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☆ Inside NBC's ingenious scheme to snatch NBA rights from Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Discovery's TNT is dangerously close to being left out of the NBA's next TV deal after rival NBC made a massive offer, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. A source familiar with the negotiations told Business Insider that a deal hasn't been finalized and offers are always changing. Still, it's not clear that paying an average of $2.5 billion a year for NBA rights will be profitable. AdvertisementJoe Bonner, a media analyst at Argus Research, has been under the assumption that WBD can and will retain NBA rights even though its cable-TV revenue is steadily shrinking.

Persons: —, hasn't, NBA hasn't, Craig Moffett, Peacock, Moffett, it's, Joe Bonner, Bonner Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, TNT, NBC, Wall Street Journal, Business, NBA, ESPN, Amazon, Puck, Comcast, Argus Research

☆ Some House Republicans need this reminder that Russia is not their friend
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a major disconnect between two CNN stories on Wednesday about Russia and the US. While it is mostly Republicans who oppose additional funding for Ukraine, they are still a minority, even within their own party. In February, 22 Republicans in the Senate joined all but three Democrats to form a 70-vote majority in favor of the funding. Asked about that propaganda comment by Tapper earlier this month, Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, agreed. The two appeared together at Mar-a-Lago last week, and Johnson has bought into Trump’s proposal to structure some Ukraine aid as a loan rather than direct aid.

Persons: Sean Lyngaas, ”, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ We’re, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy didn’t, he’s, it’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Ralph Norman, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Tom Williams, It’s, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Michael McCaul, Puck, Tapper, Mike Turner of Ohio, ” Turner, Greene, Ken Buck, Moscow Marjorie ”, Putin, Trump Organizations: CNN, Capitol Hill, GOP, White, Conservative, Ukraine, Republicans, Senate, Florida, ” Texas, Defense, Republican, Fox News, Putin, Texas Republican, Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, Trump, Mar, Lago Locations: Russia, Texas, Russian, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Wyoming, Colorado

☆ Taylor Swift's bad fashion isn't bad taste. It's strategy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Savannah Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementIn December, Taylor Swift — Time's Person of the Year — glittered in front of the camera in a black bodysuit, a floor-skimming chenille dress, and a studded bustier gown. Crafting Swift's public imageThe Swiftian brand philosophy revolves around one essential idea: Taylor Swift is everyone's best friend. These choices are attainable, predictable, and unthreatening — purchases made by your best friend during a mall shopping spree. Lauren Sherman , Fashion Correspondent at Puck News , astutely labeled Swift's style as "Anthropologie Gone Wild" — mismatched, outdated, pedestrian, but instinctual. He's been running his own fashion brand for 20 years .

Persons: Taylor Swift, —, inoffensive, Swift, Jean Paul Gaultier, She's, doesn't, J, Lauren Sherman, astutely, Sherman, Swift's, Joseph Cassell Falconer, bedazzled Zuhair Murad bodysuits, Cookie Cohen, Taylor, Cohen, Yves Saint Laurent, they're, Kevin Mazur, Pharrell, Louis Vuitton, Rihanna, He's, Angelina Jolie Organizations: Service, Chiefs, Balmain, Urban Outfitters, Fashion, Puck, Swift, The New York Times, MTV Locations: Zara

Pitchfork announced it was no longer a freestanding music site, after digital publications BuzzFeed News and Jezebel disappeared last year. Even The Washington Post, whose subscriptions boomed during the Trump administration, has seen a falloff, leading its management to acknowledge that it was too optimistic in expansion plans and needed to cut costs. THE PATH FORWARD IS JUST AS BUMPYSome of the troubled outlets also have unique issues that contributed to their problems. “We need journalists in society, and we will find a way to fill that need,” he said. But in the short run, it's going to be ugly.”___David Bauder covers media for The Associated Press.

Persons: —, tacos, Jezebel, Conde, walkouts, ”, Didier Saugy, Gray, Jeff Jarvis, ” Jarvis, “, Trump, Jeff Bezos, Patrick Soon, Jarvis, Aileen Gallagher, that's, Elon Musk's, ” Gallagher, Jim VandeHei, haven't, Tara Dublin, Steve Reilly, you've, ___ David Bauder Organizations: National Press, Los Angeles Times, Business, Time, Washington Post, Pitchfork, Washington Post , New York Daily News, Conde Nast, Press Club, Northwestern University, New York Times, Hollywood, Philanthropy, Associated Press, MacArthur Foundation, Knight Foundation, ” Tech, Syracuse University, Google, Publishers, Facebook, Twitter, Sports, Axios, Politico Locations: Washington, Washington Post , New, United States

☆ 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: —

☆ Paramount shares jump after reports of takeover interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-08 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Paramount logo is seen on a building in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 2023. Paramount Global shares surged Friday following reports from Deadline and Puck News that Skydance and RedBird Capital were exploring potentially taking over the media giant. Paramount shares closed up more than 12% Friday. Meanwhile, the company is reportedly considering bundling its Paramount+ streaming service with Apple TV+. Paramount, RedBird Capital and Skydance did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.

