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☆ I tried Wendy's new Krabby Patty meal inspired by 'SpongeBob SquarePants.' Nostalgia isn't enough for brands to win over customers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Wendy's "SpongeBob SquarePants" collab features a new burger and a pineapple-flavored Frosty. When I ordered the meal, The Krabby Patty came with tasty toppings and a tangy signature sauce. Wendy's teamed up with Paramount, which owns Nickelodeon, and "SpongeBob SquarePants" to celebrate the cartoon series' 25th anniversary with a limited-time-only meal collaboration, which launched on October 8. "The Wendy's Krabby Patty is just a standard Wendy's burger with different sauce." This is what I thought of Wendy's new Krabby Patty meal.

Persons: SpongeBob, Patty, —, Wendy's, Wendy, Mufasa, Scar Organizations: Service, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Daily Mail, Business, gripes

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher was not amused after “Saturday Night Live” used his infamous feud with his brother and bandmate Noel Gallagher as inspiration for a sketch. !”The Gallagher brothers were known for their intense and very public disagreements throughout Oasis’ heyday in the 1990s, continuing until 2009, when Noel, main songwriter and lead guitarist, decided he could no longer work with frontman Liam. Given the infamy of their feuding, Oasis didn’t seem likely to reunite for many years. But in August, the Gallagher brothers announced a 2025 tour, 19 years after the band went on hiatus. The tour will mark the 30th anniversary of the band’s second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”, which includes the hit single “Wonderwall.”

Persons: Liam Gallagher, ”, Noel Gallagher, Liam, Sarah Sherman, James Austin Johnson, Mr, Spongebob, Donatello, Tommy Pickles, Sherman, ntense, euding,, orth, ingle Organizations: SNL, City

☆ I don't let my child use Roblox. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Unlike most of the video games for Xbox or PlayStation, Roblox's games are user-generated — and there are thousands of them. A screenshot of Roblox games rated "all ages." Roblox screenshotOn Tuesday, Hindenburg Research, a short-seller, published a report accusing Roblox of inflating user metrics and deceiving investors. The Hindenburg report also accused Roblox of "exposing children to grooming, pornography, violent content, and extremely abusive speech." Nonetheless, Roblox users identifying as 9 years old and up can still beat up homeless people in "Beat Up People Outside of 7/11" with over 900,000 visits.

Persons: —, he'd, SpongeBob, Mickey Mouse, Hindenburg, Roblox, I've Organizations: Hindenburg Research, Service, Xbox, Roblox, Bloomberg, Wal, Safety Locations: Hindenburg, Roblox's, Roblox

☆ Hollywood's franchise frenzy: More than half of top studios' 2025 movies are existing IP
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The 2024 box office has been inundated with sequels, prequels and remakes, with the top 10 titles of the year all coming from existing intellectual property. Looking at the current 2025 calendar, between 50% and 70% of the movies from the six major studios — Universal , Disney , Warner Bros. , Paramount , Sony and Lionsgate — will be related to existing IP. Craig T Fruchtman | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesEven before Hollywood was disrupted by the pandemic and the meteoric rise of streaming content, the domestic box office was heavily reliant on franchise titles. While that's a 11.3% drop from last year and lags 25% behind pre-pandemic levels, the haul is better than box office analysts had expected. "Some of the most well-received box office hits in recent memory have been sequels or films based on existing brands and there is still a variety of original content out there."

Persons: There's, Paul Dergarabedian, Guy, Bob Marley, Craig T Fruchtman, Kung, Dergarabedian, Kraven, Hunter, King, Shawn Robbins, Bridget Jones, MEGAN, Downton, Michael, John Wick Organizations: Marvel, Disney, — Universal, Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, Comscore, Getty, Hollywood, Universal, Century Fox, Warner Locations: Shanghai, China, Kingdom, New York City, Peru

☆ Wendy’s is celebrating SpongeBob’s birthday with a Krabby Patty meal
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Krusty Krab, the fictional fast-food restaurant in “SpongeBob SquarePants,” will never be real, but at least the second-best thing is — a Krabby Patty. Wendy’s is releasing a special meal, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” animated TV series, which includes a “Krabby Patty Kollab” cheeseburger and a “Pineapple Under the Sea” Frosty flavoring at its US and Canadian restaurants for a limited time beginning October 8. The Krabby Patty is the same as a regular cheeseburger but with an additional slice of cheese and a “top-secret” Krabby Kollab sauce, the chain announced Wendnesday. McDonald’s often releases celebrity meals, which features food already on its menu but with a special name, finding financial success with them. As a result, companies have released value meals and special promotions to ramp up sales.

