RTÉ News: Public money for RTÉ write-downs 'regrettable' - Bakhurst

Story from RTÉ News:

The RTÉ Director General will tell the Oireachtas Media Committee it was "extremely regrettable" that public money was used to write-down a partly failed IT system.

RTÉ News: €3.6m IT write-down dominates RTÉ's appearance before committee

Story from RTÉ News:

The RTÉ leadership team has told an Oireachtas committee that they had no knowledge of a €3.6 million write-down over a partly failed IT project until February of this year.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: ‘60 Minutes’ Veteran Lesley Stahl Expects To Soon Be “Mourning, Grieving” Paramount Settlement Of “Frivolous” Trump Lawsuit

Story from Deadline:

Long-tenured 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl is fully expecting a settlement of Donald Trump’s “frivolous” $20 billion lawsuit, but she dreads what will follow the resolution of the case.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Variety: California Senators Suggest Paramount-Trump Settlement Would Amount to a Bribe and Harm Independent Press

Story from Variety:

Two California state senators have called for a hearing on the settlement talks between Paramount Global and President Trump, alleging that such a deal would amount to a bribe in order to obtain regulatory approval for the studio’s merger with Skydance Media.

Hollywood Reporter: PBS Sues Trump Administration Over Defunding Effort

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

PBS and one of its affiliates in Minnesota has sued the Trump administration over its efforts to defund funding for the public broadcaster.

Broadband TV News: TV Markíza to launch new online news service from Slovakia’s first hybrid studio

Story from Broadband TV News:

TV Markíza is launching a new news platform that the Slovakian broadcaster says is a unique hybrid between television broadcasting and an online platform that combines the power and credibility of the most watched TV news in Slovakia with the dynamics and flexibility of the digital space.

Broadband TV News: Finland’s Digita to split into two

Story from Broadband TV News:

Digita says it will divide itself into two companies through a complete demerger.

Advanced Television: La Liga, SFBT launch LALIGA Club in China

Story from Advanced Television:

La Liga has formalised an agreement with SFBT (Spanish Football Blockchain Technology) to roll out technological project LALIGA Club in China for the new season.

Deadline: Starz U.S. Subscriber Levels Rise In Q4; Former Lionsgate Unit Takes $177.4M Charge For Content “Reassessment”

Story from Deadline:

Starz reversed recent U.S. subscriber losses in its fiscal fourth quarter, but disclosed a restructuring charge of $177.4 million due to a “reassessment” of its content portfolio.

Deadline: Stand-Alone Starz CEO Jeff Hirsch Sees A Future Of Owned Shows, Lower Costs & Deals With Networks “Marooned” In Linear Limbo

Story from Deadline:

Starz CEO Jeff Hirsch, in his first solo outing as head of a newly stand-alone publicly traded company, sketched out an era of lower costs, ownership of shows, more bundling and deals with networks that are stuck in the linear space.

Deadline: CBS Gains ‘Jeopardy!’ & ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Distribution Rights At Least Until Legal Battle With Sony Is Over

Story from Deadline:

Sony and CBS spun the wheel one more time this month over who controls Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and the still Shari Redstone-owned company hit the game show jackpot.

Broadband TV News: Mediaset Infinity+ to replace Mitele Plus in Spain

Story from Broadband TV News:

Mediaset Spain is to follow the lead of its Italian parent as it transitions its Mitele Plus streaming service into Mediaset Infinity+.

Broadband TV News: Disney+ launches US loyalty scheme

Story from Broadband TV News:

Disney+ subscribers in the United States will be able to benefit from a new loyalty scheme offering rewards ranging from access to one-of-a-kind experiences and limited-time sweepstakes to moneysaving offers and special discounts.

Deadline; ‘Private Eyes West Coast’: Cameras Set To Roll On Sleuth Spin-Off Series; Jason Priestley To Exec Produce

Story from Deadline:

Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson will officially be back together on set as Private Eyes next week.

Deadline: Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane Departing Studio By End Of Year

Story from Deadline:

Deal points still are being worked out, but Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane is expected to leave his post by end of the year when his contract expires, transitioning to a producing deal with the studio, sources familiar with the situation tell Deadline.

Broadband TV News: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Netflix are now home to 92% of sports on top SVOD services

Story from Broadband TV News:

Leading streamers expanded their TV, movie, and sports titles by 5% in Q2, according to Gracenote.

Televisual: BBC Studios takes ownership of Webb Lamb’s Mothership

Story from Televisual:

BBC Studios Productions has increased its investment in Mothership TV, the unscripted indie founded by former Channel 4 Deputy Director of Programmes, Kelly Webb-Lamb.

Broadband TV News: UK Competition Authority clears merger between SES and Intelsat

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Competition and Markets Authority has approved the acquisition of Intelsat by SES following a Phase I investigation.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Paramount Offers Millions To Trump To End $20B ‘60 Minutes’ Suit & Let Skydance Merger Go Through

Story from Deadline:

Donald Trump and Paramount don’t have a deal yet to settle POTUS’ months-old $20 billion 60 Minutes lawsuit, but the Shari Redstone-ruled media company has put some serious millions on the table in the hopes to make this roadblock to a merger with Skydance disappear.

Advanced Television: Extreme H signs Sony Pictures Networks India deal

Story from Advanced Television:

Extreme H, the hydrogen-powered off-road racing series, has announced a television and digital broadcast partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India.

Advanced Television: Tulipop Tales signs new broadcast, streaming deals

Story from Advanced Television:

Tulipop Tales, the preschool 2D animated series from Icelandic boutique studio Tulipop Studios, continues its international rollout with a new wave of broadcast and streaming partnerships.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Skydance’s ‘9/12’ Series Starring Jeremy Strong On Hold, Eyes 2026 Start Amid Uncertainty Over Paramount Merger Approval

Story from Deadline:

Three weeks after Skydance paused new spending on a series starring and executive produced by Jeremy Strong and written and executive produced by Tobias Lindholm and Frank Pugliese, the high-profile drama has been put on hold, sources tell Deadline.

Broadband TV News: ProSiebenSat.1 hit by another court defeat in Joyn embedding dispute

Story from Broadband TV News:

German media company ProSiebenSat.1 has encountered a further legal defeat in its ongoing conflict with public broadcasters ARD and ZDF over the unauthorised embedding of their media libraries into its streaming platform Joyn.

