☀️DISNEY Layoffs Day 1 target TV Studios biz, as Shellshock CNBC contract dispute enters fray

FIOS’s 👎 news for cord cutting / SPOTIFY’s huge Q1 cant solve Profit problem / NETFLIX writes big South Korean check

Apr 25, 2023

Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY April 25, 2023.

Where I’m pretty sure I still have a job in Media today 🤷‍♂️… although given the past 36 hours, if nothing happens when I hit send on this I guess I’ll take the hint.

SO: Tucker Carlson’s out at FOX NEWS CHANNEL. He was 2 years into his latest deal at FOX NEWS, and was drawing about 3.5 Million viewers a night – going back and forth with The Five for FNC’s most popular show.

Tucker was making about $20 Million a year according to the WSJ, and will very likely be paid out for… whatever is remaining.

PLUS – A follow up on Shellshock: CNN notes that the claim filed was for “sexual harassment and sex discrimination,” and it reportedly came after a contract dispute between CNBC Correspondent Hadley Gamble and the company.

The NY Times cited 3 anonymous sources saying Gamble’s contract expires this year and was not being renewed.
Neither Hadley’s lawyer or COMCAST would confirm if she’s presently employed by the company when asked for comment by CNN’s Reliable Sources.

AND YES: Don Lemon’s out at CNN, choosing to Tweet about no one from management reaching out to tell him (saying his agent did first)… instead of going to a meeting with management that he was invited to according to CNN. Decide for yourselves if he’ll be missed. No word on his morning show or Page Six replacement.

OH: The OSCARS will be Sun March 10 next year. And that’s the last I’d like to hear about such a topic for at least 4+ months.

IN TODAY’S EDITION:

Roundup of DISNEY layoffs Day 1 (lotta TV division consolidation – less “undifferentiated” content = fewer execs).
APPLE cuts another scripted series, as NETFLIX gets DeNiro some talented co-stars for his first TV show.
SPOTIFY has 2nd biggest quarter ever for user growth… and still can’t make money. #medianerd🤓 returns to break down the latest as Q1 Earnings Week kicks off.
NETFLIX commits to big spend in SOUTH KOREA.
VERIZON FIOS does not have good news for the Cable TV bundle as the first to report Q1 numbers.

A REST IN PEACE: Goes out to Harry Belafonte who died this morning at 96-years-old.