WBD-Paramount Merger - TBI Vision: Paramount & Warner Bros. Discovery talks could prompt move from NBCU owner Comcast, analysts suggest

Story from TBI Vision:

News of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount talks around a potential merger could push NBCUniversal owner Comcast into making its own move to consolidate the sector, analysts have said.

Deadline; Richard Romanus Dies: Actor In ‘Mean Streets’ And ‘The Sopranos’ Was 80

Story from Deadline:

Richard Romanus, who built his character acting career with a tough guy persona in film and television, has died at 80 at a hospital in Volos, Greece.

Variety: Paramount Global Clinches Cable Carriage Deal with Comcast as Acquisition Rumors Swirl

Story from Variety:

Paramount Global has clinched a deal that is crucial to its future — but it’s not the transaction that Wall Street has been buzzing about for a few weeks.

Deadline: Media mergers

Story from Deadline:

The late-in-the-year news that Warner Bros Discovery has had discussions with Paramount Global about a merger sparked all sorts of prognostication about the future of traditional media and whether the next year will be one of consolidation.

Deadline; Cable News Ratings 2023: Fox News Dominates, But MSNBC Is Only Major Network With Year-Over-Year Audience Growth

Story from Deadline:

Fox News dominated the ratings for 2023, but only MSNBC showed slight growth in audience compared to a year earlier.

Deadline: ‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Emilia Clarke & Her Mother Awarded In UK New Years Honours List

Story from Deadline:

British actress Emilia Clarke, best known for her role of Daenerys Targaryen in all eight seasons of Game of Thrones, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) gong in the New Year’s Honors List.

Deadline; Showbiz Stocks 2023: Tech Surges, Big Media Companies Weather Strikes And Streaming Gets A Reboot

Story from Deadline:

Roku was a champ. Lionsgate surged and Netflix jumped.

MSN: Zee-Sony merger agreement includes provision of deadline extension by 30 days

Story from MSN:

The Zee-Sony merger agreement includes provision of one-month deadline extension of negotiations in good faith, said a report on Thursday.

Daily Mail: PGA Tour and LIV Golf 'to push back merger deadline until April'

Story from Daily Mail:

The deadline for negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's backers, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is expected to be pushed back until April, according to a report.

Hollywood Reporter; Hollywood’s Elusive Goal This Year: Streaming Profits

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

“So You’re Sayin’ There’s a Chance.”

Deadline: Disney Nears Advertising Sellout In 10th Year Of College Football Playoff; Season’s Viewership Surge Precedes Expansion Of CFP Field, Negotiations For New Media Rights Deal

Story from Deadline:

With the 10th edition of the College Football Playoff set to cap off a high-rated season starting on New Year’s Day, Disney says advertising inventory is nearly sold out for the semifinals and championship.

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery Acquires Turkish Streamer BluTV

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery has acquired BluTV, a subscription video-on-demand service in Turkey, the company said Friday. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

X: HBO Max Latin America to rebranded as Max in February

According to Costa Rican pay-TV operator - Tigo, HBO Max Latin America will be rebranded as Max in February.

WBD-Paramount Merger - Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Merger? Wall Street Has Major Doubts About a Deal

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Wall Street’s Hollywood observers got a pre-holiday surprise this year when news broke that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has explored a potential deal for Paramount Global in a meeting with its CEO Bob Bakish and chair Shari Redstone, who controls the firm through family holding company National Amusements.

Deadline: Lionsgate Closes Acquisition Of eOne From Hasbro

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate said today its acquisition of global entertainment platform eOne from Hasbro is done.

Variety; Taking Stock of 2023: How Shares of Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and More Fared This Year

Story from Variety:

Hollywood had a rough year in many areas — but the stock market largely was not one of them.

Variety; Box Office Report Card: Grading Disney, Warner Bros. and Other Studios on 2023 Movies

Story from Variety:

Where would the 2023 box office be without the bomb and the bombshell?

Deadline: James May Won’t “Rule Out” Reunion With Jeremy Clarkson & Richard Hammond After ‘Grand Tour’ Journey Ends

Story from Deadline:

James May has left the car door open to a reunion with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond after they park their Prime Video series The Grand Tour for a final time.

