Record Subscribers and Emmy Nods, but Can They Fix the Advertising Gap? Netflix continued to solidify its position as a leader in premium streaming with impressive Q2 2024 results. The platform added a record 8 million new subscribers, bringing its global total to 277.7 million. Netflix not only surpassed sales and profit expectations but also increased its revenue and margin forecasts for the year. To top it off, the streaming giant celebrated a remarkable 107 Emmy nominations, the highest of [...]

J.J. is a CIA agent with the muscular and sculpted physique of former wrestler Dave Bautista but a life more akin to that of an ordinary office worker: a rebellious teenage stepdaughter with whom he tries to bond by baking muffins and spending time together, often with disastrous results. J.J. has decided to give up secret missions to dedicate himself to his family. When Sophie’s (Chloe Coleman) high school choir wins a trip to Italy to sing for the Pope, [...]

David Ellison's ambition to acquire Paramount Global began last winter, echoing the intense M&A battles of the past. Nearly three decades after Sumner Redstone and Barry Diller’s high-stakes struggle for Hollywood’s iconic studio, Ellison’s Skydance Media, along with Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital, is poised to reshape Paramount, CBS, and more. After months of negotiations and numerous headlines forecasting this development, Paramount Global and Skydance Media officially announced their merger on Monday. The agreement enables Skydance to acquire National Amusements, which [...]

In today's dynamic landscape of digital entertainment, the competition between traditional Pay TV, Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD), and the burgeoning field of social video platforms is intensifying. According to the latest report from the Variety Intelligence Platform (VIP), titled Social Video vs. SVOD: The Race to Replace TV, significant shifts in U.S. viewing habits are underway. Historically, the cable TV industry broke broadcast dominance in the 1980s, followed by Netflix leading the streaming revolution decades later. Now, platforms like [...]

As the IATSE contract ratification vote starts today, union members are scrutinizing the AI provisions negotiated with Hollywood's studios. During a virtual town hall on Saturday, IATSE leaders, including International President Matthew Loeb, addressed questions from about 50,000 members from 13 locals under the Basic Agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The nearly three-hour session highlighted provisions for regular AI use review. According to the Memorandum of Agreements, “the parties agree to meet at least [...]

Monday, July 8 was the first day of school for Jared Grusd. As a veteran media and tech executive, he has taken the helm as CEO of Gracenote, the content-solutions division of Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement and consumer behavior tracking. Grusd reports directly to Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao. Meanwhile, Sujit Das Munshi, who has led Gracenote as general manager since November 2022, will transition to the role of chief operating officer. Gracenote is known for selling entertainment [...]