Persons: Krusty Krab, SpongeBob, ”, Patty, Wendy’s, Patty Kollab ”, Burger King, MGM’s “ Organizations: New, New York CNN Locations: New York

☆ Trump Shooting Live Updates: Investigators Focus on Security Lapses and Gunman’s Motive
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

“He didn’t want attention, good or negative,” said Julianna Grooms, 19, who first remembered seeing Mr. Crooks when they were freshmen. The Bethel Park School District confirmed that Mr. Crooks graduated from high school in 2022, but declined to release any other details about his school record. “He was a very good student,” said Mr. Knapp, who retired two years ago as a guidance counselor. “He liked the idea of being by himself because that was his human nature,” Mr. Knapp said. Mr. Crooks had been a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, a gun club that features a 200-yard-rifle range.

Persons: Thomas Crooks, Jim Knapp, Crooks, ”, ” Mr, Knapp, Julianna Grooms, Donald J, Trump, Jennifer Meredith, Matthew Crooks, Ms, Grooms, SpongeBob, “, Mr, Anna Dusch, ” Jill Bortz, That’s, Michael Rothfeld, Aric Toler, Susan C, Beachy, Julie Tate Organizations: Bethel Park High School, Trump, Secret, Bethel Park School District, Community College of, Republican, Democrat, eBay, Osage, Osage County Guns Locations: Bethel, Pittsburgh, Butler, Pa, Bethel Park, Bethel Park’s, Community College of Allegheny County, Osage County, Wright City, Mo

☆ How Gen-Z sports brand Overtime built an 8-figure merch business and is using partnerships to take it to the next level
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Tiara White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The media company first made a name for itself by distributing high-school sports videos, then producing its own shows and operating its own sports leagues. Rutstein, who worked at Adidas and Reebok before Overtime, said the company distinguishes its merch by focusing on quality. Advertisement"When we first started, I said, we're not going to be a media company that just does merch," Rutstein told Business Insider. Advertisement"Through partnerships, we've been able to expand our audience, of course, to these brands that are either legacy or heritage streetwear brands," Rutstein said. Other brands Overtime has partnered with include BAPE, a Japanese clothing brand; PSD Underwear, which makes underwear and activewear; 7-Eleven, a convenience store chain; and Billionaire Boys Club, a fashion label founded by singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams.

Persons: —, Tyler Rutstein, Rutstein, we're, SpongeBob, we've, Pharrell Williams, that's Organizations: Service, Paramount, Business, Adidas, Reebok, Billionaire Boys Locations: merch

☆ I moved from the US to Barcelona. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Jordan Mautner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Caga Tió (left) and caganers figurines (right). For the whole month of December, children leave food and water out for Caga Tió, which translates to pooping log. Then they hit the log with a stick on Christmas Eve, and Caga Tió "poops out" presents. People take this tradition very seriously, the streets of Barcelona are decorated with this pooping log, and every store has one in its window. In the same vein, caganers are another fascinating Christmas tradition in Catalonia.

Persons: Jordan Mautner, Jordi —, Caga, Freddy Mercury, SpongeBob, Joe Biden Organizations: Barcelona Locations: Barcelona, Catalonia

☆ 'All That' star Lori Beth Denberg says Nickelodeon's Dan Schneider showed her porn, initiated phone sex, and lashed out on set
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Schneider told Denberg that he should have been the one to have that conversation. "I feel like that is the first time he preyed on me," Denberg told Business Insider. "Nobody thinks it is their responsibility" to protect the people working at Nickelodeon, Denberg said. According to Denberg, Schneider would refuse to write her jokes for the segment until the last minute, forcing her to perform live without rehearsing. Denberg said she cheered up Bynes, then told Schneider that he couldn't change "the little girl's lines on the spot."

