Vue Names Ian Fraser As Chair
Former Kwik Fit CEO Ian Fraser is the new Non-Exec Chairman of British cinema chain Vue. He succeeds Stella David, who is exiting to run gambling biz Entail. Fraser is currently working for infrastructure business M Group Services, but is best known as CEO of car servicing business Kwik Fit and COO of Orange UK. He takes up his new post on June 1, leading a non-exec board also including Katrina Cliffe, Henry Birch and Tom Singer and working alongside Vue CEO Tim Richards, CFO Alison Cornwell and COO Matt Eyre. Vue recently underwent a debt restructuring that saw about £50M ($63.5M) of debt converted into equity. This came after The Hollywood labor strikes, which hit cinema operators hard. However, the likes of Dune: Part Two and Kung Fu Panda 4 have helped the sector bounce back in 2024. UK-based Vue has well over 200 multiplexes in Europe and Taiwan.
Former Kwik Fit CEO Ian Fraser is the new Non-Exec Chairman of British cinema chain Vue. He succeeds Stella David, who is exiting to run gambling biz Entail. Fraser is currently working for infrastructure business M Group Services, but is best known as CEO of car servicing business Kwik Fit and COO of Orange UK. He takes up his new post on June 1, leading a non-exec board also including Katrina Cliffe, Henry Birch and Tom Singer and working alongside Vue CEO Tim Richards, CFO Alison Cornwell and COO Matt Eyre. Vue recently underwent a debt restructuring that saw about £50M ($63.5M) of debt converted into equity. This came after The Hollywood labor strikes, which hit cinema operators hard. However, the likes of Dune: Part Two and Kung Fu Panda 4 have helped the sector bounce back in 2024. UK-based Vue has well over 200 multiplexes in Europe and Taiwan.
- 5/23/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Moonbug Entertainment is making a move into the consumer products space with the hire of Ashley Maidy.
The Riot Games industry veteran has joined the CoComelon company as Managing Director of Consumer Products. In the role, she’ll be responsible for expanding the Candle Media-owned company’s Cp business, connecting licensing and retail partners to its brands.
She’ll also lead the consumer products team, developing strategies for Moonbug’s kids brands, which has developed huge online followings while branching out on to services such as Netflix.
Maidy will report to Moonbug founder and CEO Rene Rechtman.
A former studio exec, she was previously Global Head of Consumer Products at Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends, Valorant and Emmy winner Arcane. Before that, she spent nine years at Activision Blizzard, leading licensing and partnerships for the Call of Duty, Skylanders and Candy Crush brands.
At Fox...
The Riot Games industry veteran has joined the CoComelon company as Managing Director of Consumer Products. In the role, she’ll be responsible for expanding the Candle Media-owned company’s Cp business, connecting licensing and retail partners to its brands.
She’ll also lead the consumer products team, developing strategies for Moonbug’s kids brands, which has developed huge online followings while branching out on to services such as Netflix.
Maidy will report to Moonbug founder and CEO Rene Rechtman.
A former studio exec, she was previously Global Head of Consumer Products at Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends, Valorant and Emmy winner Arcane. Before that, she spent nine years at Activision Blizzard, leading licensing and partnerships for the Call of Duty, Skylanders and Candy Crush brands.
At Fox...
- 5/13/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Democratic political consultants have some advice if you’d prefer not to have companies track your every move and sell that data to campaigns: avoid mobile games like Candy Crush.
“Political campaigns are a perfect microcosm of the data economy,” Raffi Krikorian, the host of the Technically Optimistic podcast tells Rolling Stone. “You have data brokers who are gonna sell you information, so I can create a model of who I should persuade and turn out and an election. How does that data flow? Where did the data brokers get all this information?...
“Political campaigns are a perfect microcosm of the data economy,” Raffi Krikorian, the host of the Technically Optimistic podcast tells Rolling Stone. “You have data brokers who are gonna sell you information, so I can create a model of who I should persuade and turn out and an election. How does that data flow? Where did the data brokers get all this information?...
- 5/8/2024
- by Andrew Perez
- Rollingstone.com
Warning: binge-watchers only. Contains major spoilers for ITV1’s Passenger.
As Passenger’s Riya (Wunmi Mosaku) says in her 40th birthday party speech at The Dog and Duck, life hasn’t gone quite as she’d hoped. Five years ago, Riya left her job and spacious city apartment to move in with her husband and his mother-in-law in the remote Lancashire town of Chadder Vale, where the most exciting crimes to investigate involve stolen wheelie bins. Her husband soon legged it to Spain with his mum Sue’s carer, leaving Riya alone in a tiny terraced house to look after Sue.
Sue Goodheart (Clare Burt) isn’t well. She’s paranoid and hallucinates, phones Riya roughly 20 times a day, and has to be administered specialist medication for her degenerative condition. But as the Passenger finale shows in the briefest of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments, there’s a very good reason for all that.
As Passenger’s Riya (Wunmi Mosaku) says in her 40th birthday party speech at The Dog and Duck, life hasn’t gone quite as she’d hoped. Five years ago, Riya left her job and spacious city apartment to move in with her husband and his mother-in-law in the remote Lancashire town of Chadder Vale, where the most exciting crimes to investigate involve stolen wheelie bins. Her husband soon legged it to Spain with his mum Sue’s carer, leaving Riya alone in a tiny terraced house to look after Sue.
