Another major studio merger could be in the works as Axios’ Sara Fischer has reported that the heads of Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount Global have had talks to discuss that very subject.
Multiple sources told Axios that Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on Tuesday in New York City to discuss a possible merger. Zaslav also spoke with Shari Redstone, who owns Paramount’s parent company. Deadline confirmed that such talks did take place, but a source added that “it was all rather preliminary.“
Both companies have been dealing with some fairly significant debt issues, with Zaslav in particular going to extreme measures to cut costs, including shelving several finished movies before they had to the chance to be released, most notably Batgirl. It’s far too early to say whether a merger between Warner Bros and Paramount will move ahead, but...
Multiple sources told Axios that Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav met with Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish on Tuesday in New York City to discuss a possible merger. Zaslav also spoke with Shari Redstone, who owns Paramount’s parent company. Deadline confirmed that such talks did take place, but a source added that “it was all rather preliminary.“
Both companies have been dealing with some fairly significant debt issues, with Zaslav in particular going to extreme measures to cut costs, including shelving several finished movies before they had to the chance to be released, most notably Batgirl. It’s far too early to say whether a merger between Warner Bros and Paramount will move ahead, but...
- 12/20/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The next entertainment mega deal may be on the horizon.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish held a meeting this week to discuss the possibility of a merger between the companies, Axios reported.
A deal, if it comes to fruition, would bring together two of the entertainment industry’s biggest players, with Wbd owning the Warner Bros. film and TV studios, HBO, and the former Turner and Discovery cable channels. it also operates the Max streaming service.
Paramount owns CBS, Paramount Pictures and its robust film and TV studios, and the former Viacom cable channels.
Such a deal would likely be attract less regulatory scrutiny than other potential mergers, with Wbd lacking any domestic broadcast network, and with mostly synergistic businesses. The biggest source of friction would likely be combining the two legacy film and TV studios.
Both Zaslav and Wbd board member John...
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish held a meeting this week to discuss the possibility of a merger between the companies, Axios reported.
A deal, if it comes to fruition, would bring together two of the entertainment industry’s biggest players, with Wbd owning the Warner Bros. film and TV studios, HBO, and the former Turner and Discovery cable channels. it also operates the Max streaming service.
Paramount owns CBS, Paramount Pictures and its robust film and TV studios, and the former Viacom cable channels.
Such a deal would likely be attract less regulatory scrutiny than other potential mergers, with Wbd lacking any domestic broadcast network, and with mostly synergistic businesses. The biggest source of friction would likely be combining the two legacy film and TV studios.
Both Zaslav and Wbd board member John...
- 12/20/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Winners of the 93rd Academy Awards were unveiled April 25, a day that included another notable announcement: The creation of 1in4, an advocacy group to help disabled workers starting out in entertainment. The coalition was formed when 10 vets began exchanging tales of navigating the industry.
“We are the only organization in Hollywood made up of working disabled professionals, helping the next group of disabled filmmakers to come up the ranks,” Kaitlyn Yang, one of the founders, tells Variety.
In just six months, they have succeeded in getting entry-level jobs such as production assistants for disabled people who wanted to get their foot in the door, but didn’t know how. The group is working to place people in jobs behind the camera and in the offices of execs and decision-makers.
“We’ve also been building a database of disabled talent in every category — writing, producing, directing, costumes, composers, VFX, everything,” Yang adds.
“We are the only organization in Hollywood made up of working disabled professionals, helping the next group of disabled filmmakers to come up the ranks,” Kaitlyn Yang, one of the founders, tells Variety.
In just six months, they have succeeded in getting entry-level jobs such as production assistants for disabled people who wanted to get their foot in the door, but didn’t know how. The group is working to place people in jobs behind the camera and in the offices of execs and decision-makers.
“We’ve also been building a database of disabled talent in every category — writing, producing, directing, costumes, composers, VFX, everything,” Yang adds.
- 11/10/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
“Nomadland” look home the top film prize at the 2021 Producers Guild Awards Wednesday, bringing it closer to a Best Picture win. The winner of the PGA Awards’ top prize has historically been a strong indicator of which film will will go on to win the Best Picture Oscar. Since 1989, the PGA winner has matched up with the top Oscar 21 out of 31 times. It happened in 2018 with “Green Book,” but not last year: “1917” won at the 2020 PGAs, but the Academy Award for Best Picture went to “Parasite.”
This year, 10 movies competed for the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures (see the full list of nominees and winners below). Seven 2021 PGA nominees for the top prize are also 2021 Oscar Best Picture nominees: “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound Of Metal,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
One film,...
