☀️What if DISNEY Called Carr’s Bluff — a Look at the Ramifications
APPLE + Marty, A24 + Lorne / More LIONSGATE layoffs / NFLX’s ‘Frankenstein’ gets some IMAX
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Where I’m pulling my Jersey card to start today, and going with the new renderings NETFLIX released for the West Campus section of its massive new studio lot, currently beginning construction in Central Jersey (yeah, that’s right — I said Central Jersey).
Considering the number of times I’ve driven by this current eyesore of a lot, which currently looks like a run-down, abandoned military base (because that’s what it is), this is going to be a whole new era for Monmouth County, NJ.
Looking sharp, NETFLIX! See you at the commissary in . . . 2028?
THEN: The FTC and 7 states are suing LIVE NATION and TICKETMASTER over claims of coordinating with ticket scalpers on circumventing ticket purchase limits.
PLUS: Madonna is rejoining WARNER MUSIC to put out a new dance album next year.
AND: NEXSTAR said it made the decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live all on its own, without talking to the FCC or any other government agency, or asking its parents first.
NEXSTAR, of course, didn’t make that decision the day after the comments in question actually aired . . . but rather only after the FCC Commish brought the remarks up on a right-wing podcast 2 days later.
Again, NEXSTAR has a deal pending to buy the TEGNA station group, which will need the FCC’s approval, including the FCC changing current government regulations around TV station ownership to do so.
WELL: No T-Swift on SNL the weekend of her new album drop . . . but awesome to see Bad Bunny back.
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL
I’ll go with the 49% here . . . but I’m really feeling UNIVERSAL’s Him is more $15M than $20M. See ya Sunday.
NEW TDS
THANKS!
To the folks at the Atlantic Festival for the invite to come check out the first day (it goes through tomorrow), including a talk with some guy named Letterman. Instead of my own photo, we’re much better off going with this video clip, which really says it all. The whole session video is here.
AND: Nice to see the other Boss in town yesterday (sorry, Janice, Bruce comes first) with Ankler CEO Janice Min speaking at the Axios Media Trends conference, and announcing a new Ankler partnership and newsletter with LETTERBOXD.
What if the bluff is called? Try and take the licenses, Brendan!
Inspired by Rushfield’s notion yesterday of saying the thing out loud that no one is saying — i.e., hey, let’s actually call Brendan Carr’s bluff! — I decided to break down what that would look like more specifically for DISNEY.
Yes, SINCLAIR and NEXSTAR are ABC’s 2 biggest affiliate station groups by the number of TV stations . . . but just what is their actual, ya know, reach — where are these sacred stations? Gonna say even I was surprised at the results.
There are also 2 sides of the coin for DISNEY.
Yes, the pending business transaction side which I laid out yesterday and is a real issue. Make no mistake — this is a transactional government we are living under. Although, I’d also say these 2 deals are arguably not make-or-break for DISNEY’s future by any means.
But in regards to the other side of the coin here — the 💰 loss from an affiliate-dropped Jimmy Kimmel Live show — it’s essential to take a look at DISNEY’s revenue picture to get a gist of the 💰 at stake.
Remember just how big DISNEY is, and take a look at how the “oh my god, the JKL advertisers are leaving!” 😱 would affect the company’s bottom line directly in 2025.
Although there are other potential ramifications, which I’ll look at as well.
Basically — could Carr very well be overplaying his cards here with his governmental threats to revoke the broadcast licenses of good ol’ linear TV ABC stations, and his gauging of how the general American public would react to such programming removal due to Trump regime threats?
Over 12M folks watched the GEORGIA vs. TENNESSEE SEC college football game on ABC last Saturday — do you think the vast majority of those folks would be upset if their local TV affiliate was not showing the game because of an escalated standoff / business disagreement whereby the affiliate suspended its relationship with ABC over a comment on a late-night TV show that most of those football fans probably don’t even watch?
A game that, given that it’s 2025, they could also subscribe to ESPN D2C to watch? How’s that exodus gonna affect your local TV station’s value?
Let’s dive in to address all of the above, and start with some important context: