DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

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

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

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

☆ How a sports tech investor is raising a new $44 million fund and solving VC's 'broken' due diligence process
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewSports industry vet Craig Thompson is raising $44 million for a new sports tech fund, Match Ventures. Match Ventures has raised about a third of the fund with a goal of closing it within a year. Match Ventures is among other VCs reexamining their approach to due diligence . Match Ventures leaders also bring a combination of sports industry, data, and financial experience that would be valued by many founders. Brams founded sports tech company Oppia Performance and was product director for Genius Sports, a data and tech company.

Persons: —, Craig Thompson, Thompson, Anton Brams, Petr Zhukov, he's, Zhukov, They've, Brams, he'll Organizations: Service, Match Ventures, Mindspring, Ventures, Indigo Sports Tech, Business, Sports, US, Sport, UEFA Champions League, Champions Hockey League, Genius Sports, Credit Suisse, UBS Locations: pickleball, Luxembourg

☆ Why Netflix, Disney, and other Hollywood companies are flocking to CES this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Advertising and marketing pros made up 7% of CES' attendees in 2023, per CES. Look for topics like the creator economy and the rise of artificial intelligence to dominate the conversation for advertisers, Kassan added. And Roku, which is closing in on its search for a new ad sales head, is sending a large contingent. The cost advertisers pay for streaming ads is expected to decline as platforms release more inventory, particularly with Amazon unleashing ads on Prime Video. Advertisers also have more options with the fast-growing FASTs (free, ad-supported streaming TV channels), which primarily offer older TV shows and movies.

Persons: David Benioff, Weiss, Alexander Woo, Amy Reinhard, execs, It's, who'll, Patrick Pannett, Michael Kassan, Evan Spiegel, Kassan, — that's, Rita Ferro, NBCUniversal's Mark Marshall, NBCU's Peacock, NBCUniversal, Peacock, NBCU, Tanner Elton, Amy McDevitt, Ludacris, Jon Steinlauf, GroupM Organizations: Netflix, CES, Business, Consumer Technology Association, Madison Avenue, Walmart, Disney, Nexstar Media Group, Nvidia, Paramount, CTA, Tech, NBC, Bravo, Amazon Ads, Warner Bros, Magna, CTV, Hulu, Intelligence, Prime Video Locations: Las Vegas, Peacock

☆ Amazon insiders are bracing for changes at Freevee now that Prime Video is adding ads
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewSpeculation about the future of Amazon's free, ad-supported streamer Freevee is swirling now that sibling service Prime Video is about to launch ads itself. People who work for the service have been reassigned or told they'll add Prime Video duties, said three insiders familiar with the matter. Ryan Pirozzi, who previously ran the business side of Freevee, is now head of Prime Video Channels, US. People who worked on Freevee teams will be doing double duty for Prime Video, a sign that Amazon no longer sees Freevee as a freestanding business. Amazon describes Freevee as a service, with Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon's film and TV division, developing the content for Prime Video and Freevee.

Persons: —, Lauren Anderson —, Ryan Pirozzi, Freevee, James Marsden, It's, Jenny Burke Organizations: Service, Business, Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon, Freevee . Company, Hollywood, Prime, Freevee, Video Locations: Freevee

☆ Top Elle editor and 'Project Runway' star Nina Garcia killed a report about celebrity dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot that was later published by the Daily Beast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"I was irritated they didn't give me more of a reason," Seligson told BI. A few weeks later, the article's editor told Seligson the decision was made by Elle's editor-in-chief, Nina Garcia. But at the 11th hour, Garcia expressed concern that the story would be a "takedown," Seligson's editor told the writer. The Daily Beast story was similar to the draft Seligson had filed to Elle, which Business Insider reviewed. In taking the helm at Elle, Garcia said she was "looking to amplify the DNA of the brand.

