rupert Murdoch Praises His Son As “Principled Leader” As He Passes News Corp. Reins

Story from Deadline:

Rupert Murdoch is finally — allegedly — slowing down, marking his final day Wednesday as Executive Chairman of News Corp. by praising his son Lachlan, who is taking over his role as company leader.

RTÉ: Decision on long-term RTÉ funding due 'in coming months' - Taoiseach

Story from RTÉ:

A decision about the long-term funding of RTÉ will be made "in the coming months" the Taoiseach has said, with a view to having a new system in place by 2025.

Deadline: ‘Chicago Fire’ Star Kara Killmer To Depart In Season 12

Story from Deadline:

Chicago Fire will say goodbye to Kara Killmer during the NBC show’s twelfth season, Deadline has confirmed.

Deadline: ‘Home Improvement’ Spinoff Mulled By Tim Allen And Show’s Cast

Story from Deadline:

Every home needs some renovation at some point.

Digital TV Europe: Activist investor ValueAct takes Disney stake

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Another activist investor, ValueAct Capital, has taken what is understood to be a significant stake in Disney.

Hollywood Reporter: On Rupert Murdoch’s Last Day as News Corp Chair, Mogul Says He Hopes to Keep “Active Role” at Company

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Wednesday marks Rupert Murdoch‘s last day as chairman of News Corp., the publishing company that formed his initial entry into the U.S. market nearly 50 years ago.

Deadline; Destin Daniel Cretton Departs As Director On ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’; Remains Aboard ‘Wonder Man’, ‘Shang-Chi 2’ & More In MCU

Story from Deadline:

Deadline hears that filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton has decided to step away as director of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Kang Dynasty to focus on his other Marvel projects.

Digital TV Europe: NWSL signs four-year rights deal with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps Sports

Story from Digital TV Europe:

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has secured US coverage across CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports in a four-year rights deal.

Hollywood Reporter; ‘South Park’ Streaming Rights Standoff: Judge Rules Against Warners on Some Claims in Licensing Battle

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

A New York judge has trimmed Warner Bros. Discovery‘s lawsuit looking to enforce the company’s exclusive streaming rights to South Park on HBO Max.

X EXCLUSIVE: DAZN Group looking for new investors

Story from Media Boy UK on X:

A Media Boy UK on X source has told me tonight that DAZN Group are looking for Comcast to take them over.

Hollywood Reporter: David Zaslav Admits Striking Writers Were “Right About Almost Everything”

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav now admits that striking writers were correct in their demands for sweeping changes in how creatives are compensated in Hollywood.

RTÉ: Media Minister welcomes RTÉ plan to cap salaries at €250k

Story from RTÉ:

Minister for Media Catherine Martin has welcomed a plan to cap RTÉ salaries at €250,000, so that no one in the organisation will earn more than the Director General.

Broadcast Sport: Global Cycling Network app and GCN+ to close

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Global Cycling Network (GCN) app and GCN+ service is closing from 19 December.

Advanced Television: Schmitter named CEO of RTL Deutschland

Story from Advanced Television:

RTL Deutschland has announced that Stephan Schmitter will become CEO of the German media company effective January 1st 2024.

Broadband TV News: Setanta Sports teams up with Netflix

Story from Broadband TV News:

Setanta Sports, a leading sports multimedia platform present across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Netflix in 13 countries.

Deadline; ‘Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow’ Movie At DC Studios Finds Writer

Story from Deadline:

Ana Nogueira has been set to write Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow for Warner Bros. and DC Studios.

Deadline: ‘Young Sheldon’ To End With Season 7 On CBS; Series Finale Date Set

Story from Deadline:

CBS‘ No. 1 comedy series Young Sheldon is coming to an end.

Deadline: James Gunn Says Ana Nogueira’s ‘Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow’ Script Is “Above And Beyond Anything I Hoped It Would Be”

Story from Deadline:

James Gunn has confirmed that Ana Nogueira will be the writer taking Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow to the big screen.

Variety: Warner Bros. Pictures Strikes New Co-Financing Deal With Domain Capital

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has entered into a new co-financing pact with Domain Capital, a multi-year arrangement that will focus on bolstering the studio’s theatrical slate.

RTÉ: 'No one at RTÉ to earn more than DG' under new strategic plan

Story from RTÉ:

No one in RTÉ will be paid a salary exceeding that of the Director-General under a maximum pay cap that is being set as part a new strategic vision for the broadcaster, a staff meeting has heard.

