Top News:
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison visited CBS News early Thursday, expressing admiration for the news division and acknowledging recent stresses — Control of Paramount, the legendary but troubled TV and movie maker, shifted to Silicon Valley scion David Ellison on Thursday …
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Erik Hayden / The Hollywood Reporter:
In a press conference, Paramount Skydance execs emphasize better tech, deflect questions on recent controversies, and put off layoff questions until November — “We're ready to move past the noise,” the CEO said, despite the lobbed questions geared toward Trump, ‘60 Minutes’ independence …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Business Insider, Deadline, Deadline, Deadline and Deadline
New York Times:
Paramount and Skydance's $8B merger closes, giving Paramount stronger financial wherewithal and ending a tortuous process that has lasted well over a year — The merger catapults new power players to the top of Hollywood and ends a tortuous process that has lasted well over a year.
Discussion:
Paramount Skydance Corporation, Fox Business, The Wrap, The Independent, The Verge, Chicago Sun Times, IndieWire, Scotty Eagleton on LinkedIn, @dylanbyers, Sports Business Journal, Screen, @benmullin, TMZ.com, Yvette Moyo on LinkedIn, Mediaite, The Streamable, TheDesk.net, Variety, Reuters, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Paramount CEO David Ellison outlines the new company's plans, including a reorganization into three business units: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap and TVNewsCheck
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
SEC filing: Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and President Jeff Shell will get paid no less than $3.5M per year and have bonus targets of $1.5M per year
SEC filing: Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and President Jeff Shell will get paid no less than $3.5M per year and have bonus targets of $1.5M per year
Discussion:
Paramount Skydance, TVNewsCheck, Variety, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, @edgarallandoh.bsky.social, The Wrap and Variety
Katcy Stephan / Variety:
Disney and Lucasfilm settle with Gina Carano, who sued for discrimination over her firing from The Mandalorian after she shared controversial social media posts — Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company have reached a mutual agreement in their legal dispute with Gina Carano following her firing from “The Mandalorian.”
Angie Orellana Hernandez / Washington Post:
Stanford's student newspaper and two former students sue the Trump administration, saying arrests and deportation attempts against students hinder free speech — The lawsuit challenges Secretary of State Marco Rubio's ability to revoke student visas and deem an individual deportable based on the content of their speech.
Kieran Smith / Financial Times:
WPP reports H1 2025 operating profit down 48% YoY to £221M and halves its interim dividend ahead of a strategic review, weeks after cutting its FY 2025 guidance — Shares hit 16-year low as interim operating profits plunge 48% for first half — WPP halved its interim dividend …
Discussion:
PRWeek, The Economic Times, PRWeek, WPP, Reuters, MediaCat UK, The Times, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Telegraph, Adweek, City A.M. and The Standard
Hannah Murphy / Financial Times:
In a live discussion on X, Elon Musk tells advertisers that X plans to introduce advertising into Grok's answers — Billionaire owner outlines plans to improve advertising on social media platform in rare overture to marketers — Elon Musk plans to introduce advertising into the answers …
Discussion:
Adweek, MediaPost, TechCrunch, Engadget, WeRSM, @viraldonutz.bsky.social, @dannygroner.bsky.social, PYMNTS.com, Business Insider and The Information
Harshita Mary Varghese / Reuters:
WBD reports Q2 revenue up 1% YoY to $9.81B, vs. $9.76B est., boosted by the HBO Max expansion and blockbuster hits, and subscribers up 3.4M QoQ, vs. 2.71M est. — Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) topped Wall Street estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, boosted by the international expansion …
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
Lionsgate reports Q1 studio revenue down 6% YoY to $556M, above est., motion picture revenue down 24% to $267.3M, and TV production revenue up 20% to $288.5M — The newly single Hollywood studio saw overall revenues fall to $556 million, compared to a year-earlier $590.7 million.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, TheDesk.net, investors.lionsgate.com, Media Play News and Deadline
Janko Roettgers / The Verge:
Sources detail Google's struggles to monetize Google TV, which has been costing the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually and has yet to break even — Losing money and internal support, Google TV is feeling the heat. … Last year, Google surprised online video publishers …
Discussion:
Janko Roettgers on LinkedIn and Android Headlines, more at Techmeme »
Francesca Ebel / Washington Post:
Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent independent journalist in the country of Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison for slapping a police officer at a protest — Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder of two media outlets, had slapped a police officer at an anti-government protest …
Vox Media Union:
Vox Media's union says 15 members working at Eater were told without warning that their jobs were being cut, eliminating roughly a third of Eater's union jobs — Vox Media Union statement on today's devastating round of layoffs at Eater. We stand with all of our wonderful colleagues. #solidarityforever #unionstrong #1u [image]
Discussion:
@drewkerr, @dylanbyers and @mattufford.bsky.social
Abid Rahman / The Hollywood Reporter:
Sony Pictures reports Q1 revenue up 4% YoY to ~$2.26B, operating income up 76% YoY to $129M, and motion pictures unit revenue down 13% YoY to $742M — The studio's releases in the period included ‘28 Years Later’ and ‘Karate Kid: Legends.’ … SPE comprises the motion pictures division, television productions and media networks.
Discussion:
Sony Group Corporation, Sony Group Corporation, Variety and Deadline
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