Advanced Television: Kyriacou named Chairwoman of ProSiebenSat.1 Supervisory Board

Story from Advanced Television:

Maria Kyriacou has been appointed as Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media.

Variety: David Leavy, CNN’s Chief Operating Officer, Will Return to Warner Bros. Discovery

Story from Variety:

David Leavy, a longtime key lieutenant of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, is leaving his current chief operating officer role at CNN and returning to the network’s parent, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Advanced Television: Prime Video’s Champions League coverage sets viewing records

Story from Advanced Television:

Over 13 million viewers have tuned-in to Prime Video’s debut season of UEFA Champions League (UCL) in the UK & Ireland across the 2024–25 season, setting a new record for the most watched season of sport on Prime Video in Europe.

Advanced Television; France: TF1 nets FIBA deal

Story from Advanced Television:

TF1 group has announced a deal with FIBA to carry exclusive, free-to-air coverage of matches featuring the French national women’s and men’s basketball teams at future EuroBasket and World Cup tournaments out to 2029.

Broadband TV News: CANAL+ Germany to show new offers for network operators at ANGA COM

Story from Broadband TV News:

CANAL+ Germany has announced a series of new offers for network operators across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH) at this year’s trade fair ANGA COM, which takes place from 3 to 5 June in Cologne.

Variety: AMC Networks Promotes Olivia Dupuis to Head of Publicity and Talent Relations

Story from Variety:

AMC Networks has upped Olivia Dupuis to executive vice president of publicity and talent relations.

Deadline: Ken Dilanian To Serve As MSNBC’s Justice Correspondent And Erielle Reshef To Join Network As National Correspondent

Story from Deadline:

Ken Dilanian will be part of the MSNBC team as the network prepares for its spinoff from Comcast, while Erielle Reshef will join as national correspondent and fill-in anchor.

Variety; NPR Sues Trump Over Executive Order to Cut Funding: ‘Clear Violation of the Constitution’

Story from Variety:

National Public Radio sued President Trump, alleging his executive order seeking to cut all federal funding to NPR and PBS is a “clear violation” of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

Broadband TV News: Apple TV in line for major refresh

Story from Broadband TV News:

Apple’s tvOS could be about to receive its first major redesign in ten years, according to a leading commentator.

RTÉ News: RTÉ marketing campaign 'doesn't sit right' - Kelly

Story from RTÉ News:

A marketing campaign being filmed for RTÉ, using extras and props in the newsroom, "just doesn't sit right", the chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Media has said.

Advanced Television: Puffin Rock returning on RTE

Story from Advanced Television:

Following the successful launch of seasons one and two, first airing in February this year on RTEjr and the RTE Player, the third season of the celebrated animated series Puffin Rock will premiere this autumn, exclusively on RTEjr and the RTE Player in Ireland.

Broadband TV News: Sportdigital secures Concacaf Gold Cup 2025 in DACH region

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Concacaf Gold Cup, the Football Championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean, will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sportdigital in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH) this summer.

Broadband TV News: RTL Ad Alliance expands addressable TV portfolio with Eurosport 1

Story from Broadband TV News:

RTL AdAlliance, the international sales house of RTL Group, is adding Eurosport 1 to its addressable TV offering.

Deadline: ‘CoComelon’ Animated Series Moving From Netflix To Disney+

Story from Deadline:

Preschool powerhouse CoComelon will have a new streaming home.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - New York Post: Ugly battle between CBS and affiliates adds another wrinkle to Paramount deal

Story from New York Post:

The obstacles impeding Paramount’s $8 billion sale to Skydance keep piling up, and much of it involves CBS, the so-called Tiffany Network, and whether it has shed its rep for disseminating honest news.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - New York Post: CBS to pay fired exec accused of calling anchor ‘too gay’ nearly $10 million after caving to ‘woke mob’

Story from New York Post:

CBS must pay nearly $10 million to an executive accused of racist, sexist comments — after caving to a “woke mob” and firing him before an investigation into his conduct was complete, according to court papers and his attorney.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline; “All Must Pay Tribute To The King”: Jon Stewart Weighs Into Paramount-Skydance Merger & ‘60 Minutes’ Furor

Story from Deadline:

Jon Stewart has become the latest late-night host to weigh in on the possibility that Paramount Global, which owns The Daily Show, will settle President Donald Trump’s $20B lawsuit against CBS News over the way that 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Independent: Freedom of the Press Foundation says it will sue Paramount if it settles with Trump over 60 Minutes lawsuit

Story from Independent:

The Freedom of the Press Foundation says it intends to sue Paramount if the production company settles with Donald Trump over his 60 Minutes lawsuit.

New York Post: News Corp quarterly profit more than doubles, revenue climbs to beat Wall Street expectations

Story from New York Post:

News Corp — owner of The Post and The Wall Street Journal — reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday, bolstered by growth in its digital real estate, Dow Jones and book publishing divisions.

Advanced Television: Completely Mad Max

Story from Advanced Television:

The 2001 merger of Time Warner and AOL is up there in most analysts’ top 10 of worst, and most value destroying, deals ever.

Hollywood Reporter; Inside IMG’s Huge Sports Production Weekend: From English, U.S., Saudi Soccer to Basketball and F1

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

While Cannes is prepping for a big film festival closing weekend, including the Palme d’Or awards ceremony, global sports marketing agency IMG, owned by TKO Group, is powering through a massive weekend of sports production for various leagues on multiple continents for various networks, streamers, and audio platforms.

Deadline: A24 Shuts Down Documentary Division, Five Laid Off

Story from Deadline:

A24 has shuttered its documentary division Deadline has learned and also laid off five employees in the department.

RTÉ News: RTÉ receives 325 applications for voluntary exit scheme

Story from RTÉ News:

RTÉ has said that it received 325 applications for its Voluntary Exit Programme (VEP).

Deadline: Movistar Plus+ Makes Commitment To Independent Film After Domingo Corral’s Shock Exit

Story from Deadline:

There was an outpouring of emotion and concern when it was revealed that Domingo Corral, Director of Fiction & Entertainment at Spain’s Movistar Plus+, was leaving the Spanish company, but the streamer’s head of cinema has moved to assuage fears.

Variety: Allen Media Group Hires Four Warner Bros. Discovery Ad Sales Executives

Story from Variety:

Allen Media Group has hired four advertising sales veterans of Warner Bros. Discovery amid the continued shakeup in traditional Hollywood.