RTÉ: SIPTU vows to fight against RTÉ 'slash-and-burn' policies

Story from RTÉ:

SIPTU has passed an emergency motion at its Biennial Delegate Conference in Galway vowing to fight against what the union described as the "slash-and-burn" policies being pursued by RTÉ management.

Hollywood Reporter: Marvel Studios Taking Stock of Strategy Amid ‘The Marvels’ Meltdown

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The anything-but-marvelous performance of The Marvels is a moment of reckoning for Marvel Studios, the production house that has been the superhero of the box office for much of the past 15 years, since Iron Man burst onto the scene in 2008.

RTÉ: Government approves interim funding of €56m for RTÉ

Story from RTÉ:

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the Government has approved interim funding of €56 million for RTÉ, subject to conditions.

Hollywood Reporter: Why Jacob Elordi Passed on Reading for Superman and Has Moved on From Films Like ‘The Kissing Booth’

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Jacob Elordi doesn’t currently see superhero roles or parts in franchises like The Kissing Booth in his future.

Advanced Television: DISH Network lays off 500; Akhavan now CEO

Story from Advanced Television:

Denver-based DISH Network, reeling from a shrinking subscriber base and a collapsing share price, has announced that more than 500 staff are being laid off.

Advanced Television: France Télévisions chooses Eutelsat for UHD

Story from Advanced Television:

Eutelsat, already one of the two defacto suppliers of French television signals, has been selected to transmit UHD signals for France Télévisions.

Broadband TV News: BBC Studios promotes Kasia Jablonska

Story from Broadband TV News:

Kasia Jablonska has been appointed director of digital and on-demand for EMEA at BBC Studios, with immediate effect.

RTÉ: Strategic vision a start but not end in RTÉ reform process

Story from RTÉ:

It has been a tumultuous five months at the national broadcaster since it admitted in mid-June that it had paid top presenter Ryan Tubridy €345,000 more than it had declared to the public and Oireachtas over several years.

RTÉ: Government approves interim funding of €56m for RTÉ

Story from RTÉ:

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the Government has approved interim funding of €56 million for RTÉ, subject to conditions.

Media Guardian: Studio 10 morning show axed by Channel 10 after a decade on air

Story from Media Guardian:

Network 10 has axed its morning show, Studio 10, after a decade on air.

Variety: Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 Group Revenues Stabilize as Streaming Gains Offset TV Advertising Decline

Story from Variety:

Revenue gains made by streamer Joyn partially offset the continuing decline in linear TV advertising in the German-speaking region at media giant ProSiebenSat.1.

Daily Mail: Marvel slammed for 'lying' for calling The Marvels 'number-one movie'

Story from Daily Mail:

The Marvels debuted this weekend with record low profits at the box office.

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Reverses Course on ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ After Filmmakers Rebel

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

With Road Runner-like speed, Warner Bros. Discovery has reversed its decision to bury Coyote vs. Acme.

Variety: NBCUniversal Veteran Chris Lucarz Joins RWS Global as Chief Financial Officer

Story from Variety:

RWS Global, the world’s largest producer of live experiences, has hired former NBCUniversal executive Chris Lucarz as chief financial officer.

Irish Independent: One in five jobs to go at RTÉ in wake of payments scandal; leaking of strategy a ‘further blow to trust of staff’, says NUJ

Story from Irish Independent:

One in five jobs will go in RTÉ as part of a wide-ranging plan to cut costs.

Deadline; CNN Announces Series Of New Hires: Elizabeth Wagmeister Joins As Entertainment Correspondent, Elisa Raffa Returns To Network As Weather Anchor, Hanako Montgomery Tapped For Tokyo Post

Story from Deadline:

Elizabeth Wagmeister is joining CNN as correspondent covering entertainment, based in Los Angeles.

Broadband TV News: NBC News Now to run Sky News simulcast

Story from Broadband TV News:

NBC News NOW has begun the simulcast of Sky News Today with Wilfred Frost.

Deadline: James Gunn Says ‘Superman Legacy’ Still On Track For 2025 Release Despite Strikes

Story from Deadline:

James Gunn is finally talking about the developments at DC Studios after SAG-AFTRA struck a deal with the studios following a prolonged strike.