Sue Goodheart (Clare Burt) isn’t well. She’s paranoid and hallucinates, phones Riya roughly 20 times a day, and has to be administered specialist medication for her degenerative condition. But as the Passenger finale shows in the briefest of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments, there’s a very good reason for all that.
- 3/27/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Realm, the industry-leading audio entertainment studio and one of the world's fastest-growing independent podcast networks, announced today the addition of Peter Levin, a trailblazer in the podcast and interactive software industries, to its Board of Advisors. Levin, a Managing Director and co-founding partner at Griffin Gaming Partners, brings with him a deep understanding of how to grow media franchises into global powerhouses and sees podcasts as a key touchstone with fans.
With a distinguished career spanning various roles at the intersection of gaming and media, Levin has continually pushed boundaries and helped shape the industry. As the former President of Interactive Ventures, Games, & Digital Strategy at Lionsgate, and the Co-Founder and CEO of Nerdist Industries (subsequently acquired by Legendary Entertainment), Levin was a leader in the earliest days of podcasting. Since then, he’s been integrally involved in adapting gaming intellectual property into traditional media form factors. These properties include...
With a distinguished career spanning various roles at the intersection of gaming and media, Levin has continually pushed boundaries and helped shape the industry. As the former President of Interactive Ventures, Games, & Digital Strategy at Lionsgate, and the Co-Founder and CEO of Nerdist Industries (subsequently acquired by Legendary Entertainment), Levin was a leader in the earliest days of podcasting. Since then, he’s been integrally involved in adapting gaming intellectual property into traditional media form factors. These properties include...
- 2/27/2024
- Podnews.net
The hot new trend in entertainment is trashy, (very) short-form soap operas on TikTok. It’s a weird business that has proven lucrative for the Chinese-owned ReelShort.
The app specializes in junky romance, revenge, and werewolf stories targeting young women — and their smartphones. It’s working: ReelShort in November actually surpassed TikTok on the Apple Store’s download charts, and its creator says the app is already profitable. The copycats are coming.
ReelShort was developed by the Crazy Maple Studio, which is Beijing-backed and California-based. And its reel momentum has resulted in some very reel profiles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. You can’t get very far into any article on ReelShort without a mention of the word “Quibi,” the short-lived, short-form app from DreamWorks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg that launched — and died — in 2020. Katzenberg blamed Covid for its swift demise.
The cautionary tale is now history,...
The app specializes in junky romance, revenge, and werewolf stories targeting young women — and their smartphones. It’s working: ReelShort in November actually surpassed TikTok on the Apple Store’s download charts, and its creator says the app is already profitable. The copycats are coming.
ReelShort was developed by the Crazy Maple Studio, which is Beijing-backed and California-based. And its reel momentum has resulted in some very reel profiles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. You can’t get very far into any article on ReelShort without a mention of the word “Quibi,” the short-lived, short-form app from DreamWorks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg that launched — and died — in 2020. Katzenberg blamed Covid for its swift demise.
The cautionary tale is now history,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Bobby Kotick, the longtime CEO of Activision Blizzard, is stepping down Dec. 29 following the company’s drawn-out $69 billion sale to Microsoft that closed in October. The exec — who oversaw some of the industry’s most popular games from Pitfall to Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Candy Crush Saga and Farm Heroes Saga — had said previously he would stay on through the end of 2023.
“I’d like to thank Bobby—for his invaluable contributions to this industry, his partnership in closing the Activision Blizzard acquisition and his collaboration following the close—and I wish him and his family the very best in his next chapter,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in a memo Wednesday where he confirmed Kotick’s exit date, according to press reports.
“I’ve long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture.
“I’d like to thank Bobby—for his invaluable contributions to this industry, his partnership in closing the Activision Blizzard acquisition and his collaboration following the close—and I wish him and his family the very best in his next chapter,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in a memo Wednesday where he confirmed Kotick’s exit date, according to press reports.
“I’ve long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture.
- 12/20/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is stepping down from his role on Dec. 29, as the company further integrates into Microsoft.
Microsoft closed its $68.7 billion acquisition of the video game publisher in October, after overcoming several regulatory hurdles. The acquisition creates a gaming powerhouse by bringing together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios, and Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft and Tony Hawk franchises and owner of Candy Crush.
In a note sent to employees Wednesday, Kotick, who has been head of the company for more than 30 years, expressed gratitude for his employees and also praised the skills of Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Kotick and the Activision team report to Spencer, as announced when the deal closed.
“Phil shares our values and recognizes our talents. He is passionate about our games and the people who make them. He has bold ambition,...
Microsoft closed its $68.7 billion acquisition of the video game publisher in October, after overcoming several regulatory hurdles. The acquisition creates a gaming powerhouse by bringing together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios, and Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft and Tony Hawk franchises and owner of Candy Crush.
In a note sent to employees Wednesday, Kotick, who has been head of the company for more than 30 years, expressed gratitude for his employees and also praised the skills of Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Kotick and the Activision team report to Spencer, as announced when the deal closed.
“Phil shares our values and recognizes our talents. He is passionate about our games and the people who make them. He has bold ambition,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Microsoft’s Xbox sales declined by 7 percent, while the gaming system’s content and services grew 13 percent in revenue, the company said on Tuesday as part of its earnings report.