Advanced Television; Spain: Gol Play ends DTT transmission

Story from Advanced Television:

Spanish sports TV network Gol Play is to stop broadcasting on DTT on June 10th, but will continue to make its signal available via pay-TV operators Movistar Plus+, Orange TV, Vodafone TV, Euskaltel, and Telecable Mundo R.

Broadband TV News: Vodafone TV Czech launches own film channels

Story from Broadband TV News:

Vodafone has created a suite of own-branded movie channels, available commercial free to subscribers in the Czech and Slovak republics.

Broadband TV News: Deutsche Telekom acquires FIFA Football World Cup 2026 rights

Story from Broadband TV News:

Deutsche Telekom has secured the German broadcast rights for the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, and the FIFA U20 Men’s World Cups in 2025 and 2027 – a package totalling 272 matches, making it the largest FIFA rights deal in German TV history.

TKO Group looking for up to $1b per year for new UFC's America rights

Is ESPN set to lose UFC as TKO Group is being reported as wanting $1b per year (significant increase from the current $150 million per year ESPN pays, as reported in 2019).

Deadline: Disney+ Scores Rights To Stream UEFA Women’s Champions League Across Europe

Story from Deadline:

Disney+ will stream the UEFA Women’s Champions League across Europe under a five-year deal.

Hollywood Reporter: Disney Sues YouTube Over Poaching Exec Ahead of Licensing Renewal Deals

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

YouTube‘s hiring of longtime Disney executive Justin Connolly to serve in a newly created role as global head of media and sports has sparked a lawsuit against the Google-owned company.

Deadline: Amazon’s Head Of Unscripted Series Jenny Falkoff Joins Netflix

Story from Deadline:

Netflix has hired another unscripted executive from Amazon.

Variety: Lionsgate, After Starz Split, Sees Quarterly Revenue Jump 22% to $1.1 Billion and Movie Segment Profit Hitting Highest Level in 10 Years

Story from Variety:

Lionsgate‘s revenue for the first three months of 2025 rose 22% and its movie division profitability soared to its highest level in a decade helped by the box office performance of “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” and “Flight Risk” in the period.

Deadline: Warner Bros President Of Physical Production Michele Imperato Stabile To Retire Later This Year

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros President of Physical Production Michele (Missy) Imperato Stabile is retiring later this year after a career that spanned 40 years.

Media Guardian: New Australian free-to-air TV rules could allow alcohol ads from 10am, even on weekends and school holidays

Story from Media Guardian:

Free-to-air broadcasters want classification rules changed to allow an additional 800 hours of alcohol ads every year despite one in three children already being exposed to liquor commercials on television.

RTÉ News: RTÉ appoints new Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

Story from RTÉ News:

RTÉ has announced the appointment of a new Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO).

RTÉ News: RTÉ approved 116 external activities for employees in Q4 2024

Story from RTÉ News:

RTÉ has published a statistical summary of external activities by staff for the fourth quarter of 2024, showing that 116 activities were approved.

RTÉ News: Independent sector to produce mass, services on RTÉ

Story from RTÉ News:

RTÉ has launched a commissioning process that will see all of its Christian worship content produced in the independent sector.

Hollywood Reporter: Ted Sarandos, Alexis Ohanian, Eli Manning Join Paley Center Board of Trustees

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Ted Sarandos, Alexis Ohanian and Eli Manning are joining the board of trustees at the Paley Center for Media.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery’s Jori Arancio Joins TikTok As Head Of Global Consumer & B2B Communications

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery communications executive Jori Arancio has left to join TikTok.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - New York Post: Ellisons will go on buying spree – should Paramount-Skydance deal ever get green light

Story from New York Post:

David Ellison doesn’t even own Paramount but he’s planning to grow it, On The Money has learned.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - New York Post: CBS News quietly trims staff ahead of expected mass layoffs at struggling parent company Paramount Global

Story from New York Post:

CBS News quietly slashed three high-level positions ahead of a major round of layoffs across parent company Paramount Global that is expected to kick off this summer, The Post has learned.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - New York Post: Paramount infighting stalls Shari Redstone’s push to settle $20B Trump suit: ‘Decision constipation’

Story from New York Post:

Shari Redstone-controlled Paramount is poised to settle a closely watched legal battle with President Trump over alleged deceptive editing of a controversial “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris – but warring factions within the company have delayed the move, On The Money has learned.

New York Post: Disney CEO Bob Iger, ABC News boss told ‘The View’ hosts to tone down anti-Trump criticism

Story from New York Post:

Disney CEO Bob Iger and ABC News boss Almin Karamehmedovic have urged the hosts of the left-leaning daytime talk show “The View” to scale back their political commentary, particularly their frequent criticisms of President Trump, according to a report.

New York Post: NBC makes offer to take over ESPN’s MLB television slate

Story from New York Post:

NBC is taking a swing at getting back into the baseball broadcasting game.

Advanced Television: AT&T buys Lumen’s consumer fibre business

Story from Advanced Television:

US telco giant AT&T has reached an agreement to acquire substantially all of Lumen’s Mass Markets fibre business for $5.75 billion (€5bn), subject to purchase price adjustments, in an all-cash transaction that it says will expand investment in critical US connectivity infrastructure, create new middle-class jobs, and accelerate high-speed fibre Internet access to millions of Americans.

Deadline: ProSiebenSat.1 Calls MFE Takeover Bid “Inadequate From A Financial Perspective”

Story from Deadline:

ProSiebenSat.1 Media‘s board has advised shareholders to reject the takeover bid launched by the Berlusconi family’s MediaForEurope.

Broadband TV News: Bundesliga returns to Play Sports

Story from Broadband TV News:

Telenet has secured the broadcasting rights for the German Bundesliga through 2029.

Advanced Television: TelevisaUnivision, Disney Entertainment distribution partnership

Story from Advanced Television:

TelevisaUnivision and Disney Entertainment have announced a new multi-region distribution partnership.

Advanced Television: BBC World Service to launch Polish offering

Story from Advanced Television:

BBC World Service is expanding its news offer with the launch of a pilot Polish-language news website, BBC News Polska, and its content on social channels.

Advanced Television: Fubo launches Women’s Sports Zone

Story from Advanced Television:

Fubo, the sports-first live TV streaming platform, has launched a dedicated Women’s Sports Zone, with custom branded activations for advertisers.

