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☆ Big M&A and Bob Iger's future: 13 media executives make their anonymous 2024 predictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-20 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Executive 2: Bob Iger will, again, extend his contract as Disney CEO Earlier this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger renewed his contract through 2026. This executive predicted "fool me five times, shame on me." This executive predicted Peltz and Rasulo will win their campaign and both join the board. This person predicted Disney would purchase privately held Candle Media to acquire Moonbug Entertainment, the owner of CoComelon. This executive predicted Yaccarino would either lose patience or find her job increasingly pointless and leave the company in 2024.

Persons: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Walt Disney Company Bob Iger, Michael M, David Zaslav, Slaven Vlasic, NBCUniversal, Brian Roberts, Roberts, Donna Langley, Bob Iger, Iger, Nelson Peltz, Jay Rasulo, Marco Bello, Peltz, Rasulo, Disney's, Dana Walden, Dana Walden Jason Laveris, Disney Entertainment Dana Walden, Walden, Bob Chapek, Andrew Wilson, Wilson, Chris Licht wouldn't, McCarthy, Andrew Wilson Michael Newberg, Kevin Mayer, Mayer, Bryan van der Beek, Tom Staggs, Staggs, Jayson Tatum, Kyle Terada, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Alec Martinez, Gray, Discovery's Max, Jeff Zucker, Lady Michelle Obama's, Michelle Obamas, Cheriss, Gerry Cardinale, Jeff Shell, RedBird, Shari Redstone's, David Ellison, Byron Trott, Zucker, Mark Thompson, Linda Yaccarino, X Linda Yaccarino, Vox, Jerod Harris, Yaccarino, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Boorstin, Elon Musk's, Jason LaVeris, Barbie, Mario, Oppenheimer, LightShed's Greenfield Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Times, Santiago, Getty, Jazz, Lincoln Center, Warner Bros ., Comcast, Warner Bros, Discovery, Disney, Trian Fund Management, Future Investment Initiative, Summit, Bloomberg, Filmmagic, Disney Entertainment, Electronic Arts, CNBC, Candle Media, Iger, Media, Moonbug Entertainment, Apple Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, USA, National Basketball Association, NBA, Apple, The College, ESPN, College, NHL, MLB, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Mobile, National Hockey League, Diamond Sports Group, Scripps, Gray Television, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Suns, Street Journal, Netflix, Hulu, Max, Paramount, RedBird, Paramount Global, CNN Worldwide, CNN, NurPhoto, BDT, The Ritz, Carlton, FilmMagic, Mario Bros Locations: New York City, Disney, Miami , Florida, Las Vegas , Nevada, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point , California

☆ Florida GOP chair defies DeSantis, won’t step down as new details of sexual assault allegation emerge
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Steve Contorno | Carlos Suarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ziegler admitted to having sex with the alleged victim, but said the sex was consensual and that he recorded the encounter. In one alleged exchange on October 27, the alleged victim wrote: “I’m not okay with what happened the other day between us”. “Yeah I know but that was not cool and you didn’t bring her [Bridget] and then did that to me,” the alleged victim responded. In one call, the alleged victim allegedly told Ziegler “he sexually assault her” and Ziegler replied, “Those are big words, please don’t, no I didn’t. Christian Ziegler, 40, has also fiercely defended DeSantis’ agenda against national backlash from LGTBQ groups.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Christian Ziegler, –, ”, Ziegler, Bridget, “, Christian, Christian “, Bridget Ziegler, “ Christian, That’s, Lol, ” Ziegler, Ziegler “, Derek Byrd, ” Byrd, DeSantis, Walt Disney, ” DeSantis, I’ve, They’ve Organizations: CNN, Florida’s Republican Party, Florida Gov, GOP, Sarasota Police Department, Florida Center, Government, Christian, Police, Google, ” CNN, Sarasota County, Liberty, Walt, Washington Examiner Locations: that’s, Florida, Central Florida

☆ Opinion: ‘The Golden Bachelor’ women gave me what I needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Opinion Amy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Yet I was one of the millions tuning into “The Golden Bachelor” premiere because I wanted to know how they would handle aging. As an older mom, I am fascinated by the media’s portrayal of older women. Consider this: the women of “The Golden Girls” — Blanche, Dorothy and Rose — were in their 50s in 1985, when the show about old women began. “Is anyone watching ‘The Golden Bachelor’ and thinking, ‘maybe I shouldn’t be so scared to get older…. “I feel like as someone in her 20s it’s scary, like how am I going to look when I’m older?