Total revenue for the gaming division grew 8 percent for the latest financial quarter, which follows the tech company becoming a video games powerhouse by closing a $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard.
The largest transaction in the history of Microsoft, led by CEO Satya Nadella, will make it the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.
The takeover brings together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios — owner of Starfield developer Bethesda Softworks and 343 Industries, among other game publishers — with Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft and Tony Hawk franchises, among others, and owner of Candy Crush and Farm Heroes Saga maker King.
During the first quarter, Microsoft...
Total revenue for the gaming division grew 8 percent for the latest financial quarter, which follows the tech company becoming a video games powerhouse by closing a $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard.
The largest transaction in the history of Microsoft, led by CEO Satya Nadella, will make it the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.
The takeover brings together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios — owner of Starfield developer Bethesda Softworks and 343 Industries, among other game publishers — with Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft and Tony Hawk franchises, among others, and owner of Candy Crush and Farm Heroes Saga maker King.
During the first quarter, Microsoft...
- 10/24/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As of today, October 13, 2023, Microsoft has officially completed its nearly $70 billion acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard. Though the two sides reportedly agreed to an acquisition way back in January 2022, the deal has been modified, scrutinized, and debated by a number of regulatory bodies (not to mention other gamers) since then. Following an exhaustive process that required the Microsoft team to make quite a few concessions, the deal is finally complete.
There is so much to say about this deal, and we hope to be able to share much of that information with you in the coming days and weeks. However, you’re not alone if the first question that popped into your mind is “What games and franchises do Microsoft and Xbox now control as part of the Activision Blizzard deal?
The full answer to that question is long and complicated. As noted above, there are a number of provisions...
There is so much to say about this deal, and we hope to be able to share much of that information with you in the coming days and weeks. However, you’re not alone if the first question that popped into your mind is “What games and franchises do Microsoft and Xbox now control as part of the Activision Blizzard deal?
The full answer to that question is long and complicated. As noted above, there are a number of provisions...
- 10/13/2023
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Software and technology giant Microsoft has reached the end of a long and rocky road, closing its $68.7 billion acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard, led by CEO Bobby Kotick, on Friday, 21 months after it had unveiled the mega-deal.
Activision unveiled the close of the transaction in a regulatory filing early on Friday.
The takeover brings together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios (owner of Starfield developer Bethesda Softworks and 343 Industries, among other game publishers) and Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft and Tony Hawk franchises, among others, and owner of Candy Crush and Farm Heroes Saga maker King.
The largest transaction in the history of Microsoft, led by CEO Satya Nadella, will make it the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. Kotick and the Activision team will report to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
Activision unveiled the close of the transaction in a regulatory filing early on Friday.
The takeover brings together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios (owner of Starfield developer Bethesda Softworks and 343 Industries, among other game publishers) and Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft and Tony Hawk franchises, among others, and owner of Candy Crush and Farm Heroes Saga maker King.
The largest transaction in the history of Microsoft, led by CEO Satya Nadella, will make it the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. Kotick and the Activision team will report to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
- 10/13/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Proof that fan petitions definitely work! A mere 12 years after behind-the-scenes Doctor Who companion show Doctor Who: Confidential was cancelled due to BBC budget restraints, the powers that be have finally listened to all of our moaning and brought it back!
Or at least, they absolutely didn’t listen to all of our moaning, but Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is in charge now and has Disney money to spend, so we’re finally getting a new documentary companion series. Hooray and huzzah for that.
Doctor Who: Unleashed is a 30-minute doc series that will air on BBC Three immediately after every new Doctor Who episode from November 2023, as well as being available to stream on BBC iPlayer (and presumably Disney+ around the world). David Tennant let the plans for this revival slip some time ago, but he’s forgiven – the man is spinning a lot of plates right now.
Or at least, they absolutely didn’t listen to all of our moaning, but Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is in charge now and has Disney money to spend, so we’re finally getting a new documentary companion series. Hooray and huzzah for that.
Doctor Who: Unleashed is a 30-minute doc series that will air on BBC Three immediately after every new Doctor Who episode from November 2023, as well as being available to stream on BBC iPlayer (and presumably Disney+ around the world). David Tennant let the plans for this revival slip some time ago, but he’s forgiven – the man is spinning a lot of plates right now.
- 9/28/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
On Thursday, Microsoft opened a weeklong hearing that will decide whether its $69 billion bid to purchase video game behemoth Activision Blizzard should be temporarily blocked with a warning: If a federal judge grants the injunction that the Federal Trade Commission is seeking, the deal won’t go through.
“If we can’t close by July 18, and the court enjoins the transaction,” Microsoft’s lead attorney Beth Wilkinson said, “nobody can withstand that and we certainly can’t.” She stressed that siding with the FTC in the case will drag the company into a “three year administrative nightmare” that will doom the deal.
The argument set the stage for a mini trial in federal court in San Francisco between Microsoft and the FTC. The agency in December sued to block the merger, arguing that it will enable the tech giant to suppress competition in gaming. If approved, the deal will marry Microsoft,...
“If we can’t close by July 18, and the court enjoins the transaction,” Microsoft’s lead attorney Beth Wilkinson said, “nobody can withstand that and we certainly can’t.” She stressed that siding with the FTC in the case will drag the company into a “three year administrative nightmare” that will doom the deal.