Persons: Hannah Seligson, Tanya Zuckerbrot, Elle, Seligson, Zuckerbrot, Emily Gellis Lande, Lande, Hearst, Andrea Butler, It's, Nina Garcia, Garcia, Gellis Lande, Tracy Connor, —, haven't, it's, Robbie Myers, E, Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Carroll, Bryan Singer, She's, she's Organizations: Elle, Business, New York Times, Stone, Daily, The New York Times, Hearst, Hollywood, Hamas, BI Locations: New York City, Israel

☆ Two Amazon and Netflix alums have raised $1 million for their fintech startup that aims to disrupt entertainment and production financing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Conduiit, a fintech startup that promises to save entertainment companies time and money by centralizing their production finance operations, has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding. He saw how production companies were using a hodgepodge of services to manage day-to-day transactions, as well as managing individual productions in silos, resulting in lost time and wasted expense. ConduiitCharging on a SaaS model, Conduiit lets production companies access all their compliance, management, accounting, and payment tools from a single platform. "There are two Black founders in a world that doesn't have a lot of them," said Glover of Hamilton and Thurman. Only about 1% of venture funding in 2022 went to Black startup founders, according to Crunchbase data analyzed by TechCrunch .

Persons: Hiro Mizushima, Shawn Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton's, Jason Thurman, who's, HBO Max, Max, John Oliver, Drew Glover, Glover, Thurman, we're Organizations: Fiat Ventures, Aperture Venture, Business, Amazon, Netflix, Disney, HBO, Jigsaw, Laylow Productions, Productions, Silicon Valley Bank, Fiat, TechCrunch Locations: Silicon, Hollywood

☆ YouTube is facing a reckoning as rivals offer TV streaming scale for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

One holding company exec said for the first time in years, their clients' YouTube spending hasn't increased this year. Execs also cited suitability of YouTube content as an ongoing factor in their spending allocations. YouTube TV , launched in 2017, provides linear and on-demand programming, and parent Alphabet has called it a bright spot for subscriber growth. YouTube also pitches TV advertisers on YouTube Select, which lets advertisers run ads on the top 5% of its most popular programming. And last year, YouTube reached a deal to make NFL's Sunday Ticket games an add-on for YouTube TV subscribers.

Persons: Max, Execs, Adalytics, Dan Salmon, Brian Albert, Albert, Nielsen, it's, we're, execs, Brian Wieser, Wieser Organizations: YouTube, Business, Disney, Paramount, Amazon, Prime, Google, Hollywood, New, Research, US, Netflix, Hulu, Sunday Ticket, Nielsen . Ad, YouTube's Locations: Madison, Wall

☆ The top 7 media people in AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Kali Hays | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Camille Carlton, Center for Humane TechnologyCamille Carlton, Center for Human Technology Center for Human TechnologyCarlton describes her path to working on AI policy as "nonlinear." After seeing how divided her family became around the 2016 election, largely due to information they saw on sites like Facebook, Carlton was inspired to study technology and society. She now works at the Center for Humane Technology, advising policymakers on laws and regulations for AI. "I'm most scared about how these systems will further entrench deep power asymmetries and socioeconomic inequality," Carlton said. "We're seeing a few large companies run by a handful of people shaping everything.

Persons: Camille Carlton, Center for Humane Technology Camille Carlton, Human Technology Carlton, Carlton Organizations: Center for Humane Technology, Center, Human Technology, Facebook Locations: Cuba

☆ Spotify plans to split with its longtime ad agency as it looks beyond music streaming for growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Spotify is quietly looking for a new ad agency to handle its media planning and buying as it takes steps to broaden its business beyond music and podcasts and push further into performance marketing. The audio streaming company is planning to part with its global agency of record since 2017 , ad holding company IPG Mediabrands' UM, according to two knowledgeable sources. Spotify shared a statement saying: "Today, UM is Spotify's agency of record. In October, Spotify posted an operating profit, its first since 2021, as user and advertising growth along with price hikes boosted results. Spotify has since pivoted away from heavy spending on podcasts and made some of its shows available on other platforms to spur audience growth.

Persons: Daniel Ek, Publicis, Joe Rogan, Michelle Obama, Dawn Ostroff Organizations: Spotify, UM, Business Locations: North America

☆ Here's how much advertising costs on Netflix, Max, Disney, and others right now as streaming ad prices fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lauren Johnson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The number of ads per hour on streamers including Hulu and Disney+ also has crept up, adding to the supply. (Check out last year's list of streaming TV ad prices here .) Netflix and Disney+ also have slashed their ad prices since launch. CPMs, or cost per mille, is what advertisers pay per thousand views of their ads. A second top ad buyer estimated that streaming ad prices have come down 5% to 10% over the past year as more ad space gets rolled out.