Deadline - Disney-Reliance India Mega Merger: Companies Agree To Non-Binding Term Sheet; Deal Would Create Media & Entertainment Powerhouse

Story from Deadline:

Disney has taken another big step toward realigning its India strategy.

CNBC: 2024 is shaping up to be the year of the streaming bundle

Story from CNBC:

This year proved to be yet another tough one for pay TV, as more people cut the cable cord.

Deadline: National Amusements Confirms Cyberattack; Paramount & CBS Parent Says 82,000 People Affected

Story from Deadline:

Shari Redstone’s National Amusements, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, has confirmed it was the victim of a hack that affected more than 82,000 people.

Deadline; ‘Doctor Who’ Teaser & 2024 Premiere Update: Ncuti Gatwa Takes Over The TARDIS Alongside Millie Gibson

Story from Deadline:

The TARDIS will head into the vortex in the spring.

Deadline; Richard Franklin Dies: ‘Doctor Who’ Actor Was 87

Story from Deadline:

Richard Franklin, who is best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Emmerdale, died on early Christmas morning at the age of 87.

Deadline: Prime Video Ads Are Coming On January 29, Amazon Announces To Subscribers

Story from Deadline:

Amazon announced in September that ads were on the way for Prime Video‘s entertainment content. Now we have a date.

Advanced Television: TVP ‘cleans house’

Story from Advanced Television:

Polish national broadcaster TVP has suspended its Info 24 hour news channel this week as new Polish prime minister Donald Tusk tries to ‘clean house’ at an institution widely thought to have become a creature of the previous government.

Advanced Television: Formula E extends rights deals with Mediaset, L’Équipe

Story from Advanced Television:

Formula E has announced multi-year extensions to their media partnerships with L’Équipe in France and Mediaset in Italy.

Deadline: Warner Bros International Television Production Changes Spain MD

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. International Television Production has appointed Stefano Torrisi as its MD in Spain and Portugal.

Deadline: ‘Doctor Who’ Offers First Look At 15th Doctor And Companion Following Christmas Special

Story from Deadline:

Doctor Who will offer a first look at the 15th Doctor’s new season following the Christmas special on Christmas Day.

WBD/Paramount merger - Hollywood Reporter: A CNN and CBS News Tie-Up Would Radically Transform the Industry

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

At the turn of the millennium, when Microsoft still owned 50 percent of MSNBC, and before Fox News cemented itself as ratings leader post-9/11, CNN was cable news king.

Viaplay Group Crisis - Broadband TV News: Canal Plus plans to take Viaplay holding above 25%

Story from Broadband TV News:

Canal Plus Group has signalled its intention to increase its holding in Sweden’s Viaplay Group.

Hollywood Reporter: Lionsgate to Spin Off Studio and 20,000-Title Library From Starz in $4.6B Deal

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

In a move it has telegraphed for some time, Lionsgate unveiled a deal to spin off its studios business in a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) deal to create a separately traded public company with a $4.6 billion enterprise value.

RTÉ: RTÉ reports mean gender pay gap of 11.29%

Story from RTÉ:

The gender pay gap at RTÉ has narrowed slightly compared to last year.

WBD/Paramount merger - Hollywood Reporter; When Warner Bros. First Left the Family: Betrayal and High Drama In a Classic Hollywood Megadeal

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Studio takeovers have been the talk of the town in Hollywood for some time.

Broadband TV News: M7 to distribute RTL Hungary’s 4 new channels

Story from Broadband TV News:

Luxembourg-based M7 Group, owned by Canal+ Group has signed a deal with CLT-UFA HBD for the satellite distribution of four new linear TV channels.

Variety: DC Studios Boss Says Jason Momoa ‘Will Always Have a Home at DC,’ Even If Aquaman Is Over: ‘If It’s the End of the Journey, Fine. If It Goes On, Also Fine’

Story from Variety:

Jason Momoa cast doubt on his future as Aquaman in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, and now DC Studios boss Peter Safran has weighed in by telling The Independent: “If it’s the end of the journey, fine. If it goes on, that’s also fine.”

