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He will replace Bob Chapek, who took over as Disney CEO in February 2020 just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leading to park closures and restrictions on visitors globally. Disney disappointed investors this month with an earnings report that showed mounting losses at its streaming media unit that includes Disney+. [1/2] Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger arrives at the world premiere for the film 'The King's Man' at Leicester Square in London, Britain December 6, 2021. IGER'S RETURNSIger exited Disney on a high note as the company led the battle against Netflix in the streaming wars. During his tenure, Disney made several key acquisitions, including Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment and 21st Century Fox, and boosted its market capitalization five-fold.

[1/2] Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger arrives at the world premiere for the film 'The King's Man' at Leicester Square in London, Britain December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKayLOS ANGELES, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Former Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) Chief Executive Bob Iger is returning to the media company as CEO less than a year after he retired, a surprise appointment that comes as the entertainment company struggles to turn its streaming TV services into a profitable business. Iger, who retired last year after 15 years as chief executive, has agreed to serve as CEO for two more years, Disney said in a statement late on Sunday. He will replace Bob Chapek, who took over as Disney CEO in February 2020. Iger exited Disney on a high note as the company led the entertainment industry's battle against Netflix (NFLX.O) in the streaming wars.

☆ Actor Michael J. Fox accepts honorary Oscar for Parkinson's advocacy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Actor Michael J. Fox accepts the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 13th Governors Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 19, 2022. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Actor Michael J. He later curtailed his acting career and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to help fund the search for a cure in 2000.

[1/3] Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet for the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) at the PSD Bank Dome in Duesseldorf, Germany, November 13, 2022. The company said it is working to shore up its technology "for the new bar that has been set by demand for the Taylor Swift's Eras Tour". Chaos around the Swift tour prompted calls for the U.S. government to break up the company. For those who did not get tickets to the Eras tour, Swift said her hope was to provide "more opportunities for us to all get together and sing these songs." She has promised hits from albums spanning her career on the Eras tour.

☆ U.S. senator questions Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift sales complaints
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Ticketmaster faced new questions from a Democratic U.S. senator over its sales practices on Thursday, two days after Taylor Swift fans complained about website outages and long waits to buy tickets to her upcoming U.S. tour. In the letter to Ticketmaster parent Live Nation Entertainment Inc (LYV.N), Senator Amy Klobuchar voiced "serious concern about the state of competition in the ticketing industry and its harmful impact on consumers." On Tuesday, Swift fans swarmed the Ticketmaster website and encountered long wait times, with many unable to buy tickets. Ticketmaster said the tour generated unprecedented demand and it worked quickly to fix problems. Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in a 2010 deal approved by the Justice Department.

☆ Taylor Swift resale ticket prices soar past $28,000 amid fan frenzy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Presales began on Tuesday and brought millions of people to the Ticketmaster website, causing periodic outages and long online wait times. "The Eras Tour" is Swift's first since 2018, and it is not unusual for websites to encounter problems for hot shows or products such as collectible sneakers or video game consoles. A new round of Swift ticket presales, for Capital One credit card holders, proceeded on Wednesday with fewer complaints on social media. Some fans said wait times stretched past three hours in online queues, and many left empty-handed when ticket allotments sold out. She has promised hits from albums spanning her career on the "Eras" tour.

He is now on trial in Los Angeles Superior Court and had been facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault. Werksman also asked Siebel Newsom to explain "dozens" of emails she sent to Weinstein in the years following her encounter. In one of the emails, Siebel Newsom thanked Weinstein for inviting her and her husband to a pre-Oscars party. Siebel Newsom responded that she was afraid of Weinstein and felt a need to be nice to him. He was extradited from New York to a Los Angeles prison in July 2021.

☆ 'Unprecedented' demand for Taylor Swift tour crashes Ticketmaster website
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Later, Ticketmaster tweeted that there had been "historically unprecedented demand" for Swift's "The Eras Tour," her first since 2018, from millions of people. "The one time my daughter really needed me to come through for her, I ended up on the outside looking in, banished to the barren badlands of the Taylor Swift ticket waiting list wasteland," he said. He added that the 2010 merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which had Justice Department approval, should not have been allowed. Hundreds of thousands of people did grab tickets to the U.S. stadium tour, Ticketmaster said. Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Danielle Broadway in Los Angeles and Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

When she arrived, Weinstein had no interest in discussing her projects, Siebel Newsom said. Siebel Newsom said Weinstein got her onto a bed, though she cannot recall if he carried or dragged her there. Siebel Newsom's attorney confirmed in October that Siebel Newsom would testify in the case. At the time of the meeting with Siebel Newsom, she had not met her future husband, current California Gov. In cross-examination, Weinstein attorney Mark Werksman questioned Siebel Newsom about why her husband had accepted campaign donations from the producer.

☆ Beyonce leads Grammy nominees, ahead of Kendrick Lamar and Adele
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] 50th NAACP Image Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 30, 2019 - Beyonce reacts after winning the entertainer of the year award. That brought her career total to 88, tying her with husband Jay-Z as the most nominated artist in Grammy history. Her album "Renaissance" will compete for album of the year with Adele's "30," "Harry's House" from Harry Styles, "Special" from Lizzo, and others. The nominations set up a rematch between Beyonce and Adele, who won album of the year in 2017. The Grammys will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 5.

☆ 'Black Panther' sequel debuts with $330 million at global theaters
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LOS ANGELES, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Marvel Studios adventure "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" sold $330 million in tickets worldwide over its opening weekend and set a box office record for November in the United States and Canada, according to estimates from distributor Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) on Sunday. The sequel to 2018 Oscar-nominated blockbuster "Black Panther" racked up roughly $180 million at domestic theaters Thursday night through Sunday, the highest total ever for a film opening in November. The previous November record-holder, 2013 film "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," opened with $158.1 million domestically. The movie was the top-grossing Hollywood release in all markets, Disney said. Boseman had played King T'Challa, the beloved leader of the fictional Wakanda, in the original "Black Panther" movie.

☆ Paul Allen's art collection hauls in record $1.5 bln at auction
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The total represented the highest amount ever collected at a single art auction, according to the auction house, Christie's in New York. Among the priciest works sold was Pointillist pioneer Georges Seurat's Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version), an 1888 oil on canvas depicting three nude women. Cezanne's "La Montagne Sainte-Victoire", a colorful landscape painted from 1888-1890, sold for $137.8 million, another record. And a Gustav Klimt 1903 painting, "Birch Forest," set the high mark for a Klimt work, selling for $104.6 million. Additional pieces from Allen's collection will be offered at auction on Thursday.

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) said on Tuesday its marquee streaming service, Disney+, gained more subscribers than Wall Street had expected, but investment costs dragged quarterly earnings below analysts' targets. Disney is spending billions to build its streaming options and compete with Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and others. Disney+ reported 164.2 million subscribers in the fiscal fourth quarter, surpassing Factset estimates of 161 million. Disney has amassed 235 million subscriptions across Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ streaming services, a gain of 14.6 million from the previous quarter. For the fiscal year, Disney reported per-share earnings of $3.53, excluding certain items, on revenues of $82.7 billion.

☆ Women lead Wakanda through turmoil in 'Black Panther' sequel
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LOS ANGELES, Nov 7 (Reuters) - At the start of the follow-up to 2018's groundbreaking Marvel movie "Black Panther," the kingdom of Wakanda is reeling. The beloved King T'Challa dies at the opening of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," a script change made after actor Chadwick Boseman passed away from cancer in 2020 just before the sequel was due to start filming. "T'Challa surrounded himself with powerful women," actor Letitia Wright said in an interview ahead of the movie's global rollout that starts on Wednesday. "We see these women in this film step into another level of leadership, together." "Black Panther" broke ground as the first superhero movie with a predominantly Black cast.

☆ Disney to test early merchandise access for U.S. Disney+ customers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company described the offering as a limited test of an additional benefit for streaming customers looking to grab coveted products created for the holiday shopping season. Disney, Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and other companies are working to attract streaming customers amid growing competition for online viewers. Viewers can reach the page via QR codes under "Shop this Story" on the Disney+ page for a specific series or movie. A shop tab will appear on Disney+ primary profiles for U.S. subscribers 18 and older, the company said. U.S. Disney+ customers also will have the option to buy exclusive "Frozen 2" and "Lightyear" products.

☆ Rock n' Roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis has died at age 87
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Jerry Lee Lewis, a pioneer of rock n' roll with hits such as "Great Balls of Fire," has died at age 87, his publicist said on Friday. Lewis passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, with his wife, Judith, by his side, a statement from his publicist said. Reporting by Lisa Richwine; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rock 'n' roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, known as 'The Killer,' dies
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Bill Trott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Like Chuck Berry's guitar, Lewis' piano was essential in shaping rock 'n' roll in the mid-1950s. "Jerry Lee thinks that Jerry Lee is too wicked to be saved." His young son Steve Allen Lewis drowned in 1962 and another son, Jerry Lee Jr., died in a 1973 car accident at 19. In his later years he settled down but biographer Rick Bragg recalled interviewing Lewis for his 2014 book "Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Words." "I don't think Jerry Lee Lewis had to exaggerate his life one bit to make it interesting," Bragg told the Atlanta Constitution Journal.

☆ Adidas ends Ye deal over hate speech, costing rapper his billionaire status
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Uday Sampath Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Adidas put the tie-up, which has produced several hot-selling Yeezy branded sneakers, under review this month. "Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," the German company said on Tuesday. Forbes magazine said the end of the deal meant Ye's net worth shrank to $400 million. The magazine had valued his share of the Adidas partnership at $1.5 billion. On Tuesday, Gap, which had ended its partnership with Ye in September, said it was taking immediate steps to remove Yeezy Gap products from its stores and that it had shut down YeezyGap.com.

