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☆ How Dana Walden could defy critics and become Disney's first female CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +22 min

The appointment would make Walden the first female CEO of the Walt Disney Co. in its 100-year history. "Anybody they choose will have never been the Disney CEO prior to that." At Disney, Walden has hit several home runs, including FX's "The Bear," Hulu's "The Dropout" and "Only Murderers in the Building," and ABC's "Abbott Elementary." Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek CNBCChapek climbed the corporate ladder at Disney for 30 years by showcasing his business and finance chops. Combating female stereotypesIf Walden were appointed CEO, she would be the first woman to run the century-old company.

Persons: Dana Walden, Disney Entertainment Rich Polk, Peter Chernin, Rupert, Walden, Bob Iger, he'd, Fox, Chernin, Peter Roth, Roth, Peter Chernin Getty, Josh D'Amaro, Jimmy Pitaro, Alan Bergman, Nelson, Peltz, Iger, Bob Chapek, Walden's, Bergman, she's, hasn't, —, Walden —, Dana doesn't, Jennifer Salke, Jennifer Salke Stephen Desaulniers, CNBC Walden, Richard Plepler, Craig Hunegs, Carol Burnett's, Carrie Hamilton, George Burns, Dean Martin, roasts, Martin, Buddy Hackett, Matt Walden, Bender, Goldman, she'd, Arsenio, Lucie Sulhany, Dana Walden Jason Laveris, Gary Newman, Newman, It's, Dana, Ryan Murphy, John Landgraf, Jan, Seth MacFarlane, Guy, Tuck, MacFarlane, Murphy, Steve Levitan, Dan Fogelman, Rick Rosen, Rosen, Howard Gordon, Levitan, Peter Rice, Rice, wasn't, Chapek, Rich Appel, Gary, it's, Percy Jackson, didn't, Bob Chapek CNBC Chapek, showrunners, Scarlett Johansson, Kristina Schake, Jay Sures, Sures, Amazon's Salke, Greta Gerwig, Gloria, Murphy's, Miss Jones, There's, Steve Levitan Peter, Hopper, Critics, She's, Salke, WME's Rosen Organizations: Disney Entertainment, Getty, Century Fox Filmed Entertainment, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Walt Disney Co, Century Fox, Fox, Century Fox Television, Warner Bros, Disney, ESPN, Entertainment, CNBC, Trian Partners, Iger, Amazon Studios, HBO, Disney TV Studios, Hollywood, Westlake School for Girls, Harvard, Westlake School, The Friars Club, University of Southern, Paramount, Paramount Domestic Television, Filmmagic, Fox Broadcasting, Walden, CBS, FX Networks, Bob Chapek CNBC, Indiana University, Michigan State University, United Talent Agency, Hulu Locations: Santa Barbara , California, Walden, Brentwood , California, She's, Disney's, Studio City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, University of Southern California, Chapek, Hollywood, Walden's, Iger, America

☆ Popular YouTuber MrBeast strikes Amazon deal for competition reality show
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —MrBeast, the popular video creator known for big philanthropic gestures and extreme stunts, is making the leap from YouTube to Amazon Prime with a new reality competition show, Amazon announced Monday in a news release. The show, which was released in November, featured 456 participants vying for a cash prize of $4.56 million. MrBeast is one of the most popular YouTube channels on the platform, with 245 million subscribers. In recent years, each of his videos easily surpasses 100 million views, and at times has pushed half a billion. In November 2020, he opened his first burger restaurant, MrBeast Burger, near his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina.

Persons: New York CNN — MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson, Colin, Samir, Donaldson, MrBeast, ” Jennifer Salke, Jimmy, ”, “, Burger Organizations: New, New York CNN, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Amazon, Netflix, Amazon MGM Studios, Beast Games, Time Magazine Locations: New York, Greenville , North Carolina

☆ The state of Wall Street's drug culture
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the state of Wall Street's drug culture. What's on deck:AdvertisementBut first, does Wall Street have a drug problem? The big storyHigh on Wall StreetVartika Sharma for BIOf the many stereotypes about Wall Street, one of the most prevalent is the industry's rampant drug use. From Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" to HBO's "Industry," extreme drug use and working in finance are often portrayed as being hand-in-hand. Business Insider's finance team spoke to more than a dozen current and former finance professionals, along with several health professionals, to get a sense of Wall Street's drug culture these days.

Persons: —, Jennifer Lopez's, Vartika Sharma, Martin Scorsese's, JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE, Marty Chavez, Goldman Sachs, Chavez, that's, It's, Ted Shaffrey, Justin Sullivan, MGM Studios Jen Salke, Rachel Weisz, Alice Birch, MGM Studios Sue Kroll, Kevin Mazur, they'll, Josephine Maida, I've Organizations: Service, Business, BI, Sixth, Apple, Netflix, Big Tech, Tech, Amazon, MGM Studios, Apple Vision, Schlumberger Locations: Wall

☆ Amazon entertainment layoffs stir 4 big questions for insiders about the tech giant's Hollywood ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The layoffs hit Prime Video and the Amazon MGM Studios division, with many of the cuts related to Amazon's $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2022, the second biggest deal in the tech giant's history. The layoffs, combined with other factors straining the entertainment business — from strikes to content spending pullbacks — have heightened concerns about the future of the company's entertainment ambitions. These are the questions that came up the most about that future, according to conversations with six people close to Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. As part of the layoffs, two MGM teams were integrated under Chris Brearton, a business-side exec who joined Amazon with the MGM acquisition in 2022. How will sports impact original content spending?

Persons: what's, Jen Salke, Freevee, didn't, Who's, Chris Brearton, Salke, Mike Hopkins, What'll, there's Organizations: Amazon, Amazon MGM Studios, MGM, Amazon's, Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood, Diamond Sports, MLB, NHL, NBA Locations: Salke, Africa, MENA, Northern, Central

☆ Amazon is laying off 'several hundred' employees across Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios — read the memo
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The company is laying off "several hundred" employees across Prime Video and Amazon MGM studios. "As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization." In April 2023, Amazon Studios (now Amazon MGM Studios) and Prime Video teams cut about 100 people — a tiny fraction of Amazon's 27,000 layoffs last year. As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization. Prime Video is one of the most popular benefits for Prime members, and one of most widely used entertainment destinations in the world.

Persons: Mike Hopkins, Hopkins, Amazon's, Jen Salke, Freevee, We've, we've, Amazonians who've, Mike Organizations: Service, Prime, MGM, Amazon MGM Studios, Business, Hollywood Reporter, Bloomberg, Hollywood, Amazon Studios Locations: Americas, Hollywood

☆ Leaked memo: Amazon Studios parts ways with a longtime MGM film exec and expands others' roles in shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon Studios is shaking up its business ranks in the wake of its acquisition of MGM. Feldman has been at Amazon Studios since 2015 and was a VP at MTV for about four years before that. Feldman has been at Amazon Studios since 2015 and was a VP at MTV for about four years before that. Also getting new responsibilities is Sam Semon , who will have international business affairs consolidated under him, adding oversight for Ingrid Auyón Tanji, who leads business affairs in Latin America. , who will have international business affairs consolidated under him, adding oversight for Ingrid Auyón Tanji, who leads business affairs in Latin America.

☆ Amazon's $300 million new spy series 'Citadel' debuts to mediocre reviews and could be another high-profile miss for the streamer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon's ambitious new spy series, "Citadel," starring Priyanka Chopra, premiered today. Costing as much as an estimated $300 million, it stands to be one of the most expensive series ever made. It has a 56% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 41 reviews. Amazon has a lot riding on its new ambitious spy series, "Citadel," but so far critics are less than impressed. Rotten Tomatoes deems a 60% score or less to be "rotten."

☆ Amazon Studios insiders are speculating about layoffs as soon as Wednesday as Andy Jassy looks for cost savings across the board
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon Studios and Prime Video insiders are expecting layoffs this week. After massive layoffs across Amazon, speculation inside Prime Video and Amazon Studios has been mounting that their turn is next, starting as early as Wednesday. Amazon Studios is the TV and film division and a source of content for Prime Video, one of a bundle of services that drive Amazon Prime memberships ($139 per year or $15 per month in the US). Amazon's entertainment business so far has been untouched by layoffs within the company, which has joined the rest of the tech industry in big layoffs. As a high-profile but relatively small unit of the trillion-dollar-plus Amazon, Prime Video is somewhat insulated from the financial pressures facing its entertainment competitors.

☆ Amazon's pricey 'Lord of the Rings' show saw only 37% of viewers complete the series, a new report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"The Rings of Power" series reportedly only had a 37% percent completion rate, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter published Monday — meaning that far less than half of its viewers finished the series. THR noted that the figure was confirmed by unnamed sources, but didn't offer more details. THR noted that Amazon held information more closely than usual on the "The Rings of Power" series. Nevertheless, THR noted that Amazon Studios Chief Jen Salke deems the series a success. That's not to say Amazon Studios hasn't had hits, which include shows like "Transparent," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and "Fleabag," THR noted.