Persons: Lori Beth Denberg, Dan Schneider, Nickelodeon's, Denberg, Schneider, Drake, Josh, Jenny Kilgen, Lori Beth, it's, she's, Albie Hecht, Brian Robbins, Amanda Bynes, costars, Jeff Kravitz, Farah Alvin, Denberg's, It's, Robbins, Angelique Bates, Bates, Bynes, Dan, gaunt, Alvin, Amanda, Gioncarlo Valentine, Schneider hadn't, Schneider's, Hecht, SpongeBob, Kate Taylor, Mimi Meyer Organizations: Business, Nickelodeon, Schneider, BI, Robbins Productions, Nickelodeon's, Nickelodeon Entertainment, New York Times, Paramount, Paramount Global, Maxine Productions, Sony Pictures Locations: Orlando, Los Angeles, York

☆ Sony and Apollo’s Plan for Paramount: Break It Up
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | Lauren Hirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Shari Redstone helped build Paramount Global into a sprawling media empire, but if Sony Pictures Entertainment and private-equity giant Apollo Global Management succeed in acquiring it, they plan to break it all up, according to three people familiar with the matter. Paramount Pictures — home to blockbusters like “The Godfather,” “Top Gun” and the “Mission Impossible” franchise — would be combined with Sony’s existing business. They have not yet outlined this plan to Paramount or its advisers. CBS and Paramount have been controlled by the Redstone family for decades, since the media mogul Sumner Redstone assembled the sprawling conglomerate in a series of audacious deals. His daughter, Shari Redstone, championed a 2019 deal to reunite it through a merger with CBS, and remains Paramount’s controlling shareholder.

Persons: Shari Redstone, SpongeBob, Sumner Redstone Organizations: Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, CBS, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Sony

☆ Sony in Talks to Join a Bid to Buy Paramount
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | Lauren Hirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even as Paramount, the home of the “Top Gun” movie franchise and “SpongeBob SquarePants,” continues its talks to merge with another media company, Skydance, a new suitor has emerged. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, have been in discussions about teaming up for a joint bid to acquire Paramount, two people familiar with the situation said Thursday. The two companies have not submitted an official bid, as Paramount is still in exclusive conversations with Skydance, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss delicate negotiations. Apollo previously reached out to Paramount about buying the company for at least $26 billion, including debt. A joint bid with Sony would almost certainly reduce those concerns, adding operational experience and additional capital to Apollo’s already significant war chest.

Persons: SpongeBob, ”, Skydance, Paramount’s Organizations: Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Sony Locations: Apollo’s

☆ I went to SXSW and saw Netflix and Amazon competing with splashy sci-fi, while Paramount+ pitched its whole line-up
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Netflix, Amazon, Paramount+, and Disney competed for attention with premieres and eye-catching installations. While there, I got to witness South by Southwest's opening weekend, which was dominated by the streaming heavyweights Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount+, with a cameo from Disney. Netflix held a premiere for "3 Body Problem," and Amazon built an interactive postapocalyptic world to promote "Fallout." AdvertisementNetflix's 3D projection for "3 Body Problem" stopped people in their tracks. Nathan McAloneLater, as the "3 Body Problem" premiere began, I heard "Game of Thrones" alum John Bradley (of Samwell Tarly fame) mutter an anxious "Oh God."

Persons: —, Max, Nathan McAlone Netflix, David Benioff, Weiss, Alexander Woo —, Doug Liman, Nathan McAlone, John Bradley, mutter, Bradley shouldn't, Palmer Haasch, Bradley, Blake Griffin, Nathan McAlone Amazon, Bass Reeves, Alex Garland's Organizations: Southwest, Netflix, Paramount, Disney, Service, HBO, Hollywood, Amazon, Paramount Theatre, Rotten, Mortal Media, Apple, Studios, Austin Convention Locations: Austin, Hollywood, United States

☆ A complete timeline of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

March 2023: Grande and Slater are photographed togetherMichelle Yeoh posted this photo on March 27, 2023. July 20, 2023: Grande and Slater's new relationship makes headlinesEthan Slater is best known for playing SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway. July 27, 2023: Slater's estranged wife says Grande is 'not a girl's girl'Lily Jay Slater and Ethan Slater in 2017. AdvertisementNovember 16, 2023: Grande attends the opening night of 'Spamalot'Ariana Grande in New York City on November 16, 2023. AdvertisementDecember 22, 2023: Grande includes an apparent nod to Slater in her holiday decorAriana Grande shared these photos on December 22, 2023.

Persons: —, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Glinda, Jon M, Chu, Slater, Tony, SpongeBob, Dalton Gomez, Gomez, Michelle Yeoh, Michelle Yeoh's Oscar, Yeoh, Erivo, costars Grande, costars, they'd, ”, Kevin Mazur, Jenny Anderson, TMZ, Lilly Jay, Jay, Slater's, Lily Jay Slater, Page Six's Francesca Bacardi, Bacardi, Dalton, she's, Ethan, Slater Ethan Slater, CJ Rivera, Prince Herbert, She's, who's, Liz Gillies, Gillies, Liz Gillies após, @accessarianabr, James Earl Jones, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Michael Urie, Rannells, Ariana, Bauer, Griffin, James, Joan Grande, Hale Grande, Doug Middlebrook, Grande's, Ed Butera, Butera, We're Organizations: Service, Broadway, Business, Variety, TMZ, Wimbledon, Getty, Nickelodeon, Disney, James Earl Jones Theater, DAMEBK, St, James Theatre, Theater District Locations: New York City, Grande, England, London, Oz, New York, Grande ., @spamalotbway, New York City Grande, Manhattan

☆ Seeing Stars, Sperm and Millions of Spawn After a Valentine’s Day Rendezvous
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The happy couple, a pair of sunflower sea stars, belonged to a species that has nearly vanished because of climate change. Sunflower sea stars are a far cry from their smaller pink cousins that you might know from Finding Nemo and SpongeBob SquarePants. “In a perfect, climate-change-free world, they would be keeping the kelp forest ecology at a perfect eco-balance,” Ms. Torres said. As a consequence of the heat, a strange wasting condition began spreading among the sunflower sea star population. Since then, an estimated 90 percent of all sunflower sea stars have perished.

Persons: Melissa Torres, Nemo, SpongeBob, They’re, Ms, Torres Organizations: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Locations: La Jolla, Calif, Pacific Northwest, North, California, Oregon

☆ Moschino: Adrian Appiolaza makes his Milan debut
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Scarlett Conlon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Milan CNN —Trompe ‘l’oeil suspenders, resplendent ruffles, and polka dots aplenty: the 1980s Moschino archive was out in force to mark Adrian Appiolaza’s debut as creative director at the house on Thursday evening in Milan, albeit filtered through a fresh perspective. “It was about taking Franco Moschino’s masterpieces and bringing them back to life while balancing the theatricality that he was known for,” said Appiolaza at a preview of the pieces before the show. “Today, it’s important for people to feel related to the collection.”Appiolaza said his aim with this collection was to bring Franco Moschino's masterpieces "back to life." As an avid collector and self-proclaimed archivist, Appiolaza’s instinct took him straight to the founder Franco Moschino’s back catalogue. Jacopo Raule/Getty ImagesSpliced Stetsons and double denim also continued the cowboy-core theme we've seen a lot for fall.

Persons: Milan, resplendent ruffles, Adrian Appiolaza’s, Franco, ”, Appiolaza, ” Appiolaza, Jacopo Raule, Loewe, Alexander McQueen, Miguel Andover, Phoebe Philo, Davide Renne, Jeremy Scott, Franco Moschino’s, “, Pietro D'Aprano, Smiley, –, Katy Perry, SpongeBob, Tweety Bird, Adrian Appiolaza Organizations: Milan CNN, ”, CNN, McDonalds Locations: Milan, Chloé

Now, if a league or network isn't doing something to appeal to younger fans, they are behind the times. Nickelodeon will air its fifth NFL game on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Networks and leagues also continue to experiment with social media and creating more viral highlights to keep younger fans interested. “There’s just so many more tools now at our disposal to address the complex consumption habits of young fans. The pie has many more pieces to it for young fans,” Lehanski said.

Persons: Vince Lombardi, Sean McManus, “, ” McManus, they've, SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Travis Kelce, it's, ”, Hans Schroeder, “ I’ve, Nate Burleson, Marvel, Dave Lehanski, Goofy, SpongeBob, Bruce Beck, Julie Sobieski, ESPN's, “ There’s, ” Lehanski, ___ Organizations: CBS, NFL, Nickelodeon, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, CBS Sports, Media, Disney, ESPN, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Nielsen, NHL, Big City Greens, NBA, Business Development, Innovation, Walt Disney Company, MLB Little, Williamsport, . Networks Locations: London, Williamsport , Pennsylvania

☆ Here’s how to stream the Super Bowl on Paramount+ — even for free
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Tuning into the Super Bowl used to be easy — flick on the TV and find the broadcast channel or channels it was airing on. Subscribers to both tiers of Paramount+ can watch the Super Bowl, which kicks off at 6:30 pm ET, the company said. It’s the first time Paramount+ has aired the Super Bowl. Attention from the Super Bowl could boost subscribers to Paramount+, which trails in compared to its competitors. For the majority of fans who are watching it traditionally, CBS is available via an antenna for free or through a cable, satellite or live TV streaming services like Hulu + Live TV or DirecTV Stream.

