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WBD sets new streaming CMO / NETFLIX sets NBA series / NFL sets PE investment policy, with a twist

Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on WEDNESDAY, August 28, 2024.

Where the next time Elaine Low asks me (incredulously) why I don’t watch tennis, I think I’ll just keep this match handy as Exhibit A: a U.S. Open 🎾 match last night went . . . 5hr 30min.

This was definitely me next to Elaine for at least a brief moment at the U.S. Open last year. Via Giphy

AH: The Harris-Walz pairing is getting a jump start on the press — a CNN sitdown with the duo and Dana Bash will air tomorrow night. Dana moderated the Trump vs. Biden debate in June.

AND: The MTV VMA’s added LL Cool J, Shawn Mendes, Karol G and NFL Brazil game halftime performer that you won’t see on PEACOCK, Anitta, to the show on September 11.

ALSO: Sending a happy Venice Film Festival to those who made the trip, and a #LFG🙌 to the athletes at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony today in Paris.

PLUS: Not too sure we’ll be seeing a barrage of TEMU spots in the Super Bowl on FOX this year — shares in its parent company PDD are -29% this morning on a reduced sales outlook forecast. Weak consumer demand in its home market of China was blamed.

THEN: Always nice when, uh, drug companies look at Hollywood for business strategy — yes, PFIZER is now going D2C with some of its drug sales. Bad decade for the “middleman” business.

WELL: Guess we shoulda seen this one coming — police are now using AI to write up drafts of incident reports. Really hope a “hallucination” doesn’t put me at the scene of a crime.

EH: Some people say there’s too much money in college sports, but I just don’t see it. Hope the MICHIGAN football team finishes their bowling tournament before the season kickoff on Saturday night. 🫣 Or I guess they could just pick it up at halftime.

Eh, I’m sure all student athletes have access to the facilities. Via FOS/X

BUT: Fun to see the PGA start to embrace its burgeoning YT creator culture — it’s holding a “Creator Classic” at 4 p.m. today before the Tour Championship tees off tomorrow.

• It brings together 16 noted golf YT creators including one of the Dude Perfect guys, a couple of the Good Good dudes, Paige Spiranac and more for a 9-hole competition (I mean, remember the attention span of the YOUTUBE crowd).

Figure there’s gotta be at least one of these later today, right? Via Giphy

HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:

This will probably be it for me until Sunday night, barring Richard Rushfield making a surprise play for PARAMOUNT, or starting his own sports-centered streaming bundle. The guy’s back from vacation and has a lot of energy — something’s up. 😏

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📽 THE SILVER SCREEN

The man wants an Aronofsky pic, the man gets an Aronofsky pic. Via Giphy