Broadband TV News: Funke Digital launches All Romance and Crimify on Samsung TV Plus

Story from Broadband TV News:

German service provider Funke Digital is expanding its presence on Samsung TV Plus with the launch of two new FAST Channels: All Romance and Crimify.

Deadline; Media CEO Pay Defied Gravity In 2024: Would They Ever Work For Less? David Zaslav Package “Triple-A” As Warner Bros Discovery Debt Downgraded To Junk

Story from Deadline:

Sarah Anderson has a strong point of view on U.S. CEO pay. They could take a cut.

Broadband TV News: Radio Free Europe granted €5.5 million in EU funding

Story from Broadband TV News:

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been granted a stay of execution after the European Union agreed to provide emergency fundings to keep the station on the air.

Broadband TV News: TVP Russian channel launches new Moldovan programme

Story from Broadband TV News:

TVP has launched a new information programme in the Russian language aimed at Moldova.

Televisual: Mel Bezalel to lead BBC Studios new development, design team

Story from Televisual:

BBC Studios Productions has appointed Optomen’s Mel Bezalel to lead its new central development and design team.

Broadband TV News: Canal+ receives clearance for Multichoice takeover

Story from Broadband TV News:

Canal+ and MultiChoice have been told that the South African Competition Commission has recommended that the South African Competition approve the transaction between the companies.

Hollywood Reporter: With Cord Cut, Can Old TV Brands Take Off On Streaming?

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

A few months ago, HBO content chief Casey Bloys and Warner Bros. Discovery streaming chief JB Perrette approached the company’s leadership, including CEO David Zaslav, with a suggestion.

Hollywood Reporter; Channel 4 to Move Into Production Amid IP Focus: “Global Income to Drive U.K. Content Investment”

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, led by CEO Alex Mahon, who recently said she would step down this summer after eight years, will move into in-house production in a sea change and will also start looking to buy production companies with “strong commercial potential” in an evolution of its acquisition strategy.

Variety: Sony Pictures Animation Promotes Damien de Froberville to President

Story from Variety:

Damien de Froberville has been promoted to president of Sony Pictures Animation.

Advanced Television: Bank excited by C-band prospects

Story from Advanced Television:

A report on the satellite industry from investment bank BNP-Paribas highlights that a new auction of satellite C-band spectrum (in particular for US 5G use) “is back and too big to ignore”.

Deadline: S&P Downgrades Warner Bros. Discovery To Junk Status On “Weak Credit Metrics” That Would Get Worse If Company Splits

Story from Deadline:

S&P downgraded Warner Bros. Discovery to BB+ amid continued revenue and cash flow declines at its linear TV operations.

Broadband TV News: CANAL+ Germany launches SportsHD package

Story from Broadband TV News:

CANAL+ Germany is expanding its B2B offering for network operators with the launch of a new sports package called SportsHD.

RTÉ News: RTÉ approved 116 external activities for employees in Q4 2024

Story from RTÉ News:

RTÉ has published a statistical summary of external activities by staff for the fourth quarter of 2024, showing that 116 activities were approved.

Deadline: Marcus Mabry Joins MSNBC As Senior Vice President Of Content Strategy

Story from Deadline:

Marcus Mabry is joining MSNBC as senior vice president of content strategy, in which he will be tasked with overseeing the network’s current and future digital products and for how it connects with non-liear audiences.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Democratic Senators Warn Paramount’s Shari Redstone That Trump Lawsuit Settlement May Violate Federal Bribery Statute

Story from Deadline:

Three senators have sent a letter to Paramount Global’s Shari Redstone warning that a potential settlement of Donald Trump‘s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS may violate federal bribery laws.

Deadline: Streaming Ad Tiers Catch Fire, Make Up Nearly Half Of U.S. Subscriptions For SVODs That Offer Them, Study Says

Story from Deadline:

Ads on streaming are smoking.

Advanced Television; Research: SVoD subs surpass 5m in Denmark

Story from Advanced Television:

For the first time ever, the number of paid streaming subscriptions in Denmark has exceeded five million.

Advanced Television; Bank: “More headwinds ahead for Eutelsat”

Story from Advanced Television:

Satellite operator Eutelsat saw its share price fall by almost 12 per cent on its Q3 revenue statement last week.

Advanced Television: Nolly Africa HD expands to Whale TV+

Story from Advanced Television:

African Movie Channel (AMC), the UK-based Nollywood broadcaster, has announced the launch of its 24-hour FAST channel, Nolly Africa HD, on Whale TV+.

Advanced Television: FIA Extreme H World Cup signs ESPN Latin America deal

Story from Advanced Television:

The FIA Extreme H World Cup, the hydrogen-powered off-road racing series, has announced a broadcast partnership with ESPN across Latin America.

Advanced Television: Amazon, Magnite expand streaming TV access via Fire TV

Story from Advanced Television:

Amazon Publisher Services (APS) and Magnite, the independent sell-side advertising company, have announced a deeper streaming TV collaboration through APS’ Transparent Ad Marketplace (TAM) and Magnite’s SpringServe.

Broadband TV News: Vodafone’s path to profit broken by German subscriber losses

Story from Broadband TV News:

UK telecommunications group Vodafone is expecting to deliver earnings between €11 and €11.3 billion despite German subscriber losses.

Advanced Television; France: Court orders VPNs to block illegal sports streaming

Story from Advanced Television:

Canal+ has secured a ruling from the Paris Judicial Court ordering the blocking of over 200 domain names associated with illegal sports streaming sites by five VPN providers.

Deadline: Paul Robinson Exiting Role As Kartoon Channel Worldwide President

Story from Deadline:

Kids TV industry veteran Paul Robinson is exiting his role as President of Kartoon Channel Worldwide, we’ve learned.

Deadline: ‘Sesame Street’ Heads To Netflix With Streaming Deal For PBS Children’s Series

Story from Deadline:

Sesame Street has a new streaming home. Netflix has picked up the children’s series, which will make its debut on the streamer later this year with an all-new, reimagined 56th season — plus 90 hours of previous episodes — available to audiences worldwide.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline; Wendy McMahon Resigns As CEO Of CBS News And Stations: “It’s Become Clear That The Company And I Do Not Agree On The Path Forward”

Story from Deadline:

Wendy McMahon has announced her resignation as the president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, the latest departure from the network amid the pending acquisition by Skydance.

Deadline: BBC Studios Restructures Production Division With Formation Of Unscripted & Global Units

Story from Deadline:

Zai Bennett has made his mark at BBC Studios, unveiling a restructure of the production arm.