Hollywood Reporter: Wall Street Likes Bob Iger’s Disney Growth Vision, So Far

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

If the first year of Bob Iger’s sequel era leading Disney was centered on “fixing” (and, in some cases, dismantling former chief Bob Chapek’s org structures, along with 8,000 layoffs), the mogul now wants Wall Street to view Hollywood’s marquee brand as a “building” growth vehicle, premised on righting the ship in direct-to-consumer streaming with Disney+ and Hulu merging, a bright outlook for its Parks and Experiences division and cost-efficiencies found in managing the stagnant to declining linear TV assets like ABC.

CNBC: What’s Warner Bros. Discovery’s next move? David Zaslav and John Malone offer clues

Story from CNBC:

Warner Bros. Discovery’s next step to gain scale may be looking at distressed assets.

Digital TV Europe: Sony Pictures Television gives Comiskey oversight of German-speaking area

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Sony Pictures Television has given Holly Comiskey, SVP Distribution & Networks, an expanded role that will see her now also overseeing TV distribution and home entertainment across German-speaking Europe (Germany, Switzerland and Austria), in addition to the UK and Ireland.

Broadband TV News: Sky Sport Deutschland secures MotoGP

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sky Sport has secured broadcast rights to all MotoGP Grand Prix races, Tissot Sprints as well as all qualifying and training sessions.

Broadband TV News: Mediaset increases Italian advertising by 8% in 2023

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Italian broadcaster Mediaset has achieved advertising growth of 8% in October when compared with the same month in 2022.

Broadband TV News: Carriage dispute flares up in Slovakia

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Slovak national commercial broadcaster TV Markiza has terminated its distribution contracts with two operators.

Broadband TV News: United Group to buy Bulsatcom

Story from Broadband TV News:

United Group has agreed to buy the Bulgarian operator Bulsatcom for an undisclosed fee.

Broadband TV News: Disney planning to take ESPN direct-to-consumer

Story from Broadband TV News:

Disney chief executive Bob Iger says it’s “not a matter of if but when” it takes the ESPN sports channels direct-to-consumer.

Broadband TV News: Warner Bros. Discovery secures key Polish licences

Story from Broadband TV News:

Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has awarded licence extensions to three TV channels operated by Warner Bros. Discovery-owned TVN.

Hollywood Reporter; Back to Work: When TV Shows Are Returning to Production Post-Strikes

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

With more than six months of labor actions in the rear-view mirror, the industry is preparing to restart dozens of productions that were shut down while writers and actors sought new and better contracts from studios and streamers.

Deadline: Starz Restructures & Downsizes Original Programming Department; SVPs Kathryn Tyus-Adair & Kevin Hamburger Among Exec Departures

Story from Deadline:

As part of Starz‘s ongoing companywide staff reductions, the network is restructuring its original programming operation under Kathryn Busby, Starz’s President of Original Programming.

Deadline: Ari Emanuel To Buy Shares In Endeavor-Controlled TKO Group Holdings As Former WWE Chief Vince McMahon Sells Almost One-Third Of His Stake

Story from Deadline:

Vince McMahon, the longtime former CEO of WWE, is selling nearly one-third of his stake in TKO Group Holdings.

Deadline: Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer On Revving Up Production, Managing Costs As Hollywood Gets “Back To Work Making Great Content”

Story from Deadline:

Jon Feltheimer, CEO of the first media company to report quarterly earnings since SAG-AFTRA struck a deal with studios, said Thursday that he’s so pleased that “we can now all get back to making great content for a global audience.”

Deadline: ‘The Good Lawyer’ Not Going Forward As ABC Passes On ‘The Good Doctor’ Spinoff

Story from Deadline:

More fallout from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Deadline; ‘The Rookie: Feds’ Canceled By ABC After One Season

Story from Deadline:

ABC‘s The Rookie: Feds has been canceled after one season.

Broadcast Sport: NWSL agrees largest women’s sport league rights deal ever

Story from Broadcast Sport:

The NWSL has agreed a four-year US broadcast rights deal with Prime Video, CBS Sports, ESPN, and Scripp Sports, that is reportedly the largest ever agreed by a women’s sport league.

Variety: NBCUniversal Cuts Nearly 50 Employees Across Peacock Marketing, Entertainment and Ad Sales

Story from Variety:

NBCUniversal has laid off less than 50 employees across three divisions: Peacock marketing, NBCUniversal Entertainment and ad sales.

Deadline: Lionsgate Quarter Beats Street As Motion Picture Sales Soar, Profits Rise Across Divisions

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate revenue jumped to more than $1 billion in the latest quarter, up from $858 million, driven by a nearly 80% jump in the motion picture division.