Persons: Max, Read Organizations: Netflix, Disney, Hulu, Business, Amazon, YouTube

☆ A career trend to bet on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at why the creator economy is big business and potentially the future of the entertainment industry. The big storyInfluential influencersPete Ryan for Business InsiderLike it or not, the "creator economy" is here to stay. Goldman Sachs analysts estimated the creator economy was a $250 billion industry and could nearly double to $480 billion by 2027. The story is part of Business Insider's "5 Trends to Bet Your Career On" series. Business Insider's Lucia Moses and Alison Brower have a full breakdown of the recent cuts.

Persons: —, who've, Pete Ryan, Goldman Sachs, Amanda Perelli, Amanda, Alix Earle, Arantza Pena Popo, Business Insider's Lucia Moses, Alison Brower, that's, Michael Dell, Carl Icahn, Dell, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI Biden, Xi, Dolly Parton, RuPaul, Rachel McAdams, Danny DeVito, Martin Scorsese, VCs, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Business, TikTok, YouTube, Diego Donamaria, CNBC, Tech, Icahn Enterprises, Whirlpool, Walmart, Target, Today Locations: Diego, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

☆ Layoffs keep hitting Amazon, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and more entertainment companies — here's the list of those with recent cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"Netflix missed their numbers, and Wall Street woke up," said Paul Hardart, director of NYU Stern's entertainment, media and technology program. A wide range of companies and employees were impacted, from entertainment giants to independent production companies to Hollywood talent agencies. More consolidation among the legacy media companies and independent production companies is widely expected, which often entails job cuts. Entertainment companies will get back to staffing up, but the jobs will be in stronger growth areas like gaming, streaming, and advertising, more than in filmed entertainment programming. Here are the Hollywood companies, listed alphabetically, that have made layoffs since the summer.

Persons: Paul Hardart, Bob Iger, Joanna Sucherman, Fox, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nadia Sinh, Companywide, Rami Malek, Mr, Dawn Olmstead, Heather McCauley, YANNIS DRAKOULIDIS, Oscar, Severance, Roku, Alison Levin, NBCUniversal, Curtis Brown, James, Jennifer Coolidge Organizations: Netflix, Disney, Business, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, NYU, Warner Bros, NBC, JLS Media, Entertainment, Hollywood, Amazon Studios, Studios, Talent, Variety, CAA, ICM Partners, DreamWorks Animation, Apple, NETFLIX, Nasdaq, TechCrunch, Starz, CNBC, Lionsgate, LIonsgate, UTA, Hollywood Reporter, Fletcher & Company, Co, HBO Locations: Hollywood, Australia

☆ Disney will soon own all of Hulu. Here's how the company got here and what's next.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Disney has offered to pay Comcast $8.6 billion to take full control of Hulu. Disney is already in the process of rolling out a unified app that'll make Hulu's general entertainment content available in Disney+ . "With Hulu firmly in the Disney fold, they can create their own mini-bundle with kids and family (Disney +), general entertainment (Hulu), and sports (ESPN). The valuation also has to take into account that Hulu contains an entire Disney basic cable network, FX on Hulu. Netflix is set to spend $17 billion on entertainment content in 2024, while Disney is poised to spend $15 billion.

Persons: Bob Iger's, —, Bob Iger, Hulu —, what's, Comcast's NBCUniversal, pare, he's, Jonathan Miller, Brian Roberts, there's, Bernstein, Laurent Yoon, Read, Jordan Helman, Max, Puck, Disney, Bernstein's Yoon Organizations: Disney, Comcast, Hulu, Service, YouTube, News, Century Fox, Marvel, Netflix, Integrated Media, ESPN, ABC, LightShed Partners, Warner Bros, Wall, Paramount Global, Paramount, Showtime, HBO Max, Macquarie Equity Research, Media, Disney Disney, Hollywood Locations: Disney, Hulu, Canada, India, Hollywood

☆ Bob Iger's return as Disney's CEO once sparked hope inside the company. Now, insiders are anxious and losing faith.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

"There was a lot of excitement and hope at the return of Bob Iger a year ago," a current Disney staffer told Insider. Uncertainty about the company's future and about who's deciding what on the creative side has left execs in a state of inertia, according to an entertainment lawyer with knowledge of Disney's business. The declining linear TV business culminated in a standoff with Charter Communications over terms for a new contract for carrying Disney's cable channels. And Disney's streaming business, which was supposed to make up for the decline in cable revenues, has lost $11 billion since Disney+ launched in 2019. Churn is a top concern in Disney streaming, some employees said.

