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Hollywood’s Chief Diversity Officers Tell All
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Business
Private Equity Money Picks Hollywood as Smart Bet Even in Downturn
Despite fears of a recession, investment firms view star-driven production banners (and major soundstages) as a long-term play in a crowded content marketplace.
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Business
Why That Reality TV Song Sounds Familiar (But Isn’t)
A burgeoning industry of made-for-nonscripted tracks is becoming the go-to soundtracker for producers and supervisors averse to shelling out for top artists.
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Business
Bob Chapek’s Challenge: Define His Vision for Disney
From streaming and theme parks to sports and megadeals, the executive's new contract gives him breathing room to put his own stamp on the company.
By Alex Weprin
Latest Business
Vote of Confidence In HBO Chief Casey Bloys Signals That David Zaslav Isn’t Cutting Corners
Discovery chief David Zaslav didn’t exactly have a free-spending reputation prior to his company’s merger with WarnerMedia. The search of $3 billion in post-merger cost savings (“synergies,” in the preferred corporate speak) did little to change that notion, nor did closer scrutiny of some big overall deals and an executive exodus. The re-signing of HBO […]
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UTA Nabs Private Equity Investment From EQT to Fuel Expansion
A fund operated by the private equity firm EQT Partners has made a strategic investment in talent agency UTA, in a deal the agency says “will help fuel the next phase of investments in talent, innovation and international expansion.” EQT will become the largest outside shareholder in UTA in the acquisition, which will also see […]
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Directors Guild Scales Up Health Plan Coverage for Abortion Services
The Directors Guild of America is ramping up their union health plan’s coverage of abortion services in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. On Monday, the board of trustees for the Directors Guild of America–Producer Pension and Health Plans greenlit two amendments, one that will cover abortion services for participants’ dependent […]
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Disney+ Ad Tier, Live Sports Help Drive Disney’s $9B Upfront
The Walt Disney Co. says that it closed its best upfront in the company’s history, with streaming and live events like sports helping to lead the way. The company says that it received commitments totaling $9 billion, 40 percent of which was earmarked for digital and streaming. Disney’s upcoming Disney+ ad tier, joined by Hulu […]
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Amazon Prime Video Unveils Redesign, Adds Top 10 Most-Viewed Carousel
Amazon will launch a major redesign of its streaming service, Prime Video, this week that includes a clearer emphasis on Amazon Originals, live programming and the streamer’s most-watched titles on the home page. The redesign, which Amazon said was in the works for 18 months, will roll out later this week on connected living room […]
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Dan Levy Launches Production Banner, Taps Megan Zehmer as President
Dan Levy, the Emmy winner behind beloved sitcom Schitt’s Creek, has launched a production banner Not A Real Production Company, partnering with long-time publicist Megan Zehmer, who will serve as president of film and television. With today’s announcement, Levy also begins a new overall television deal with Netflix, where he also has a first-look pact […]
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‘Inventing Anna’ Actor James Cusati-Moyer Signs With IMG Models (Exclusive)
Inventing Anna actor James Cusati-Moyer has signed with IMG Models. The powerhouse agency will focus on nabbing editorial opportunities and fashion and lifestyle endorsements for Cusati-Moyer. He plays high-end fashion stylist Val in Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes’ miniseries that stars Julia Garner as Anna Delvey, the real-life scammer who gained entry into New York’s elite […]
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Casey Bloys Renews Deal With HBO, HBO Max for Five Years
Casey Bloys, chief content officer for HBO and HBO Max, has renewed his deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for five more years, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Bloys became HBO programming chief in May 2016 and in August 2020 took over original content duties for HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new streaming platform. His new deal follows […]
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New ‘Star Wars’ Series, Shonda Rhimes’ ‘The Residence’ Top Shows Nabbing California Tax Credits
Seven TV series — five new and two relocating — have been selected to receive $90.8 million in tax incentives for shooting in California, the state’s film office said Monday. HBO, granted $30 million in credits, came out on top in this round of tax breaks, followed by Disney’s Lucasfilm ($20.9 million), Warner Bros. Discovery […]
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Why That Reality TV Song Sounds Familiar (But Isn’t)
Tune in to a hit reality show these days and you’re likely to hear a trend: songs extolling the empowered, girlboss lifestyle, from artists you’ve probably never heard of. While the reality landscape was once soundtracked by top 40 hits on shows like The Hills, today’s content takes a different approach, relying heavily on music […]
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Hollywood’s Chief Diversity Officers Tell All
This is the first in an ongoing series on the status of progress with inclusion in Hollywood. *** Latasha Gillespie remembers having a doctor’s appointment on May 30, 2020. It was five days after George Floyd was suffocated by a police officer, his excruciating nine-minute, 29-second death — captured on video and witnessed by millions […]
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Korean Streamer TVING to Acquire Rival Seezn to Better Compete With Netflix, Disney+
Two of South Korea’s leading domestic streaming services, TVING and Seezn, have unveiled plans to merge, forming a single platform that’s better equipped to take on global rivals like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. Powerhouse Korean entertainment company CJ ENM, which holds the controlling stake in TVING, confirmed the merger via a regulatory filing, […]
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