Latest Business News
RTL Group Sells Dutch TV Operation to DPG Media for $1.2B
RTL Group has signed a deal valued at $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euros) to sell its Dutch television operation RTL Nederland to European group DPG Media. The deal comes after Dutch authorities blocked RTL’s original plans to merge its Dutch TV operations with Talpa Networks, the TV group controlled by TV mogul and The Voice […]
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20th TV Head of Production Nissa Diederich to Depart
Nissa Diederich, executive vp production at 20th Television, is stepping down from her post. Diederich will leave 20th after more than two decades at the Fox-turned-Disney studio. She has been in her current job for two-plus years after taking over for Jim Sharp in 2021. Prior to that, she was executive vp production at Touchstone […]
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Bob Iger’s Disney Self-Evaluation Revealed in Pay Discrimination Fight
In 2019, Disney just couldn’t miss. The company’s stock had catapulted to a then-all time high off the back of Disney+’s debut, the acquisitions of 21st Century Fox and operating control of Hulu, and a record year at the box office led by Avengers: Endgame. The board thought Bob Iger had a fantastic year stewarding […]
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Klutch Sports Acquires Rep 1 Baseball Agency
UTA and its strategic partner Klutch continues to be active in the M&A space. The talent agency’s strategic partner Klutch Sports has acquired Rep 1 Baseball, a full service sports representation agency focused on professional baseball players. Klutch will form a new division, Klutch Baseball, which will be led by Chris Koras, the current CEO […]
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Disney Activist Fight Escalates as Nelson Peltz Nominates Former CFO Jay Rasulo for a Board Seat
Disney’s former CFO is now part of Trian’s proxy fight with the entertainment giant. Jay Rasulo, who was once seen as one of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s heirs apparent at the company, has been nominated for a seat on the company’s board by Trian Partners. As expected, Trian also nominated its founder Nelson Peltz for […]
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Endeavor Invests In Chess Website As WME Aims to Build Business
WME has signed Chess.com, which bills itself as the world’s largest online platform for the game. As part of the signing, the entertainment agency will work with Chess.com to expand the popularity of chess across digital media, fashion, film, food, music, sports, television and theater. The goal is to develop non-scripted content, including documentaries, build “celebrity-centric […]
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Super Bowl Goes to Los Angeles In 2027
The Super Bowl is returning to Los Angeles. The NFL says that Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium will host the 2027 Super Bowl, a move that will make L.A. the center of the sports universe for the second half of the 2020s. The 2027 Super Bowl will be broadcast by ABC and ESPN, the first time the […]
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CAA Promotes Two to Executive, 14 to Agents
Major talent agency giant CAA has promoted 16 rising employees to agent or executives. Khalil Roberts becomes an executive in the agency’s book department after he joined CAA in 2019 as a receptionist, and most recently served as a coordinator. And London-based Sarah Phillips, who also joined the agency in 2019, has been upped to […]
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WWE-Major League Wrestling Antitrust Face-Off Ends In Settlement
WWE has settled a lawsuit brought by a rival accusing it of monopolizing the professional wrestling media market. In a joint filing, lawyers for the company and Major League Wrestling on Monday notified the court of a deal resolving the case. Details weren’t disclosed. The suit, filed last year, accused WWE of “unlawfully interfering with […]
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More Media Megadeals in 2024? Top Accounting Firm Thinks It’s a Good Bet
This year saw a slowdown in terms of media and telecommunications sector dealmaking, but there are signs of a recovery in M&A activity, top accounting and consulting services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said in a Wednesday report. Deal talk has returned to the sector with a vengeance, driven by recent talk that Paramount Global and its parent […]
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“You Pay to Play”: A Major Showdown Over Funding Streaming TV and Movies Is Underway in Canada
U.S. streaming giants were already in an uncomfortable position after Canada reined them in with first-time spending obligations to support the production of homegrown movies and TV series. But as 2023 ends, the country’s TV and telecom regulator is at odds with American streamers over how much cash they are now obligated to fork over […]
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Fox News Makes Changes In Its C-Suite
Fox News is making significant changes to its C-suite, promoting three executives and handing oversight of Fox Nation and Fox Business Network to new leaders. Jason Klarman, who had been president of the Fox Nation streaming service, has been upped to chief digital and marketing officer, reporting to Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott. Lauren Petterson, […]
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European Parliament Votes Not to Ban Geo-Blocking for Film and TV — For Now
The European Parliament on Wednesday followed the advice of its film and TV industry and did not ban geo-blocking for films and TV content across the European Union. Last week, more than 600 film and TV companies from across Europe, as well as representatives of Hollywood studios, sports leagues, film festivals and film and TV […]
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MSNBC Brings Back Luke Russert to Spearhead New Live Events Business (Exclusive)
MSNBC wants a piece of the live events business, and it is bringing back a familiar face to lead its effort in the space. MSNBC is launching a live events brand called “MSNBC Live” next year, combining live interviews and panel discussions, as well as forums and other events featuring MSNBC anchors and talent. The […]
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Datwon Thomas Named Executive Producer of Talent at Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions has named Datwon Thomas as the executive producer of talent. In the newly created role, Thomas will be part of DCP’s in-house talent team, collaborating on talent strategy, relations, bookings and creative. “We’re very excited to have Datwon bring his experience and unmatched expertise in hip-hop and R&B to DCP,” says Jay […]
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E3 Shuts Down After Two-Decade Run as Video Game Industry’s Biggest Convention
It’s official: E3 has been shut down as the video game industry’s biggest convention and media platform for good. “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories,” the Entertainment Software Association, the video game trade association, said on its […]
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