☀️UNI Maps Out Huge LEGO Movie Future
SONY sues PAR over TV $$ / AMAZON's huge spec buy / UTA departures emerge
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect here on LINKED-IN if ya like or email me seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com) and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY November 1, 2024.
Where who knew “Hold onto the 🏈ball 'til you’re in the end zone” was a note you’d have to give NFL players getting multi-million 💰 paydays.
Think it may be time to start putting “dipshit fine” clauses into NFL contracts. Thankfully the JETS still pulled off the win.
But hey, at least the GIANTS don’t have this problem. I mean, mainly because we rarely get that close to the end zone — but I’ll take what I can get.
AND: In a number that’ll make FOX execs tear up 😢 from joy and sadness, World Series game 5 got 18.6M viewers — the highest in the series by far. #joy
But as it’s the last game . . . in a series whose viewership very likely would have only gone up from there, and thus also depriving FOX of 2 more games worth of revenue 💰 and huge audiences. #sadness
World Series average was 15.8M viewers for FOX — the biggest series since 2017, and the 4th biggest since 2010. The other 3 all went 7 games.
2023’s average was 9.1M. #TeamsMatter (that was the lowest ever).
Both 2022 and 2021 had 11.7M.
NBA Finals average the past 3 years on ABC: 11.3M, 11.6M and 12.4M
Basically — I think the NBA would love for the KNICKS to do really well this year.
OH: Just a follow up on the Grammys item yesterday for any Oscars TV deal watchers out there, which is up after the 2028 show, in terms of how much the Academy could expect — ABC/DISNEY kinda just priced this market for us in this new Grammys deal.
Grammys: $50M a year avg starting in 2027:
2024 audience: 16.9M
2023 audience: 12.6M
Oscars: $110M a year currently:
2024 audience: 19.5M
2023 audience: 18.8M
We’ll see what 2025’s respective editions do . . . but do you think the next bidder in 2028 is gonna come in anywhere near $110M? 😕
WELL: Carol Lombardini will not negotiate the next guild deals for the AMPTP — she’ll be stepping down from her AMPTP Prez role next year, although staying on as an advisor.
IN VEGAS NEWS: NETFLIX has set up a year-long NETFLIX Bites food experience at the MGM GRAND in Vegas, with plans to open early next year.
NBCU also announced that The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre will be 2 of the properties getting their own dedicated haunted house experiences at the forthcoming UNIVERSAL HORROR UNLEASHED in the Las Vegas area.
AND: Broadcasting legend Bob Costas has called his last MLB game — he will not pursue any new play-by-play work now that his TURNER contract is over. I’d still love to see him involved somehow when NBA on NBC returns next year though.
YEAH: CHATGPT introduced a “search” feature. Oh, hey GOOGLE. 👋
THEN: TNT & MAX are finally taking their golf franchise The Match up a notch — no more late afternoon weekday TV event (🤷♂️) with golf-centric talent. It’s now adding some Hollywood to the mix to create a new iteration which could be described as Rock & Jock in Gen X speak.
Thu & Fri Nov. 21-22 in primetime with match play between:
Bill Murray & Wayne Gretzky vs. Charles Barkley & Ken Griffey Jr.
Mark Wahlberg & Michael Phelps vs. Nate Bargatze & Blake Griffin
Winner gets $1M prize, but hopefully Nate can afford the price cut.
ALSO: DRAFTKINGS is bringing Desus Mero back to the content world, with a new podcast called Bet!, produced by HARTBEAT.
WAKEUP POLL RESULTS
Sorry, Forrest and Jenny. I may have to join the bears on this one.
NEW ANKLER PODCAST EPISODE
Doing some real talk on the FAST business 💰 in the context of ROKU’s latest report this week, as well as what’s in the air at NBCU in regards to the future of its TV business.
Plus what’s ahead for Election night on TV, and Hollywood dealmaking well beyond Nov. 5, depending on the results.
Listen here on APPLE, or just search “The Ankler” wherever you listen to podcasts.
IN THIS EDITION
Busy day — not only the stuff in the email headlines, but CHARTER gives the latest #cordcutting update which . . . yeah, still not great, and also shares what to expect ahead with all of those free SVOD services.
SIRIUSXM also showed significant headwinds and it’s own AMAZON advertising effects, lo and behold.
A few more details emerged in the NBCU and AMAZON NBA rights deals as they were unsealed in court proceedings — take a look at some intriguing #Funfacts.
Plus just a busy day in good ol Hollywood TV and film dealmaking . . . so lets just get to it.
FINALLY: Just a Halloween note that I had no idea about — kids in Des Moines, IA have to tell a joke to folks to get candy during their trick or treating. They also usually do it on Oct. 30 (it was on actually Halloween this year due to severe weather). #TheMoreYouKnow🌈
AND: A little bonus Halloween content with Olivia Rodrigo on JKL! surprising kids while giving out candy.
🎥 THE SILVER SCREEN