BET Takeover - Variety: Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group Names Six Senior Execs to Board of Directors

Story from Variety:

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group expanded its board of directors from the original trio to a new total of nine board members, effective immediately.

WBD/Paramount merger - Variety: What Would Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Merger Mean for Cable TV? Some Networks Would Likely Be Sold Off

Story from Variety:

Mega media merger mania is once again afoot in Hollywood with very, very early talks between Warner Bros. Discovery‘s David Zaslav and Paramount Global’s Bob Bakish about a potential merger of the two companies.

Broadband TV News: ProSiebenSat.1 terminates output deals with Hollywood studios

Story from Broadband TV News:

German media company ProSiebenSat.1 will end its long-standing practice of acquiring US licensed content through long-term output deals with Hollywood studios.

Deadline; Disney’s Potential Proxy Battle No Issue For Incoming Board Member James Gorman: “That Doesn’t Bother Me One Little Bit”

Story from Deadline:

James Gorman, CEO of Morgan Stanley and soon to be a member of Disney‘s board of directors, is not fazed by the possibility of the media giant going through a proxy fight.

Variety: Herman Rush, Former President of Columbia Pictures Television, Dies at 94

Story from Variety:

Herman Rush, a prominent television pioneer and former president of Columbia Pictures Television, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Dec. 12.

Advanced Television; Italy: RAI seeks postponement of DVB-T2 switchover

Story from Advanced Television:

Italy’s state broadcaster RAI is vigorously lobbying the government to postpone the January 10th 2024 deadline for switching one of its three national DTT multiplexes to DVB-T2.

WBD/Paramount merger - Media Guardian; ‘A bellwether for the industry’: why Warner-Paramount talk is no surprise

Story from Media Guardian:

Barbie and Tom Cruise’s Top Gun are planning on getting hitched.

Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery Hires Max Originals Exec In Italy & Iberia Ahead Of 2024 Europe Launch

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros Discovery has hired an original productions chief for Max in Italy and Iberia, an intriguing move that completes the local content team ahead of the streaming service’s launch in Europe next year.

WBD/Paramount merger - Deadline; ‘Warnamount’ Merger Talk Confounds Investors And Industry: “Why Would Any Company Try To Catch A Falling Knife?”

Story from Deadline:

Old habits die hard.

WBD/Paramount merger - Variety: Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Dip as Investors Take Stock of Potential Merger

Story from Variety:

Would the combination of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global — two companies heavily tied to the declining legacy TV biz — make financial sense?

WBD/Paramount merger - Variety: The Burning Questions Swirling Around the Early Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Global Merger Talks

Story from Variety:

Here we go again?

WBD/Paramount merger - CNBC: Warner Bros. Discovery merger talks with Paramount Global may draw out NBCUniversal

Story from CNBC:

Let’s say you have a crush on two people and you find out one of them may like you back.

Variety: Byron Allen Offers to Buy BET From Paramount Global for $3.5 Billion

Story from Variety:

Media mogul Byron Allen has renewed his attempt to acquire BET Media Group from Paramount Global — extending a $3.5 billion offer.

WBD/Paramount merger - Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global Have Held Meeting to Discuss Possible Merger

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The next entertainment mega deal may be on the horizon.

WBD/Paramount merger - FT: Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount CEOs hold exploratory merger talks

Story from FT:

Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global are in early talks to merge, in a media deal that would combine the owner of HBO and CNN with the studio behind the Mission Impossible films and CBS News.

CNBC; Big M&A and Bob Iger’s future: 13 media executives make their anonymous 2024 predictions

Story from CNBC:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the third annual anonymous media and entertainment executive predictions list!

Variety: The CW to Air Repeats of Hallmark’s Canceled Western Drama ‘Ride’

Story from Variety:

Hallmark’s canceled western “Ride,” starring Nancy Travis (“Last Man Standing”) is galluping to The CW, which picked up repeats of the show to air next month.

Broadband TV News: New Warner Bros. Discovery come to OSN JC

Story from Broadband TV News:

Three new channels from Warner Bros. Discovery will go live on OSNtv in the Middle East from January 1.