Persons: Goofy, what's, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, He's, confidants, Zenia Mucha, Alan Braverman, Alan Horn, Jayne Parker, Christine McCarthy —, Mickey, Ariel, grumbled, Iger's, It's, he's, Iger, Paul Verna, Chapek, Bob, it's, Ron DeSantis —, Iger —, Nelson Peltz, he'd, hasn't, Verna, Disney, Ike Perlmutter, Peltz, Perlmutter, Ike, Disney's, Paul Singer, Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs, Puck, Stagg's Blackstone, Intelligence's Verna Organizations: Walt Disney Co, Disney, ABC, Hollywood, CNBC, Writers Guild of America, Wall, Insider Intelligence, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Century Fox, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Communications, Florida Gov, Hulu, ESPN Iger, FX, Geographic, ESPN, Apple, Electronic, Elliott Investment Management, Bloomberg, Mayer Locations: Burbank, Hollywood, Florida's, Iger

☆ The Israel-Hamas war threatens to derail Middle Eastern investment in US media and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Still, the US presence highlighted the deepening ties between Hollywood and the region , as Western media, entertainment, and sports entities have seen major investment in recent years from Saudi, Qatar, and the UAE. Even before October 7, US entities that were receiving investment from the Middle East were reluctant to speak publicly about those relationships. Insider spoke with investors, producers, and other media and entertainment stakeholders about what's next for Hollywood's relationships with Mideast backers. Qatar hasn't seen any recent major deals but earlier this year, Peter Chernin and Providence Equity's production roll-up The North Road received $150 million from the Qatar Investment Authority. "The political nature gets more complicated," an industry insider observer said, noting how countries like Qatar are grabbing headlines for their role in the situation.

Persons: haven't, Jamal Khashoggi, Israel, it's, Knaebel, They're, Greg Silverman's, Silverman, Harry Potter, Chris Nolan's, Abu Dhabi's, Ari Emanuel, Peter Chernin, Jeff Zucker, LIV Golf Organizations: Film, Washington Post, Hollywood, Global Media, Saudi, Stampede Ventures, Warner Bros, Endeavor, Qatar hasn't, Providence, North, Qatar Investment Authority, IMI, CNN, Investment Fund, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabia, American, Jeddah, Saudi, Qatar, UAE, Gaza, Israel, Germany, Silver

☆ A Hulu exec details how elaborate partnerships 'surprise and delight' audiences and boost followings for big releases like Oprah-produced 'Black Cake'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Disney's Hulu has a lot riding on "Black Cake," its adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson's New York Times bestseller that centers on a Black family and spans decades and geographies from Jamaica to Scotland to California. Several Caribbean bakeries across the US will give out samples of black cake, the rum-soaked treat that's at the heart of the story. Hulu's partnerships start with the audienceMatthews and her team put together about a dozen partnerships a year tied to big releases. For "Black Cake," the book's fan base and defining themes were front and center for Hulu. Customers must be members of Barnes & Noble's Premium Membership ($39.99 a year) to see the "Black Cake" sneak peek, which let the bookseller promote its rewards program.

Persons: Charmaine Wilkerson's, Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey, Aaron Kaplan, Hulu, Noble, Adia Matthews, Matthews, screeners, —, Danny Trejo —, Postmates, Selena Gomez's, Cynthia Di Meo, Mabel Mora, Influencers, Barnes Organizations: Hulu, Charmaine Wilkerson's New York Times, Harpo Films, Entertainment, Barnes, Spelman College, Howard University, Hollywood, Con, Samba, Walt Disney Co, Disney Locations: Jamaica, Scotland, California, Caribbean, it's, Southern California, Los Angeles, LA, American, Hollywood

☆ The head of AB InBev's entertainment studio has exited in the latest marketing shakeup at the Anheuser-Busch parent
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AB InBev's studio head is out, the latest marketing shakeup at the Anheuser-Busch parent company following the Bud Light fiasco . The company put seasoned AB InBev marketer Lauren Denowitz in charge as global studio head while enlisting help from Oscar-winning Michael Sugar's production company, Sugar23, and branded entertainment guru Jae Goodman . Bud Light faced months of conservative-led protests and falling sales over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The Anheuser-Busch controversy started in April when the company sent Mulvaney a personalized Bud Light can for a March Madness contest. The fallout has dragged down US performance for two quarters in a row, even as AB InBev beat expectations in the most recent quarter.

