DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

☆ SAG actors union President Fran Drescher criticized for Italy trip on eve of possible strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Fran Drescher, the president of the SAG-AFTRA union, is facing criticism for traveling to Italy to attend Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda festivities this past weekend as her 160,000-member actors union faces a Thursday deadline to go on strike. And we are concerned by the idea that SAG-AFTRA members may be ready to make sacrifices that leadership is not. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. There has been no visible progress in ending the writers strike since it started on May 2. This could be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: New York CNN — Fran Drescher, Kim Kardashian, ”, Lenny Jacobson, Briana, Taffy Brodesser, AFTRA, Drescher, you’ve, Blockbuster hadn’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Gabbana’s, Moda, Guild of America, “, WGA, Dolce, Blockbuster, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery Locations: New York, Italy, LA

☆ Actors delay potential strike against studios and streaming services, extending contract negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A union representing about 160,000 actors has put plans to go on strike against major studios and streaming services on hold. But that doesn’t mean that a strike will now be avoided, said Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. The actors union has not been on strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: “, ”, Fran Drescher, Drescher, Jonathan Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, ”, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Hollywood, Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., AMPTP, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Actors poised to join writers on strike against studios and picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Industry experts like Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike! Production of many movies and television shows have already been shutdown by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. There has been no visible progress in ending the writers strike since it started. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980.

Persons: Jonathan Handel, ”, Handel, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Interestingl, Drescher, “, “ It’s, Tom Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, Disney, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

☆ Directors Guild of America ratifies new contract with studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Members of the Directors Guild of America voted to approve a new three-year contract with studios Friday, with 87% of membership voting in favor of the deal. The contract, which was recommended by the DGA negotiating committee was a “historic” deal for wages, work hours, residuals, and artificial intelligence. The tentative agreement was reached against the backdrop of the Writers Guild Strike, which has been going on for eight weeks. AMPTP and the Writers Guild were not able to come up with a deal before their contract expired on May 1. This vote result could set the tone and precedent for the striking Writers Guild.

Persons: ”, Lesli Linka Glatter, Alec Baldwin, Halyna Hutchins, AMPTP Organizations: CNN, Guild of America, DGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, Warner Bros ., Writers Guild, Artificial Intelligence, IA, Teamsters, SAG

☆ Advertisers are returning to Twitter after Linda Yaccarino calmed fears over content moderation. But now brands like Disney, Microsoft, and the NBA have ads placed next to neo-Nazi propaganda.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Brands that pulled ads over content concerns have returned to the platform since it named a new CEO. But big names like Disney, the NBA, and Adobe had ads placed next to antisemitic content this week. However, those same brands are returning to market their products and services on Twitter with Yaccarino at the helm. "They appear to have restricted that specific search, and not anything else — so they haven't moderated the actual content," Caraballo told Insider of Twitter's response. She added: "It just goes to show that the site is rife with extremist content, and yet brands are returning.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Linda Yaccarino, —, General Mills, Musk, Yaccarino, they've, Musk —, haven't, Alejandra Caraballo, Caraballo, Hitler, she'd, It's Organizations: Elon, Brands, Disney, NBA, Adobe, NBC Universal, Microsoft, Twitter, GM, Audi, Street, Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic, Nazi, Southern Poverty Law, ESPN Locations: Israel

☆ Actors union vote to authorize July strike, possibly joining writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If the actors do walk out, they would join members of the Writers Guild of America already on picket lines. The DGA tentative deal “doesn’t hurt the leverage or the pursuit of better working conditions for the writers and possibly the actors. : An Industry at War in the Internet Age.” He puts the chance of an actors’ strike at about two to one. Some television shows, particularly late night shows that are written daily in order to be timely, have had their production halted by the writers’ strike. Some shows and films that have had scripts already completed have continued to film since the writers went on strike.

Persons: isn’t, Radio Artists “, ”, Fran Drescher, “ I’m, AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree, “, Tom Nunan, doesn’t, Jonathan Handel, Nunan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, — American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Companies, Amazon, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, Warner Bros ., Guild of America, DGA, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television Locations: New York

The sudden departure of Twitter executives tasked with content moderation and brand safety has left the company more vulnerable than ever to hate speech. Following Irwin's departure, the company's head of brand safety and ad quality, A.J. Musk has dramatically downsized the company's workforce and rolled back policies that restricted what kinds of content could circulate. Twitter, under Musk, is the fourth most-hated brand in the U.S. according to the 2023 Axios Harris reputation rankings. Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently played down concerns about the prevalence of hate speech on Twitter.

