Week of « Prev | Next »
1-20 of 142 items « Prev | Next »
Yahoo In Talks To Acquire Tumblr: Reports
1 hour ago
Yahoo has set a Monday news conference in NY to announce “something special”, and Cbnc says that CEO Marissa Mayer will be there. Could the news be that it is acquiring the social network Tumblr? Reports surfaced last night that Yahoo is mulling a deal to buy or invest in the youth-skewing blogging site, and AllThingsD, which broke the news, says Yahoo’s board is meeting tomorrow to consider an all-cash buy for $1.1B. If the deal makes it would be the biggest yet for Mayer as she looks to boost the fortunes of the company, which is still in transformation mode. Yahoo has acquired mostly small startups since she took over last July, and a potential big deal to buy a controlling stake in French video site Dailymotion was scotched by the French government earlier this month. Last month, Yahoo reported declining ad sales for the second fiscal quarter in a row, »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Global Showbiz Briefs: Shine Int’l Makes CEO Permanent; New Download/Streaming Service Headed For UK
11 hours ago
Shine International Takes Interim Tag Off Nohr More than eight months after Nadine Nohr stepped in as interim CEO at Shine International, the company has made her gig permanent. Two years ago, the exec supervised the unit’s revamp and relocation. She began as a consultant to Shine International, the sales and distribution arm of the Shine Group, in 2011. Her resume includes a dozen years at Granada International. Access Digital Preps UK Download/Streaming Service Access Digital Entertainment has announced plans to launch Wowhd.tv, one of the UK’s first download-to-own and VOD services featuring UltraViolet. Users will be able to download or stream content anytime on any web-enabled device, store it in the cloud and share it with as many as five people. Ade chief exec Craig White said deals are in the works with Hollywood studios for TV and film content. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Upfronts 2013: The Overachievers
13 hours ago
First off, congratulations to all writers, producers, actors and agents who landed new series this week. I know it wasn’t easy. Here is Deadline’s annual list of those who excelled at the upfronts. I tried to be inclusive, but if I’ve missed anyone who’s had a banner week, let me know. I’ve also compiled a list of pods and independent producers with multiple broadcast series. Cougar Town co-creator Bill Lawrence and his Doozer banner had three new series unveiled at the upfronts this week: comedies Undateable on NBC, Surviving Jack on Fox and Ground Floor on TBS. Also, TBS recently renewed Cougar Town for a fifth season. Related: 2013-14 Schedule Grid & Top Face-Offs J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot claimed one of the top new drama series last season with NBC’s Revolution and one of the hottest sophomore shows with CBS’ Person Of Interest. The company »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Ben Affleck & Kanye West ‘SNL’ Promos: Video
14 hours ago
Oscar winner Ben Affleck is hosting this weekend’s Saturday Night Live season finale, but it’s musical guest Kanye West who steals the spotlight in SNL‘s set of promos. “Hell no, I’m not going on SNL skits, this is my goddamn life,” he said onstage this week at the Adult Swim upfronts. Should be fun. Watch the promos: »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
‘Mike & Molly’ Creator Mark Roberts To Exit, Al Higgins Upped To Ep & Showrunner
15 hours ago
Mark Roberts, the creator of Mike & Molly, will be leaving the CBS comedy series, which was recently renewed for a fourth season. Roberts “will be stepping down from his showrunner and executive producer roles after three successful seasons to focus on other projects,” Mike & Molly producer Warner Bros. TV said in a statement to Deadline. “Al Higgins, currently co-executive producer of Mike & Molly, has been named executive producer and will serve as day-to-day showrunner of the comedy for its upcoming fourth season.” The studio would not comment on the reasons for the change, however there has been speculation for months that the show’s cast and crew were not happy with Roberts. Veteran comedy writer-producer Higgins has been on Mike & Molly since after the pilot. His previous series credits include NewsRadio and Malcolm In The Middle. On Mike & Molly, he will serve as executive producer alongside Chuck Lorre, who has »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
R.I.P. Ken Venturi
16 hours ago
Ken Venturi, the voice of PGA golf on CBS for 35 years, died today after a long hospitalization. He was 82. After a solid career as a pro golfer, including a win at the 1964 U.S. Open, he turned to broadcasting after after hanging up his spikes in 1967. He immediately became CBS’ No. 1 golf announcer and retired in 2002 as the longest-serving lead sports analyst in history. The San Francisco native, who counted Frank Sinatra among his best friends, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame just last week but was too ill to attend the ceremony. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Update: WSJ Says DirecTV Also Mulling A Piece Of Hulu