Bizasia: ZEE refreshes brand as it transforms into a “content & technology powerhouse”

Story from Bizasia:

ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has announced its transformation into a Content and Technology Powerhouse, with an aim to offer premium quality content and an immersive consumer experience across entertainment platforms.

Broadband TV News: Record-high number of streaming subscriptions in the Nordics

Story from Broadband TV News:

The launch of ad supported options has led to a record number of paid streaming subscriptions in the Nordic region.

Advanced Television: MultiChoice concludes counterfeit STB case

Story from Advanced Television:

South African pay-TV giant MultiChoice has reported that a civil case against Uni Li Cell has concluded, which involved 5,000 imported power supply units for use with MultiChoice decoders.

Advanced Television: Viaplay acquires 16.5m own class B shares

Story from Advanced Television:

Viaplay Group, the Nordics streaming group, has acquired a total of 16,500,000 own class B shares within the scope of the repurchase programme introduced by the Board of Directors with the purpose of securing the delivery of class B shares to the participants of the company’s long term incentive programme resolved upon by the Annual General Meeting 2025.

Broadband TV News: Sky Deutschland secures NHL rights

Story from Broadband TV News:

German pay-TV broadcaster Sky Deutschland will remain the home of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Germany and Austria for years to come, following a renewed long-term partnership agreement.

Broadband TV News: Canal+ eyes Austrian Bundesliga rights

Story from Broadband TV News:

French pay-TV network Canal+ has reportedly entered the race for the broadcasting rights to Austria’s top-tier football league, the Bundesliga.

Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Explains Reasoning Behind Max Rebrand, Potential Company Split

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels on Thursday explained the rationale for his studio’s rebrand of Max as HBO Max to better position the streaming platform for consumers.

Deadline: Banijay Entertainment Revenue Rises In Q1 Helped By Scripted & “Superbrands”

Story from Deadline:

Scripted shows and “superbrands” drove a 5% rise in Banijay Entertainment’s Q1 2025 revenue, the Big Brother and Temptation Island outfit has reported.

Advanced Television: Paramount launching Wrestling Central FAST channel

Story from Advanced Television:

Paramount Global Content Distribution is launching an all wrestling FAST channel, branded Wrestling Central, which will go live soon on The Roku Channel in the US and Canada.

Broadband TV News: Eutelsat removing Russian channels from satellites

Story from Broadband TV News:

Eutelsat Communications has confirmed the removal of two Russian-originated channels from its satellites.

Variety: FCC Approves Verizon’s $20 Billion Frontier Deal After Telco Committed to Eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Agency’s GOP Chairman Says

Story from Variety:

After Verizon agreed to end its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, the FCC — led by Trump-appointed chairman Brendan Carr — approved the telco’s $20 billion deal to acquire Frontier Communications.

Broadband TV News: Amagi appoints Emma Whitmore to head EMEA sales

Story from Broadband TV News:

Amagi has appointed Emma Whitmore as its new Senior Vice President of Sales, EMEA.

Broadband TV News: Canal+ secures blocking order on illegal sports streaming

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Paris Judicial Court has ruled in favour of Canal+ ordering the blocking of 203 domain names associated with illegal sports streaming sites by five VPN providers.

Variety: With Charter-Cox Megadeal, John Malone’s Liberty Broadband Will Lose Ownership Stake in Charter

Story from Variety:

John Malone, the “cable cowboy” who has shaped the cable and media industries for decades, is set to reap a windfall from the $34.5 billion blockbuster Charter Communications deal to acquire and merge with Cox Communications.

Hollywood Reporter: Behind Warner Bros.’ $125 Million Arbitration Win Against Village Roadshow Over ‘Matrix Resurrections’

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

When it filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, Village Roadshow pointed to the souring of its longtime partnership with Warner Bros. for its financial woes.

Hollywood Reporter; Cable Megadeal: Charter to Buy Cox In $34.5 Billion Merger

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

In one of the biggest telecom acquisitions in years, the cable giants Charter Communications and Cox Communications have agreed to merge in a $34.5 billion deal.

Broadband TV News: Delphine Ernotte Cunci reappointed as President of France Télévisions

Story from Broadband TV News:

Delphine Ernotte Cunci as President of France Télévisions for a third consecutive five-year term, the French media regulator, ARCOM, Arcom has announced.

Deadline: Studio TF1 CEO Pierre Branco Talks Cinema Push, Hire Of Ex-Sky Original Film Director & Appointment Of French Distribution Head

Story from Deadline:

France’s Studio TF1 has hired Julia Stuart, the former director of original Film at Sky, on a consultancy basis, and appointed Warner Bros. France exec Cristina Batlle as the head of its budding theatrical distribution operation.

Advanced Television: IMG extends partnership with Minnesota Vikings

Story from Advanced Television:

The Minnesota Vikings has renewed its partnership with sports marketing agency, IMG, to manage the NFL team’s international marketing output in the UK, Canada and Germany for the 2025 NFL season.

Advanced Television: BBC Studios launches Bluey Dancealongs

Story from Advanced Television:

BBC Studios has announced the launch of a new Bluey digital series called Bluey Dancealongs, featuring Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, Dianne Buswell.

Advanced Television; Eutelsat Q3: ‘Financially stretched’

Story from Advanced Television:

Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat has unveiled its Q3 results, which were much as expected.

Advanced Television: Movistar Plus sees highest pay-TV subs growth since 2018

Story from Advanced Television:

Spain’s Movistar Plus has reported a 66,000 gain in pay-TV subscribers in the first quarter 0f 2025 – being its highest growth in customers since 2018 – and reaching a total of 3,586,000 subscribers as of March 31st.

Hollywood Reporter: MSNBC Makes Key Political Hire as It Builds a New D.C. Bureau

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

As it prepares for its future spun off from Comcast, the new leaders of MSNBC have made a key hire to build up its political reporting infrastructure.

Broadband TV News: NLconnect closes deal with Viaplay securing linear channel for smaller operators

Story from Broadband TV News:

Trade association NLconnect has closed a deal with Viaplay on behalf of the smaller providers in its membership.

Broadband TV News: DPG Media close to RTL takeover

Story from Broadband TV News:

The Belgian DPG media group is close to receiving approval from the Dutch competition watchdog for the takeover of broadcaster RTL Nederland.

