MEDIA BOY'S WORLD MEDIA NEWS: January 2025

Two million subscribers of Optimum pay-TV systems are going without 63 Nexstar Media Group local stations and cable network NewsNation due to a carriage dispute.

Advanced Television: Murdoch must face Smartmatic in court

Story from Advanced Television:

A New York State appeals court has rejected a request by Fox Corporation to dismiss part of a $2.7 billion (€2.63bn) defamation lawsuit stemming from the broadcasting of misinformation around the 2020 presidential election.

Friday, 10 January 2025

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery to Use Puppy Bowl For ‘Superman’ Marketing Push

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery is using one of its tentpole animal, er, annual events in a major marketing push for its biggest film of the year.

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery Hires Priya Aiyar as Chief Legal Officer

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery has filled a key role in its C-suite, hiring the general counsel of American Airlines Group as its chief legal officer.

Hollywood Reporter: Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon Settles SEC Charges Over Undisclosed Payments

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The Securities and Exchange Commission says that it has reached a settlement deal with former WWE CEO Vince McMahon relating to undisclosed payments to an employee and an independent contractor with whom he allegedly had relationships with.

Deadline: SpinCo’s Choice Of Entertainment President Hints At NBCUniversal Offshoot’s Programming Strategy

Story from Deadline:

From red carpets to resident aliens and driving ranges, NBCUniversal’s SpinCo has given its first indication what its programming strategy might look like with the hire of Val Boreland as President of Entertainment.

Advanced Television: WWE announces Cosm partnership

Story from Advanced Television:

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, and Cosm, the immersive technology, media and entertainment company, has announced a multi-year partnership that will see WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) – such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble – delivered to fans in Shared Reality at Cosm’s experiential venues in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Hollywood Reporter: Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Pull the Plug on Venu Sports Streaming Venture

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Venu is dead.

Hollywood Reporter: Mark Lazarus Sets Executive Team at Comcast SpinCo Cable TV Network Business

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Comcast‘s SpinCo cable business is beginning to take shape under incoming CEO Mark Lazarus and CFO Anand Kini.

Hollywood Reporter: Despite Disney’s Surprise Fubo Deal, DirecTV and Dish Signal They May Hold Up Venu Launch

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Lawyers for DirecTV and EchoStar’s Dish have asked a U.S. district judge to reconsider a dismissal of claims by Fubo TV against the Venu Sports streamer after a surprise merger with Hulu + Live TV.

Thursday, 9 January 2025

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros.’ Big Spending Plans for a Nevada Studio Lot Complex Take Step Back

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Last August, Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled a plan to work with Birtcher Development and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on an ambitious proposal to develop, build and lease a studio lot complex in what was described as a long-term commitment for an $8.5 billion production spend in the state over the course of more than a decade.

DAZN is now negotiating with the English Football Association to buy the rights to FA Cup matches in more than one regions

DAZN is now negotiating with the English Football Association to buy the rights to FA Cup matches in more than one regions, including the Middle East and North Africa.

Deadline: Fox Execs Highlight The Impact Of Fans Beyond The Realm Of Sports

Story from Deadline:

While Fox Corp.‘s sports division is known for generating fan engagement, the company is increasingly aiming to showcase its capabilities across the board in leveraging fandom.

Variety: Peacock President Kelly Campbell to Exit

Story from Variety:

Kelly Campbell is stepping down from her role as president of Peacock and direct-to-consumer at NBCUniversal, Variety has confirmed with sources.

Deadline: Comcast NBCUniversal’s Cable “SpinCo” Fills Out Exec Roster; Val Boreland Gets Top Entertainment Role

Story from Deadline:

The executive ranks of the cable network entity being spun off from Comcast/NBCUniversal later this year are being filled in with a few appointments, including Val Boreland as head of entertainment.

Deadline: Legendary Entertainment Ends Venture With Watford & Essex As UK Producer Files For Closure

Story from Deadline:

In another reminder of the challenging climate for UK scripted producers, Watford & Essex has filed for closure after its joint-venture deal with Legendary Entertainment was not renewed.

Broadband TV News: TF1+ celebrates first 12 months

Story from Broadband TV News:

Almost 54 million people – close to 9 out of 10 of the French population – have used the TF1 streaming platform.

Broadband TV News: M6+ now available on TNT in HbbTV

Story from Broadband TV News:

French commercial channel M6 has extended its streaming service to connected televisions receiving DTT, with a little help from HbbTV technology.

Advanced Television: FA Cup comes to BBC HD on cruise lines

Story from Advanced Television:

BBC Studios has announced that BBC HD, available for viewers on their partnering cruise ships, can now tune into coverage of the longest-running national cup competition in the world.