Deadline: Lionsgate Increases Majority Stake In 3 Arts Entertainment

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate Entertainment is in final negotiations to acquire an additional ownership stake in management and production company 3 Arts Entertainment, sources tell Deadline.

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Shelves John Cena’s ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Movie a Year After It Completed Filming

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

A little over a year after the shelving of Batgirl sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood, Warner Bros. is putting another of its films in the studio vault.

Bizasia; Bob Iger on Disney’s future in India: “We’d like to stay in that market”

Story from Bizasia:

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, has spoken about the future of its business in India amid reports that the company is weighing up plans for Disney Star.

Deadline: Vice Media Group Lays Off More Staff

Story from Deadline:

Vice Media Group is beginning a restructuring process that will see the departure of a number of employees.

Hollywood Reporter: Disney Now in “Building” Phase, Bob Iger Says, Outlining New Areas of Focus

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The Walt Disney Co., having restructured its operations, is now moving on to its next phase under CEO Bob Iger‘s second turn leading the entertainment giant.

Hollywood Reporter: Fox Corp. Names New Chief Legal Officer Ahead of Potential Clashes

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Amid tumultuous legal waters, Fox Corporation has named a new chief lawyer.

Hollywood Reporter: Billionaire Investor John Malone Rings the Alarm About Big Tech’s Entrance Into Sports

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Liberty Global chairman John Malone said he was “ringing the alarm” on big tech’s entrance into the media ecosystem, saying they will “erode” the broadcast industry.

Hollywood Reporter; Bob Iger On SAG-AFTRA Strike Talks: “We Don’t Have Much Time” to Save Summer Film Slate

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

In July, on the same day SAG-AFTRA called for its members to strike against Hollywood’s major studios, Bob Iger made remarks at a billionaire’s retreat that cast union asks as “not realistic.” More than 100 days later, the Disney chief gave an update on how the work stoppage has hit his company as talks with the performers’ union could be progressing closer toward a deal.

Variety: Disney+, Hulu Merged App to Launch Next Month for Bundle Subscribers, Bob Iger Says

Story from Variety:

Disney, which is in the home stretch of swinging the deal to become the full owner of Hulu, will launch a beta test of an app next month that combines Disney+ and Hulu into a single experience for subscribers of both services, CEO Bob Iger said.

Hollywood Reporter; Bob Iger on Disney’s Movie Woes: “We Lost Some Focus”

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

For years, Disney ruled the roost at the global box office, shattering one industry record after another.

Variety: Disney+ Tops 150 Million Subscribers, Streaming Loss Narrows to $387 Million

Story from Variety:

Disney+ topped 150 million streaming subscriptions by the end of its fiscal fourth quarter of the year, up from 146.7 million in the previous quarter.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav “Hopeful” For Resolution To SAG-AFTRA Strike As He Touts Studios’ Final Offer; Hints At M&A

Story from Deadline:

“Let me start by saying that we are hopeful we will reach a resolution to the SAG-AFTRA strike,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said Wednesday at the top of the company’s post-earnings call with Wall Street.

Deadline: David Zaslav Confirms CNN Max Viewers Are “20 Years Younger” Than News Net’s TV Audience As He Pays Tribute To CNN Reporters In Israel, Gaza & Ukraine

Story from Deadline:

CNN Max is attracting users who are “20 years younger” than traditional TV viewers, according to Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Shares Pummeled After Glum Outlook For U.S. Advertising

Story from Deadline:

Investors bid down shares of Warner Bros. Discovery today as its chief financial officer described a U.S. ad market “that has continued to be weaker than we had hoped” and a recovery that’s hard to predict “with any conviction.”

Variety: Disney’s Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Zaslav Tout Hopes for SAG-AFTRA Strike Resolution ‘Soon’ During Studios Latest Earnings

Story from Variety:

Hollywood CEOs Bob Iger of Disney and David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery each addressed the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike during their respective companies’ earnings results Wednesday, both expressing optimism that the work stoppage will end “soon” following the studios’ move to adjust AI language in its “last, best and final offer” to the actors union.

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery Posts $111M Streaming Profit, While ‘Barbie’ Powers Studio

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery, led by CEO David Zaslav, shrunk its overall losses on higher revenues as the impact of the dual Hollywood strikes weighed on the major studio, as did a sluggish U.S. ad market.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Sees ‘Barbie’ Boost & Free Cash Flow, But Quarter Squeezed By Strike, Soft Ad Market

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery’s third quarter was mixed with Barbie coin and free cash flow beloved by Wall Street offset by sluggish advertising and the impact of the actors’ strike on the one of the industry’s biggest content creators.

