by cynthia littleton July 30, 2019 | The weight of her new role as the leader of the industry’s largest studio behind the now combined Disney-Fox is not lost on Sarnoff. In her first extensive interview since being appointed to the post in late June, Sarnoff says she is focused on the big picture of harnessing all of WarnerMedia and AT&T’s...
By Dade Hayes July 29, 2019 | AMC Networks, whose streaming past was marked by Netflix deals that helped build cornerstone shows like Breaking Bad, has been charting its streaming future with four increasingly viable direct-to-consumer streaming services. None of the outlets is a mass-audience juggernaut, but that’s never been the plan. As a portfolio they have grown steadily and offer the company more options for...
by Ryan Faughnder July 26, 2019 | Walt Disney Co.'s photo-realistic version of “The Lion King” is expected to continue to dominate the multiplex this weekend after already collecting about $729 million in global receipts. But the technologically innovative film’s impact could go well beyond the box office. “The Lion King’s” unusual production techniques, including its use of video game technology and...
by Dade Hayes July 24, 2019 | AT&T has scheduled its big reveal of HBO Max details — presumably covering pricing, subscription features and product demos — for the afternoon of October 29 on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. CEO Randall Stephenson also said live sports and news will be elements in the streaming service. Turner Sports has carried NBA games as well as...
By Bijan Stephen July 23, 2019 | Have you heard about the best new streaming platform on the internet? It’s totally customizable, works on any device, and, best of all, is basically free. The only problem — and, I mean, come on, it’s barely a problem — is that it might be illegal, depending on how you use it. (In other words, depending on...
by Matt Donnelly July 20, 2019| In a triumphant return to the San Diego Comic-Con main stage, leadership at Marvel Studios managed some splashy surprises and showed off risky creative bets for the next two years of content coming from the superhero operation. But the biggest takeaway from the Saturday presentation inside Hall H was how important Marvel will make Disney Plus, the new digital streaming product and Netflix rival...
July 16, 2019 | Janice Marinelli, president of global sales and marketing at Walt Disney’s direct-to-consumer and international segment, said Tuesday that she would step down from her role after a 34-year career at the company. Read more on Variety. Related Articles: Disney’s Marinelli Upped to President, Global Content [Media Play News]...
By Erich Schwartzel JULY 10, 2019 | As Walt Disney Co., AT&T Inc.’s WarnerMedia and Apple Inc. prepare to enter the crowded streaming-entertainment market, they are racing to stand out with epics, resuling in streaming show costs as big as those for a major movie. These new services are hoping their planned television epics shows will capture the cultural conversation, like “Game...
By Brooks Barnes JULY 14, 2019 | LOS ANGELES — Dolly Parton recently held court there, big wig and all. Leonardo DiCaprio and John Kerry arrived at the same time last month. Cindy Crawford on the left, David Letterman on the right. And isn’t that Beyoncé by the espresso bar? Netflix’s 4,780-square-foot lobby is an icon of the Hollywood of today, with...
By Meg James July 9, 2019 | WarnerMedia is looking for a little help from its “Friends” to launch the company’s upcoming HBO Max streaming service. The AT&T-owned business said Tuesday its new service, which will launch next spring, would have exclusive rights to all 236 episodes of “Friends,” which was produced by Warner Bros. Television and has been one of...