The argument set the stage for a mini trial in federal court in San Francisco between Microsoft and the FTC. The agency in December sued to block the merger, arguing that it will enable the tech giant to suppress competition in gaming. If approved, the deal will marry Microsoft,...
- 6/23/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Microsoft’s $69 billion bid to buy video game publisher Activision Blizzard has been temporarily blocked, allowing more time to review whether the deal violates antitrust laws.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley found on Tuesday that pausing the merger is “necessary to maintain the status quo” and preserve the FTC’s ability to permanently stop the deal.
After announcing plans last year to acquire Activision, maker of Call of Duty, Candy Crush and Diablo, Microsoft has been engaged in a worldwide blitz to secure approval of the purchase poised to make the company a gaming powerhouse. It’s been greenlighted in several countries, including the European Union, Japan and China, but the U.K. blocked it due to concerns that it would allow the company to corner the cloud gaming market in a decision that was appealed by Microsoft.
Corley’s decision to issue the restraining order doesn’t weigh...
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley found on Tuesday that pausing the merger is “necessary to maintain the status quo” and preserve the FTC’s ability to permanently stop the deal.
After announcing plans last year to acquire Activision, maker of Call of Duty, Candy Crush and Diablo, Microsoft has been engaged in a worldwide blitz to secure approval of the purchase poised to make the company a gaming powerhouse. It’s been greenlighted in several countries, including the European Union, Japan and China, but the U.K. blocked it due to concerns that it would allow the company to corner the cloud gaming market in a decision that was appealed by Microsoft.
Corley’s decision to issue the restraining order doesn’t weigh...
- 6/14/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In a surprise move, Microsoft’s planned $68.7 billion acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard has been prohibited by the British regulator, which earlier in the year warned that the mega-deal “could harm U.K. gamers” and “substantially reduce” competition.
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final findings well more than a year after the technology giant had unveiled a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, led by CEO Bobby Kotick.
In its report, the CMA said it found that merger may be expected to result in a “substantial lessening of competition” in cloud gaming services in the U.K., and Microsoft would find it “commercially beneficial to make Activision’s titles exclusive to its own cloud gaming service.” With Microsoft already having an estimated 70-80 percent market share in that market, it claimed that “even a moderate increment to Microsoft’s strength may be expected to substantially reduce competition,...
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final findings well more than a year after the technology giant had unveiled a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, led by CEO Bobby Kotick.
In its report, the CMA said it found that merger may be expected to result in a “substantial lessening of competition” in cloud gaming services in the U.K., and Microsoft would find it “commercially beneficial to make Activision’s titles exclusive to its own cloud gaming service.” With Microsoft already having an estimated 70-80 percent market share in that market, it claimed that “even a moderate increment to Microsoft’s strength may be expected to substantially reduce competition,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wild Bunch International, which bid farewell to its legendary company moniker at a bash in Paris in January, has announced its new name.
Taking inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated 1990 hit, the international sales company has been renamed as Goodfellas.
Related Story Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval & Brahim Chioua Talk New Era As They Move On From The Company’s Iconic Name: “I’ve Been Through My Period Of Mourning” — Deadline Q&a Related Story Series Mania Festival 2023 Winners Announced Related Story France Bans TikTok & Other "Recreational Apps" Such as Netflix, Candy Crush & Twitter From State Employee Work Phones – Updated
The dropping of the original name marks the final act in the company’s departure from the pan-European Wild Bunch Ag film group that began in 2019.
“The international sales company will now be called Goodfellas. There are no other changes to the structure created in 2019,” the company said in a short statement.
Taking inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated 1990 hit, the international sales company has been renamed as Goodfellas.
Related Story Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval & Brahim Chioua Talk New Era As They Move On From The Company’s Iconic Name: “I’ve Been Through My Period Of Mourning” — Deadline Q&a Related Story Series Mania Festival 2023 Winners Announced Related Story France Bans TikTok & Other "Recreational Apps" Such as Netflix, Candy Crush & Twitter From State Employee Work Phones – Updated
The dropping of the original name marks the final act in the company’s departure from the pan-European Wild Bunch Ag film group that began in 2019.
“The international sales company will now be called Goodfellas. There are no other changes to the structure created in 2019,” the company said in a short statement.
- 3/29/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with French ministry clarification on impacted apps: France has announced a measure banning all recreational apps from the work phones of the country’s 2.5 million civil servants.
The move, seemingly sparked by recent concerns over TikTok, also impacts a raft of other social media and content platforms.
“Among the recreational apps, we find game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix, but obviously content apps like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat. Dating apps are also affected,” France’s Civil Service Ministry clarified in response to a Deadline query on the extent of the ban.
The ministry said the list of banned apps would be updated in step with the evolving offering of apps on the market.
Related Story After TikTok CEO’s Congressional Testimony, Lawmakers Say Momentum Is Growing For A Ban On The App — Update Related Story French Film & TV Stars Get Behind Petition Decrying Macron Pension...
The move, seemingly sparked by recent concerns over TikTok, also impacts a raft of other social media and content platforms.
“Among the recreational apps, we find game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix, but obviously content apps like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat. Dating apps are also affected,” France’s Civil Service Ministry clarified in response to a Deadline query on the extent of the ban.
The ministry said the list of banned apps would be updated in step with the evolving offering of apps on the market.