Persons: Shari Redstone, weathers, Goldman Sachs, Gerry Cardinale, David Ellison's Skydance, Skydance Organizations: Paramount, Paramount Global, Puck, RedBird, Apple Locations: Los Angeles

☆ 5 essential books and articles that are required reading for Hollywood up-and-comers, according to a top TV agent at WME
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the end, though, motivated by his fascination with the business side of entertainment, he'd choose a different path: to become an agent at WME, the powerhouse Hollywood talent agency he joined through its storied mailroom training program. Singer advises industry newcomers to read as much as they can to get ahead. WME partner Bradley Singer maintains a list of must-read books and articles for industry newcomers. "When Hollywood Had a King by Connie Bruck" (2004): "You can't understand modern Hollywood without understanding Lew Wasserman, who revolutionized both the talent agency business and the studio business between MCA and Universal. "The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Hollywood" is one of WME partner Bradley Singer's must-read book recommendations.

Persons: Bradley Singer, he'd, Singer, Lydia Barry, Kaitlin Collins, Symone Sanders, Linsey Davis, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro, hadn't, — Singer, Read, William Morris, Frank Rose, Connie Bruck, Lew Wasserman, Connie Bruck's, EJ Kahn, Abe Lastfogel, Lastfogel, Sue, Peter Biskind, Sue Mengers, Gene Hackman, Barbra Streisand, Sue …, Mark McCormack —, Swift, McCormack, Wasserman, Ovitz, Emanuel, Bradley Singer's Organizations: Carnegie Mellon University, Bradley, Hollywood, WME, Business, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, Street Journal Studios, Bloomberg Media, Puck, —, MCA, Universal, Lindy's, Yorker, East, Sports, IMG Locations: WME, New York City, Hollywood

☆ Disney stock jumps on Q4 profit beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | 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 EmailDisney stock jumps on Q4 profit beatMatt Belloni, Puck News, joins 'Fast Money' to talk Disney's Q4 earnings, ESPN, the stock reaction and more.

Persons: Matt Belloni Organizations: Puck, ESPN

☆ A congressman tried to get the governors of Michigan and Illinois to run against Biden in the Democratic primary, but they simply ignored his calls
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Dean Phillips recently announced he's running against Biden in the Democratic primary. He told Puck News he called Gov. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's newest Democratic challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips, personally called up the governors of Michigan and Illinois to jump into the race, but they ignored his calls, Puck News reported. AdvertisementAdvertisement"They didn't answer," Phillips told Puck News. Phillips holds a slight advantage over Biden in New Hampshire's January primary as Biden's name won't formally appear on the state's ballot.

Persons: Dean Phillips, Puck, Gretchen Whitmer, J.B . Pritzker, Phillips, —, Joe Biden's, Minnesotan, Biden, he's, Biden's, Whitmer, Pritzker Organizations: Biden, Democratic, Puck News, Gov, Service, Federal, Commission, Michigan Gov, Illinois Gov, NBC News Locations: Michigan, Illinois, Mexican, Israel, Gaza, New

☆ Hollywood insiders are bracing for M&A activity to make a comeback, as 10 experts reveal the deals they're predicting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"The unknown is hard to transact in," Sam Powers, the global head of technology, media, and telecommunications for Bank of America, told Insider. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision , which was completed Thursday, has also put media and tech M&A back in the spotlight. "People have been holding their breath in nervous anticipation" about the idea of tech buying big media , one investor told Insider. Private-equity bets on media and Hollywood have seen mixed resultsPrivate-equity firms may have the cash to finance major media acquisitions, but they're reckoning with market volatility. Are you a Hollywood insider?

Persons: Hollywood dealmakers, Jonathan Handel, Sam Powers, Bob Iger, —, Byron Allen, Greg Doherty, Iger, Disney's, Byron Allen —, Allen, Disney, it's, Handel, It's, you've, Reese Witherspoon, Dave Kotinsky, Moonbug, Reese Witherspoon's, Jeff Zucker, Abu, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Puck News, Bank of America, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Disney, ESPN, Activision, Byron Allen The Weather, Wall Street shareholders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hulu, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, Allen Media Group, Weather, Lionsgate, Starz, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Games, Disney Digital Network, Maker Studios, Observers, Comcast, Paramount Global, Tech, MGM, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, RedBird Capital Partners, RedBird IMI, Private, SP, G Global Market Intelligence, Bloomberg, Media, Apollo Global Management, Yahoo Locations: Hollywood, Blackstone, Abu Dhabi, lmoses@insider.com, ralexander@insider.com

☆ Mark Thompson, former New York Times Company and BBC exec, expected to serve as the next CEO of CNN after Chris Licht's epic PR fail, according to new report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Puck reported CNN has tapped Mark Thompson to step in as CEO and chairman. Thompson formerly served as CEO of the New York Times Company and director general at the BBC. The news comes after Chris Licht stepped down following low ratings and what many called a PR disaster. AdvertisementAdvertisementMark Thompson, who formerly served as CEO of the New York Times Company and director general at the BBC, has been tapped to take over as CEO and chairman at CNN, Puck News first reported Tuesday. Licht's 13 months at CNN were characterized by big shakeups and a widely criticized town hall with former President Donald Trump.

Persons: Puck, Mark Thompson, Thompson, Chris Licht, Puck's Dylan Byers, bigwigs, Nich Carlson, Licht's, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, New York Times Company, BBC, Puck News

☆ Super PAC race: Which candidates are bringing in the most money?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSuper PAC race: Which candidates are bringing in the most money? Hosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC. Teddy Schleifer, Puck News, joins the show to discuss super PAC spending.

Persons: Brian Sullivan, “, Teddy Schleifer Organizations: CNBC, Puck

☆ ESPN's layoffs underscore its desperate need for a post-cable lifeline, but analysts are split on Disney's streaming plan that puts $20 billion of revenue at risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

But that plan carries serious risk, as it would jeopardize still-sizable cable revenue without guaranteeing that enough sports fans would support such a product. Several other analysts — including Barton Crockett of Rosenblatt Securities, who has a buy rating for Disney shares — seconded those concerns about cannibalizing cable revenue. Nollen estimated 35 million current cable customers would switch to ESPN DTC. ESPN DTC is zero incremental cost and potentially billions in incremental revenue." An ESPN streamer (in light purple) would gradually drive revenue for Disney, Wells Fargo predicts.

Persons: Disney, that's, Jalen Rose, Todd McShay, Bob Iger, Macquarie's Tim Nollen, Nollen, Barton Crockett, —, Crockett, who'd, Will, you've, they'll, William Cohan, Cohan, Joe Bonner, Bonner, Brandon Nispel, Iger, Nispel, We've, Jason Bazinet, Bazinet, Hulu —, Wells Fargo's Steven Cahall, Cahall, Wells Organizations: ESPN, Disney, Bank of America, NBA, Sports, ESPN Disney's ESPN, Rosenblatt Securities, ESPN DTC, Will Disney, Citigroup, NFL, NBC, Apple, Comcast, NBC Sports, Netflix Netflix, Hearst, Argus Research, Netflix, KeyBanc, Hulu, DIS, Wells Fargo Sports Locations: Wells Fargo, it's, Wells, Hulu, Puck

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger believes this is a battle he can win against Gov. DeSantis: Puck's Matt Belloni
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDisney CEO Bob Iger believes this is a battle he can win against Gov. DeSantis: Puck's Matt BelloniMatt Belloni, Puck news founding partner, and Tom Rogers, Newsweek editor-at-large and former NBC Cable president, join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest in the feud between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which saw the company cancelling plans for an estimated $1 billion facility in Florida.

☆ Trump's advisor showed him a tweet from AOC to fire him up during the commercial break of CNN's town hall: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Chris Panella | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump's advisor reportedly showed him an AOC tweet during the CNN town hall to fire him up. Axios reported that Trump advisor Jason Miller showed Trump Ocasio-Cortez's tweet during the first commercial break of the night. Axios reported that Trump was also shown a tweet from The Lincoln Project calling the town hall "a CNN sponsored Trump 2024 fundraiser." During and following the town hall, several media experts and professionals publicly denounced the event. According to the former president's advisor, Miller, in the eyes of Trump's team, the CNN town hall "was fantastic."

Trump was back on CNN primetime during a town hall appearance on Wednesday night. And CNN certainly seemed to be eager for conservative buy-in during the Wednesday town hall, filling the room with a mixture of New Hampshire Republicans and effectively independent voters. The former president's advisor told other outlets that the town hall was an effort to underline Trump's 2016 strategy of reaching beyond the traditional GOP coalition. During the Wednesday town hall, Trump called Carroll a "whack job," echoing the very falsehoods that landed him with a defamation charge this week. "The predictably disastrous @cnn town hall was indeed disastrous," former broadcast exec and current dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University, Mark Lukasiewicz tweeted.