Persons: Bud, Lauren Denowitz, Michael Sugar's, Jae Goodman, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Denowitz didn't, Michel Doukeris Organizations: Anheuser, Busch, Hollywood, InBev, Brands, Bud Light, UFC

☆ These are 28 of the most influential women executives in sports media, driving deals with the NFL and NBA, expanding coverage of women's sports, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Margaret Fleming | Lucia Moses | Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Robyn PearsonHyslop and two friends from college cofounded The Gist in 2017, and she continues to serve as head of content. While it's geared toward female fans, The Gist's content equally covers both men's and women's sports, inspired by the initial mission of its founders to include everyone in conversations about sports. "And I think that we're proving that you can do something different and still do it really, really well." Guides to specific sports break down the rules and document how women have shaped the game. The Gist's TikTok and Instagram platforms both have about 170,000 followers, with an additional almost 45,000 for Canadian sports news .

Persons: Ellen Hyslop, Robyn Pearson Hyslop, Gist, Hyslop Locations: Toronto, Canada

☆ Apple TV+ is raising prices and expanding its content ambitions — here are the shows and movies it wants now, per leaked Hollywood agency documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple TV+ is a small but influential player in the streaming wars. And Apple has signaled it wants to grow its streaming content slate at a time when other media companies are contracting. Apple is "always looking" for films that "highlight humanity," according to one of the agency documents. As a side hustle of a massive retail business, Apple TV+ can fly under the radar, insulated from economic pressures that have roiled the entertainment business. (Apple TV+ was the first streamer to win the best picture Oscar, in 2022, for "CODA," which it acquired at the Sundance Film Festival).

Persons: Martin Scorcese's, Reese Witherspoon, Apple, execs, Apple hasn't, Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso, Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Jon Stewart's, Isaac Asimov's, John Krasinski, Stephen Curry, Ridley Scott's, Napoleon, They're Organizations: Apple, Netflix, Disney, New York Times, Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, New England Patriots, Sundance Locations: China

☆ Netflix wants its own version of 'The Bear' and more 'Dahmer'-style true crime. Here's its series wish list, per Hollywood insiders and leaked agency documents.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Several producers, agents, and other dealmakers also weighed in for this story about the content market and what the streamers are looking for. In short, broadcast network-type shows that will grab broad viewership are the top priority for Netflix and all its competitors. Netflix wants another 'Squid Game' and more true crime, but 'nothing too political'"Squid Game." And for its version of Hulu's "The Bear," it wants a series set in a fast-paced world, but not a restaurant. In unscripted and non-fiction programming, per both documents and Insider's sources, true crime remains a big area of focus for series as well as films.

Persons: aren't, It's, Meghan Markle, MoffettNathanson, Fox, Shonda Rhimes, Michelle Obama, it's, Netflix execs, Dahmer, FreeVee Organizations: Hollywood, Netflix, Netflix Netflix, AMC, NBA, Sydney Locations: USA, Korea, Hollywood, Beach

☆ We're seeking nominations for Insider's 2nd annual list spotlighting the entertainment industry's rising stars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Insider is seeking nominations for its 2nd annual list of the entertainment business' rising stars. 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 . AdvertisementAdvertisementInsider is looking for nominations for its second annual list of rising stars in the entertainment business. They should work for an established entertainment company, such as a studio, network, streaming platform, or production company.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Hollywood, PT Locations: Hollywood

☆ 9 investors betting millions on the rebound in live events and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"Live events are having a moment as consumers want to get out and about," said John Harrison, Americas Media & Entertainment lead at EY. But over the past few years, established and upstart investors have seized the opportunity to capitalize on live events spending, which is outpacing media and entertainment spending overall. PWC projects live events revenue hitting $68.7 billion in 2024, up from $66.6 billion in 2019.Insider identified nine firms, listed alphabetically, that are making significant investments in live entertainment-related companies. It most recently led a $65 million round in Dice, an events discovery and ticketing platform for live events like comedy and drag cabaret. Courtesy of Shamrock CapitalThe Los Angeles-based investment firm has a long history of backing media, entertainment, and communications businesses.