16 hours ago
Update, 4:26 Pm: The second company eyeing a Hulu stake is DirecTV, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Previously, Wednesday Am: Time Warner Cable, the country’s No. 2 cable service and a second unidentified pay-tv entity are considering taking a piece of the ad-supported streaming-video service, The Wall Street Journal reports. Slower growth in the pay-tv sector has the NY-based Time Warner Cable paying more attention to its broadband operations lately. Disney, News Corp and Comcast own about a third each of the 6-year-old service, which recently topped the 4 million-subscriber mark. Other groups mulling a stake in Hulu include Yahoo and the Chernin Group, run by ex-News Corp. exec Peter Chernin. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Kroenke Sports Completes Outdoor Channel Acquisition
17 hours ago
The deal’s finally done, with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment paying $10.25 a share — about $265M — for the cable channel. “As a part of Kse, Outdoor Channel will be well positioned — competitively, strategically and financially — to meet the needs of its customers and business partners,” says Kse chief Jim Martin. Outdoor Channel CEO Tom Hornish adds that the new owner will “greatly strengthen our ability to invest in assets, expand our distribution and continue to generate the unparalleled experience our viewers expect.” Kse is owned by Stan Kroenke. It owns the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and is a power in Denver with venues including the Pepsi Center, the Paramount Theater and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and teams including hockey’s Colorado Avalanche, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids. Outdoor Channel shareholders approved the deal in a special meeting yesterday with 19.3M votes in favor and just 758,969 against. »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
Deadline Big Media With David Lieberman, Episode 35
17 hours ago
Listen to (and share) episode 35 of our audio podcast Deadline Big Media With David Lieberman. Deadline’s executive editor joins host David Bloom to discuss the advertising upfronts this week, including the CBS victory lap and whether an auto ad spending blitz will finance this year’s pricey programming; Daniel Loeb’s (and possibly Les Moonves’) plans for Sony; and National CineMedia’s whiz-bang new technologies to give exhibitors and studios more bang for their in-theater ad bucks. Deadline Big Media, Episode 35 (MP3 format) Deadline Big Media, Episode 35 (MP4a format) The M4A version of this podcast is designed to run on any device using Apple’s iTunes software, and includes enhanced graphics and links to stories and other resources. The MP3 version of this podcast is designed to play on virtually any device capable of playing digital audio. To hear past episodes of “Deadline Big Media,” go here: http://www. »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
Magnolia Manager Vs UTA, Round Two
17 hours ago
Previous: Magnolia Client Rachel McAdams Fires UTA Update: Magnolia Entertainment manager Shelley Browning’s inexplicable and one-sided battle against UTA co-owner Tracey Jacobs rages on. Last month, Browning was behind Rachel McAdams firing UTA after a seven-year stint with Jacobs. Now two Swedish actors who are both Magnolia clients follow McAdams out the door for no reason: Joel Kinnaman and Noomi Rapace. Since becoming Browning’s client, Rapace has bounced between Hollywood agencies: first UTA, then Wme, then back to UTA, and now out of UTA. Among the only Magnolia clients left at UTA is Daniel Espinosa (Safe House) who is directing Kinnaman and Rapace with Tom Hardy in Child 44. »
- NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
AwesomenessTV Introduces YouTube Channel Targeting Young Males
18 hours ago
The channel’s called AwesomenessX and it will offer “original sports, gaming, comedy, pranks and lifestyle content” for males in their teens and 20s, says the company that’s owned by DreamWorks Animation. As the Web destination grows it can “segment our audience so we can better target the programming and build communities around specific interest areas,” says its CEO Brian Robbins. The new channel will pick up some series from AwesomenessTV including The City – Basketball, Sk8 Spotterz, Blow Up Guys, That Was Awesome and How To Be Awesome. It will also launch new series including one that follows Winter X-Games gold medalist David Wise. Another will track “the first Chinese skaters and their friends as they begin to open the minds of the Chinese people to a sport that has always been looked down upon.” Other shows will offer videos of the best game moves and photo shoots of swimsuit models. »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
Rupert Murdoch Compares Facebook To “Crappy MySpace” On Ipo Anniversary
18 hours ago
