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☆ Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Huge Business Deals Keep Flopping
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem like lovely people. Netflix dropped "Pearl," an animated children's series Meghan created through her and Harry's production company, Archewell Productions, before it even premiered. The audio-streaming company signed a deal with Harry and Meghan in 2020 reportedly worth $20 million. As Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities who's covered movies, entertainment, and tech for two decades, explained, it's because they've still got that $100 million deal. A public breakup with Meghan and Harry may also be a mess Netflix doesn't want to deal with.

Persons: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Duke, Duchess, Meghan, Harry, didn't, Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities who's, they've, Michelle Obama, Ryan Murphy, Shonda, Pachter, there'll, Markle, Harry won't, They're, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, Joe Rogan's, Magic Johnson, Chevy, Reese Witherspoon, LeBron James, Alicia Silverstone, Nicolas Cage, Demi Moore, Gayle King, Charles Barkley, She's, TIG, Emily Stewart Organizations: Netflix, Florida ., Archewell Productions, Street, Spotify, Wedbush Securities, Chevy Chase, Media, Hollywood, CNN, Archewell, Business Locations: Sussex, Florida, Plenty, British

☆ Meme stocks are back as Trump Media and Reddit surge upon their debuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

What do Reddit , Trump Media & Technology Group and GameStop all have in common? Trump Media made its market debut on Tuesday under the ticker DJT, following its merger with shell company Digital World Acquisition Corp. Reddit, which is not in the S & P 500, also has a market cap of about $9 billion Market capitalization Trump Media & Technology $9.4 b. Reddit $9.2 b. Caesars Entertainment $9.4 b. American Airlines $10 b. Mosaic $10.3 b. This is rather remarkable, considering Trump Media had revenues of roughly $3.3 million. What meme stocks have in common What Trump Media, GameStop and Reddit have in common is a high retail base.

Persons: Reddit, Michael Pachter, Pachter, Arch Crawford Organizations: Trump Media & Technology Group, GameStop, Trump Media, Corp, Caesars Entertainment, American Airlines and, Technology, American Airlines, The New York Times, Trump Media & Technology, JPMorgan, East India Company, Microsoft Locations: Moluccas, Indonesia

☆ How Warner Bros. Discovery's games chief plans to build on 'Hogwarts Legacy' and give the company more much-needed wins
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discovery's gaming division is on a winning streak with two of the biggest console games in 2023: "Hogwarts Legacy," the year's No. David Haddad is WBD's long-running games chief and the rare top WarnerMedia executive who survived the merger with Discovery (as well as the AT&T ownership era). In an interview with Business Insider, Haddad, who is president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment — a position he's held since 2015 — framed the challenge and how he plans to keep WBD games' streak going. It can take the form of new events to keep people playing a strategy game like "Game of Thrones: Conquest" or new characters and tournaments in a fighting game like "Mortal Kombat." WBD's success with games separates it from other legacy media companies that have stumbled in the arena, most notably Disney.

Persons: —, execs, David Haddad, Haddad, We're, Harry Potter, it's, They've, Michael Pachter, Shaggy, David Zaslav, people's, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, LightShed, Haddad wouldn't, we've Organizations: Service, Warner, Business, Discovery, Warner Bros, Interactive Entertainment, Wedbush Securities, Disney, Netflix, Thrones, EA, Embracer Locations: WarnerMedia

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery's games chief shares plans to capitalize on 'Hogwarts Legacy' and boost the division's growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discovery's gaming division is on a winning streak with two of the biggest console games in 2023: "Hogwarts Legacy," the year's No. In an interview with Business Insider, Haddad, who is president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment — a position he's held since 2015 — framed the challenge and how he plans to keep WBD games' streak going. It can take the form of new events to keep people playing a strategy game like "Game of Thrones: Conquest" or new characters and tournaments in a fighting game like "Mortal Kombat." WBD's success with games separates it from other legacy media companies that have stumbled in the arena, most notably Disney. Nevertheless, analysts have speculated that given its past success and need for growth, WBD could buy another gaming company such as EA or Take-Two Interactive.

☆ Netflix is pulling back on movies, adding to Hollywood's woes as a grim box office year looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The downsizing of Netflix's film ambitions is on pace with a broader contraction at the streamer, which announced 88 fewer original films last year than in 2022. But for some on Wall Street, the right number of Netflix original films just might be zero. Netflix's rise has been a mixed bag for filmWhen Netflix film head Scott Stuber joined the company in 2017, the mandate was quantity. Netflix announced a whopping 232 original films in 2021, according to Ampere Analysis. Netflix's original films started declining in 2022 from the 2021 peak of 232.