Variety; Nexstar Q3 Earnings: TV Ad Sales Down 23%, The CW Network Losses Narrow

Story from Variety:

Nexstar reported its third-quarter 2023 earnings Wednesday, revealing TV ad revenue was down overall 23% for the July-September quarter.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Narrows Q3 Loss, but ‘Barbie’ Success Tempered by Advertising Declines

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery narrowed its third-quarter loss as the media giant, grappling with billions of dollars in debt as a result of the 2022 merger that created it, saw the box-office success of “Barbie” offset by a 12% decline in advertising at its portfolio of TV networks.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate And Gray Television Team With Free TV Networks, A New Programmer With A Presence On Broadcast TV And Streaming

Story from Deadline:

Free TV Networks, a new programming entity with a presence in both over-the-air broadcast and streaming, has enlisted Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate and Gray Television as partners and suppliers.

Deadline: Endeavor Q3 Results Hit By Hollywood Strikes, But Sports Rights Gains Help Total Revenue Beat Wall Street Expectations

Story from Deadline:

Endeavor posted a mixed bag of third-quarter results Wednesday, with its Representation division showing negative impact from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Deadline: ITV Sees Studios & Streaming Revenues Grow To Offset Network Drops

Story from Deadline:

ITV Studios and ITVX revenues helped to offset falls in linear at UK network ITV in the first nine months of 2023.

Hollywood Reporter: RTL Group Revenue Hit As Weak Ad Market Counters Streamer Growth

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

A still-soft advertising market pulled down revenue at European broadcast giant RTL Group, Fremantle‘s parent company, which reported a 6.9 percent drop in turnover from January to September 2023 to €4.66 billion.

Variety: ‘The Marvels’ First Reactions Praise ‘Short and Sweet,’ ‘Astonishingly Wacky’ Film: ‘Exactly What a Comic Book Movie Should Be’

Story from Variety:

Marvel has finally unveiled its latest tentpole, “The Marvels,” and film journalists are calling the Nia DaCosta-directed tentpole a “short and sweet,” “astonishingly wacky” film that’s “full of girl power.”

Variety; Netflix’s New Film Strategy: Why the Streaming Giant Is Betting on Quality Over Quantity

Story from Variety:

In 2018, “Saturday Night Live” captured the public perception of Netflix as a ceaseless river of content.

Deadline: Lauren Stein Upped To Head Of Creative At Sony Pictures TV

Story from Deadline:

Sony Pictures Television Studios’ head of drama Lauren Stein has been elevated to Head of Creative.

Deadline: Candle Media Co-Chief Kevin Mayer On Disney Issues Like Succession, ESPN’s Future, Streaming Economics & More: “Bob Has His Hands Full”

Story from Deadline:

Streaming‘s challenging economics will make industry consolidation “inevitable,” in the view of Candle Media Co-CEO Kevin Mayer, but Big Tech and Hollywood are likely to remain in separate camps.

Media Guardian: USL to be broadcast on network TV for the first time in history

Story from Media Guardian:

CBS and the United States Soccer League have reached an agreement to broadcast games on network television for the time in the league’s history.

Variety: BBC Bets on Katty Kay to Woo U.S. News Audiences

Story from Variety:

In the midst of a great debate about the future of the U.S. news business, the British are coming.

Deadline; Gary Martin Dies: Former Longtime Sony Pictures Executive Was 79

Story from Deadline:

Gary Martin, a retired longtime executive at Sony Pictures who served as President of Studio Operations and Product during a 32-year stint at the studio, has died.

Deadline: Paramount Stock Dives On Wall Street Downgrade, As Veteran Analyst Declares It “Hard To Buy” If Company Assets Are “Not For Sale”

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global shares fell nearly 9% midway through the trading day after veteran media analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich delivered a harsh verdict on the stock.

Deadline: Disney Taps PepsiCo Veteran Hugh Johnston As CFO, A Rare Outsider In A Top Executive Role

Story from Deadline:

Disney today named Hugh F. Johnston, PepsiCo’s CFO and vice chairman, as its new chief financial officer, effective Dec. 4.

Variety: Taraja Ramsess, ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Stuntman, Dies at 41

Story from Variety:

Taraja Ramsess, a stuntman known for his work in “Avengers: Endgame” and “Black Panther,” died on Oct. 31 in Atlanta.