Broadband TV News: RTL and Sky Deutschland to share Formula 1 and football rights

Story from Broadband TV News:

German broadcasters RTL and Sky Deutschland have agreed a strategic partnership in the content sector.

Deadline: Jonathan Majors Fired By Disney/Marvel Studios After Assault Guilty Verdicts; Actor Had Played Kang The Conqueror

Story from Deadline:

Jonathan Majors is out of the Marvel Studios kingdom.

Deadline: ESPN Names Company Vet Josh Krulewitz Head Of Communications, Succeeding Even-Longer-Tenured Chris LaPlaca After His Retirement

Story from Deadline:

Josh Krulewitz, a 32-year veteran of ESPN, has been named head of communications for the Disney sports subsidiary.

Deadline; Josh Kramer Dies: Producer & Former Amazon Studios Exec Was 67

Story from Deadline:

Josh Kramer, who produced Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden and Sidney Lumet’s Night Falls on Manhattan and later led sales for Capitol Films before becoming Head of Motion Picture Business Operations at Amazon Studios, has died.

Deadline: Disney Entertainment Television Promotes 3 Key Finance Executives

Story from Deadline:

Disney Entertainment Television has promoted three of its top finance executives to new roles. Karen Sack has been elevated to EVP, Finance, Disney Entertainment Television; Peggy Ting to SVP Finance and Business Planning, Disney Television Studios; and Amit Ziv to SVP Finance and Business Planning for ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations and Freeform.

Broadband TV News: PODA forced to drop, CBS, Discovery channels

Story from Broadband TV News:

Czech operator PODA says it will end the distribution of three documentary channels.

Deadline: ‘Doctor Who’ Producer Bad Wolf Gets $54M Boost From Unusual Deal To Make BBC Sci-Fi Series

Story from Deadline:

Bad Wolf‘s unusual deal to make BBC Studios show Doctor Who helped boost the Sony-owned production outfit’s revenues.

Deadline: DC Studios Co-Head James Gunn Says Matt Reeves’ Batman Arkham Series In Development Is Set In New DCU

Story from Deadline:

James Gunn is confirming that Matt Reeves is not only working on expanding his The Batman universe but also developing a series set within the new DC Universe.

Advanced Television: ZEE asks for more time over Sony merger

Story from Advanced Television:

Another hurdle has emerged in the long-awaited merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) and Sony’s India business.

Hollywood Reporter: “For Sale” Sign on Paramount Will Shape Shari Redstone’s Legacy

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The entertainment company that everyone in Hollywood is talking about is based in a nondescript three-story office building in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts.

Digital TV Europe: Disney battle heats up as Trian nominates Peltz and Rasulo for board

Story from Digital TV Europe:

The battle for the future of Disney between the company’s management led by Bob Iger and activist investor Nelson Peltz’s Trian Partners is heating up.

Deadline: 20th Television Production Chief Nissa Diederich To Exit

Story from Deadline:

Nissa Diederich, EVP Production at 20th Television, is leaving the Disney-owned studio.

Deadline; Bob Iger’s Throwback Thursday: Disney CEO’s 2019 Self-Evaluation Pops Up In Pay-Equity Class Action

Story from Deadline:

Bob Iger likely wishes 2023 looked a lot more like 2019.

Deadline: RTL Selling Dutch Broadcast Business For $1.2B

Story from Deadline:

RTL Group is selling its Dutch business RTL Nederland for €1.1B ($1.2B) in cash.

Advanced Television: Hexagon Cup lands broadcast deal with Eurosport, discovery+

Story from Advanced Television:

The Hexagon Cup, the new padel tournament taking place in February 2024, has announced a partnership that will see matches broadcast on Eurosport with streaming on the Eurosport App and discovery+.

RTÉ: Ryan Tubridy paid over €25,000 by RTÉ while off air, PAC told

Story from RTÉ:

Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy was paid €12,500 per month by RTÉ for three months of radio services earlier this year although he was off air for over two of those months following the revelations of secret payments to him.

Deadline: Disney Responds To Unsolicited Nominations Of Nelson Peltz And Ex-Disney CFO James Rasulo To Board Of Directors, Defends Existing Board As “Highly Qualified”

Story from Deadline:

Disney has formally responded to activist shareholder Trian Fund Management’s unsolicited effort to nominate its co-founder, Nelson Peltz, and ex-Disney CFO James Rasulo to the media giant’s board of directors.