Advanced Television: RTL Group “on track for streaming profitability”

Story from Advanced Television:

RTL Group has reported that Q1 revenue was down 2 per cent to €1.2 billion mainly attributed to lower content revenue from Fremantle and lower TV advertising revenue, partly offset by higher streaming revenue.

Advanced Television; Research: Norway tops Nordic region for SVoD subs

Story from Advanced Television:

Paid streaming subscriptions have reached an all-time high in Norway, with nearly 80 per cent of households now paying for at least one service.

BizAsia: Jagmeet Singh Sidhu confirmed as JioStar Region Head Europe & Sub-Saharan Africa

Story from BizAsia:

Jagmeet Singh Sidhu has been appointed as the Region Head for Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa at the newly merged entity, JioStar.

Deadline: Fremantle’s Q1 Revenue Drops 5.6% Due To “Budget Cuts” At Networks & Streamers

Story from Deadline:

Fremantle’s first quarter revenue fell 5.6% as the Got Talent maker’s parent RTL blamed “budget cuts at broadcasters and streamers.”

Deadline: ProSiebenSat.1 Media Sees Q1 Profits Dive 39% As “Very Cyclically Sensitive” TV Ad Market Bites

Story from Deadline:

ProSiebenSat.1 Media has posted adjusted EBITDA down 39%, as the linear TV advertising market bit, though streamer Joyn achieved its best quarter to date.

Deadline: Netflix Ad Tier Reaches 94M Monthly Active Users, With Average Engagement Of 41 Hours A Month In U.S.

Story from Deadline:

Netflix’s ad-supported tier has reached 94 million monthly active users across the world, up from 70 million last November.

Deadline: CNN’s Mark Thompson Provides Some Additional Details For What He Calls Its “First True News Streaming Service”

Story from Deadline:

CNN‘s upcoming streaming service, set to debut in the fall, will be “one simple way to explore the very best of CNN journalism on your phone, your connected TV or other digital device,” the network’s chairman and CEO Mark Thompson told advertisers this morning.

Variety: Why David Zaslav Was Wrong to Get Rid of HBO’s Name in HBO Max

Story from Variety:

The name Max has, not a moment too soon, gotten the axe.

City AM: Cricket coffers on sticky wicket

Story from City AM:

There are few signs of any competition to incumbent JioStar for the crucial Indian TV rights ahead of the next tender for global tournaments, which will take place next year, according to insiders involved in the process.

Advanced Television: EU probes SES and Intelsat combination

Story from Advanced Television:

European Union (EU) regulators are examining the extent of Elon Musk’s influence and communications of his Starlink broadband-by-satellite system and whether it is a valid competitor to what could be a combined business of SES and Intelsat.

Hollywood Reporter; Warner Bros. Discovery Reverses Course: Changes Max’s Name Back to HBO Max

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. Discovery is changing the name of its streaming service again.

Hollywood Reporter: Sony Pictures Entertainment Full-Year Profit Slips 4 Percent to $774 Million

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s operating income for the full fiscal year ended March 31 fell 4% to $774 million from $808 million in dollar terms for the comparable period a year before, with FY sales dipping 4 % to $9.899 billion from $10.315 billion.

Broadband TV News: TVP VOD plays increase by a quarter

Story from Broadband TV News:

TVP VOD recorded a 26% increase in the number of plays in April 2024, when compared to the previous year.

Broadband TV News: SkyShowtime offers 40% cut in subscription rates

Story from Broadband TV News:

SkyShowtime has launched a new promotional offer for new and selected returning customers that reduces the cost of its standard plans by 40%.

Variety; CW Boss on NXT’s Move to the Broadcast Network: ‘It’s Been an Absolute Game Changer’

Story from Variety:

WWE‘s developmental program, NXT, has been airing on The CW since October 2024 and the broadcaster couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.

Advanced Television: NBA on Prime tips-off in India this October

Story from Advanced Television:

Prime Video has revealed the official logo for its coverage of the NBA on Prime, which begins in October 2025 as part of a landmark 11-year global media rights agreement.

Advanced Television: Hearst Networks launches Slovenian feed

Story from Advanced Television:

Hearst Networks EMEA is expanding its footprint in Central and Eastern Europe with the launch of a dedicated local feed for The History Channel in Slovenia.

Advanced Television; France: FFF seeks football rights market reform

Story from Advanced Television:

Philippe Diallo, president of French Football’s governing body Fédération Française de Football (FFF) has proposed a complete overhaul of the crisis-hit sector governance to create a club-led company, that would be responsible for commercial matters and would replace the current French football league Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).

Advanced Television: South Korea climbs Netflix Speed Index

Story from Advanced Television:

Three per cent of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) saw an increase between 0.2 and 0.6 Mbps, 84 per cent stayed the same, and 13 per cent decreased 0.2 Mbps this month on the Netflix ISP Speed Index, a monthly update on which ISPs provide the best prime-time Netflix streaming experience.

Hollywood Reporter: How New Jersey Landed Netflix

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Look what’s growing in the Garden State.

Deadline: ESPN Reveals Name And Price Of Forthcoming Stand-Alone Streaming Outlet

Story from Deadline:

ESPN is leaning into its heritage, naming its forthcoming stand-alone streaming app ESPN.

Deadline: ABC Chief On Why Veterans ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘9-1-1’ & ‘The Rookie’ Are Not Contemplating Endgame Just Yet

Story from Deadline:

ABC has several veteran drama series on the 2025-26 schedule: Grey’s Anatomy, renewed for a record 22nd season; 9-1-1, headed into Season 9; and The Rookie into Season 8.

Deadline: Harley Copen Transitions To Management At 3 Arts Entertainment

Story from Deadline:

20-year motion picture agent Harley Copen is making a transition into management, moving from CAA to 3 Arts Entertainment.

Deadline: YouTube Will Stream Kansas City Chiefs-L.A. Chargers NFL Game For Free From Brazil This September

Story from Deadline:

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the Kansas City Chiefs will face the L.A. Chargers in an early-September game streaming globally on YouTube.

Deadline: CNN Plans Launch Of New Streaming Service This Fall

Story from Deadline:

CNN is planning to roll out a subscription streaming service this fall, its latest attempt to gain a foothold in the market.

Advanced Television: BBC Studios, 7fivefive partnership

Story from Advanced Television:

7fivefive, a specialist in media systems innovation and integration, is enabling the BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming team to scale its virtual infrastructure.

