☀️NETFLIX takes CBS / PAR slot at TV Upfronts in May
WWE retains firm with Ari history to explore sale / HBOMAX now $16, WBD looks to sell off Music / MINX lands at STARZ
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect here on LINKED IN if ya like) and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY January 13, 2023.
Where technically there are 3 movies opening wide today from major Studios, here on a 3-day Holiday weekend.
One of them is SONY’s “A Man Called Otto” (3800 screens), which I would be shocked if you haven’t seen advertising for, and which fwiw already had a promising platform release start for the past 2 weekends.
POP QUIZ: What are the other 2?
Sorry Burt, we were looking for: WB’s “House Party” and LGF’s “Plane” - anyone seen a lotta promo here, especially for “Plane” which opens on 3000 screens and actually has a 73% Fresh 🍅 Critics score? But hey maybe it’s just my bubble… even if I am the target demo on “Plane” (which I thought had a pretty great trailer with kinda action-throwback genre vibes).
ALSO: Ezra Miller accepted a deal for a suspended sentence of 90 days, and a fine of about $700 for what’s now a Trespassing charge from stealing liquor from a home in VT.
PLUS: Here are your PGA AWARDS nominations.
REST IN PEACE to Lisa Marie Presley, who died at 54 years-old yesterday.
AND: Tim Cook took home $99.8 Million for a year’s work in FY22. Don’t worry - most of it was in stock, just as I’m sure the factory workers who put your iPhone together are paid as well.
Somehow he’s gonna have to figure out how to get by with $49 Million in FY23 though, as the APPLE internal compensation committee gave it a chop in response to “shareholder feedback” that likely embodied an emoji close to this 👆, questioning his $98.7 Million FY21 paycheck.
KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON: The power at UTA’s Beverly Hills headquarters is out due to the intense rain storms, causing the office to close.
STOCK TIPS:
BUZZFEED stock in 2023: +40%
WBD stock in 2023: +28%
Wakeup BOX OFFICE Poll: How ya feelin about Otto?
AND: Thanks to the folks at CNBC for having me on yesterday to discuss the latest DISNEY “Activist Investor” situation that developed this week.
📽 THE SILVER SCREEN
IN THE HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE SUITE
IMAGINE hires Allan Mandelbaum as SVP of Features, reporting into Karen Lunder, Prez of Features. /Variety
TOPIC STUDIOS promoted Ryan Heller to EVP of Film & Docu. /Deadline
CAA promotes 8 from the training program to Agent:
Pili Allen & Tara Anderson (TV Lit)
Lucas Ryan (TV Talent)
Nicole Brookman, Drache Martelli, and Michael Taber (MP Talent)
Ben Gelfand (Games)
Erica Jonathan Rodrigues (Strategic Development)
📺 THE TV SET
LIONSGATE TV-produced “Minx” ends up at LIONSGATE-owned STARZ
Both seasons of the former HBOMAX series will hit STARZ later this year (Season 2 of course being brand new). No price or terms disclosed. /Variety
AHEAD IN TODAY’S EDITION:
WWE enlists firm with deep Ari Emanuel history to advise / guide its sale process
LIONSGATE saves its own canceled HBOMAX show as expected
AMAZON is a believer in the EPIX / soon to be MGM+ business
APPLE TV signals greater Ad biz ambitions
DAZN still not making money 6 years in, the weekend preview of everything new to stream and watch, and more.
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