Related Story After TikTok CEO’s Congressional Testimony, Lawmakers Say Momentum Is Growing For A Ban On The App — Update Related Story French Film & TV Stars Get Behind Petition Decrying Macron Pension...
- 3/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Daniel Fienberg With nearly 600 scripted shows to distribute across the calendar, TV networks and streamers haven’t made the winter into a wasteland — but with many of the biggest titles being saved for spring releases ahead of the May 31 Emmy eligibility deadline, the months of January and February have become as topsy-turvy as the industry itself.
Look around! The winter’s most critically acclaimed series is a video game adaptation; the comeback kid of streaming services is Peacock; the busiest TV star in all the land is Harrison Ford; and TV fans are spending much more time obsessing over which shows are being pulled from the digital space than which shows are being added.
What we need to discuss first is HBO’s The Last of Us. Because otherwise the winter narrative for Warner Bros. Discovery would center on disappearing shows on HBO and the fact that new episodes of...
Look around! The winter’s most critically acclaimed series is a video game adaptation; the comeback kid of streaming services is Peacock; the busiest TV star in all the land is Harrison Ford; and TV fans are spending much more time obsessing over which shows are being pulled from the digital space than which shows are being added.
What we need to discuss first is HBO’s The Last of Us. Because otherwise the winter narrative for Warner Bros. Discovery would center on disappearing shows on HBO and the fact that new episodes of...
- 2/23/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former HBO Max executives Jennifer O’Connell and Rebecca Quinn have joined forces to launch production banner Vhm, which will focus on unscripted series, documentaries and special events.
O’Connell and Quinn will serve as co-CEOs of the company, which is based in Los Angeles. Vhm stands for Velvet Hammer Media.
“We have spent our entire professional lives in the content business, building and nurturing vital relationships with creatives and executives, and we look forward to furthering those collaborations and friendships through Vhm,” O’Connell and Quinn said in a joint statement. “At this pivotal moment in our business, we’re excited to bet on ourselves and leverage our complementary strengths.”
O’Connell was previously executive VP of nonfiction and live-action family originals for HBO Max; Quinn was senior VP of nonfiction original programming. The two were among the many executives whose jobs were eliminated in the restructuring prompted by the merger...
O’Connell and Quinn will serve as co-CEOs of the company, which is based in Los Angeles. Vhm stands for Velvet Hammer Media.
“We have spent our entire professional lives in the content business, building and nurturing vital relationships with creatives and executives, and we look forward to furthering those collaborations and friendships through Vhm,” O’Connell and Quinn said in a joint statement. “At this pivotal moment in our business, we’re excited to bet on ourselves and leverage our complementary strengths.”
O’Connell was previously executive VP of nonfiction and live-action family originals for HBO Max; Quinn was senior VP of nonfiction original programming. The two were among the many executives whose jobs were eliminated in the restructuring prompted by the merger...
- 2/10/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard “could harm U.K. gamers” and “substantially reduce” competition, a British regulator found in a provisional analysis unveiled on Wednesday. The mega-deal “raises concerns about cloud and console gaming” and “could result in higher prices, fewer choices or less innovation,” the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said.
The 68.7 billion transaction “could make Microsoft even stronger in cloud gaming, stifling competition in this growing market and harming U.K. gamers who cannot afford expensive consoles,” it added. It “could also harm U.K. gamers by weakening the important rivalry between (Microsoft’s) Xbox and (Sony’s) PlayStation gaming consoles.”
The CMA published its provisional findings more than a year after the technology giant had unveiled a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, led by CEO Bobby Kotick. The transaction, which has also faced opposition from such rivals as Sony and U.S.
The 68.7 billion transaction “could make Microsoft even stronger in cloud gaming, stifling competition in this growing market and harming U.K. gamers who cannot afford expensive consoles,” it added. It “could also harm U.K. gamers by weakening the important rivalry between (Microsoft’s) Xbox and (Sony’s) PlayStation gaming consoles.”
The CMA published its provisional findings more than a year after the technology giant had unveiled a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, led by CEO Bobby Kotick. The transaction, which has also faced opposition from such rivals as Sony and U.S.
- 2/8/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Activision Blizzard is currently under investigation following accusations of harassment, discrimination, and fostering a hostile work environment. You can read more about the investigation here.
Most of us probably assumed the answer to the question “Why did Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard?” was “Money.” While that assumption isn’t strictly wrong, the specific reason why Microsoft decided to add Activision Blizzard to Xbox’s growing war chest of studios is a bit…strange.
“The biggest gaming platform on the planet is mobile phones,” says Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, in an interview with Bloomberg. “One and a half billion people play on mobile phones. I guess, regretfully as Microsoft, it’s not a place where we have a native platform. As gaming, coming from console and PC, we don’t have a lot of creative capability that has built hit mobile games…but we really started the discussions, internally at least,...
Most of us probably assumed the answer to the question “Why did Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard?” was “Money.” While that assumption isn’t strictly wrong, the specific reason why Microsoft decided to add Activision Blizzard to Xbox’s growing war chest of studios is a bit…strange.
“The biggest gaming platform on the planet is mobile phones,” says Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, in an interview with Bloomberg. “One and a half billion people play on mobile phones. I guess, regretfully as Microsoft, it’s not a place where we have a native platform. As gaming, coming from console and PC, we don’t have a lot of creative capability that has built hit mobile games…but we really started the discussions, internally at least,...
