Ed note: We’re expanding our podcast offerings! As of today, the regular Ankler podcast will exclusively feature our own team and industry insiders breaking down Hollywood’s latest business headlines. The Ankler Hot Seat is continuing as a pure interview show with the town’s most influential leaders, dealmakers and talent. We’ll be back with more details soon! -J.M. and R.R.
In the 109 days since the CAA-ICM merger — the largest talent agency pairing since Endeavor and William Morris in 2009 — 425 ICM employees have made the leap over. The only issue: the most senior are on one-year deals for less salary. As CAA weighs going public, potential cuts to the agency’s bottom line likely loom. “Wall Street [will] be looking at their books,” says Peter Kiefer, whose recent piece covered the merger’s first 100 days. “As you get closer, you’re going to… trim costs. There is pervasive concern among agents… that not all of them will be there in a year.” Hosts Sean McNulty, Richard Rushfield and Tatiana Siegel also talk Warner Bros. layoffs (16:47), the future of its film studio (23:02), Netflix’s upcoming ad-tier (30:24), and the “difficult legacy” of Deadline founder Nikki Finke (36:36).