Persons: Ella Irwin, Brown, Maie, It's, Elon Musk, Musk, Harris, it's, Linda Yaccarino Organizations: Twitter, Elon, NBC News, NBC Universal, SpaceX, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ Padma Lakshmi announces her departure from ‘Top Chef’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Megan Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

After 17 years and 20 seasons, Padma Lakshmi has announced she will step aside as host and judge of the cooking competition series, “Top Chef.”“After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef,” Lakshmi wrote in an Instagram post on Friday. Lakshmi received 13 Emmy nominations for her work on the show. “She will always be part of the Top Chef and the NBCUniversal family and has a seat at the judges’ table anytime.”No replacement for Lakshmi has been named. She described the “Top Chef” cast and crew as family and said she would “miss working alongside them dearly.” Lakshmi concluded her post with a message of gratitude to the show’s viewers. “I am deeply thankful to all of you for so many years of love and support.”

Persons: Padma Lakshmi, ”, ” Lakshmi, “, Lakshmi, Padma Organizations: CNN, New York Times, ”, NBC Universal

☆ Reliance's JioCinema signs content streaming deal with NBC Universal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, May 29 (Reuters) - JioCinema, the streaming platform run by India's Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS), has signed a partnership with NBC Universal Media in a push to increase Hollywood content on the platform for Indian viewers, the companies said on Monday. The multi-year deal will give JioCinema's premium subscribers access to popular shows such as "Downton Abbey", "Suits" and "The Office," the companies said in a joint statement. This comes after JioCinema signed a content streaming deal with Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) in April for shows such as "Succession" and "Game of Thrones". JioCinema announced its premium pricing earlier this month, moving away from free content model to fight rivals like Netflix (NFLX.O) and Disney (DIS.N) in the content streaming space. Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ It’s Netflix’s world, rivals just stream in it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Cheaper streaming options with unique programming were luring viewers, leaving Netflix in a tough spot as it raised prices. Paramount+, started in 2021, is joining forces with sister Showtime to widen its offerings. Disney, Paramount and WBD also operate cable and broadcast networks, and don’t specify what portion of the expense is allocated to streaming. Its subscribers, worth $136 a year in revenue apiece, are also more valuable than those of its rivals. Warner Bros Discovery on May 23 rebranded its streaming service as Max, which will include HBO programming along with Discovery’s reality TV shows.

☆ Tesla 2023 shareholder meeting: Musk says Tesla will try advertising
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In an aerial view, Tesla Corporate Headquarters are seen on January 03, 2023 in Travis County, Texas. Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed shareholders at the company's annual meeting on Tuesday, predicting the economy would pick up after 12 months and promising the company would deliver production Cybertrucks later this year. Addressing the long delays to the angular electric pickup, Musk lamented some of the manufacturing challenges and said, "Sorry for the delay. During the Q&A session, an attendee dressed like a robot with a cowboy hat, asked Musk if Tesla would build an RV or a camper. Musk said on Tuesday, "We'll try out a little advertising and see how it goes."

☆ Disney boss races to hold back the dam
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

How that unfolds is in the hands of Comcast (CMCSA.O) boss Brian Roberts, whose cable operator owns the studio behind the cinematic video game hit as well as one-third of Hulu. The shift is understandable, however, considering what Disney is up against. In the quarter ended April 1, the division that houses Disney+ narrowed its operating loss from a year earlier, but subscribers also fell 2% to 158 million compared to the previous quarter. A rare bright spot was the theme parks, particularly overseas, but Iger has a growing number of holes to plug to ensure the dam holds. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ With writers' strike already underway, film and TV studios start labor talks with directors
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Television and film studios, already dealing with a strike by the Writers Guild of America, started contract negotiations Wednesday with the Directors Guild of America. If those talks break down, they could lead to even broader work stoppages on film and television sets nationwide. Writers Guild of America members and supporters picket outside Sunset Bronson Studios and Netflix Studios, after union negotiators called a strike for film and television writers, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. There’s a good chance the Writers Guild could still be on strike at that point. Late night television shows were the first to be halted by the writers strike, and some other popular shows now in production, including Stranger Things, have been postponed as well.

☆ Movie theaters are most at risk if the writers’ strike drags on, Moody’s says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Already strained movie theater companies could be hurt most from the Writers Guild of America strike, according to an analysis released Thursday. “New big-budget tent-pole releases tend to fill theaters,” said Moody’s in its new analysis. But in terms of the volume of content produced, television (networks and streamers) has more exposure,” said Moody’s. “Television will bear the brunt of a long strike as the implications of the writers’ strike will play out more noticeably for TV networks, stations, cable channels, and streamers. TV networks, particularly broadcast networks, consistently schedule new prime-time shows to begin in the fall,” the Moody’s analysis said.