Persons: Taylor Swift, hasn't, Tait, Scott Marimow, John Harrison, there's, Harrison, Coldplay, PEHub, Bluestone Equity Partners Bobby Sharma, Michael Weschler, Bobby Sharma, Bluestone, Juggernaut, Eric Kuhn, Tre, Scott, Matt Pincus, Pincus, Marimow, Shamrock Capital Andrew Howard, Marc Geiger, Alan Waxman's Organizations: Providence Equity Partners, Yankee, Wembley, Bluestone Equity Partners, Providence, Americas Media, Entertainment, Fourier, NBA, PMY, SoFi, New York's Citi, RWS, Apple, Holland America, Capital Partners, Street Journal, Folk Media Group, CBS, Microsoft, Folk Productions, Quest Entertainment, MUSIC, Liontree, JS Capital Management, Investments, Providence Equity Partners Providence Equity Partners, Theatre Group, Shamrock Capital, Sixth, Spain's, San Antonio Spurs, New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, Sixth Street Locations: Americas, Paris, Europe, Asia, Vegas, Fiume, Wilmington , Mass, Devon , Pennsylvania, Miami , Florida, North America, Providence, US, Germany, Los Angeles, SaveLive, Spain's Real Madrid, Real Madrid's

☆ Netflix and others have pulled back on hard-hitting documentaries as streamers seek more true crime and 'nothing too political'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"Beyond Utopia" attracted interest at Sundance from streamers like Amazon's Prime Video and Netflix. Interest peaked four years ago at the Sundance Film Festival, fueled by Amazon and Netflix, which paid a record $10 million for the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez doc "Knock Down the House." In the crime realm, WME advised, Netflix was seeking films based on big, well-known cases and scams like "Dahmer" and "Tinder Swindler." Filmmakers point to streamers' self-censorship and 'cold feet' over sensitive topicsSome filmmakers said there are still champions at the streamers for documentaries that push the envelope. "Beyond Utopia" is among a number of recent films that have been snubbed by the big streamers, despite winning awards and buzz.

Persons: Madeleine Gavin, It'll, It's, Gavin, Hulu, Peter Broderick, Hulu didn't, Sundance fests, Broderick, WME, Dahmer, Ted Hope, Hope, Vanessa Hope, Taiwan's, he'd've, Oscar, Bryan Fogel, Jamal Khashoggi, Thom Powers, it's, Keith Ochwat, Ochwat Organizations: Sundance, Netflix, PBS, Sundance Film, Amazon, Alexandria, Paradigm Consulting, Amazon Prime, Apple, Hulu, Hollywood, Gravitas Ventures, & $ Locations: Joy, Congo, arthouses, Hulu, China, Park City, Syria, Russian, Ukraine, Venice

☆ 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

☆ How Texas Monthly is cashing in on Hollywood's true crime obsession
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Streamers increasingly are leaning into true crime and stories about the heartland, and Texas Monthly can check those boxes. Of the publication's 50 film and TV projects, half fall into the true crime genre. "They're trying to reach the middle of the country, and we've got things that do that," Scott Brown, Texas Monthly's president, told Insider. Texas Monthly also has a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at Max (and an Austin native), told Insider Texas Monthly has an "uncanny ability" to identify not only gripping true crime but also cultural stories with unforgettable characters.

Persons: Richard Linklater, Oscar, we've, Scott Brown, Brown, Taylor Sheridan, Deborah Esquenazi, Sarah Aubrey, It's, Elizabeth Olsen, Max's, Jake Giles Netter, HBO Max, —, greenlit, James Reyos Organizations: Texas, Netflix, Hollywood, Warner Bros, HBO, HBO Max Texas, Entertainment, CAA Locations: Venice, Toronto, Houston, Scott Brown , Texas, Texas, Austin, Hollywood

Search resuls for: "Lucia Moses"

25 mentions found