Persons: What’s, Jon Stewart, SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Stewart, Drew Barrymore, Arnold, Arnold ”, Shari Redstone Organizations: New, New York CNN, CBS, Paramount, Showtime, Viacom, Super, Netflix, Hulu, DirecTV, Nickelodeon, CNN, Paramount Global, National Locations: New York

It will be the 22nd time that CBS has carried the Super Bowl, which is the most among the four broadcast networks. Cohen said CBS analyst Jay Feely, who kicked in the NFL for 14 seasons, also gave his input on where to position the cameras. The upright cameras are part of 165 cameras CBS has for Sunday. There are also 23 augmented reality cameras that both CBS and Nickelodeon will use. While various bells and whistles, like AR, are nice, they also have to be used for the right reasons, which Cohen sees with the Nickelodeon broadcast.

Persons: Jason Cohen, Mike Francis, Harrison Butker, Cohen, “, We’re, ” Cohen, ”, Harold Bryant, Jay Feely, “ We’re, ” Bryant, SpongeBob, Patrick Star, Noah Eagle, Nate Burleson, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Patrick, Kenny, ” Kenny, Fagerbakke, “ That’s, Russell Wilson’s, Russ Cook ” —, I’ve, Russell Wilson, I’m, ” Fagerbakke, ___ Organizations: CBS, Kansas City, Chiefs, 49ers, ESPN, ABC, CBS Sports, New York Jets, MetLife, Las Vegas Raiders, NFL, Nickelodeon, SpongeBob, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams Locations: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Allegiant, Vegas

☆ I play Chiefs' mascot KC Wolf, and this is why I'll be wearing SpongeBob SquarePants boxers at the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dan Meers, 57, who has played KC Wolf, the mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs, for 34 years. They were starting up a new mascot program — this new KC Wolf character — and wanted to know if I was interested. I've walked five women down the aisle dressed as KC Wolf. Now I've actually got a tuxedo that fits KC Wolf. This week, ahead of the Super Bowl, we've got 42 KC Wolf appearances in Kansas City.

Persons: Dan Meers, KC Wolf, Louis, Truman, —, I'm, Reed Hoffmann, I've, She's, we've, It's, you've, SpongeBob, Homer Simpson, we'd Organizations: KC, Kansas City Chiefs, University of Missouri, Tiger, St, Louis Cardinals, Chiefs, Associated, Kansas City, KC Wolf, Kansas Locations: St, Charles , Missouri, Vegas, Kansas, Kansas City

☆ SpongeBob SquarePants is going to announce this Super Bowl broadcast
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Football’s youngest fans will be able to watch Super Bowl LVIII announced by SpongeBob SquarePants and the rest of the gang from Bikini Bottom. Characters from the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants will join the telecast live. Sandy Cheeks (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence) will make her sideline reporting debut during the Super Bowl LVIII telecast live "Super Bowl LVIII Live from Bikini Bottom". But fans of the long-running show will recognize a 2001 classic next Sunday — there will be a “Sweet Victory” performance in the Super Bowl telecast. In the 2019 Super Bowl, halftime act Maroon 5 paid tribute to the song that the SpongeBob characters sang in a 2001 episode (in the episode, the characters of the Bikini Bottom were performing in the Bubble Bowl, a spoof of the Super Bowl.)

Persons: New York CNN —, SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob, Sandy Cheeks, Carolyn Lawrence, Paramount SpongeBob, Tom Kenny, Patrick Star, Bill Fagerbakke, Nate Burleson, Noah Eagle, Larry, Lawrence, Slimetime ”, Dylan Gilmore, Nick, Gen Z, Alpha, Taylor Swift’s, Travis Kelce, ” Sean McManus, Chris Nowinski, Stephen Hillenburg, Travis Scott, “, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Football’s, Nickelodeon, CBS Sports, Super, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Paramount Global, CBS, Paramount, Allegiant, NFL, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Nick NFL, Chiefs, NFL Nickelodeon, Saints, Bears Locations: New York, Las Vegas

☆ Why Shari Redstone is trying to sell Paramount — and why she needs the right deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

When Redstone's father, Sumner Redstone, the founder of National Amusements, died in 2020, Shari Redstone inherited his shares. Paramount Global has a market capitalization of nearly $10 billion and about $13 billion of net debt. If she agrees to sell either National Amusements or all of Paramount Global, she'll need buy in from other investors. Talks are further along with Redstone regarding NAI than they are with Paramount Global, two of the people said. Paramount Global charges $5.99 per month for Paramount+ with advertising.