☆ New spy series 'Citadel' is Amazon Studios' most ambitious — and riskiest — bet ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Citadel," Amazon Studios' ambitious spy series, is on track to be one of the costliest series ever made. Amazon Studios early on was known for prestige shows like "Transparent" and "Maisel" as well as action hits like "Jack Ryan." Amazon Studios' Head of Global Television, Vernon Sanders, told Insider that "Citadel" is new territory for the company. Inside and outside of Amazon Studios, there are concerns about a lack of clear creative direction as well as the division's future role in the larger Amazon ecosystem. Insider spoke to 21 current and recently departed Amazon Studios executives, Hollywood agents, and other industry insiders about the opportunities and challenges.

☆ How 'Citadel,' Amazon Studios' ambitious new spy series from the Russo brothers, became one of the costliest shows ever made
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Amazon Studios is growing fast and spending big on shows like 'Citadel,' but insiders say unclear creative direction, leadership shifts, and tech bureaucracy threaten to drive away staff and talent
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

The dust has been settling at Amazon Studios after a big reorg in the fall that solidified Jen Salke's power. Yet Amazon Studios faces major challenges. Amazon Studios' Head of Global Television Vernon Sanders told Insider that the goal is to deliver content with global cultural relevance. Amazon Prime VideoWhile spending on such big swings has soared, some insiders see far less budgetary support for underrepresented casts. "I do think people wonder what's the commitment to Amazon Studios," the current insider said.

☆ HBO is No. 1 as 14 TV insiders rank the streamers where they want to sell shows: Apple's a big spender and 'there's a sheen when you're a Hulu show,' but there's 'fear in the air' at Netflix
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Elaine Low | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

"It's definitely been not the most exciting and robust year," said one TV agent at a major agency. Around 70 people at HBO and HBO Max have been let go this year, and their comedy development teams have merged. While WBD doesn't break out streamer-specific figures, it said on Thursday's earnings call that HBO Max, HBO, and Discovery+ have a combined 94.9 million subscribers, ensuring that any show on HBO Max has the chance to get a lot of eyeballs. They'll also take smaller swings in the genre department, do things at a lower budget," said the second TV agent. Echoed the first TV agent: "You pitch and sell to them if no one else wants it."

☆ Some Amazon staffers joked that the writers of its mega-expensive 'Lord of the Rings' series should be laid off after the company cut thousands of roles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Travis Clark | Katherine Long | Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some Amazon staffers have joked that the "Rings of Power" writers should be laid off. "The Rings of Power" was hit with a mixed reception, and Amazon has been quiet about its viewership. Several of those employees have joked that the writers of Amazon's uber-expensive series, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," should be laid off, Insider reported. No press release followed its season finale; by contrast, HBO released viewership for the finale of its own fantasy series, "House of the Dragon," the next day. And judging by the jokes in the layoffs-focused Slack channel, that seems to even be a narrative within Amazon among staffers.

☆ 14 TV insiders rank the streamers where they want to sell shows now as Apple TV+ closes in on HBO Max amid turmoil at Warner Bros. Discovery
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Elaine Low | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

☆ Amazon has been suspiciously quiet about 'The Rings of Power' viewership in the 2 weeks since the first season concluded
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Steven Tweedie | Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon has yet to share viewership numbers on its "Rings of Power" finale, weeks later. The show has yet to cross the vague 100 million viewers milestone it teased three weeks ago. Payne and Patrick McKay later noted that 12.6 million viewers watched the premiere in the US in the first four days. Still, Amazon said "Rings of Power" in its first two months has driven "more Prime signs-up globally than any other Amazon original." HBO said this week that "House of the Dragon" was averaging 29 million viewers per episode.

☆ 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' season finale: Amazon has more battles to come (SPOILERS)
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers about “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season finale. CNN —“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has ended its first season, with plans for several more to come. Yet the real battle for Amazon could be convincing everyone that its very expensive – and mostly underwhelming – gamble on J.R.R. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was personally involved in acquiring rights from the Tolkien estate way back in 2017, reflecting the company’s high-stakes bet. It’s become popular to refer to certain large corporations as being “Too big to fail,” and in TV terms, “Rings of Power” is about as big as they come.

☆ 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' was watched by more than 25 million globally, Amazon says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-03 | by ( Hanna Howard | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon Studios shared its first image of its upcoming untitled "Lord of the Rings" series, due on its streaming service Sept. 2, 2022. Amazon said Saturday that the first episode of its "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" series attracted over 25 million viewers globally in its first day, making it the biggest ever debut for a show on its Prime Video streaming service. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" books and is the most expensive television series of all time. Earlier this month, HBO said its "House of the Dragon," a "Game of Thrones" prequel series, was the biggest series premiere in its history. Clarification: This story was updated to reflect that "The Rings of Power" is based on the appendices to "The Lord of the Rings."

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