☀️Cablegeddon: COMCAST Pulls Cord, Langley Ascends, What's Next
Chernin backs AI movie & TV co / Jolie books next gig / Football's huge weekend
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, November 20, 2024.
Where finally we can score one for humanity! As much as robots are replacing human jobs in warehouses and loading docks . . . it sounds like no matter how hard the R&D team tries — it still can’t get robots to find a specific thing in a container, so step aside Wall-E and let, uh, Wally handle that for ya. 👨🦰
Sorry robots, it’s just not as easy as we make it look — I mean, hey, this isn’t screenwriting 😂, but keep tryin’, bud!
THEN: NEWS CORP book publisher HARPER COLLINS cut a deal with MICROSOFT to use non-fiction books to train its AI (note — this is not for CHATGPT but rather a separate, yet unreleased product from MICROSOFT).
The Atlantic also reports that many AI bots are totally being trained on the dialogue from TV shows and movies.
PLUS: Denzel said in a new Esquire interview that he’s agreed to do Equalizer 4 and 5 at SONY, “for the people.” People no doubt including his business manager.
AND: On behalf of Elaine, a heartfelt farewell for Rafa Nadal from the tennis stage, as Spain was eliminated from Davis Cup competition yesterday. One of the all-time greats will now move on to his next chapter.
AND: The U.S. county that had the most incoming residents in 2023? Polk County in Central Florida between Tampa and Orlando, as WFH culture still keeps folks seeking more space (and more affordable space) far outside of major cities, with strong Wi-Fi of course, or are trading more space and quiet for immediate proximity to work.
While remote & hybrid work opportunities have certainly decreased from the pandemic peak — they’re still largely above pre-pandemic times according to this new chart from Axios analyzing INDEED job postings.
ALSO: APPLE Podcasts released a bunch of Top 10 lists for 2024, including overall most popular shows:
The Daily
Crime Junkie
The Joe Rogan Experience
Dateline NBC
SmartLess
Huberman Lab
This American Life
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Up First from NPR
Morbid
Joe Rogan’s Trump episode was his most popular, Vince Vaughn was the most popular SmartLess episode, and Tucker Carlson had the most popular new show this year. More info in the link on most shared shows and episodes, top podcast networks and more (again, this is just on APPLE Podcasts).
IN THIS EDITION
Yes . . . COMCAST, the country’s largest cable company is pulling the rip cord on the cable TV network business. Not a great vote of confidence here. Who had Q4 2024 on the bingo card? So:
What’s potentially ahead for other Hollywood studios
Just how big is this new SpinCo compared to other players at large in the entertainment space
What does this mean for COMCAST-NBCU revenues
Shifts in the NBCU executive firmament, as Donna Langley’s ascencion continues
Elsewhere, Peter Chernin is backing a notable new company in the AI production space.
MLB maps out some thinking for next national TV deals.
NFL and college ☀️ have another massive weekend — take a look at the numbers.
The latest NETFLIX Film chart breakdown, from Emilia Perez to the latest #MillennialChristmas updates, an unexpected Will Smith appearance, and much more.
COMCAST spinning off cable TV networks, Langley Gets Full NBCU Reign