☆ Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers are paying a week's worth of TV writer salaries from their own pockets during the strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Late-night hosts Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon will pay staff themselves for a week of the strike. NBC is also paying staff for two weeks during this time, a source close to the shows confirmed to Insider. The writers' strike went into effect on May 2 after their contract expired without a new deal. Late-night hosts Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon — whose shows are among those on pause during the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike — have expressed support for their staff, and will personally pay them for a week. Kobos then tweeted on Wednesday that Fallon had joined their meeting that day, expressing affirmation of his support for the staff.

☆ 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.

The rise of streaming services changed the way audiences consume both television shows and movies, and studios adjusted their business models in an attempt to respond. But they’re unlikely to get meaningful residuals, if any at all, when they create original content for streaming services as contracts stand today. With streaming services poised to become the future of television entertainment, the Guild was fighting in these negotiations for some kind of ongoing compensation from streaming services. The hunger for content by those streaming service also means that it might not take as long for the strike to start to impact production schedules. Streaming services also have a massive stockpile of older content that could keep their customers satisfied, at least temporarily, while they await new shows.

☆ Hollywood's writers are striking over pay, a move that will grind production on most TV shows to a halt
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Writers Guild of America will go on strike from Tuesday in protest of low pay. The WGA's press release added that picketing would begin on Tuesday afternoon. Rumors of a writers' strike have been looming amid talks between union negotiators and media and tech companies. In April, Writers Guild of America members voted 98% in favor of striking if no deal was met before their contract expired at 11.59 p.m., Pacific Time, on Monday. A representative for the AMPTP told Insider that negotiations with the Writers Guild of America "concluded without an agreement" on Monday.

☆ Hollywood braces for writers strike with two sides are apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The clock is ticking toward a costly strike that could shut down production on most television shows, pushing back the return of many programs now set for the fall. With less than a day left before the deadline, the two sides appear far apart. Many of the media and tech companies producing shows that use the writers have seen drops in their stock price, prompting deep cost cutting, including layoffs. Handel is one of those who thinks a strike, quite possibly a months-long strike, is likely. “The tune today is profits.”The union represents 11,500 writers for television shows, both for networks and streaming services, as well as many motion pictures.

The vote announced Monday afternoon showed 97.9% of participating union members voting to approve a potential strike. A file photo shows members of the Writers Guild of America walk the picket line in New York during their last strike in 2007. Unions typically conduct a strike authorization vote during the course of negotiations, and they almost always get approved by overwhelming margins. Negotiators for the AMPTP and the Writers Guild met at the negotiating table on Friday, according to one producer close to negotiations. AMPTP gave WGA new proposals in response to some of the Guild’s contract requests – and is awaiting review and feedback on those Monday, along with the strike vote results, the producer said.

☆ Rapper Coolio died from fentanyl overdose, manager says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Singer Coolio performs before a panel discussion on his new Oxygen Network reality series "Coolio's Rules" at the NBC Universal summer 2008 press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 20, 2008. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, April 6 (Reuters) - Grammy-winning rapper Coolio died from a fentanyl overdose, his manager said on Thursday, six months after the musician was found dead at a friend's home in Los Angeles at age 59. Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio was best known for his 1995 single "Gangsta's Paradise," from an album of the same name. Coolio's manager, Jarez Posey, said the rapper's family had been informed on Thursday by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office that the singer had died from a fentanyl overdose. Born in Pennsylvania in 1963, Coolio began performing as part of the West Coast hip-hop scene after moving to Compton, California.

☆ TikTok's potential U.S. ban presents host of questions for app stores, internet companies and the government
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The TikTok logo is displayed outside TikTok social media app company offices in Culver City, California, on March 16, 2023. related investing news What a potential TikTok ban could mean for Club holding Meta Platforms It's not an issue yet, as there are still some ways a TikTok ban could be avoided or accessed legally in the U.S. Should the U.S. ban TikTok, the mechanics on what happens from there get murky. And the app stores controlled by Apple and Google are the primary places for consumers to download the TikTok app. Under Chinese law, companies can be required to hand over internal information to the government for supposed national security purposes.

☆ Hallmark Media CEO Wonya Lucas On Testing Your Limits
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | 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 EmailHallmark Media CEO Wonya Lucas On Testing Your LimitsLucas was brought up to believe that if you see it, you can be it. NBC Universal is proud to celebrate Women's History Month with the Women's Herstory campaign.

☆ Lawyers, lies and a housewife: American Greed goes inside the story of Tom Girardi
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Personal injury attorney Tom Girardi is a legal legend and courtroom shark. He says he's a champion for the little guy, winning hundreds of millions in settlements for widows, orphans and scores of vulnerable victims. Today, Girardi is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits alleging fraud, and his famous namesake law firm has gone bankrupt. Also, Erika had no control over Tom Girardi's firm or finances. Erika turned over her earnings to her husband and his law firm, who handled all finances along with outside accountants."

Search resuls for: "NBC Universal"

25 mentions found