- 8/29/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
A round up of stories from Locarno Film Festival.
As the first week of the Locarno Film Festival (August 3-13) comes to an end, here is the latest from the industry side of the event in Switzerland.
Six projects at Locarno Pitching Day
Feature films from Italy, Austria and Switzerland were among the projects pitched at the Ticino Film Commission’s Locarno Pitching Day held yesterday (August 8).
Staged in collaboration with Locarno Pro, the event was aimed at film industry professionals seeking co-production partners, distribution and financing for projects that are in development and could be further developed in the Swiss region.
As the first week of the Locarno Film Festival (August 3-13) comes to an end, here is the latest from the industry side of the event in Switzerland.
Six projects at Locarno Pitching Day
Feature films from Italy, Austria and Switzerland were among the projects pitched at the Ticino Film Commission’s Locarno Pitching Day held yesterday (August 8).
Staged in collaboration with Locarno Pro, the event was aimed at film industry professionals seeking co-production partners, distribution and financing for projects that are in development and could be further developed in the Swiss region.
- 8/9/2022
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
TikTok quickly went from the app where Leah Kate’s career first blew up to the musician’s “worst nightmare” amid her current tour with Chase Atlantic. During the pandemic, the pop-punk singer — responsible for breakup bops “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Fuck Up This Friendship ” — got her big break on the video sharing app, where she boasts 600,000 followers and has nearly 22 million likes across her videos. But overnight this summer, the posts about her on the app turned negative.
Just a few shows into the tour, Kate...
Just a few shows into the tour, Kate...
- 8/2/2022
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
This critic hated “The Grinch” for almost its entire duration, he sighed and he cried and he dreamed of vacation. It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, the midterm polls were too tight. But it seems the most likely reason of all, may simply have been that he was not in its thrall. The animation is ugly, and the jokes sure are stale. From the moment it started, he wanted to bail. It’s not as if the people who gave the world “Minions” could possibly still care about a grown man’s opinions. But at the end of the day, Dr. Seuss still delivers. Even manufactured kindness is enough to send shivers.
Illumination Entertainment makes movies for bored children and desperate parents. From “Despicable Me” to “Sing,” the company’s garish, manic, and comfortably mediocre products look and feel like the...
Illumination Entertainment makes movies for bored children and desperate parents. From “Despicable Me” to “Sing,” the company’s garish, manic, and comfortably mediocre products look and feel like the...
- 11/7/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Consumer spending on video games in the U.S. rose to $19.5 billion in the first half of 2018, according to market research company the Npd Group. That’s a 40% increased compared to the same time period last year.
While all segments of spending experienced growth, content led the way, Npd analyst Mat Piscatella said Wednesday on Twitter. Video game content sales — which includes full titles, Dlc, microtransactions, subscriptions, and mobile — increased 43% to $16.9 billion.
Epic Games’ massively popular battle royale title “Fortnite” was a significant driver of total spending gains in the first half of the year, Piscatella said. Overall, six games had the most positive impact on dollar sales. They are, in alphabetical order: “Candy Crush,” “Far Cry 5,” “Fortnite,” “God of War,” “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” and “Roblox.” Mobile games reportedly experienced the most growth.
Total U.S. Video Game consumer spending was up 40% in the first half of 2018. All segments of spending experienced growth,...
While all segments of spending experienced growth, content led the way, Npd analyst Mat Piscatella said Wednesday on Twitter. Video game content sales — which includes full titles, Dlc, microtransactions, subscriptions, and mobile — increased 43% to $16.9 billion.
Epic Games’ massively popular battle royale title “Fortnite” was a significant driver of total spending gains in the first half of the year, Piscatella said. Overall, six games had the most positive impact on dollar sales. They are, in alphabetical order: “Candy Crush,” “Far Cry 5,” “Fortnite,” “God of War,” “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” and “Roblox.” Mobile games reportedly experienced the most growth.
Total U.S. Video Game consumer spending was up 40% in the first half of 2018. All segments of spending experienced growth,...
- 8/29/2018
- by Stefanie Fogel
- Variety Film + TV
“Angry Birds” is coming to television.
Big Fish Entertainment is partnering with Rovio Entertainment to develop the popular mobile game as a live-action game show currently titled “Angry Birds Challenge.” It will incorporate large-scale obstacle courses with classic defense zones comprised of water, wood, ice, and stone barriers, all modeled after the game. Teams also get to pick their own challenges, which will be part of the strategy for finishing the course the fastest. They must race to reach the “castle tower” and save as many eggs as possible.
Big Fish president Dan Cesareo and chief creative officer Lucilla D’Agostino serve as executive producers, as well as Jeff Bennett and Joe Lawson, head of content licensing for Rovio. No network is currently attached.
“No matter what genre Big Fish develops in, it’s part of our DNA to make sure we’re giving audiences something they haven’t seen before,...
Big Fish Entertainment is partnering with Rovio Entertainment to develop the popular mobile game as a live-action game show currently titled “Angry Birds Challenge.” It will incorporate large-scale obstacle courses with classic defense zones comprised of water, wood, ice, and stone barriers, all modeled after the game. Teams also get to pick their own challenges, which will be part of the strategy for finishing the course the fastest. They must race to reach the “castle tower” and save as many eggs as possible.
