Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on THURSDAY Nov. 16, 2023.

Where I hope you all got your farewell gifts to the boss yesterday before he left for his Chairman Emeritus role – I’m told Rupert doesn’t give out the address to ship things to his MONTANA estate (anyone want a “Still ‘Da Boss” bathrobe – you know where to reach me. Very plush!).

ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel is returning to host the OSCARS for the fourth time. Good call 👏.

OH: INSTA has added 25 new filters for your posting pleasure.

PLUS: The MLB is likely going to shave 2 seconds off its pitch clock to 18 seconds when runners are on base next season, in a bid to get games coming in at 2hrs 30min on average 📺.

AND: 32% of 18-29 year-olds in the U.S. regularly get their news from TIKTOK according to a new poll of about 9,000 folks.

• A platform whose parent company counts the Communist CHINA government as a ‘small investor’… including having one of three board seats at the parent company 👀. Eh, I’m sure it’s fine. (Remember – CHINA bans all U.S. social media platforms).

• OH: The latest trending news item on TIKTOK? A 2002 letter from Bin Laden justifying the 9/11 attack, and thusly talking a lot about Jews, taken from a story in The Guardian, who deleted it yesterday… chiefly as it was being shared without any context that was put around it back in 2002.

• Said parent co. BYTE DANCE had a +40% bump in Q2 revenue to $29 Billion according to The Information.

  • META took in $32 Billion in Q2.

IN TODAY’S EDITION:

• The Q3 cord cutting picture… has a little good news (its not Q1 or Q2!), but not much – a look at the trends.

• DISNEY gets a new PE firm buying up its shares – a look at what’s afoot, plus DIS set a new streaming view record in INDIA.

• A busy day in deals, casting and cancellations – just like old times! And much more.

THE WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLLS

It’s nice to have a big, packed weekend again at the marquee! Let’s go 3 polls in celebration (Next Goal Wins also hits theaters, but is tracking below these pics).

The new Hunger Games pic is tracking at about $50 Million… but there could be a range of $45 Mil to $60 Mil (you know how tracking the young people is), so let’s throw a few options.

Trolls Band Together is tracking around $30 Mil:

Thanksgiving is around $12 Mil to $14 Mil:

📺 THE TV SET