Persons: bode, Scott Stuber, Stuber, David Fincher, Ted Sarandos, Ted Hope, Hope, didn't, Variety, Maestro, we're, Netflix's, Kevin Goetz, Michael Pachter, Kasey Moore, LightShed, Goetz, " Goetz, Wedbush's Pachter, Pachter Organizations: Netflix, Business, Ampere, Independent, Variety, Hollywood, Puck News, Apple, LightShed Partners Locations: —

[1/2] A smartphone with the Electronic Arts logo is seen in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken September 16, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 29 (Reuters) - Electronic Arts (EA.O) on Friday launched its first soccer game without the FIFA tag, betting its "FC 24" title will maintain the momentum in its best-selling franchise and provide a bulwark against an industry slowdown. That has left "FC 24" without the visibility and marketing heft the FIFA brand enjoyed. EA has tried to boost the appeal of "FC 24" with new features such as cross-platform play and HyperMotion V technology that uses data from real footage to program in-game movements. Analysts also believe the FIFA split should unlock a bigger marketing budget for "FC 24", which has retained licenses to most of the soccer leagues, teams and players.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joost Van Dreunen, Michael Pachter, Pachter, Zaheer Kachwala, Shinjini Organizations: REUTERS, Electronic, FIFA, EA, FC, NYU's Stern School of Business, Wedbush Securities, Apex, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Live sports is migrating to streaming, taking with it a superpower of the cable TV bundle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The cable bundle is losing its biggest edge over the streaming competition: live sports. For years, live sports and news have been the cornerstone of the immutable cable bundle. Max is set to launch a live news channel next week, with the birth of CNN Max, the first cable news network to offer a 24/7 live streaming news service. With live news and sports now making their way to streaming, piece by piece, the Jenga puzzle of the cable bundle has started to destabilize. Once ESPN is available directly to consumers, the decades-long grip of the traditional cable bundle will surely fade considerably.

Persons: Max, CNN Max, ” Michael Pachter, Pachter, ” Pachter, Ross Benes, ” Benes, Benes, ” Rich Greenfield, Greenfield, ” Greenfield, ” Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros . Discovery, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, U.S, Soccer, Apple, Major League Soccer, NBC, ABC News, CBS, ESPN, Wedbush Securities, “, Insider Intelligence, Disney, Diamond Sports, Warner Bros, Discovery, LightShed Partners

☆ Ongoing strikes could kill Hollywood's momentum after the 'Barbenheimer' bump, but 4 industry insiders and analysts are still optimistic about the future of these 5 entertainment companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Here's which entertainment companies will outperform, according to analysts and industry insiders. Four industry veterans Insider spoke with unanimously agreed that unless the strikes are resolved soon, the movie industry's much-needed revival will fizzle out. In a mid-July note about the movie industry, Reese and Pachter highlighted three theater-related companies that are best positioned to survive in this difficult environment. FuboTV should be a winner since it's a solid alternative for cord cutters who still need news and sports coverage, which aren't impacted by the strikes, Pachter noted. Netflix is perhaps the most fascinating company in the media industry right now.

Persons: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Paul Dergarabedian, Alicia Reese, David A, Gross, Strikes, Reese, Michael Pachter, Dergarabedian, Pachter, Richard Gelfond, JPMorgan's David Karnovsky, Wedbush's Pachter, aren't, it's Organizations: Hollywood, Wedbush Securities, Entertainment Research, Alliance, Television Producers, Consumers, Netflix Locations: Hollywood, creatives

☆ How Netflix can end the Hollywood strike in a way Disney, Paramount can't afford
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

"The strike is not something we wanted," said Sarandos, whose company is negotiating jointly with competing movie studios like Disney and Paramount whose parent companies also own streaming services. Some big-media companies that own streaming services, like Paramount and Disney, have seen their shares drop even in the renewed bull market of the past year. LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield says Netflix made $6.5 billion last year excluding interest, taxes, and non-cash charges, while rival streaming services at Paramount, Disney and NBC lost more than $8 billion. That's a relatively small number for an industry with revenues topping $70 billion, $31.6 billion of it last year at Netflix. Paramount Global's Paramount+ service lost $1.8 billion last year, but saw losses shrink in the first quarter.

Persons: Mike Blake, Mark Mahaney, Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, Michael Pachter, Robert Iger, Iger, CNBC's David Faber, Max, Rich Greenfield, Mahaney, hasn't, Jake Urbanski, Jamie Lumley, Peters, Spencer Neumann Organizations: Guild of America, Netflix, Alliance, Producers, Wednesday, Writers Guild of America, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Disney, Paramount Global, Amazon, Wedbush Securities, Television Producers, CNBC, Walt Disney Co, Sun, Paramount, Warner Bros, LightShed, NBC, Hollywood, Moody's Investors Service, Writers ' Guild of America, WGA, Twitter, Hulu, Comcast, Apple Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S

☆ The regulator has mistreated the Microsoft-Activision deal as 'Goliath buying Goliath': Analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe regulator has mistreated the Microsoft-Activision deal as 'Goliath buying Goliath': AnalystMichael Pachter of Wedbush Securities discusses Microsoft's acquisition of Activision and his outlook for M&A trends and regulatory developments within the gaming sector.