Advanced Television: Chambers named Disney President EMEA

Story from Advanced Television:

The Walt Disney Company has appointed Tony Chambers as President, The Walt Disney Company, EMEA, as it restructures how its entertainment businesses in the region function to ensure further unification of the company’s global strategy.

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

Deadline: Disney Says It Has Averaged 157M Global Monthly Streaming Users (And 112M Domestic) Over Past Six Months

Story from Deadline:

Disney Advertising says the company’s streaming platforms collectively racked up an average of 157 monthly active users globally (and 112 million domestic) over the past six months.

Variety: Sony Pictures CEO on Cost-Plus Deals and Harvesting Video Game IP at Variety CES Summit

Story from Variety:

Mother Nature threw Ravi Ahuja a curve ball for his first interview since taking the reins as president and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), conducted at the Variety Summit at CES today at the Aria in Las Vegas.

Deadline: John Malone’s Liberty Media Names Derek Chang President & CEO

Story from Deadline:

John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp. has named Derek Chang president and chief executive effective Feb. 1.

Deadline: NBCU, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, DirecTV & Comcast Execs Say Their Unusual Ad Collaboration Can Help Close The Gap With Big Tech

Story from Deadline:

An unusual coalition of the willing – senior execs from NBCUniversal, Fox Corp., Warner Bros. Discovery, DirecTV and Comcast – took the stage at CES on Wednesday to discuss their latest effort to compete with Big Tech.

Hollywood Reporter; Warner Bros. Shakeup: Marketing Head Josh Goldstine, International Distribution Boss Andrew Cripps Stepping Down

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Marketing chief Josh Goldstine and Andrew Cripps, the president of International distribution, are stepping down from their posts at Warner Bros.

Hollywood Reporter: NBCUniversal Taps Randy Culbertson as CFO

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

NBCUniversal has a new chief financial officer, with Randy Culbertson being elevated to oversee the entertainment company’s finances.

Broadband TV News: Deutsche Telekom introduces new MagentaTV stick

Story from Broadband TV News:

On 16 January 2025 Deutsche Telekom will introduce the second generation of its MagentaTV streaming stick, enabling access to its TV platform MagentaTV.

Broadband TV News: EBU and Eurovision Services secure sports broadcasting agreement

Story from Broadband TV News:

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Eurovision Services have finalised a long-term agreement that reinforces their collaboration and ensures continuity in delivering sports coverage to EBU members.

Advanced Television: Viaplay acquires Nordics rights to FIS winter sports

Story from Advanced Television:

Viaplay Group has secured an exclusive pan-Nordic agreement with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

Advanced Television: Rakuten TV launches Nordic Films FAST channel

Story from Advanced Television:

Rakuten TV, the European streaming platform, has launched a new branded owned and operated FAST Channel, Nordic Films, dedicated to celebrating the very best of Nordic cinema.

Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Hollywood Reporter: Paramount, Comcast Strike New Multiyear Distribution Deals Covering Networks, Streamers

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Paramount Global, which is set to be acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance Media, and NBCUniversal parent Comcast unveiled the renewal of comprehensive distribution agreements on Tuesday “to continue delivering Paramount’s leading portfolio of broadcast, entertainment, news and sports brands across Xfinity platforms.”

Hollywood Reporter: Disney’s Hulu + Live TV, Fubo Merger Surprised Wall Street and Could Lead to More Deals

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Disney started off 2025 with a bang, unveiling on Monday a surprise merger of its multichannel video streaming service Hulu + Live TV with competitor FuboTV, forming a combined company that will continue to be publicly traded under the Fubo name, but with the Hollywood giant controlling 70% and a majority of the board.

Hollywood Reporter: Discovery+ Latest Streamer to Get Price Hike, Cost Raised by $1 Per Month

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

New year, new streaming price hikes.

Deadline: UFC Chief Dana White Joins Board Of Facebook & Instagram Parent Meta – “I Am A Huge Believer That Social Media And AI Are The Future”

Story from Deadline:

Dana White, president and CEO of UFC, is joining the board of Meta, one of three new directors announced today by Mark Zuckerberg’s social media giant.

Deadline: Lisa Hamilton Daly Is Out At Hallmark Media

Story from Deadline:

Lisa Hamilton Daly, who joined Crown Media Family Networks in 2021 to lead programming and development across Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama, is out.

Deadline: Billion-Dollar Television City Expansion Gets Final Approval By L.A. City Council

Story from Deadline:

The Television City Project has gotten the all-clear to move forward.

Deadline: Sony Pictures EVP Production Palak Patel Exits Studio

Story from Deadline:

Sony Pictures EVP of Production and Development Palak Patel is leaving the Culver City lot for a new gig as Chief Content Officer at Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios.