Persons: Amy Klein, “, Amy Klein Mira Zaki, Gerry Turner —, —, it’s, Mary McNamara, Michelle Cottle, They’re, they’re, Xer, I’m, ” Cottle, John Fleenor, Vladimir ”, she’s, frailty, Alice, — Blanche, Dorothy, Rose —, Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Manolo Blahnik, ” Charlotte, Galit Nimrod, ”, ” It’s, Gerry, ’, Eva Gutowski, ” Ellen Goltzer, Marina Perera Organizations: CNN, Nation, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Walt Disney Company, Max, verve Locations: Worth

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger says company's movies have been too focused on messaging
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, left, and Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, speak during the Times' annual DealBook Summit in New York City, Nov. 29, 2023. Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said Wednesday he will no longer tolerate his company's partners and creative team prioritizing messaging over storytelling. Iger had been in charge of "creative endeavors" in 2020 and 2021, even while Bob Chapek ran the company as CEO. Disney named two new board members on Wednesday — former Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman and former Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch — as it gears up for a potential proxy fight. Current Disney board member Francis A. deSouza won't run for reelection at the annual meeting.

Persons: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Bob Iger, Iger, It's, Disney's, Bob Chapek, Ron DeSantis, Sen, Ted Cruz, it's, I've, Nelson Peltz's, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, Jeremy Darroch —, Francis A, deSouza Organizations: New York Times, Walt Disney Company, Times, Disney, Florida Gov, Management, Wednesday, Sky Locations: New York City, New York, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Nelson Peltz renews proxy fight against Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Activist shareholder Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management has launched a new proxy fight against Disney, just months after backing off from its earlier push after returned chief executive Bob Iger announced a vast cost-cutting plan for the media conglomerate. Trian declined to comment on how many seats it is seeking on Disney’s board, but said in the release that Disney has turned down its request for representation, including for Peltz. Trian’s reignition of its proxy fight comes a day after Disney revealed a shuffle to its board, with Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman and former CEO of Sky Jeremy Darroch to join as new directors. Peltz in January launched a bid for a seat on Disney’s board after the company fired Bob Chapek in November 2022. We will be watching,” Peltz said on CNBC shortly after the conclusion of Iger’s TV interview in February, where the chief executive laid out his cost-cutting plan, addressed right-wing criticism of Disney and his decision to return to the company.

Persons: Nelson Peltz’s, Bob Iger, ” Trian, Trian, Trian’s, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, Sky Jeremy Darroch, ” “, ” Disney, Peltz, Bob Chapek, Chapek, Iger’s, Iger, “, ” Peltz, Disney, ” Iger, I’ve, ” — CNN’s Oliver Darcy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Management, Disney, Peltz, Sky, Walt Disney Company, Disney Parks, CNBC Locations: New York, Florida

☆ Bob Iger says 'The Marvels' had little 'supervision' and Disney has made too many sequels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger speak during the New York Times annual DealBook summit on November 29, 2023 in New York City. One year after returning to the helm of Disney , Bob Iger said Wednesday his top priority at the company is revitalizing its film studio after a string of box office disappointments including "The Marvels" and "Wish." "The experience of accessing [the films] and watching them in the home is better than it ever was," he told Andrew Ross Sorkin at The New York Times' DealBook Summit. In increasing its output to feed Disney+, Iger said the company "diluted" its quality, particularly when it came to its Marvel Cinematic Universe features. Iger returned as CEO a year ago as the board fired Chapek.

Persons: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Walt Disney Company Bob Iger, Bob Iger, Iger, Covid, Bob Chapek Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Times, Disney, The New York Times, Marvel Locations: New York City

☆ After year of ‘fixing things,’ Bob Iger tells Disney employees his plans to reshape the company for the future
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Iger has had nothing short of a full plate since retaking the throne of the Magic Kingdom last year. He’s been tasked with repositioning ESPN in a direct-to-consumer future, reversing the company’s faltering creative engine (e.g. In short, it’s been a demanding 12 months for the legendary Disney chief — something Iger was not shy about. But it is still unclear what Iger would like to do with some of the company’s declining television assets, namely ABC. “I’ve been through some difficult times and faced a lot of adversity as a company,” Iger told Disney employees, “and I know that each time we get through it.”