☆ Tucker Carlson to bring his show to Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Tucker Carlson will bring his show to Twitter, he said in a new video. Carlson will forgo approximately $25 million to break his non-compete clause with the network, Puck News's Dylan Byers reported. Tucker Carlson is bringing his prime-time show to Twitter. In a video titled "We're back," the ousted Fox News host announced his latest venture: a new show on social media. Representatives for Carlson, Fox Corp., Musk, and Twitter did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

☆ Movie stars who draw audiences to theaters are getting older, raising questions about young Hollywood's star power
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new study found the actors who are most likely to draw audiences to theaters are getting older. Most of the top 100 actors — with 13 exceptions — were age 40 or older, according to the study. 10 among Gen Z), Zendaya (No. 14 among Gen Z), Michael B. Jordan (No. But older actors also ranked highly with younger cohorts, including Hart and Sandler, who were the third and fifth biggest box-office draws respectively for Gen Z.

☆ FTX hearing fallout: Attorneys says FTX has recovered more than $7.3 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFTX hearing fallout: Attorneys says FTX has recovered more than $7.3 billionHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC. Teddy Schleifer, Puck News founding partner, joins the show to discuss the latest details about the FTX legal fallout.

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger has 'very little room for maneuver' as he tackles layoffs, budget cuts, a company reorg, and questions over the future of Hulu and ESPN
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Disney chief Bob Iger will speak Wednesday on his first quarterly earnings call since returning as CEO. Wall Street wants to see how Disney plans to boost profitability this year and whether it will trade ESPN or Hulu. Aside from a quick visit to Disney World in January, Bob Iger has been lying very low. Media investor Ross Gerber told Insider that Iger would get back to focusing on content rather than on the distribution mechanism. Iger tweeted a photo of himself at Disney World, dressed in a relaxed green cardigan and gray slacks as he posed with cast members on January 19.

☆ Activist investor Nelson Peltz is suing Florida party planners who worked on his daughter Nicola's wedding to Brooklyn Beckham, claiming he was 'hoodwinked'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Nelson Peltz is suing Plan Design Events, a Florida company that worked on his daughter's 2022 wedding to Brooklyn Beckham. Planners are accused of botching the RSVP list for three days of events celebrating Nicola Peltz and Beckham. Activist investor Nelson Peltz is suing event planners who helped work on his daughter Nicola's splashy wedding to Brooklyn Beckham last spring, according to a December court filing. The documents state the billionaire wants his deposit back from their company, Plan Design Events. "Peltz is Hoodwinked by the Party Planners," Peltz lawyers wrote in the filing, which references Plan Design as PDE.

☆ It's been a wild time for tech implosions. We asked top PR experts to rank how well — or badly — the fallout has been managed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

FTX: tied for first place 🥇Sam Bankman-Fried—pictured above leaving federal court in Manhattan— has been criticized by PR experts for giving too many interviews. David Dee Delgado/Getty ImagesSam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire began unraveling in November 2022, and left the world in shock. As the crisis continues to unfold, Bankman-Fried has been giving interviews to media outlets ranging from DealBook to Puck News. According to several PR experts that Insider spoke with, Bankman-Fried's media frenzy has been his biggest mistake. "With great legal minds behind him aka his PARENTS - surely someone was insisting he not do a press tour of ANY kind.

☆ SBF, who was once worth $26 billion, says he tried to survive on a jar of peanut butter when in a Bahamian prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried said he tried to survive on a jar of peanut butter while locked up. He told Puck News he would skip a meal and eat a peanut-butter sandwich instead. "I spent a while trying to see how far a jar of peanut butter could get me," Bankman-Fried told Puck News. At his peak, Bankman-Fried was worth $26 billion. Bankman-Fried told Axios in November that he only has $100,000 in his bank account.

[1/3] U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wields the gavel as she presides over the House of Representatives approving two counts of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will announce on Thursday whether she will step down as Democratic leader of the chamber, a day after Republicans were projected to have won control of the House in the midterm elections. Pelosi, an 82-year-old liberal from California who is the first woman to hold the powerful job of speaker, has been under pressure during the past few years from younger House Democrats to yield power. House Democrats are set to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30. She became speaker again in 2019 when Democrats rode a wave of opposition to then-President Donald Trump to win control of the House and was re-elected as speaker in November 2021.

☆ Former GE CEO Jeff Immelt made all the wrong big decisions, says Puck News' William Cohan
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFormer GE CEO Jeff Immelt made all the wrong big decisions, says Puck News' William CohanWilliam Cohan, Puck News founding partner, joins to discuss his new book about the rise and fall of General Electric, 'Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon.'

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