Broadband TV News: Vodafone selects 3SS and 3Ready for new group TV solution

Story from Broadband TV News:

Vodafone Group has selected German software solutions provider 3SS and its 3Ready product platform to power the next-generation Vodafone TV user experiences (UX) across all Vodafone TV markets.

Broadband TV News: New research reveals the extent of the BBC’s role internationally

Story from Broadband TV News:

The BBC has published new research exploring the impact and influence of its work internationally.

Broadband TV News: Sky to launch Sky Stream in Austria

Story from Broadband TV News:

Pay-TV broadcaster Sky is bringing its IP-based television platform Sky Stream to Austria, with the service becoming available to new customers from 14 May 2025.

Deadline: Lachlan Murdoch Sets Name For New Fox Streaming Service

Story from Deadline:

Lachlan Murdoch said the new Fox streaming service he’s been teasing for months will be called Fox One and will launch before the start of football season this fall.

Media Guardian: Ministers demand BBC World Service plan for cuts as aid budget slashed

Story from Media Guardian:

David Lammy is asking BBC bosses to draw up tens of millions of pounds’ worth of cuts to the World Service as part of the spending review, as the fallout continues from Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the aid budget.

Deadline: ProSiebenSat.1 Media Investor PFF Offers Shareholders Alternative To MediaForEurope Takeover Bid

Story from Deadline:

The latest twist in the ongoing tussle over ProSiebenSat.1 Media‘s future sees Czech investor PPF seeking to double its stake in the German broadcasting giant, challenging an existing takeover bid from MediaForEurope (MFE).

Advanced Television; Australia: Nine scores World Rugby deal

Story from Advanced Television:

World Rugby has announced a long-term broadcast deal with Nine Entertainment to create the exclusive home of World Rugby competitions for fans in Australia through to 2029.

Advanced Television: Mediapro strike puts La Liga TV matches at risk

Story from Advanced Television:

Around 800 workers from Mediapro – the Spanish production group responsible for broadcasting La Liga and La Liga 2 – have been called to strike during the final match days of the season, putting TV transmissions at risk.

Advanced Television: SABC Plus hits 1m users

Story from Advanced Television:

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced that SABC Plus, its OTT streaming platform, has reached 1 million registered users since its relaunch in July 2024.

Broadband TV News: Strong first quarter for MBC Group

Story from Broadband TV News:

MBC’s SHAHID platform has recorded its strongest Ramadan season on record with double-digit growth in subscriptions (SVOD) and advertising (AVOD) revenues.

Broadband TV News: UHD Spain to become testbed for Ultra HD channels on TDT

Story from Broadband TV News:

UHD Spain has offered to provide the necessary technical coordination so that all broadcasters can have access to UHD Spain’s multiple test channel to experiment and develop Ultra High Definition tests.

Deadline: YouTube TV Bucks The Cord-Cutting Trend, Growing By Disrupting – But Not Everyone “Enjoys The Zen”

Story from Deadline:

In just eight years, and in a landscape defined by cord-cutting and decline, YouTube TV has become one of the largest pay-TV providers in the U.S.

C21Media: Ex-MTV, Elisa Viihde execs take up senior roles at Warner Bros Int’l TV Production in Finland

Story from C21 Media:

Warner Bros International Television Production (WBITVP) in Finland has appointed Marko Karvo as director of sports content and business, Joona Kortesmäki as chief growth officer and Erkka Rantanen as senior VP of commercial partnerships.

Deadline: Tom Rothman Reups As Sony Pictures Motion Group Chairman & CEO In Multiyear Contract

Story from Deadline:

It’s official: Tom Rothman has signed a multiyear extension of his contract as chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group.

Hollywood Reporter: New York Increases Film and TV Tax Credits to $800 Million to Compete for Hollywood Projects

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has approved a state budget that increases the cap on the state’s film and TV subsidy to $800 million, nearly double the amount from 2022.

Broadband TV News: CNMC investigates Telefónica over Sogecable pay-TV breach

Story from Broadband TV News:

Spain’s National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has begun an investigation into Telefónica’s pay-TV offer.

Hollywood Reporter: Dish and Sling TV Combined for Loss of 380,000 Subscribers in First Quarter

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Dish TV and Sling TV combined for a loss of 380,000 subscribers (7.78 million to “approximately” 7.4 million) in the first quarter of 2025, their shared parent company Echostar revealed in its Friday morning earnings release.

Hollywood Reporter: AMC Networks Reports 10.2 Million Streaming Subscribers, Changes to Sub Counts

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

AMC Networks reported net revenue of $555 million, down from $596 million in the prior year.

Hollywood Reporter: Roku Head of Content David Eilenberg Exits to Become Creative Director at ITV America

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

David Eilenberg, the head of content for Roku, is exiting the streaming platform to become creative director at the production company ITV America, the studio behind shows like Love Island USA, Hell’s Kitchen and Queer Eye.

Deadline: WWE & UFC Parent TKO Beats Q1 Forecasts And Ups Full-Year Guidance

Story from Deadline:

TKO Group Holdings, parent of the WWE and UFC, said “strength and momentum” at both subsidiaries powered first-quarter financial results.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Paramount Still Sees Skydance Deal Closing First Half Despite Noise; Streaming & Sports Buoy Q1

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global said it expects the merger with Skydance Media to close in the first half of 2025 despite chatter around the deal, which requires a greenlight from the FCC.

Deadline: CEO David Zaslav Says Warner Bros. Discovery Can Move Quickly If It Wants To Restructure

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive David Zaslav said an internal reorganization into two operating divisions, Global Linear Networks and Studios & Streaming, means “we can move quickly if we decide to change and make a determination on restructuring.”

Hollywood Reporter: Sounds Like Warner Bros. Discovery Will Have Its Own SpinCo in the “Not-Too-Distant” Future

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

It sounds like Discoveryco. may be a reality.

Deadline: David Zaslav Declares, “This Is The Strongest HBO Has Ever Been”, Likens It To NBC In “Must-See TV” Era

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav believes “this is the strongest HBO has ever been” in its 53-year history, with a pop-culture mojo reminiscent of NBC’s “must-see TV” era.

RTÉ News: Joe Duffy to hang up Liveline mic after 27 years

Story from RTÉ News:

Joe Duffy is retiring from RTÉ after 37 years, signing off as one of the most enduring and influential voices in Irish media.