Persons: Bob Iger, Iger, David Muir, He’s, it’s, ” “, ” Iger, “, I’ve, he’s, Will, Muir, ”, Dana Walden, ” Walden, Jimmy Pitaro, Mickey Mouse, ” Pitaro, Pitaro Organizations: CNN, New Amsterdam Theatre, Disney, “, ABC, Magic, ESPN, Marvel Studios, Hulu, Hollywood, Walt Disney Company, ABC News, Disney Entertainment Locations: New York City, —, Israel

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger says company is ready to start building
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger attends the Nominees Luncheon for the 95th Oscars in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) CEO Bob Iger told employees that he faced a "myriad of challenges" upon returning to the company but remained upbeat about its prospects. "I feel that we’ve just emerged from a period of a lot of fixing to one of building again," Iger said. The meeting marks the one-year anniversary of Iger's first town hall since rejoining the company as chief executive in November 2022. Disney has undergone a transformation under Iger, who restructured the company and streamlined operations to make the business more cost effective.

Persons: Bob Iger, Mario Anzuoni, Walt Disney, “, ” Iger, I've, Iger, Alan Bergman, Dana Walden, Jimmy Pitaro, Josh D’Amaro, Nelson Peltz, Bob Chapek, Scarlett Johansson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Disney, Dawn Chmielewski, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Walt Disney Company, REUTERS, New Amsterdam Theatre, Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Walt, New York Times, Disney, Florida Governor, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Iger's, Burbank , California, New York

☆ ESPN's VP of sports betting shares his keys to success for ESPN Bet and an inside look into the partnership with Penn
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In other words, ESPN Bet has arrived. The companies announced in August their collaboration, with the operator selling its stake in Barstool Sports to rebrand Barstool Sportsbook as ESPN Bet. Screenshots from the ESPN Bet app. Providing easy transitions between the ESPN and ESPN Bet apps is a key focus to drive that metric, he added. — ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) November 10, 2023The move has given ESPN Bet an advantage on social media with 5.4 million followers on X, 2.7 million on Facebook, and 2.4 million on Instagram.

Persons: It's, Jay Snowden, Mike Morrison, Morrison, Scott Longley, DraftKings, Penn, Snowden, Jimmy Pitaro, Pitaro, I'm, cohesively we've, Keys, Fubo Sportsbook, Maxim Bet, it's Organizations: ESPN Bet, ESPN, Penn Entertainment, Sports, Business, Apple, Caesars, Penn, ESPN Penn, TheScore, Fox, Maxim, Yahoo, Walt Disney Company, ESPN BET, Facebook Locations: Penn, Las Vegas

☆ ValueAct Capital builds stake in Disney - 13D Monitor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsNov 15 (Reuters) - Activist investor ValueAct Capital has taken a stake in Walt Disney (DIS.N), sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. ValueAct is the second activist investor to arrive at Disney after Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management last month signaled it would be pushing for multiple board seats after having abandoned a proxy fight earlier this year. The new position was first reported by 13D Monitor. Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in New York and Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, ValueAct, Nelson Peltz's, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Walt Disney, Disney, Management, 13D, Svea, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ ValueAct builds stake in Disney, adds drama at home of Mickey Mouse -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. ValueAct and Disney declined to comment. Disney's stock price could trade between $120 and $190 a share, far above its current $94.19 price, ValueAct has suggested, the people said. Unlike other activist investors who noisily push for change through public presentations, ValueAct prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. In January, ValueAct CEO Mason Morfit was invited onto Salesforce's (CRM.N) board at a time the company had at least five activist shareholders.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, ValueAct, Mickey, Nelson Peltz's, Peltz, Shaw, Trian, Mason Morfit, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Dawn Chmielewski, Arsheeya, Arun Koyyur, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, ValueAct, Walt Disney, Disney, 13D Monitor, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, Fund Management, Management, Capital Partners, Microsoft, Svea, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Disney’s franchise fatigue taints M&A magic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, attends the premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in Los Angeles, California, U.S. December 16, 2019. REUTERS/Phil McCarten Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Walt Disney’s (DIS.N) load-bearing franchises are cracking. Disney’s Pixar studio delivered its own opening weekend dud with “Elemental.” The Star Wars universe’s latest TV expansion, “Ahsoka,” was panned. Iger’s acquisitions of Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars’ Lucasfilm seemed a master stroke of M&A. A slowdown at his most prized acquisitions raises the stakes on his next M&A decisions at a time of increased scrutiny.