Persons: Goliath, Michael Pachter Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Wedbush Securities

June 8 (Reuters) - GameStop (GME.N) sank nearly 20% on Thursday and was set for its worst session in two years after the surprise exit of a CEO handpicked to lead its online expansion fanned concerns about the videogame retailer's ailing business. The ousting of former Amazon.com executive Matt Furlong came alongside top shareholder Ryan Cohen's appointment as the executive chairman of a company that he turned into a favorite of meme-stock traders with promises of a digital pivot. Over the last 5 years, GameStop has had 5 CEOs and 3 CFOs." The company's shares have dropped nearly 80% from the $120.75 peak they hit during that meme-stock saga of 2021. "The lack of a clear direction and the callous termination of Furlong all but ensures Cohen will have difficulty attracting a qualified replacement."

Persons: Matt Furlong, Ryan Cohen's, Andrew Uerkwitz, Jefferies, Michael Pachter, Furlong, Cohen, Akash Sriram, Devika Organizations: GameStop, Wedbush Securities, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ GameStop plunges 22% after company fires its CEO and names meme-stock activist Ryan Cohen as executive chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GameStop plunged 22% on Thursday after the video game retailer fired its CEO and reported a quarterly revenue decline. The company said its largest investor, Ryan Cohen, would be named executive chairman. In addition to the firing, the company said Ryan Cohen would be named executive chairman of the company. Shortly after Wednesday's announcement that Cohen had been named executive chairman of GameStop, Cohen tweeted: "Not for long." In addition to the executive shakeup, GameStop announced its fiscal first-quarter revenue of $1.237 billion, which represented a year-over-year decline of 10%.

Persons: Ryan Cohen, —, Matthew Furlong, Cohen, Michael Pachter, Furlong, Pachter Organizations: GameStop, Amazon, Service

☆ Ryan Cohen 'doesn't have the first clue' how to turn GameStop around, says Wedbush's Michael Pachter
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRyan Cohen 'doesn't have the first clue' how to turn GameStop around, says Wedbush's Michael PachterMichael Pachter, Wedbush Securities, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to breakdown what GameStop's leadership shake up means for the future of the company.

Persons: Ryan Cohen, doesn't, Wedbush's Michael Pachter Michael Pachter Organizations: GameStop, Wedbush Securities Locations: Wedbush

☆ Sony is most at risk by Apple's moves into the gaming sector, says Wedbush's Michael Pachter
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSony is most at risk by Apple's moves into the gaming sector, says Wedbush's Michael PachterMichael Pachter, Wedbush Securities, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to discuss Apple's 'Vision Pro' headset and what the launch means for the gaming sector-at-large.

Persons: Wedbush's Michael Pachter Michael Pachter Organizations: Sony, Wedbush Securities Locations: Wedbush

☆ Take-Two gains on gaming demand rebound, title delivery forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Tiyashi Datta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company also said it expects to deliver 36 video game titles through 2025 and 2026, and forecast $8 billion in 2025 net bookings and over $1 billion in operating cash flow. Take-Two, however, did not make any announcements about its highly anticipated title "Grand Theft Auto VI". Its fourth-quarter adjusted sales grew 65% to $1.39 billion, compared with Wall Street's estimate of $1.34 billion, according to Refinitiv data. During an earnings call with analysts, Chief Executive Strauss Zelnick said Take-Two was assuming a continuation of the current challenging consumer backdrop within its forecast. Its annual adjusted revenue forecast between $5.45 billion and $5.55 billion came below Street's estimate of $6.07 billion.

☆ Amazon is changing how it gets packages to you
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon (AMZN) has traditionally operated one national delivery network that distributed orders from warehouses spread across the country. If a local warehouse didn’t have the product a customer ordered in, say, Detroit, Amazon (AMZN) would ship it from another part of the country. So in pursuit of boost its profitability, the company has created eight regions in smaller geographic areas designed to ship products over shorter distances. I don’t need same day or next day delivery for most things,” he wrote. Amazon also recently started adding a “frequently returned” badge on certain products on its website for customers.

