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☆ 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

☆ 3 key questions Disney analysts say CEO Bob Iger faces ahead of earnings, as concerns mount about succession and streaming profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

For Disney, Iger's return was a doctor's-orders scenario. "What is the long game for any pure-play media company in a world where we have tech-driven media companies that are much larger than any traditional media company and have fundamentally different business models?" Will Disney sell TV assets like ABC? Industry watchers have focused on private-equity firms as likely buyers of Disney's TV assets. Are you a Disney insider?

Persons: Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, Iger, Disney, Iger's, Peter Csathy, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Csathy, they're, He's, Paul Verna, Verna, David Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, Hulu —, it's, Dave Portnoy's Barstool, Will, Evercore, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Puck, Disney bigwigs, Mayer, Walden, Bergman, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Walt Disney Co, Hollywood, Creative Media, Apple, PE, Candle Media, Insider Intelligence, Hulu, LightShed Partners, Penn Entertainment, ESPN Bet, Penn, Yahoo Finance, Will Disney, ABC, Geographic, CNBC, Industry, Disney's, Parks

☆ 3 key questions Disney analysts say CEO Bob Iger faces ahead of earnings this week, as concerns mount about succession and streaming profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Persons: Bob Iger, —, Bob Chapek, Iger, Disney, Iger's, Peter Csathy, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Csathy, they're, He's, Paul Verna, Verna, David Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, Hulu —, Will, it's, Evercore, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Puck, Disney bigwigs, Mayer, Walden, Bergman, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Walt Disney Co, Hollywood, Creative Media, Apple, PE, Candle Media, Insider Intelligence, Hulu, LightShed Partners, Will Disney, ABC, Geographic, CNBC, Industry, Disney's, Parks

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery is making a big shake-up to its ad sales org. Read how its sales chief explained the changes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization. It's also expected to make further staff reductions in ad sales as part of the restructure. Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization and structure. EVP Jim Keller, who was key to bringing a digital approach to the merged company's newly combined sales team, left, along with Scott Kohn, EVP of national ad sales, and John Dailey, SVP of ad sales. Based on the learnings and successes we've experienced in the past year, this morning we are announcing a new sales structure and strategy.

Persons: It's, Marybeth Strobel, Greg Regis, Regis, Strobel, Ryan Gould, Jon Diament, Sheereen Russell, WBD, Jon Steinlauf, Jim Keller, Scott Kohn, John Dailey, David Zaslav, we've, AE's, Lucia Moses, lmoses Organizations: Warner Bros, WBD, Max, CNN, NBA, NCAA, MLB, NHL

☆ Read the leaked Hearst Magazines memo announcing dozens of layoffs across titles like Cosmopolitan and Seventeen: 'Change can be difficult but it is necessary'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hearst Magazines implemented layoffs Thursday affecting dozens of employees across its portfolio. Insider obtained the full memo from the president of Hearst Magazines announcing the news. Hearst Magazines Media Union tweeted that 41 of its members were laid off due to "company restructuring." Change can be difficult but it is necessary as we pave the way forward as a digital-first media company. Thank you all for your dedication as we work together to build the future for Hearst Magazines.

Persons: we're, Debi Chirichella, Hearst, —, Hearst Magazines Media Union, Chirichella, Slack, I'm, You'd, he'd, Jessica Giles, EIC Kristin Koch, It's, we've, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses, lmoses, Alison Brower, Dan Whateley Organizations: Hearst, Hearst Magazines, Cosmopolitan, Hearst Magazines Media, Hearst Union, Twitter, Fashion

☆ Why Hollywood actors and writers are on strike and how the WGA and SAG-AFTRA walkouts are changing the entertainment industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The Hollywood writers' strike got a boost when actors joined the picket lines in July. Together, the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes have upended development and promotion of new content. Read more about the issues and demands driving the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes:When will the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes end? Some are predicting that the writers' strike appears to be on course to outlast the previous the 100-day WGA strike of 2007-8, which cost the California economy roughly $2 billion. Read more about how Hollywood companies prepared for the strikes:Getting a job in Hollywood right now: Is anyone still hiring?

Persons: AFTRA, Oppenheimer, Abbott, Fran Drescher, it's, Read, Adam Conover, Ted Sarandos, David Zaslav, picketers, showdowns, Hollywood's, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, WGA, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix, Warner Bros, Discovery, Employees, Wall, Big Tech Locations: Los Angeles and New York City, California, Hollywood

☆ Hearst slashes roles across its magazine portfolio, which includes Cosmopolitan and Seventeen, as it looks to implement 'strategic decisions'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hearst Magazines implemented layoffs Thursday affecting employees across its portfolio. The Hearst Magazines union tweeted that some 41 roles were cut. "As we continue to produce the highest-quality content across all platforms, we're also making strategic decisions that position the business for long-term growth," a Hearst Magazines spokesperson told Insider in a statement. Hearst Magazines Media Union tweeted that 41 of its members were laid off due to "company restructuring." The Hearst Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider on Thursday.