Persons: Robert Iger, Phil McCarten, Walt Disney’s, ”, Bob Iger’s, Iger, Nelson Peltz, Jennifer Saba, Orsted’s, Cameron, Jonathan Guilford, Streisand Neto Organizations: Walt Disney Company, REUTERS, Reuters, Marvel, Variety, Pixar, Disney, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, X, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S

☆ Ranking the biggest winners, and losers, in the current economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In today's big story, we're ranking how different generations are doing in the current economy. After watching their parents and predecessors (millennials) struggle with finances, Gen Z is taking matters into their own hands. A May survey found more than half of Gen Z respondents had already started investing.

Persons: —, Tom Brady, Brooks Kraft, who's, It's, They've, Gen Zers, Gen Z, Gen, they've, Zers, HENRY, There's, aren't, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Banks, Goldman Sachs, Joel Saget, Loren Elliott, Andreessen Horowitz, Elon, Barack Obama's, Allen Berezovsky, Getty, Roberto Machado Noa, Rowan Jordan, Tyler Le, Bob Iger's, it's, that's, Scooter Braun's, Camila Sterling, David Bolno, Sterling, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Will Smith, LL, Queen Latifah, Remy Ma, Chris Sattlberger, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Brooks Kraft LLC, Alpha, Beta, Getty, JPMorgan, Treasury, MDs, AFP, Getty Images Google, Microsoft, Google, US, Disney, Republican, NBC News, CBS, Walt Disney Company, Bayer, Airbus Locations: Ukraine, California, Florida, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

☆ Disney Adds 5 Million Streaming Subscribers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | More About Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Robert A. Iger approaches the first anniversary of his return as chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, he delivered a strong earnings report on Wednesday, telling investors that the company added roughly five million subscribers to its streaming services in the last three months. In a statement, Mr. Iger acknowledged that Disney still had “work to do,” but highlighted the company’s “significant progress” over the last year in reorganizing itself. “These efforts have allowed us to move beyond this period of fixing and begin building our businesses again,” Mr. Iger said. The results, for services including Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu, could help Disney stave off Nelson Peltz, an activist investor who has been pushing the company to come up with a plan to replace Mr. Iger, improve the profitability of the streaming services and reinstate the company’s dividend. Disney’s stock was up about 4 percent in after-hours trading.

Persons: Robert A, Iger, ” Mr, Nelson Peltz Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Disney, ESPN

☆ Disney taps PepsiCo veteran Johnston as CFO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) on Monday hired PepsiCo (PEP.O) veteran Hugh Johnston as its chief financial officer, strengthening top boss Bob Iger's hands as he tries to turn around the media giant facing a decline in its cable business and investor pressure. Johnston had also helped guide the Doritos maker through its bitter battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management. At PepsiCo, Johnston will be replaced by Jamie Caulfield, currently CFO at the company's North America business. Johnston will receive an annual base salary of $2 million, Disney said, compared with the $1 million base salary he received at PepsiCo at of the end of 2022, according to a regulatory filing.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Hugh Johnston, Bob Iger's, Johnston, Nelson Peltz's, Trian, Michael Ashley Schulman, Christine McCarthy, Jamie Caulfield, Disney, Akash Sriram, Aishwarya Venugopal, Sriraj Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Monday, PepsiCo, ESPN, Fund Management, Disney, Running, Microsoft, HCA Healthcare, Hollywood, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, America, Bengaluru

☆ Sports betting, online casino boom fuels big DraftKings revenue gains as rivals vie for market share
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The growth of online sports betting and casino gaming across the U.S. has led to soaring revenue for sportsbook companies, but an already crowded race for consumers' dollars is about to get more competitive. Its success, which sent shares more than 16% higher Friday, came not only from sports betting, but also from online versions of casino games. Revenue is expected to grow yearly by 17.3% to reach a projected market volume of $14.4 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, despite being legal in just six states, revenue in the online gaming market is projected to reach $19.1 billion in 2023, according to Statista data. Revenue for online gaming is projected to grow 12.9% yearly and hit $31.1 billion by 2027.

Persons: It's Organizations: Caesars, MGM, Walt Disney Company, ESPN BET, Revenue Locations: U.S

☆ Disney Says It Will Take Full Control of Hulu
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Walt Disney Company said on Wednesday that it would take full control of Hulu, one of the world’s most popular streaming services, by paying at least $8.61 billion to buy out Comcast, which owned a 33 percent stake. Comcast, which recently stopped supplying Hulu with shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Voice,” rerouting them instead to its Peacock streaming service, said in September that it had sped up negotiations to sell Hulu to Disney. Previously, Comcast and Disney agreed that Comcast could force Disney to buy its stake early next year (the “put”). At the same time, Disney had the ability at that point to require Comcast to sell (the “call”). “The acquisition of Comcast’s stake in Hulu at fair market value will further Disney’s streaming objectives,” Disney said in a statement.

