☀️DISNEY Shakeout Day 2; LIONSGATE sets Library Record as STARZ Stumbles in Q4
☀️DISNEY Shakeout Day 2; LIONSGATE sets Library Record as STARZ Stumbles in Q4
AMAZON gets FCC nod for Satellite Broadband / David O. Russell sets next pic / NEWS CORP axing over 1k
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect here on LINKED IN if ya like) and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY February 10, 2023.
Where MICROSOFT is shutting down their Metaverse division after just 4 months, unfortunately laying off 100 people.
While talk of the Metaverse has been impossible to avoid for the past 2 years - with one company in particular betting their future on it - it’s kinda refreshing that AI / Chatbots kinda came out of nowhere to clearly take the title as the next major disruption / evolution in the Tech world no? Err… unless you’re deep on GOOG stock.
AND: HOLLYWOOD disruption too - the CORNELL Tech & Law professor who did the #goodread Ankler guest piece this week about what ChatGPT means for the creative industries will be joining us on The Ankler Podcast today, so keep an eye out for that this afternoon.
OH: Nelson Peltz went on CNBC and took the suspense out of the Disney annual mtg in April by withdrawing… well, everything - agreeing that Iger pretty much took care of his list of grievances yesterday. #likeaboss
PLUS: Iger also went on CNBC yesterday and was asked about HULU - and said he is “open minded” about selling it. He also reinforced his mandate of reducing “General Entertainment” spending that I outlined in yesterday’s Wakeup
He also said it’s his “preference” to just do his 2 years and leave. And to be paid in small bills in a duffelbag to be left at a locker of his choosing at the Port Authority 🤷♂️.
DISNEY also laid out more exec restructuring in the Entertainment group under new heads Dana Walden & Alan Bergman, details below in the HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE section.
THEN: I went on CNBC in the afternoon because Iger and I come as a booking duo #funfact. One of us is 72 years-old today 🥳, and the other one looks older than he does. Thanks as always to Tyler Matheson & Kelly Evans and the folks at CNBC for the invitation.
AND A CORRECTION 👷♂️: DIS+’s Q4 sub growth in the US was +200k, not 0 (now at 46.6 Million). My apologies to DISNEY. The service was still -2.4 Million subs overall in Q4 globally.
OK Friday Wakeup Box Office club:
Tracking has a tight one… WB is kinda doing another House Party with fellow former HBOMAX pic Magic Mike’s Last Dance by putting it on just 1500 screens, albeit with a seemingly more sizeable marketing campaign, and is doing the “Glass Onion”/selectively picking the best 1500 screens they can find (having 2 comp films certainly helps).
And - Titanic is back! On 2400 screens including some IMAX and other PLF in the mix. Both were tracking somewhat near $10 Million mid-week.
AND: Let’s see how the Entertainment business will be leaning on Sunday:
IN TODAY’S EDITION:
LIONSGATE Studio has a great quarter going into the final 6 week stretch before they announce the sale / split from STARZ, who… well. Is about to lose a lot of subscribers on paper, in additions to the money-making ones they lost in Q4. But they do have a new mystery bundling deal looming… a #MediaNerd🤓 breakdown of what’s afoot to round out the week.
AMAZON’s Satellite Broadband service plan gets approved by the FCC, timeline in tow. Yes, AMAZON is getting into the Broadband business too.
NEWS CORP hits a rough patch, as layoffs well over 1,000 loom.
YAHOO lays off 20% of their staff.
MSG updates their DtoC streaming plans for the KNICKS & RANGERS.
The weekend preview of all new things to Stream and Watch, and more.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