Advanced Television: Vivendi mulls 3-way split

Story from Advanced Television:

Media conglomerate Vivendi has confirmed it is exploring the feasibility splitting the company into several entities, each of which would be listed on the stock market.

Deadline: Meredith Gertler & Lisa Holme To Exit, Vanessa Brookman Promoted In Latest Warner Bros. Discovery Shakeup

Story from Deadline:

There’s more change in the executive ranks at Warner Bros. Discovery.

Broadcast Sport: DAZN launches free tier

Story from Broadcast Sport:

DAZN has launched a free tier for registered users.

Broadband TV News: DAZN looks for new funding for 2024

Story from Broadband TV News:

DAZN is in conversation with potential investors to expand its current range of sports.

Variety: James Gunn Says ‘Cameo Porn’ Is ‘One of the Worst Elements’ in Recent Superhero Movies: ‘Shoehorning Characters In’ Mangles the Story

Story from Variety:

James Gunn has assembled quite the cast for “Superman: Legacy.”

Hollywood Reporter: Chelsey Summey Joins Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group as Senior VP of Communications

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Longtime communications executive Chelsey Summey is joining Warner Bros. Discovery as senior vp of communications for Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.

Bloomberg: Sports Streamer DAZN Explores Raising as Much as $1 Billion

Story from Bloomberg:

DAZN Group Ltd., the sports streaming platform backed by billionaire Len Blavatnik, is exploring ways to raise fresh funding as it seeks to accelerate its global expansion, people familiar with the matter said.

BBC News; Andre Braugher: Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Captain Raymond Holt dies aged 61

Story from BBC News:

Andre Braugher, the star of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life on the Street, has died aged 61 following a brief illness.

Hollywood Reporter: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen to Return as CNN New Year’s Eve Hosts

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

New CNN chief Mark Thompson may have plans to shake up the cable news channel’s offerings, but he isn’t messing with New Year’s Eve.

Advanced Television: Netflix to stream Nadal vs Alcaraz

Story from Advanced Television:

Netflix has announced its next live sports event, The Netflix Slam, which will be headlined by 22-time Grand Slam men’s singles title champion Rafael Nadal facing off against World No. 2 and fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in a special one-night tennis exhibition match.

Variety: Paramount Global Mulling 1,000-Plus Layoffs Amid Shari Redstone’s Talks to Sell Controlling Interest

Story from Variety:

Heading into the new year, the future of Paramount Global is very much up in the air.

Deadline; RedBird IMI Emerges As New Favorite To Buy ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Maker All3Media

Story from Deadline:

Jeff Zucker and Gerry Cardinale‘s RedBird IMI has emerged as the new frontrunner in the race to buy Squid Game: The Challenge maker All3Media.

Deadline: ‘Shazam!’ Star Zachary Levi Takes Playful Nepo-Bro Swipe At DC Actor Sean Gunn

Story from Deadline:

Even though audiences might not exactly be counting the days until another Shazam! movie — this year’s sequel Fury of the Gods was savaged by critics and DC fans — star Zachary Levi says he’d be pumped for more installments.

Bizasia: Reliance & Disney "finalising details" for merger involving Star India operations

Story from Bizasia:

Reliance Industries and Walt Disney are reportedly finalising details of a non-binding term sheet, which will see the two entertainment giants merge their India media operations.

FT: Shari Redstone weighs options for Paramount as Skydance eyes bid for studio

Story from FT:

Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder has held talks about a sale of the legendary Hollywood studio and other assets to Skydance, the production company behind Top Gun: Maverick, according to people familiar with the company controlled by Shari Redstone.

Digital TV Europe: Paramount shares jump on sale to Skydance speculation

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder has reportedly held talks with Top Gun: Maverick producer Skydance about a potential sale of the studio via a takeover of Shari Redstone’s National Amusements.

Deadline: Disney+ Hulu App Will Leapfrog Netflix On Popularity & Volume In The U.S., Says Report

Story from Deadline:

The combined Disney+ Hulu app will leapfrog Netflix on both popularity and volume in the U.S., according to a report from Ampere Analysis.