☆ Disney CEO, asked if company is 'too woke,' says it will cater to audience
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) Chief Executive Bob Chapek, asked to address criticism the company had become "too woke," said on Wednesday that its programming will cater to the audience and reflect the "rich, diverse" world of viewers. "The world is a rich, diverse place, and we want our content to reflect that," Chapek said at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference. Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LOS ANGELES, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Opening arguments are set for Monday in the Los Angeles rape trial of Harvey Weinstein, the once-powerful Hollywood producer who became the face of #MeToo allegations five years ago. In Los Angeles, he is facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving five women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker, actor and wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, is one of Weinstein's accusers in the California case. Now in declining health, he was seated in a wheelchair during jury selection in Los Angeles Superior Court. He could face up to 140 years in prison if convicted on all 11 of the charges in Los Angeles.

☆ Jailed Harvey Weinstein faces rape trial in Los Angeles
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Harvey Weinstein, currently serving a 23-year sentence for sex crimes in New York, is back on trial on criminal charges in Los Angeles, the city where he once held sway as one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood. Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving five women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013. Weinstein was extradicted from New York to a Los Angeles prison in July 2021. Now in declining health, he has been seated in a wheelchair during jury selection in Los Angeles Superior Court. He could face up to 140 years in prison if convicted on all 11 of the charges in Los Angeles.

Now, Netflix is gunning for the last reel of the pay TV business: its estimated $153 billion pool of global advertising revenue. The company and some analysts see its new, cheaper ad-supported service, detailed in a rosy quarterly report on Tuesday, as a way to lift revenue as customers trim spending amid economic gloom. As TV's audience shrinks, it becomes less attractive for advertisers - and a plum target for Netflix to disrupt. Netflix plans to launch an ad-supported version of its service in the United States and 11 other countries in November. Some Wall Street analysts said the ad-supported version of the Netflix service might entice some price-sensitive existing subscribers to switch to the less-expensive option.

From July through September, Netflix attracted 2.4 million new subscribers worldwide, more than double the 1.07 million consensus forecast of analysts polled by Refinitiv. Netflix now has a total of 223.1 million subscribers around the world. For the third quarter, Netflix topped Wall Street projections with revenue of $7.9 billion, up 6% from a year earlier. The company's forecast of 4.5 million customer pickups by the end of 2022 came in slightly ahead of Wall Street estimates, which had averaged 4.2 million. For the fourth quarter, Netflix is projecting revenue of $7.8 billion -- a sequential decline it blamed on the strong value of the U.S. dollar.

The $6.99 cost for the "Basic with Ads" plan is $3 less than Netflix's lowest-priced tier without commercials. Subscribers to the plan will see roughly four to five minutes of advertising per hour, Netflix said. A "limited number" of movies and TV shows will not be available on the ad-supported plan because of licensing restrictions, "which we're working on," it added. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterNetflix executives had adamantly opposed adding commercials to their service for years. Other streaming services including Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max have cheaper, ad-supported options or will offer them soon.

☆ Factbox: Key nominees for the 2022 American Music Awards
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Nominations were announced on Thursday for the 2022 American Music Awards. Fan votes will determine the winners, and the awards will be presented at a televised ceremony in Los Angeles on Nov. 20. Following is a list of key nominations:ARTIST OF THE YEARAdeleRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBad BunnyBeyonceDrakeHarry StylesTaylor SwiftThe WeekndNEW ARTIST OF THE YEARDove CameronGAYLELattoManeskinSteve LacyCOLLABORATION OF THE YEARCarolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast -- "We Don’tTalk About Bruno"Elton John & Dua Lipa -- "Cold Heart"Future featuring Drake & Tems -- "Wait for U"Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow -- "Industry Baby"The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber -- "Stay"FAVORITE TOURING ARTISTBad BunnyColdplayEd SheeranElton JohnThe Rolling StonesFAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOAdele -- "Easy On Me”Bad Bunny featuring Chencho Corleone -- "Me Porto Bonito"Harry Styles -- "As It Was"Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow -- "INDUSTRY BABY"Taylor Swift -- "All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)"FAVORITE MALE POP ARTISTBad BunnyDrakeEd SheeranHarry StylesThe WeekndFAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTISTAdeleBeyonceDoja CatLizzoTaylor SwiftFAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUPBTSColdplayImagine DragonsManeskinOneRepublicFAVORITE POP SONGAdele -- "Easy On Me"Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast -- "We Don’tTalk About Bruno"Harry Styles -- "As It Was"Lizzo -- "About Damn Time"The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber -- "STAY"FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTISTChris StapletonCody JohnsonLuke CombsMorgan WallenWalker HayesFAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTISTCarrie UnderwoodLainey WilsonMaren MorrisMiranda LambertTaylor SwiftFAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUPDan + ShayLady AOld DominionParmaleeZac Brown BandFAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTISTDrakeFutureKendrick LamarLil BabyLil DurkFAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTISTCardi BGloRillaLattoMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajFAVORITE ROCK ARTISTImagine DragonsMachine Gun KellyManeskinRed Hot Chili PeppersThe LumineersFAVORITE K-POP ARTISTBLACKPINKBTSSeventeenTomorrow X TogetherTwiceRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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