CNBC: Paramount Global stock soars 15%, closing up double digits for second straight day

Story from CNBC:

Paramount Global stock closed more than 15% higher Friday, its best day since March 2020, a day after posting another double-digit gain.

Deadline: Netflix Cuts Handful Of Executives In Drama & Overall Deals Division

Story from Deadline:

Netflix has laid off a handful of executives in its drama and overall deals divisions.

Deadline: Starz Laying Off 10% Of Staff, Exiting UK And Australia Ahead Of Split From Lionsgate

Story from Deadline:

Starz plans to lay off 10% of its staff and exiting the UK and Australia ahead of its separation next year from Lionsgate.

Broadband TV News: JSTV closes after more than 30 years

Story from Broadband TV News:

NHK Cosmomedia (Europe) Limited has announced the closure of its Japanese Satellite Television subscription service.

Deadline: “Hard-Bundle” Carriage Deals Resembling The Recent Charter-Disney Pact Appear To Be In Paramount’s U.S. Future, CEO Bob Bakish Says

Story from Deadline:

Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has long touted “hard bundles,” the hybrid carriage agreements found in Europe and other international markets that weave streaming into conventional pay-TV packages.

Deadline: AMC Networks Q3 Results Hit By Drops In Advertising And Affiliate Revenue

Story from Deadline:

AMC Networks reported double-digit declines in advertising and affiliate revenue in the third quarter, which dragged down its overall results.

Deadline: ‘Superman & Lois’ To End With Upcoming Season 4 At CW

Story from Deadline:

The end is in sight for Superman & Lois.

Deadline: Paramount+ Hits 63M Subscribers As Parent Company Trims Streaming Losses And Overcomes TV Weakness To Top Q3 Forecasts

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global beat Wall Street analysts’ estimates in the third quarter, thanks in large part to streaming flagship Paramount+, which added 2.7 million subscribers to hit 63 million globally.

Deadline: Christine Mansfield Joins Disney Branded Television As Head Of Post Production & Innovation

Story from Deadline:

Respected post production and VFX executive Christine Mansfield has joined Disney Branded Television as senior vice president of Post Production and Innovation.

Hollywood Reporter: HBO Reveals When ‘Euphoria,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘White Lotus’ and More Return

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

We now know when House of the Dragon will return — along with several other popular HBO titles.

Hollywood Reporter: Lionsgate Extends Helen Lee-Kim’s Contract in International Motion Picture Group

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Lionsgate has inked a new long-term contract extension for Helen Lee-Kim as president, international in the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Hollywood Reporter: Casey Bloys Talks Strike Impact on Slate and Budgets, Licensing HBO Shows and Tentpole Fatigue

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The Writers Guild of America strike and the still-ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike are having an impact on the content slates for HBO and Max, but Casey Bloys, the chairman and CEO of the division, does not seem too concerned.

Deadline: Paramount Says Super Bowl Ad Inventory Is “Virtually Sold Out, Pacing Ahead Of Schedule”

Story from Deadline:

Advertising inventory on Super Bowl LVIII next February, which will air across CBS and other Paramount Global platforms, is “virtually sold out” and pacing ahead of schedule, a Paramount spokeswoman confirmed to Deadline.

Deadline: CNBC International President John Casey Steps Down After 29 Years

Story from Deadline:

CNBC International President John Casey is leaving the business news network after almost 29 years, per an internal memo.

Deadline: Rupert Murdoch “Is Very Much Involved And Will Be For Years To Come,” Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch Tells Wall Street Analysts On Quarterly Earnings Call

Story from Deadline:

 Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said his father, Rupert, “is very much involved and will be for years to come” despite stepping down from his chairman role in September.

Variety; HBO Boss Casey Bloys Apologizes for Using Fake Twitter Accounts to Troll TV Critics: ‘Dumb Idea’

Story from Variety:

HBO and Max CEO and chairman Casey Bloys apologized to TV critics Thursday for using fake Twitter accounts to respond to negative reviews of HBO series, following a Wednesday report that revealed Bloys’ past behavior.

Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery Lays Out New-Look Asia Pacific Team, Japan Chief Retires

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros Discovery‘s international restructuring has continued with James Gibbons setting out the shape of his Asia Pacific team, with Japanese Country Manager Masami Takahashi choosing to retire.

Deadline: Disney To Buy Out Comcast’s Hulu Stake For At Least $8.6 Billion

Story from Deadline:

Disney, as expected, is going all in for Hulu.