Deadline: Netflix Sets 2024 Pay Packages Worth $40M Each For Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters

Story from Deadline:

Netflix said today it plans to award its co-chief operating officers identical compensation packages for 2024 worth $40 million each.

Deadline: ‘Station 19’ To End With Season 7 On ABC

Story from Deadline:

The upcoming seventh season will be the last for ABC‘s Station 19.

Deadline: ‘Doctor Who’ Gets More Than 100 Complaints Over “Inappropriate” Transgender Character

Deadline: ‘Doctor Who’ Gets More Than 100 Complaints Over “Inappropriate” Transgender Character Story from Deadline:

The BBC received more than 100 complaints from Doctor Who viewers who argued that the inclusion of Yasmin Finney‘s transgender character Rose was “inappropriate.”

Deadline: Jax UK Boss Joins BBC Studios

Story from Deadline:

Molly Seymour, who runs Emily In Paris outfit Jax’s UK division, is to join BBC Studios Comedy Productions as Creative Director.

Deadline; ‘Coyote Vs. Acme’: Paramount Circling; Amazon Still Possible Contender

Story from Deadline:

It’s not just Netflix that made a bid for Warner Bros.’ scrapped Coyote vs. Acme. Paramount, Apple and Amazon have seen the movie as well.

Deadline: David Ellison & RedBird Capital Kicking Paramount Global’s Tires Via National Amusements

Story from Deadline:

There’s a lot of noise in town about Skydance Boss David Ellison and RedBird Capital making a go at Paramount Global, but via National Amusements.

Hollywood Reporter: James Gunn Named Person of the Year by PETA

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

PETA has found its 2023 Person of the Year in James Gunn.

Deadline; ‘FBI: International’: Heida Reed To Depart During Season 3

Story from Deadline:

Heida Reed, who has portrayed Special Agent Jamie Kellett on FBI: International since the CBS series launch in 2021, will be leaving the show early in the upcoming third season, sources confirm to Deadline.

Variety: Disney+ Considers Adding Gaming and Shopping Experiences for Advertisers

Story from Variety:

Advertisers have eyed the Disney+ streaming hub as a place where they might tuck a promotional message alongside the binge-watch of a Marvel series, or, potentially “Phineas & Ferb.”

Variety: Amazon’s Prime Video Punches Into Live Boxing Events With PBC Multiyear Pact

Story from Variety:

Amazon’s Prime Video and Premier Boxing Champions announced a multiyear rights agreement to bring top pay-per-view boxing events to U.S. viewers.

Deadline: HBO & Max Sign Exclusive Multiyear Pay One Agreement With A24

Story from Deadline:

In the wake of A24‘s pay-one deal with Showtime expiring, the specialty film studio will now see its movies go through HBO and Max in a new exclusive multiyear pay-one output agreement.

Digital TV Europe: Disney ups price of Disney+ Premium in UK

Story from Digital TV Europe:

Disney has now upped the price of its Premium package in the UK, with the service costing £10.99 per month or £109.90 a year, up from £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year.

Deadline: Spectrum-Disney Deal “Absolutely” Created Blueprint For Future Carriage Deals, Charter CFO Says; Q4 Broadband Subscriber Loss Warning Hits Stock

Story from Deadline:

Nearly three months after Charter Communications and Disney struck a landmark distribution deal, Charter CFO Jessica Fischer said it “absolutely” has created a template for future agreements.

Deadline: Paramount Has Some Big Checks To Write In 2024, With Its Credit Rating Still Under Scrutiny, S&P Global Analyst Says: “They Have To Show A Path”

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global will start 2024 with some big bills to pay and questions swirling about its creditworthiness, in the view of a veteran S&P Global analyst.

Variety: ‘Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’ Renewed for Three More Seasons at HBO

Story from Variety:

"Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” has been renewed for three more seasons at HBO. The deal will keep the series on the air through 2026.

Broadband TV News: Peacock at 30m paid subscribers; no international expansion

Story from Broadband TV News:

Comcast’s streaming service Peacock has now reached 30 million paid subscribers on an ARPU of approximately $10.