Variety: Max to Get ‘More Assertive’ in Blocking Password-Sharing Users Later This Year, Warner Bros. Discovery Exec Says

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery wants people who are piggybacking on someone else’s Max account to pay up — starting in the U.S. with a gentle nudge before getting “more assertive” starting later in 2025, according to JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games.

Broadband TV News: beIN’s TOD goes live with Friend MTS to tackle piracy in MENA

Story from Broadband TV News:

beIN Media Group’s TOD sports and entertainment OTT subscription service has chosen FMTS’s watermarking and anti-piracy services to protect its content including blockbuster movies, the Premier League and the US Open.

Broadband TV News: MFE launches takeover offer for ProSiebenSat.1

Story from Broadband TV News:

Italian media company MFE-MediaForEurope has officially opened the acceptance period for its voluntary public takeover offer for German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1, following approval from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

Deadline: Crisis? What Crisis? ITV Studios Bosses Reject Talk Of Gloom In The Scripted Market But Note British Limited Series Are Under Threat

Story from Deadline:

Bosses at ITV Studios have rejected the notion that there is a UK scripted funding crisis while batting away questions around sale rumors.

Deadline: CNN Loses Appeal In Legal Battle With Journalist Suing For Unfair Dismissal & Discrimination

Story from Deadline:

CNN has failed to quash a lawsuit from former international correspondent Saima Mohsin, who is suing the network over unfair dismissal and disability discrimination allegations.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Adds 5.3 Million Streaming Subscribers in Q1, Narrows Loss

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery said its first-quarter loss narrowed from the year-earlier period as it added more than 5 million subscribers to its streaming services around the globe.

Advanced Television: EndemolShine India launches branded entertainment

Story from Advanced Television:

EndemolShine India, the Indian content powerhouses, and part of Banijay Entertainment, has announced its entry into branded entertainment.

Deadline; Brit Formats Are Back: Report Shows 18% Rise In UK Adaptations Last Year Driven By ‘The 1% Club’, ‘The Piano’, ‘MasterChef’

Story from Deadline:

British formats are back in vogue, according to research firm K7’s annual Tracking the Giants report.

Variety: Max Appoints Elettra Canovi Director of Scripted Content in Italy Ahead of 2026 Launch

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that Italian production executive Elettra Canovi has been appointed as director of scripted content for Max in Italy, where the streamer will be operational in 2026.

Deadline: Starz Shares Jump 40% On First Day Of Trading, Disney Up 11% On Strong Quarterly Earnings

Story from Deadline:

Wednesday’s performances by Starz and Disney shares represented a bright spot in an otherwise murky 2025 for media stocks.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: CBS Boss George Cheeks Admits It’s A “Challenging” Time In TV & For Paramount, But That Didn’t Impact Its Schedule

Story from Deadline:

CBS has been in the news for all sorts of reasons lately, including legal battles with the President of the United States and issues around its news gem 60 Minutes.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline; CBS Exec Addresses Cancellations Of ‘The Equalizer’ & ‘FBI’ Shows: “We Have To Be Fiscally Responsible”

Story from Deadline:

The Equalizer as well as FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International may have been yanked from the CBS schedule, but execs on Wednesday were still touting the strength of the three dramas.

Deadline; HBO Content Chief Casey Bloys Defends Weekly TV Release Strategy On Streaming: “It Works For Us”

Story from Deadline:

No matter how much audiences wish they could binge the latest seasons of their favorite Max series all in one go, HBO and Max content chief Casey Bloys says the streamer will continue its commitment to the weekly release strategy.

Deadline: BBC Player Set To Launch On India’s Tata Play Binge

Story from Deadline:

Luther, Joan and David Attenborough are set for outings on Indian streamer Tata Play Binge.

Advanced Television: Netflix first new UI in 12 years

Story from Advanced Television:

Netflix plans an overhaul of its homepage as it pushes into new areas like games and live events.

Hollywood Reporter: Can Starz Scale? Now Split From Lionsgate, CEO Sets Sights on Major Subscriber Growth

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

It’s been about 18 months since Lionsgate began taking steps to separate its film and TV studio business from Starz — a process Starz president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch likens to renovating a house.

Variety: ESPN Cable Subscribers Will Get Access to New Streaming Features

Story from Variety:

ESPN‘s core viewers will have a surprising opportunity to connect with the soon-to-launch streaming version of the service.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Variety: Democratic Senators Urge Paramount’s Shari Redstone to Fight Trump’s ‘Bogus’ Lawsuit Over ‘60 Minutes’ Segment: ‘Stand Up for Freedom of the Press’

Story from Variety:

Nine Democratic senators sent an open letter to Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, urging her company to not settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump — which seeks $20 billion in damages — over what he claims was a deceptively edited interview aired by CBS’s “60 Minutes.”

Variety: NBCUniversal Strikes Deal to Sell Versant Ads for Two Cycles

Story from Variety:

NBCUniversal is parting ways with many of its cable networks, but the company will continue to sell all the commercials that appear on those outlets for the next two years.

Broadband TV News: 400 jobs to be cut at VodafoneZiggo after subscriber losses

Story from Broadband TV News:

VodafoneZiggo is to reduce its workforce by 400 after the Dutch communications company lost over 40,000 customers in the first quarter of the year.

Advanced Television: Starz completes separation from Lionsgate

Story from Advanced Television:

Starz has completed its separation from Lionsgate and, effective immediately, returns to being a standalone public company with trading commencing on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol STRZ.

C21Media: Lionsgate, Starz begin trading as standalone companies after Supreme Court ruling

Story from C21Media:

Lionsgate and Starz are set to begin trading as standalone companies today after the Supreme Court of British Columbia approved their full separation.

Deadline: Disney Reports Better-Than-Expected Quarterly Numbers Driven By Experiences And Sports

Story from Deadline:

Strength in Disney‘s Experiences and Sports divisions propelled the media giant to better-than-expected results in its fiscal second quarter.

RTÉ News: Fergal O'Brien named RTÉ's new Business Correspondent

Story from RTÉ News:

RTÉ News has appointed Fergal O'Brien as its new Business Correspondent.

Deadline: ProSiebenSat.1 Media Cutting 430 Roles As Shareholders Jockey For Position

Story from Deadline:

ProSiebenSat.1 Media is eliminating 430 roles at the cost of “mid to high double-digit million euros,” as the battle for the German TV giant’s future continues.