Big Fish president Dan Cesareo and chief creative officer Lucilla D’Agostino serve as executive producers, as well as Jeff Bennett and Joe Lawson, head of content licensing for Rovio. No network is currently attached.
“No matter what genre Big Fish develops in, it’s part of our DNA to make sure we’re giving audiences something they haven’t seen before,...
- 5/31/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
It was the best of times for Edmond Newton, but then it was the worst of times. He was eliminated in Thursday night’s episode, “Nina’s Crushing It,” just one week after winning the design challenge in “Rock Your Face Off.” Do you think the judges were right to send him home in fifth place, or should he have advanced to the final four? Scroll down to vote in our poll at the bottom of this post.
“Nina’s Crushing It” brought on Marie Claire fashion director and “Project Runway” original series judge Nina Garcia to give the designers their assignment for the week: to create a resort look inspired by different levels in the “Candy Crush Saga” mobile game. Newton admitted that he had no familiarity with the game, so when the five designers played to decide who got their top choice of “Candy Crush” levels. Newton finished...
“Nina’s Crushing It” brought on Marie Claire fashion director and “Project Runway” original series judge Nina Garcia to give the designers their assignment for the week: to create a resort look inspired by different levels in the “Candy Crush Saga” mobile game. Newton admitted that he had no familiarity with the game, so when the five designers played to decide who got their top choice of “Candy Crush” levels. Newton finished...
- 3/23/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
There have been unusual design inspirations on “Project Runway” before. Just this season on “All Stars” the contestants have distressed their looks with razors and blowtorches, made ball gowns out of literal balls, and even designed a look for cartoon character Betty Boop. So naturally in episode 11, “Nina’s Crushing It,” it was time for the designers to apply their skills to resort wear inspired by the “Candy Crush Saga” mobile video game. So how did Edmond Newton, Stanley Hudson, Fabio Costa, Ken Laurence and Anthony Williams do on the road to the finale on April 5? Find out below in our live blog with all the minute-by-minute updates.
The pressure on the final five designers was high enough given the high level of competition this late in the game — all of them had won at least one design challenge up to this point. But this week they also had to impress guest judge Nina Garcia,...
The pressure on the final five designers was high enough given the high level of competition this late in the game — all of them had won at least one design challenge up to this point. But this week they also had to impress guest judge Nina Garcia,...
- 3/23/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
MaryAnn’s quick take… Ballerina turned whore-spy? This is like a cheap porn scenario, and the Hollywood gloss makes it worse. Risible yet tedious, yet another movie by men that thinks it’s critiquing misogyny yet is indistinguishable from it. I’m “biast” (pro): I’m desperate for movies about women; love Jennifer Lawrence
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto) women’s participation in this film
(learn more about this)
Yes, I vuz ballerina now I am sexy whore-spy. You vant to make fuck in exchange for military secrets?”
Is Red Sparrow kidding with this crap? This is like a cheap porn scenario, and not even the Hollywood gloss with which it is presented can elevate it above that. No, scratch that: the Hollywood gloss makes it worse. All the big-name Western actors playing Russians,...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
I have not read the source material
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto) women’s participation in this film
(learn more about this)
Yes, I vuz ballerina now I am sexy whore-spy. You vant to make fuck in exchange for military secrets?”
Is Red Sparrow kidding with this crap? This is like a cheap porn scenario, and not even the Hollywood gloss with which it is presented can elevate it above that. No, scratch that: the Hollywood gloss makes it worse. All the big-name Western actors playing Russians,...
- 3/1/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Matthew Byrd Feb 28, 2018
America's software ratings board is to add a label warning about the presence of microtransactions in videogames...
The Esrb will add a label to any games that offer microtransactions and other in-game purchases.
See related Legends Of Tomorrow season 3: finale details emerge
The company outlined their plans in a recent tweet that explained why it has taken them so long to respond to the calls for such a label and what they intend to do about this moving forward. Based on their message, it appears that any games that offer in-game purchases will receive the label "In-Game Purchases" somewhere on the box or next to the rating on digital stores. It's not entirely clear whether or not this label will be separate from the content warnings that already appear on video game boxes, but it doesn't sound like it will impact the overall age rating of the game.
America's software ratings board is to add a label warning about the presence of microtransactions in videogames...
The Esrb will add a label to any games that offer microtransactions and other in-game purchases.
See related Legends Of Tomorrow season 3: finale details emerge
The company outlined their plans in a recent tweet that explained why it has taken them so long to respond to the calls for such a label and what they intend to do about this moving forward. Based on their message, it appears that any games that offer in-game purchases will receive the label "In-Game Purchases" somewhere on the box or next to the rating on digital stores. It's not entirely clear whether or not this label will be separate from the content warnings that already appear on video game boxes, but it doesn't sound like it will impact the overall age rating of the game.
- 2/27/2018
- Den of Geek
It’s no secret that the Congressional Black Caucus didn’t care much for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Now, however, a new image shows that three of them were scrolling through iPhones during the Tuesday speech, and at least one congresswoman was playing a game which looks a lot like Candy Crush (see zoom-in below). The image was snapped by photographer Chip Somodevilla for Getty Images. Also Read: Michael Wolff Gets Nasty After 'Morning Joe' Spat: 'The President Is Right About Mika' “Members of Congress look at their cell phones during the State of the Union address in the chamber of the...