☆ How the Studio Behind ‘Super Mario’ and ‘Minions’ Has Become the Animation Leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Robbie Whelan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Can Nintendo stay competitive in the evolving videogames industry? WSJ’s Sarah E. Needleman and analyst Michael Pachter discuss Nintendo’s game-changing approach to the videogames industry. The founder of the animation studio behind “Super Mario” and the yellow, chattering “minions” cartoon characters says his movies aren’t made specifically for children. “Thematically there’s an underpinning to every one of our films. “When we sit down in our creative process, we’re never intending or focused on, ‘We’re making it for children,’ though it may come out that way.”

☆ The Simple Secret to the ‘Super Mario’ Animation Studio’s Success
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Robbie Whelan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ What the Hollywood writers' strike could mean for your favorite TV shows, from 'Abbot Elementary' to 'Saturday Night Live'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Topical shows relying on actively scripted material, including late night, will be the most immediately affected. The strike — which was authorized by nearly 98% of Writers Guild of America members who voted last month — will most immediately impact shows that rely on active writers' rooms working on current material, including "Saturday Night Live" and late night shows. The moment may be an opportunity for reality TV producers as well as non-union productions. Some celebrities on shows likely to be impacted have addressed the possibility of the impending strike on the late night circuit. Davidson acknowledged a writer's strike might mean his "SNL" episode doesn't happen as planned and said he gained a new perspective working on the production as a prospective host.

☆ Why Apple TV+ could be hit harder than Netflix, Disney+, and other streamers by a looming Hollywood writers' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But ahead of a potential Hollywood writers' strike, the streamer faces two key vulnerabilities. Hollywood is bracing for a possible writers' strike that could begin at midnight PT, following an overwhelming strike authorization by members of the Writers' Guild of America West and East last month. But, by comparison, Prime Video, Netflix, and Discovery+ offer viewers thousands of TV series, according to ReelGood data from the end of 2022. "They're building a long-term brand of Apple TV+, which is something apart from all their devices and their cool software. It would not damage the perception that people have of Apple TV+."

☆ Apple TV+ has 2 big disadvantages compared to Netflix, Disney+, and other streamers as a Hollywood writers' strike looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But ahead of a potential Hollywood writers' strike, the streamer faces two key vulnerabilities. Hollywood is bracing for a possible writers' strike that could begin on May 1, following an overwhelming strike authorization by members of the Writers' Guild of America West and East earlier this month. But, by comparison, Prime Video, Netflix, and Discovery+ offer viewers thousands of TV series, according to ReelGood data from the end of 2022. "They're building a long-term brand of Apple TV+, which is something apart from all their devices and their cool software. It would not damage the perception that people have of Apple TV+."

☆ Hollywood film and TV writers are preparing for a strike. Here's how Disney, Netflix, and other entertainment giants could weather a work stoppage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The writers guild asked its members to authorize a strike, which would come at a risky time for Hollywood. Netflix, Amazon, and Disney have content stockpiles that could help them through a work stoppage. A Hollywood writers strike is looming at a precarious time for the media and entertainment industry. During that 100-day strike, more than 60 TV shows shut down and ratings and ad sales dropped. The landscape of entertainment options is "much more competitive than it was during the last writers strike," media consultant Peter Csathy told insider.

[1/2] A screen displays the logo and trading information for GameStop on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 29, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidMarch 21 (Reuters) - GameStop Corp (GME.N) on Tuesday posted a surprise profit for the fourth quarter, its first since early 2021, as lower costs and job cuts padded the videogame retailer's bottom line, sending its shares nearly 50% higher in extended trading. The retailer posted an adjusted profit of 16 cents per share, compared with Wall Street expectations for a loss of 13 cents. The so-called "meme stock", which is the top trending ticker on retail trader forum Stocktwits, has declined 4% this year. Net profit for the quarter ended Jan. 29 was $48.2 million, compared with a loss of $147.50 million a year earlier.

☆ From Disney and Netflix to Warner Bros. Discovery, which entertainment giants would be the winners and losers of a Hollywood writers strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A possible Hollywood writers strike is looming at a risky time for the entertainment business. A Hollywood writers strike is looming at a precarious time for the media and entertainment industry. During that 100-day stoppage, more than 60 TV shows shut down and ratings and ad sales dropped. The landscape of entertainment options is "much more competitive than it was during the last writers strike," media consultant Peter Csathy told insider. Paramount also has an extensive live sports offering, which should offer some insulation if writers go on strike.

☆ How the end of Netflix password sharing will change the way families watch, especially the ones with college-age children
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Back in 2014, allowing people to share passwords was a "terrific marketing vehicle for the next generation of viewers," Plepler once told BuzzFeed. And yes, it looks like the crackdown may include families who share passwords with kids who are away at college. Even two analysts who follow Netflix acknowledged that their college-aged children are piggybacking on the family Netflix account for now. The company's terms of use require people to live at the same location to share a password. The company's terms of use already require customers to agree to Netflix tracking this information in order to deliver the service.

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