“Look out Facebook!” the News Corp CEO wrote today in a tweet. “Hours spent participating per member dropping seriously. First really bad sign as seen by crappy MySpace years ago.” Easy to see why he’s still smarting over the “crappy” asset that he bought in 2005 for $508M and sold two years ago for $35M. But his warning also reflects the passion Facebook inspires among supporters and critics alike on the anniversary of its ill-fated initial public offering at $38 a share. The stock closed today at $26.25 — down 31.3% — and has been pretty much flat for more than five months. Bears say that Facebook can’t sustain its torrid growth as it faces potent competitors — including Google, Twitter and Tumblr — and a shift among users from personal computers to advertising unfriendly small screened mobile phones and tablets. “Facebook is now scrambling to boost revenues through bigger ads that take over the entire screen, »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
NBC Makes ‘The Voice’ Coach Moves Official
19 hours ago
Related: Shakira & Usher Returning To ‘The Voice’ For Season 6 Universal City, Calif. — May 17, 2013 — Illustrating the continuity between its original and current coaches lineup, “The Voice” will bring back Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for its fifth cycle in fall and will pair Levine and Shelton with Shakira and Usher for the sixth cycle in midseason. The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, President of Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We locked in a plan several months ago to have the outstanding Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green rejoin Blake and Adam for cycle 5, and we’re pleased to announce that the original four coaches are going to be back together in the fall,” said Telegdy. “They’re the reason this show was launched so strong for the first three cycles and we owe them a debt of gratitude. And after careful consideration of everyone’s schedules for next spring, »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Update: Amazon Studios Begins Pilot Pickups; ‘Zombieland’ Writer Blames Pass On Fans
21 hours ago
2Nd Update, 11:45 Am: I hear Alpha House has gotten an official pickup, joining Betas. Alpha House follows four senators (John Goodman, Clark Johnson, Matt Malloy, Mark Consuelos) who live together in a rented house in Washington, DC. Zombieland and Browsers did not make the cut. Related: Full Amazon Pilot Listings Update, 9 Am: Zombieland writer-producer Rhett Reese took to Twitter to blame the series’ pickup fail on Zombieland fans themselves: “I’ll never understand the vehement hate the pilot received from die-hard Zombieland fans. You guys successfully hated it out of existence.” Update, Thursday Pm: There will be no Zombieland TV series, at least not on Amazon. The streaming service has passed on the pilot, as well as Browsers, as it continues to narrow down the field. Updated: Amazon Studios is getting in the upfront spirit. As the broadcast and some cable networks are announcing their new series pickups this week, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Bruce Rosenblum Bids Classy Goodbye
23 hours ago
Related: Exclusive: Warner Bros TV Shake-Up – Bruce Rosenblum Settled OutTOLDJA! Warner Bros Confirms Bruce Rosenblum Exit This was sent to Warner Bros Television Group employees today: Dear Warner Bros. Television Group Colleagues, It is with a heavy heart that I write to let you know that, following several months of uncertainty, my 26-year run at Warner Bros. has come to an end. I have had the pleasure of working alongside the most talented, creative and innovative people in our business … from our executives and staff to the amazing group of creative talent both in front of and behind the cameras. Each of your contributions helped Warner Bros. set the standard for excellence in the television industry. The magnitude of what you have accomplished has been and continues to be a truly meaningful contribution to Warner Bros.’ overall success and a matter of great pride to myself. But, for all of our success, »
- NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
Ratings Rat Race Update: ‘American Idol’ Hits All-Time Finale Low, ‘The Office’ Series Finale Up, ‘Scandal’ Finale Surges
23 hours ago
Update, 9:34 Am: Final American Idol finale numbers are in from Nielsen. While the show remains at an all-time low, it did see an expected adjustment upward. The 8-10:07 Pm Idol garnered a 3.6 rating with 14.3 million viewers, which is down 44% in ratings from Season 11′s finale and down 33% in viewership. The show was up 24% from its May 8 episode. Previously, 8:19 Am: Thursday saw a flurry of finales including American Idol (3.4/11) ending its 12th season with an all-time finale low and The Office closing its doors for good. Declaring a winner from the final two female contestants, the more than two-hour live Idol was down 47% in preliminary ratings from the 6.4/18 final numbers of Season 11’s finale on May 23, 2012. It’s the first Idol finale to have less than 20 million viewers. The show, which went nearly eight minutes over the hour and will likely be adjusted up in the final numbers, »
- DOMINIC PATTEN
Upfront Market: Will Auto Makers Subsidize TV Networks’ Rising Programming Costs?
