Deadline: Amazon Global Communications Operations Undergo Layoffs

Story from Deadline:

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

Broadband TV News: UPC boosts channel offer in Slovakia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Saturday Night Live will once again be live in October.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story from Deadline:

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

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

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

Deadline: Discovery+ Sets First Price Hike Since 2021 Launch

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

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

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

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

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

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

Story from Deadline:

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

Broadband TV News: Fox rebrands in the Balkans

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

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

Story from Deadline:

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