Persons: ” Disney, “, ” Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Hulu, Comcast, Disney, ABC, Fox Locations: Hulu

☆ The sad, lonely secret behind America's never-ending wave of Marvel movies and Disney reboots
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. Next, participants took Batcho's Nostalgia Inventory, a psychological test developed by Krystine Batcho in 1995 to quantify how deeply people feel nostalgia at a given time. If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. American health insurer Cigna has conducted a large loneliness survey since 2018, with over ten thousand respondents in the sample annually. In 2020, 61% of those surveyed were lonely, up 7 percentage points since the survey was first conducted in 2018.

Persons: Harry Potter, Krystine Batcho, lonelier, Cigna, reboots, Indiana Jones, Heather Jones, Walt Hickey, Zelda, backlist, SpongeBob, Percy Jackson, Workman Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Sony, Fox, Southampton University, UCLA, Research Center, Pew Research, Gallup, Netflix, Recreation Locations: Wonderland, Orlando, England, Hogwarts, Kingdom, America, Hollywood

☆ Actors and Hollywood Studios to Restart Negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The major entertainment studios and the union representing tens of thousands of striking actors will return to the negotiating table on Tuesday, less than two weeks after talks were suspended because the sides remained far apart on significant issues. The restart of negotiations was announced in a joint statement on Saturday from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, and SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union. On Oct. 9, the Writers Guild of America ratified its new contract and there had been hope that a new deal with the actors would follow. The strikes have been devastating financially for many, both within and outside the industry. But an agreement with the actors would mean getting back to work without losing the entirety of the fall television schedule or having next summer’s moviegoing season upended.

Persons: —, Donna Langley, Ted Sarandos, Robert A, David Zaslav — Organizations: Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Netflix, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Writers Guild of America Locations: California

☆ London exhibition celebrates 100 years of Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - From Mickey Mouse sketches to Cinderella's glass slipper, a new exhibition opening in London on Friday celebrates 100 years of the magical world of Disney. More than 250 items are on display at "Disney 100: The Exhibition", which begins with an introduction to animator and producer Walt Disney and his character, Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, said to be a prototype for Mickey Mouse. Also featured are sketches and interactive stations, and items from Marvel, Pixar and the "Star Wars" films, now part of the Disney conglomerate. "These characters can remain true and universal for decades," said Goldberg, who has worked on various Disney characters starting with the Genie in the 1992 animated feature "Aladdin". The exhibition at London's ExCel, of which another version will open in Chicago next month, runs as The Walt Disney Company marks 100 years since its founding, considered to be when Walt and his brother Roy Disney signed a contract with New York cartoon distributor Margaret Winkler on Oct. 16, 1923.

Persons: Mickey, Walt Disney, Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse, Dick van Dyke, Mary Poppins, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Eric Goldberg, Goldberg, Bret Iwan, Walt, Roy Disney, Margaret Winkler, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Richard Chang Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Archives, Marvel, Pixar, Reuters, ExCel, Walt Disney Company, New York, Thomson Locations: London, Chicago, New

☆ Opinion: Julia Ormond is speaking for a generation of women who won’t be silenced
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Opinion Sara Stewart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Ormond’s claim alleges that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 1995 after a business dinner and that Ormond told her agents about it, and that they advised her against speaking out about it. “Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself,” a representative for Weinstein told CNN in a statement. It includes awful, if unsurprising, details from the lawsuit about what happened when she told her agents at the time. In addition, after the incident and her disclosure of it to her agents, Ormond says CAA lost interest in representing her and her career was damaged dramatically anyway. I once wrote an awards-season story about an actor/director accused of sexual harassment by multiple women on his team.