- 2/1/2018
- by Jon Levine
- The Wrap
As previously reported, the Big Brother season 19 finally wrapped up with a very cliffhanger finale show that resulted in houseguest Josh Martinez stealing the victory from houseguest Paul Abrahamian with a 5-4 jury vote. Afterwards, Big Brother legend Dr. Will Kirby got a chance to interview Paul during the backyard interviews. Will said, "I'm hear Live with Paul. Paul, you lost Big Brother last year." Paul jokingly said,"I lost again this year. I blew it big time." Will jokingly said, "And you lost Candy Crush. So, what's the next CBS show you're gonna lose?" Paul jokingly said,"Look CBS. Keep tossing them at me and I'll keep losing. So, if there's one thing I'm good at is losing close. Not so close. But, keep sending them my way." Will said, "Hashtag Paul for the Price Is Right because he can get in that showcase showdown." Paul jokingly said, "Toss...
- 9/21/2017
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
In celebration of the fourth annual World Emoji Day (@WorldEmojiDay) on Monday, July 17, audiences can get excited for the film by getting their tickets early – and Sony Pictures Animation is joining the fun by orchestrating a series of events and appearances as we all salute to the emoji, the means of communication that crosses borders and language.
On World Emoji Day, tickets will go on sale for The Emoji Movie. MovieTickets.com continues their multi-picture partnership with Sony with a site-wide takeover for the film, announcing the start of advance ticketing on the site, newsletter and social media. Advance tickets will also be available on Fandango and Atom Tickets.
Commenting on the announcement, Tony Leondis, co-writer/director of The Emoji Movie, said, “Emojis help us express ourselves in ways we don’t have time to express, or don’t have the forethought to express, or are afraid to express – or...
On World Emoji Day, tickets will go on sale for The Emoji Movie. MovieTickets.com continues their multi-picture partnership with Sony with a site-wide takeover for the film, announcing the start of advance ticketing on the site, newsletter and social media. Advance tickets will also be available on Fandango and Atom Tickets.
Commenting on the announcement, Tony Leondis, co-writer/director of The Emoji Movie, said, “Emojis help us express ourselves in ways we don’t have time to express, or don’t have the forethought to express, or are afraid to express – or...
- 7/13/2017
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
CBS summer schedule is already out. One of the top treats on the list is Candy Crush, a new CBS game show hosted by Mario Lopez. The show features Paul Abrahamian, Frankie Grande, and DaVonne Rodgers among other familiar faces from Survivor and Big Brother shows. For instance, the former Survivor contestants to throng the Candy Crush stage will be Joe Anglim, Woo Hwang, Kelley Wentworth and Jeremy Collins. DaVonne Rogers Frankie Grande, Paul Abrahamia, and Caleb Reynolds are the only individuals featured to have appeared on both the Survivor and Big Brother. You guessed right, the CBSs Candy Crush
All you Need to Know about New Show “Candy Crush”...
All you Need to Know about New Show “Candy Crush”...
- 7/11/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Network: CBS. Episodes: Ongoing (hour). Seasons: Ongoing. TV show dates: July 9, 2017 — present. Series status: Has not been cancelled. Performers include: Mario Lopez (host). TV show description: A live action television game show executive produced by Matt Kunitz, Peter Levin, Russell Binder, John Quinn, Nicki Sheard and Sebastian Knutsson, the Candy Crush TV show is based on the mobile game franchise. Mario Lopez hosts the competition, in which contestants match three or more colorful candies to earn points, overcome obstacles, and move up through over 2,000 available levels. The TV series brings to life the game which has taken the world by storm. Read More…...
- 7/10/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The “Candy Crush” premiere pretty much crushed it at 9 o’clock, helping CBS tie ABC atop the key 18-49 demographic in Sunday’s primetime averages.
Leslie Moonves’ network finished first for the night in total viewers, also experiencing some nice Nielsen numbers from both “60 Minutes” and “Big Brother.” CBS and ABC tied first in ratings, both with a 1.0 rating/4 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic. CBS was first in total viewers with an average of 5.3 million, according to preliminary numbers; ABC was second with 5.1 million.
Leslie Moonves’ network finished first for the night in total viewers, also experiencing some nice Nielsen numbers from both “60 Minutes” and “Big Brother.” CBS and ABC tied first in ratings, both with a 1.0 rating/4 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic. CBS was first in total viewers with an average of 5.3 million, according to preliminary numbers; ABC was second with 5.1 million.
- 7/10/2017
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
“Candy Crush” fans, after much hype and anticipation CBS’s new TV game show finally premiered, hosted by Mario Lopez. What did You think of the first episode, which pitted “Survivor’s” Joe Anglim, Kelley Wentworth, Woo Hwang and Jeremy Collins against “Big Brother’s” Frankie Grande, Caleb Reynolds, Da’Vonne Rogers and Paul Abrahamian? Was the series premiere […]...
- 7/10/2017
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The first episode of CBS’s new game show “Candy Crush,” based on the jaw-droppingly successful mobile game, pitted cast members of “Big Brother” against those from “Survivor.” Representing “Big Brother” were Season 16 standouts Frankie Grande and Caleb Reynolds, and Season 18 players Da’Vonne Rogers and Paul Abrahamian, while the four “Survivor: Second Chance” castaways […]...
- 7/10/2017
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.