This year, 10 movies competed for the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures (see the full list of nominees and winners below). Seven 2021 PGA nominees for the top prize are also 2021 Oscar Best Picture nominees: “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound Of Metal,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
One film,...
- 3/25/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
In a panel appearance Tuesday at CES in Las Vegas, a pair of top WarnerMedia execs offered a few new insights into HBO Max, the company’s subscription streaming offering set to debut in May.
Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Legg and Evp and Gm of Direct-to-Consumer Andy Forssell painted a somewhat more detailed picture of the $15-a-month service than was offered last October at the company’s investor day. Legg said the goal will be to eliminate what he called the “endless scroll” of traditional streaming, through a mix of tech tools and human curation. Also, the plan is to target mobile devices with an interface that is more “swipey” than those of competitors. (“Is that a word?” he joked.)
Moderator Sara Fischer of Axios asked which shows would potentially come alive on HBO Max as You did when it moved from Lifetime to Netflix. “All of them,” Legg quipped.
Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Legg and Evp and Gm of Direct-to-Consumer Andy Forssell painted a somewhat more detailed picture of the $15-a-month service than was offered last October at the company’s investor day. Legg said the goal will be to eliminate what he called the “endless scroll” of traditional streaming, through a mix of tech tools and human curation. Also, the plan is to target mobile devices with an interface that is more “swipey” than those of competitors. (“Is that a word?” he joked.)
Moderator Sara Fischer of Axios asked which shows would potentially come alive on HBO Max as You did when it moved from Lifetime to Netflix. “All of them,” Legg quipped.
- 1/7/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Five years. That’s how long it’s been since we’ve witnessed the arrival of a new Shonda Rhimes TV show. Sure, we’ve seen a number of Shondaland-branded series, like How to Get Away With Murder and The Catch, debut, but one created and written by Rhimes herself? You’d have to go all the way back to 2012 and the premiere of a little show called Scandal for that.
So, what’s the holdup?
The buzz in some industry circles is that she could be waiting to unleash her next Grey’s Anatomy or Scandal for a...
So, what’s the holdup?
The buzz in some industry circles is that she could be waiting to unleash her next Grey’s Anatomy or Scandal for a...
- 1/25/2017
- TVLine.com
Kyra Sedgwick will star in the new drama “Ten Days in the Valley,” which has gotten a straight to series order at ABC, TheWrap has learned. Sedgwick is taking over for Demi Moore, who was previously attached to star. She will also executive produce the ten-episode series from Skydance Television. Created, written, and executive produced by “Rookie Blue” co-creator Tassie Cameron — who also serves as showrunner — the show will debut on ABC in 2017. It marks Sedgwick’s return to headlining a drama series following her seven-season tenure on “The Closer.” Also Read: Shondaland Names ABC Studios' Sara Fischer Head of Production The series.
- 8/4/2016
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
With its portfolio growing to five series, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers’ Shondaland is staffing up in a big way, going from one staff executive to four with the hire of Sara Fischer as Head of Production, Kristen Andersen as VP Marketing and Communications and Sandie Bailey as Director of Branding and Engagement. This is the first time the ABC Studios-based Shondaland has had in-house executives in these areas. The trio, all of whom have worked on Shondaland shows, join…...
- 8/3/2016
- Deadline TV
ABC Studios vet Sara Fischer has been named head of production at Shondaland, the production company announced on Wednesday. In her new role, Fischer will oversee production on the five Shondaland series currently airing on ABC: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” “The Catch” and “Still Star-Crossed,” which is set to debut midseason. She will also oversee production on the company’s development projects and special events. In her previous role at ABC Studios, Fischer managed production on the Shondaland dramas, as well as ABC’s other series, including “Of Kings and Prophets” and “American Crime.
- 8/3/2016
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Showtime has promoted three executives to senior vice presidents in his programming division. Danielle Gelber rises from VP of original programming, drama series programming, to senior VP, original programming. She will be responsible for the development and oversight of new Showtime series including Huff, the Hank Azaria drama scheduled to bow later this year. Gelber also oversaw The L Word and Out of Order. She reports to Gary Levine, executive VP, original programming. Gary Garfinkel will move to senior VP from VP of film acquisitions, a position he has held since 1998. He will be responsible for the negotiation and acquisition of films for Showtime, The Movie Channel, Sundance Channel, Flix and Showtime's digital channels, as well as working on studio output deals. He reports to Matthew Duda, executive VP, acquistions, planning and distribution. Sara Fischer has been boosted from VP to senior VP, production, where she will oversee all aspects of production for the network, including scouting film locations, crew management and post-production. She currently oversees production on Word and Queer as Folk. Fischer will report to Michael Rauch, executive VP, production. All three executives will be based in Los Angeles.
- 3/17/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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