17 May 2013 8:27 AM, PDT
This is a — and possibly “the” — key question for Big Media investors coming out of the major broadcast and cable networks’ upfront programming presentations this week. As the sales pitches wore on it became clear that execs plan to spare no expense to recover from a year of dreary ratings. There’ll be 25 new programs on the Big Four networks, up from 18 planned this time last year. What’s more, “all of the broadcast networks are moving toward year-round original schedules, less re-runs [and] more frequent ‘mini-events’,” Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger says. He adds that networks continue to depend on star power — for example CBS landed Robin Williams for its sitcom The Crazy Ones and Turner enlisted off-camera help from Michael Bay (Transformers), Dick Wolf (Law & Order), Howard Gordon (Homeland), Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead), and Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI). “These guys don’t come cheap, and we presume they must participate significantly in the back-end, »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
Spoiler Alert! NBC’s ‘The Office’ Finale
16 May 2013 9:48 PM, PDT
Diane Haithman is a contributor to Deadline. Spoiler Alert! Update: Steve Carell reprised his role as former Dunder Mifflin manager Michael Scott after all — appearing about 45 minutes into The Office finale to be Dwight’s “bestest mensch” (read: best man) at his wedding to Angela. After Michael unexpectedly appears, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) says: “Michael, I can’t believe you came.” His former boss replies: “That’s what she said.” Later in the episode, he tells the documentary crew: “I feel like my kids all grew up and married each other — it’s every parent’s dream.” Carell earned six Emmy noms for the role but never won. He left the series after its seventh season. Previously: No, Michael Scott is not going to turn up at Dunder Mifflin on Thursday. Really. Ken Kwapis swears to Deadline that longtime star Steve Carell does not appear in this week’s series finale of The Office. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
‘Modern Family’ Gets Cable Makeover For Launch On USA Network: Video
16 May 2013 7:53 PM, PDT
How would hit ABC comedy Modern Family look and sound like if it aired on cable? The show’s writers offer a peek in a promo for the Emmy-winning series’ upcoming off-network launch on USA Network in September. The video was a highlight at today’s USA upfront presentation, where Modern Family, its cast and co-creator Steve Levitan were the main attraction. Enjoy and keep in mind that the video is the result of what I hear were 17 cuts to tone the original down and make it suitable for public (but definitely not family) viewing. Click here to view the embedded video. Related: USA Unveils Drama Development Slate, Plans For Daytime »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Adam Sandler To Leno: “Maybe Go To Fox”
16 May 2013 7:48 PM, PDT
Jay Leno is readying to exit stage left from NBC’s Tonight Show next February. So Adam Sandler was a guest Thursday and offered a little unsolicited advice about Leno’s post-Tonight plans. Of course, Sandler doesn’t mention that the problem is that Fox would have to get clearance for any late-night show from the affiliates who get to keep all the ad revenue from their late local news. Fox then might have to compensate them for any lost revenue. In other words, it’s complicated. Read the transcript after the jump: Leno: Now, I’ve known you for a long time, 30 years or something? Sandler: Yes. Leno: Are you slowing down a little bit? Sandler: Yes. Getting old, man. You know you’re getting old, Jay, when you work out an hour and a half a day just to stay fat. An extra 20 minutes a day I can get down to chubby. »
- DOMINIC PATTEN
1-20 of 142 items « Prev | Next »
company.