Persons: Sara Stewart, CNN —, Sara Stewart Todd Thompson, Julia Ormond, Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein, Ormond, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, “ Harvey Weinstein, ”, Ormond’s, Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery, Sabrina ”, Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, wouldn’t, Annabella Sciorra, Darryl Hannah, Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette, Heather Graham, Claire Forlani, Rae Dawn Chong, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman, I’ve, I’m, Amber Heard, Russell Brand, who’ve Organizations: CNN, Variety, Creative Rights Agency, CAA, Walt Disney Company, Miramax, Mr, ” CNN, Women, Brennan Center, Justice Locations: Pennsylvania, “, Rolling, Hollywood

☆ Nikki Haley could be the last, best chance for Republicans to unite against Trump before he steamrolls the GOP presidential field
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Former President Trump remains well ahead of his fellow Republican presidential contenders. But Nikki Haley is in a solid position in both GOP statewide polling and general election matchups. As other candidates leave the race, Haley's viability as a top Trump alternative will likely strengthen. Meanwhile, Haley's stock may be low, but very importantly it's up: she's averaging around 8% in the FiveThirtyEight GOP polling average, up from 3% at the beginning of August. AP Photo/Meg KinnardA Public Opinion Strategies survey of New Hampshire had Trump ahead with 44% support, with Haley in second place with 17% support.

Persons: Trump, Nikki Haley, —, Nikki Haley's, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump's, Haley, she's, Meg Kinnard, Biden, DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen, Tim Scott of, Donald Trump, Jae Organizations: Trump, Service, South Carolina Gov, Gov, GOP, New, United Nations, AP, Boston Globe, New Hampshire, NBC, Trump White, Walt Disney Company, Sunshine State, Iowa Locations: Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Clive , Iowa, Suffolk, DeSantis, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Anaheim , Calif

☆ Disney to offer discounts on children's tickets at theme parks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 4 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) said on Wednesday it will offer discounts on ticket prices for children at its theme parks for a limited period as it looks to boost traffic. Disney CEO Bob Iger said in August during the third-quarter earnings conference call that the California-based company had seen "softer performance" at Walt Disney World, a part of its parks business, in Orlando. Although, Iger described the parks as "a tremendous business" and said Walt Disney World was still performing well above pre-pandemic levels. The company last month said it would nearly double its capital expenditure for its parks business to about $60 billion over the next 10 years. Walt Disney World will also introduce a package offer on Nov. 14 for families with discounted children's tickets for theme parks and dining plans, which can be used from March 3 through June 30 next year.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Iger, Walt, Akash Sriram, Samrhitha, Shinjini Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Disney, Walt Disney, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, COVID, California, Orlando, Bengaluru

☆ Disney is discounting child tickets at U.S. parks as industry attendance lags
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It's about to be cheaper for families to visit Disney's domestic theme parks. The Walt Disney Company on Wednesday announced new, limited time discounts on children's tickets at Disneyland and Disney World. Universal's domestic parks, as well as region players like Six Flags and Sea World , have reported lower attendance this year. Meanwhile, the parks division saw a 13% increase in revenue during the third quarter, reaching $8.3 billion. The recent additions of the two Star Wars: Galaxy Edge lands in Disneyland and Disney World are estimated to have cost $1 billion each.

Persons: Price Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Company, Wednesday, Walt Disney, Magic Kingdom, Big, Edge, Comcast, CNBC Locations: California, Orlando , Florida, U.S, Europe, Parks, Anaheim , California, Animal, Orlando, Magic, NBCUniversal

☆ Julia Ormond sues Harvey Weinstein for battery along with Disney, CAA and Miramax as enablers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Actress Julia Ormond is suing disgraced former film producer Harvey Weinstein for battery and sexual assault she says occurred in 1995, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by CNN. Ormond is also suing the once Weinstein-owned Miramax as well the Walt Disney Company, which purchased Miramax in 1993, for negligence and Hollywood talent agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency), who represented the actress, for negligence and breach of fiduciary trust. (A majority stake of CAA was recently purchased by the Artémis investment firm.) In the complaint, first reported by Variety, Ormond alleges that in December 1995, she and Weinstein were supposed to have a business dinner to discuss a project. Weinstein, 71, was at the center of allegations that fueled the global #MeToo movement in 2017.

Persons: Julia Ormond, Harvey Weinstein, Ormond, Weinstein, Weinstein “, ” “ Harvey Weinstein, ”, Ormond’s, ” Ormond, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, “, Sabrina ”, Grandin, Ormond Douglas H, Wigdor, Effie Blassberger, Rosenberg Kirshner, Linder, he’d Organizations: CNN, Miramax, Walt Disney Company, Hollywood, CAA, Creative Artists Agency, Variety, Mr, Disney, ” CNN, Warner Brothers Discovery, AMC, Wigdor LLP, Linder LLP Locations: “, Clayman, Los Angeles, New York

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