Persons: Shari Redstone, Mike Blake, it's, David Ellison, Byron Allen, SpongeBob, I'm, National Amusements Shari Redstone, Brendan Mcdermid, Redstone's, Sumner Redstone, Shari, John Malone, Bob Bakish, It's, Banker Byron Trott, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Skydance, Spokespeople, There's, CNBC's David Faber, Bakish, Jim Cramer Organizations: National Amusements, WSJ Tech, Reuters Paramount Global, Paramount, Paramount Global, Skydance Media, Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Hollywood, Allen, Co, Sun, Reuters, Amusements Inc, National, Warner Bros, Discovery, CNBC, Comcast, NBCUniversal, Paramount Global's, Amusements, U.S, Disney, Charter, CNBC Paramount Global, Viacom Locations: Laguna Beach , California, Israel, Sun Valley , Idaho, Wells Fargo, America, Berkshire, NAI, Skydance, U.S

☆ We Asked A.I. to Create the Joker. It Generated a Copyrighted Image.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Stuart A. Thompson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

It Generated a Copyrighted Image. image generator, to create an image of Joaquin Phoenix from “The Joker.” In seconds, the system made an image nearly identical to a frame from the 2019 film. Reid Southen Create an image of Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie, 2019, screenshot from a movie, movie scene Midjourney’s response Generated by A.I. Mr. Southen Create an image of Dune movie screencap, 2021, Dune movie trailer Midjourney’s response Generated by A.I. Mr. Southen Create an image of “The Last of Us 2,” Ellie with guitar in front of tree Midjourney’s response Generated by A.I.

Persons: Reid Southen, Midjourney, Joaquin Phoenix, ”, Southen’s, “ Joaquin Phoenix, Sega’s, Woody, watchdogs, Sarah Silverman, John Grisham, OpenAI, Southen, Keith Kupferschmid, Kupferschmid, Ellie, Gary Marcus, “ Marcus, ChatGPT, SpongeBob, chatbot, Kathryn Conrad, Marcus, Microsoft Bing, Mario, Conrad Organizations: Warner Bros, Marvel, The New York Times, Times, Microsoft, Copyright Alliance, New York University, Viacom, University of Kansas, Nintendo Locations: Michigan, A.I, Italian

NEW YORK (AP) — Beloved characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants will take to the skies above New York City Thursday while bands march along the streets below as the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in the holiday season. The Oscar-, Emmy- and Grammy Award-winner has a prime spot — performing just before the arrival of Santa Claus, which marks the end of the parade. Other celebrities and musical groups taking part include Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Jessie James Decker, Pentatonix and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke. The parade also includes performances from the casts of some Broadway shows. The parade isn't just about what's going on in the skies, though.

Persons: SpongeBob, Cher, Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Jessie James Decker, Pentatonix, Grace Stanke, Leo the, It's “, ”, Will Coss, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker Organizations: New York City, Central, Miss, Netflix, NBC Locations: New York, Santa Claus, “

☆ How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Claire Fahy | More About Claire Fahy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on Thursday, with over three million spectators expected to brave the early-morning cold for a view of the procession’s many floats, balloons and celebrity performers. This year, NBC has moved the broadcast up a half-hour to an 8:30 a.m. start. There will also be additional cameras stationed along the route for new angles of SpongeBob, Ronald McDonald and Bluey. Who will broadcast the event? The broadcast will air on NBC and livestream on Peacock beginning at 8:30 a.m.Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of the “Today” show will host the broadcast of the event, which ends at noon.

Persons: SpongeBob, Ronald McDonald, Bluey, livestream, Peacock, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker Organizations: NBC Locations: Savannah

We are actually going to be looking at this in the very early days of generative AI. casey newtonYeah, this feels like one of the big questions in AI right now. rebecca tushnetSo I see why you say that’s strange, but in fact, it’s exactly how you would make a general-purpose tool. But now, finally, along come these new technologies to take them down a peg, and they’re actually going to have to work for a living. So maybe they’re slapping, like, AI sort of things around the stories that they’re aggregating.

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