Broadband TV News: ARD switches from SD to HD on Astra

Story from Broadband TV News:

German public broadcaster ARD has discontinued the satellite transmission of its main channel Das Erste and all regional channels on Astra (19.2° East) in SD resolution on 7 January 2025.

Advanced Television: Australian Open comes to Max, discovery+ in Europe

Story from Advanced Television:

The stage is set for the start of the Grand Slam tennis season as Warner Bros Discovery steps up to screen live and exclusive coverage of every match from every court at the Australian Open on Max and discovery+.

Monday, 6 January 2025

Advanced Television: Disney to merge live channels with Fubo

Story from Advanced Television:

Disney is to merge its multichannel streaming service Hulu Live TV with competitor Fubo, the companies have revealed in a surprise announcement.

Deadline: Tubi Hits 97M Monthly Users And 10B Annual Streaming Hours

Story from Deadline:

Tubi continued to gain traction in 2024, surpassing 97 million monthly active users and 10 billion streaming hours.

Hollywood Reporter: Disney to Merge Hulu + Live TV With Fubo, Taking on YouTube TV and Ending Venu Lawsuit

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The Walt Disney Co. will merge its streaming multichannel video service Hulu With Live TV with its competitor Fubo in a surprise deal that will shake up the streaming TV business, the companies said Monday.

Broadband TV News: 2024 is boom year for Swedish streaming

Story from Broadband TV News:

Swedish viewers increased the amount of time spent watching TV over the last 12 months.

Deadline: Fox Hires Prentiss Fraser As President Of Global TV Distribution Division

Story from Deadline:

Fox has a new global TV distribution boss.

Sunday, 5 January 2025

Broadband TV News: Boxer ends pay-TV service

Story from Broadband TV News:

Sweden’s digital terrestrial platform no longer features a pay-TV offer.

Deadline: Disney, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery And SAG-AFTRA Join Growing Industry Roster Set For Tech Talk At CES

Story from Deadline:

In addition to its main purpose as a showcase for the latest gadgets, CES has long been a meeting ground for entertainment players.

Saturday, 4 January 2025

Advanced Television: India close to spectrum decision on D2C

Story from Advanced Television:

Imagine the challenges – and pressure – on India’s assorted regulators when you have the likes of local billionaires Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Reliance, Sunil Mittel’s Airtel as well as two outsiders in Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Advanced Television; Italy: Prime Video makes gains on Netflix

Story from Advanced Television

In September 2024, 15.87 million unique users accessed SVoD services in Italy, an increase of 567,000 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Advanced Television; France: Orange, Free strike Disney+ deals

Story from Advanced Television:

French telcos Orange and Free have struck non-exclusive deals with Disney+, which started on January 1st, shortly after the US streaming platform exited from Canal+ packages.

BizAsia: ZEE share price zooms up after SEBI rejects ZEE settlement plea

Story from BizAsia:

ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) saw its share price rise to a high of ₹132.8 per share, defying a weak market trend.

Advanced Television: SES seeks early wrap on Intelsat purchase

Story from Advanced Television:

SES is buying rival Intelsat for $3.1 billion (€2.99bn) in a deal announced last April.

Deadline: Air Ball For New York Knicks Fans As MSG Networks Go Dark On Optimum; Is Carriage Fight Tipoff To Bankruptcy?

Story from Deadline:

New York Knicks and Rangers fans are well-acquainted with heartbreak and frustration, with their teams decades removed from their most recent championships.

Variety: Burning TV Questions for 2025

Story from Variety:

As the industry was rocked last year by layoffs, budget cuts, runaway production, a decline in volume and an overall malaise, one mantra kept popping up: “Survive ‘til ’25!” It was a bit of a hopeful rhyme, as Hollywood looked for some light at the end of this turbulent tunnel.

Deadline: CNN Unveils ‘Have I Got News For You’s Season 2 Premiere Date

Story from Deadline:

Have I Got News for You, CNN‘s American adaptation of the long-running BBC comedy panel series, is set to return for its second season on Saturday, February 15 at 9pm ET/PT.

Variety; Charles Dolan Remembered: John Malone, Brian Roberts and More Pay Tribute to the Cable Trailblazer

Story from Variety:

If Charles Dolan had never taken an interest in media, other business leaders and entrepreneurs would have found a way to harness the power of technology and the arts to lay the foundation for the pay television marketplace.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Board Member Li Haslett Chen Resigns

Story from Variety:

Li Haslett Chen, founder and CEO of social-media commerce company Howl, is stepping down from Warner Bros. Discovery‘s board of directors to devote herself full time to Howl.

Paramount Global for sale latest - Variety; Media Stocks 2024 Winners & Losers: Netflix Soars, Disney Rebounds, Warner Bros. Discovery Flounders

Story from Variety:

Netflix was the breakaway winner among media stocks in 2024, with the streaming powerhouse’s shares up more than 90% over the course of the year.