Persons: we're, didn't, Hearst Magazines Media Union, Hearst, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander, ralexander, Dan Whateley Organizations: Hearst, Hearst Magazines, Cosmopolitan, Hearst Magazines Media, Hearst Union

DreamWorks Animation has laid off 33 staffers, or around 2%, in recent days. DreamWorks' parent company, NBCUniversal, has been laying off staff across divisions in recent months. The cuts were confirmed by a spokesperson from DreamWorks Animation, whose parent company, Comcast's NBCUniversal, has eliminated roles across the organization over the past six months. DreamWorks Animation said in a statement that the layoffs were part of an overall cost reduction and that a majority of those affected were in support functions. This person said staffers laid off in this round learned the news several weeks ago, giving those affected some time to prepare.

☆ Hollywood writers: Tell us what you earn and how you budget as the WGA prepares to strike for more pay
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The shift to streaming media has resulted in a gush of new TV shows and movies, and content budgets at companies like Netflix and Disney have ballooned — but writers' pay hasn't kept up. Insider is asking film and TV writers to share what they make and show the challenges at the root of a potential WGA strike. Fully half of TV series writers were paid the basic minimum rate under the WGA contract, up from 33% in 2013-14, according to a WGA survey. With the WGA preparing to go on strike in May over pay and other issues regarding the structure of Hollywood writers' work, we want to hear from guild members about the challenges they face in making ends meet. For an idea of what this project will look like, see our earlier post on Hollywood salary diaries.

Insider identified 75 of the most powerful execs at the streamer, in an interactive org chart. Product chief Greg Peters took on additional duties as chief operating officer and has since broadened his purview to include gaming. Former PepsiCo exec Sergio Ezama joined in 2021 to become Netflix's chief talent officer. Insider identified 75 of the most powerful executives now at Netflix. They include C-suite executives finance chief Spencer Neumann, as well as business leads like Bajaria and movie boss Scott Stuber.

☆ Disney succession plan is a top priority for returning CEO Bob Iger: 'People would struggle to write down three names' at the company who could step up
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is back in his old job, in a move that shocked the media world. From cost cuts to streaming to a solid future succession plan, here's what they hope the CEO will tackle. Following the stunning November 20 announcement that former Disney CEO Bob Iger would be returning to his old job, the happiest place on earth might actually be Wall Street. "What I like about Bob Iger is Bob Iger has always been direct, he's been honest, he's been willing to make tough choices," Michael Nathanson, a senior research analyst and co-founder of the firm, said in a CNBC interview. Are you a Disney insider with insight to share about Bob Iger's return?

☆ Bob Iger's return to Disney is fueling concern over future CEO succession plan: 'People would struggle to write down three names inside Disney' who could step up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is back in his old job, in a move that shocked the media world. From cost cuts to streaming to a solid future succession plan, here's what they hope the CEO will tackle. Following the stunning announcement late Sunday night that former Disney CEO Bob Iger would be returning to his old job, the happiest place on earth might actually be Wall Street. "What I like about Bob Iger is Bob Iger has always been direct, he's been honest, he's been willing to make tough choices," Michael Nathanson, a senior research analyst and co-founder of the firm, said in a CNBC interview on Monday. Are you a Disney insider with insight to share about Bob Iger's return?

☆ Netflix is entering a new era with ads. Here's how marketers and brands could influence the programming you see on the streamer.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Media experts say forays into ad-based streaming will influence content strategy at Netflix and Disney+. Netflix and Disney+ are readying services with ads to expand their appeal and revenue opportunities amid softening subscriber growth. Netflix's move to add advertising — a reversal of its longtime stance against ads — has been the subject of widespread research. Ultimately, experts predicted, it will take at least a year or two for the influence of advertisers to be felt in the streamers' content mix. Do you work for an entertainment company like Netflix or Disney+?

☆ Hulu insiders are confused and frustrated about their future as Disney and Comcast battle it out for control of the streamer
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Sparring between Disney and Comcast CEOs over Hulu has stoked uncertainty among insiders about the streamer's future. Many wonder how Hulu will stay differentiated from Disney+ if Disney becomes Hulu's sole owner. Insiders and advertisers alike are also watching to see if Hulu will lose some of its distinctiveness as Disney invests more in Disney+. "That was a clear departure from Disney being family-focused and Hulu being general entertainment," said a second former Hulu exec. And as the CEOs posture, people inside the streamer are eager for leadership to tell them, as a third former company insider put it, "what Hulu means to the Walt Disney Company."

☆ Bringing ads to Netflix and Disney+ could shake up the mix of shows and movies at the streaming giants. Here's what it means for Hollywood.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Media experts say forays into ad-based streaming will influence content strategies at Netflix and Disney+. Netflix and Disney+ are readying services with ads to expand their appeal and revenue opportunities amid softening subscriber growth. Hollywood should pay close attention to what this may mean for selling shows and movies to the entertainment industry's dominant players. Ultimately, experts predicted, it will take at least a year or two for the influence of advertisers to be felt in the streamers' content mix. Do you work for an entertainment company like Netflix or Disney+?

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