MEDIA BOY'S WORLD MEDIA NEWS

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has cleared the planned joint advertising sales company between RTLzwei and Warner Bros. Discovery, paving the way for the two broadcasters to consolidate their TV ad marketing efforts in a new venture called El Cartel Brothers.

Deadline: More Library Cartoon Network Series Come Off HBO Max, Part Of Streamer’s Move Away From Kids Fare

Story from Deadline:

Courage the Cowardly Dog is no longer available on HBO Max.

Sunday, 3 August 2025

Variety; Bruce Ramer on CPB Shutdown: ‘A Good Part of Public Radio and Broadcasting Will Be Out of Business’

Story from Variety:

The repercussions will be enormous.

Saturday, 2 August 2025

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Elizabeth Warren Calls Skydance And Paramount Responses “Dodgy,” Wants Investigation Of Whether There Was A Trump “Side Deal”

Story from Deadline:

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said that the responses from Skydance and Paramount Global to her and other senators’ queries were “dodgy,” as she called for an independent investigation as to whether there was a “side deal” with Donald Trump.

Friday, 1 August 2025

Variety: ‘South Park’ Is Leaving HBO Max After Paramount+ Secures Exclusive Rights

Story from Variety:

The first 26 seasons of “South Park” will leave HBO Max next week, after show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone inked a rich deal with Paramount Global that included exclusive streaming rights on Paramount+.

Deadline: Netflix’s Corporate Culture Under The Microscope Again In Latest Misconduct & Discrimination Suits

Story from Deadline:

A recently amended discrimination, harassment and retaliation lawsuit from Netflix’s former director of Kids & Family Acquisitions and Co-Commissions against the streamer has put the company’s hardcore adapt or perish culture unflatteringly in the spotlight yet again.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Shari Redstone Says Content Is Still King As Her Family’s Long Paramount Run Is A Wrap

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global chair and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone thanked investors and her company’s co-CEOs on Thursday during the company’s abbreviated earnings call ahead of its merger with Skydance Media that closes next week.

Hollywood Reporter: Blue Ant Media to Go Public After Completing Reverse Takeover

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Indie studio Blue Ant Media, led by CEO Michael MacMillan, is expected to go public next week after completing a reverse takeover of assets from Boat Rocker Media.

Hollywood Reporter: Corporation for Public Broadcasting Shutting Down After Federal Funding Rescission

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which directs federal funds to local public TV and radio stations, says it will shut down after having those federal dollars taken away.

Advanced Television: ESPN Unlimited for DirecTV customers

Story from Advanced Television:

DirecTV has announced that its streaming, satellite and U-verse customers will gain access to ESPN Unlimited at no additional cost.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Broadband TV News: Paramount streaming numbers grow, despite subscriber losses

Story from Broadband TV News:

Paramount says its Q2 financials demonstrate continued progress in its transformation towards a streaming first company.

Broadband TV News: Liberty Global planning more spin-offs

Story from Broadband TV News:

Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries has said the company is working to separate its remaining core operating units following the successful spin-off of Sunrise in November 2024.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Inks New Post-Split Contracts With Streaming Boss JB Perrette, Chief Revenue Officer Bruce Campbell

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery entered into new employment contracts for two senior execs, JB Perrette and Bruce Campbell, that extend through 2029 and 2030, respectively. The new deals, disclosed Thursday, are contingent on the completion of Warner Bros. Discovery’s separation into two companies: Warner Bros., comprising streaming and studios, and Discovery Global, which will house the linear TV networks.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Variety: Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn’t Involved in Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, ‘Fully Complied’ With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal

Story from Variety:

Skydance Media has responded to an inquiry from three left-wing U.S. senators who expressed concerns about “bribery” with respect to the Trump administration’s approval of its deal to acquire Paramount Global — and had questioned whether Skydance had any part in the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline; Paramount Sees Q2 Bump From ‘Mission: Impossible’, Paramount+ In Redstone Swan Song As Skydance Merger Set To Close

Story from Deadline:

Paramount Global reported its last set of financials under Redstone family ownership with a massive jump in theatrical revenue (up 84%) from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning last quarter. Released May 23, it’s grossed nearly $600 million worldwide.

Paramount Global/Skydance merger - Deadline: Paramount Licensing Chief Dan Cohen Steps Down Ahead Of Skydance Merger

Story from Deadline:

Dan Cohen, Chief Content Licensing Officer at Paramount, is leaving the company after eight years.

Deadline: Public Media Suffers Another Blow As Senate GOP Provides No Federal Funding In New Spending Bill

Story from Deadline:

A new spending bill advanced out of a key Senate committee that provides no federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the entity that distributes grants to public stations, PBS and NPR.