Digital TV Europe; Berlusconi: ProSiebenSat.1 should focus on core business

Story from Digital TV Europe:

ProSiebenSat.1 should consider disposing of its digital and e-commerce businesses to focus on its core TV and entertainment offerings, according to Pier Silvio Berlusconi.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery’s Cable Chief Kathleen Finch on Food Network at 30, the Future of TBS and TNT and How Linear TV Supports the Entire Company

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery cable warrior Kathleen Finch is heading into her Super Bowl: the holiday season at Food Network.

Deadline: Jason Priestley Boards Canadian Detective Drama ‘Wild Cards’; CBC & CW Premiere Dates Set

Story from Deadline:

Jason Priestley has boarded upcoming CBC drama Wild Cards, as the Canadian network unveils its winter slate.

Deadline: Comcast Has Collected Big Disney Check For Hulu Stake And Expects, Hopes For More; Peacock At 30 Million Subscribers

Story from Deadline:

Comcast has collected what it hopes will be a first payment from Disney for its stake in Hulu, marking “the beginning of a process” to value the streamer, company President Mike Cavanagh said at a media conference Monday.

Deadline: James Gunn Shares Update On ‘Superman Legacy’ & ‘The Brave And The Bold’ Scripts

Story from Deadline:

James Gunn and Peter Safran are in the middle of overhauling the DC Universe with Superman Legacy and The Brave and the Bold two of the most high-profile projects in the works.

Deadline: All3 Buyer Rumors Heat Up

Story from Deadline:

The future of All3Media has been under discussion for a large portion of 2023, and it appears a deal might be reaching the finish line.

Deadline: Lionsgate Trims eOne Workforce As Acquisition Nears Official Close

Story from Deadline:

Lionsgate, which agreed to buy eOne last August, is cutting the production outfit’s already-depleted workforce by a single-digit percentage as the acquisition approaches its official close at the end of the month.

Deadline: Paramount Global Shares Pop On Possible Bundling Of Paramount+ With Apple TV+

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global shares closed up nearly 10% Friday, leading entertainment stocks higher after the Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount Global and Apple are discussing bundling their respective streaming platforms at a discount.

Viaplay Group Crisis - Advanced Television; Bank: “Viaplay equity is worthless”

Story from Advanced Television:

Investment bank Jefferies, in a report for clients, says that Nordic streaming results Viaplay’s current equity value is “essentially written down to nil” and with the current equity “wiped out” it has rated Viaplay as “Underperform”.

Advanced Television: Apple TV+ and Paramount+ to bundle?

Story from Advanced Television:

Apple and Paramount have reportedly discussed bundling their respective streaming services, Paramount+ and Apple TV+.

Viaplay Group Crisis - Deadline: Viaplay Sells UK Biz & Announces Equity Injection

Story from Deadline:

Viaplay has sold its UK business back to Premier Sports and revealed “the renegotiation of credit arrangements and the proposed injection of new equity into the Group” as it battles the economic downturn.

Deadline: Disney Says Nelson Peltz Ally Ike Perlmutter Has “Longstanding Personal Agenda” Against Bob Iger As Battle Heats Up

Story from Deadline:

Disney has responded to activist investor Nelson Peltz‘ plan to go directly to shareholders to seek a seat on the board, which the company denied him, saying a vendetta by his ally Isaac Permlutter may be distorting an agenda that’s not in line with the broader Disney shareholder base.

Deadline: Tegna Stations, Including Many CBS And NBC Affiliates, Go Dark On DirecTV In Carriage Dispute

Story from Deadline:

Dozens of local TV stations owned by Tegna, most of them NBC and CBS affiliates, have gone dark on DirecTV in a carriage dispute.

Variety: ‘The Marvels’ Suffered From a Lack of ‘Supervision on the Set,’ Says Bob Iger; Disney CEO Admits Studio Has ‘Made Too Many’ Sequels Recently

Story from Variety:

Disney CEO Bob Iger said at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit (via CNBC) following “The Marvels” flopping at the box office that there was a lack of supervision on the set of the film as a result of the COVID pandemic.