Showbiz Sandbox 580: Warner Bros. Enters Its Discovery Phase
April 12, 2022
Last week Discovery closed its $43 billion deal to acquire WarnerMedia from telecom giant AT&T. Discovery topper David Zaslav immediately installed his own executive team to run Warner Bros. Discovery forcing the existing management team to head for the door. We discuss the fallout from the merger and the what the future may look like for the combined company.
One of the exiting executives was WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar whose infamous Project Popcorn opened all 18 Warner Bros. theatrical releases throughout 2021 day-and-date with HBO Max. Kilar claims the controversial distribution strategy was a success, but if that’s true, then why did Warner Bros. discontinue it?
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the big winners at the Olivier Awards, “Dancing with the Stars” moves to Disney+ and members of the original Grateful Dead rock band will stop touring after five decades.
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‘Sonic 2’ Speeds To $141M Global; ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Uncovers $57M In Early Offshore Bow; ‘RRR’ Roars To WW Milestone
https://deadline.com/2022/04/fantastic-beasts-secrets-of-dumbledore-rrr-morbius-sonic-the-hedgehog-2-batman-global-international-box-office-1234998767/
Box Office: ‘Sonic 2’ Booms to $71 Million, Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance’ Stalls
https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/box-office-sonic-2-opening-weeked-michael-bay-ambulance-1235229294/
‘Sherlock Holmes’ TV Universe in the Works at HBO Max
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sherlock-holmes-tv-universe-hbo-max-robert-downey-jr-1235125518/
Cult Japanese Director Sion Sono Accused of Multiple Sexual Assaults
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/sion-sono-accused-of-multiple-sexual-assaults-1235125282/
Umekawa Haruo, Japanese Film Producer, Accused of Sexual Harassment as Country’s #MeToo Allegations Grow
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/umekawa-haruo-sex-harassment-japan-film-producer-1235226288/
Once Again, Nearly 98% of 18-to-49-Year-Olds in the US Didn’t Watch the Grammys on Sunday
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/once-again-nearly-98-of-18-to-49-year-olds-in-the-us-didnt-watch-the-grammys-on-sunday/
Jimmy Kimmel Reports Marjorie Taylor Greene To Batman
https://deadline.com/2022/04/jimmy-kimmel-marjorie-taylor-greene-batman-1234997153/
Sam Elliott Apologizes For ‘Power Of The Dog’ Comments
https://deadline.com/2022/04/sam-elliott-apology-the-power-of-the-dog-comments-1234999185/
Sarah Jessica Parker Tests Positive for COVID-19, ‘Plaza Suite’ Cancels Performance
https://broadwaynews.com/2022/04/07/sarah-jessica-parker-tests-positive-for-covid-19-plaza-suite-cancels-performance/
‘Cabaret,’ Starring Eddie Redmayne, Sweeps Olivier Awards
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/10/theater/olivier-awards-winners-cabaret-eddie-redmayne.html
DirecTV Dropped Oan Today, Rejecting GOP Pleas to Keep Right-Wing Network
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/04/directv-dropped-oan-today-rejecting-gop-pleas-to-keep-right-wing-network/
Will Dead and Company Stop Touring After 2022?
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dead-and-company-tour-future-1334902/
‘Dancing With the Stars’ to Move to Disney Plus After 30 Seasons on ABC
https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/dancing-with-the-stars-disney-plus-abc-1235228518/
Putting Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Into Perspective
https://celluloidjunkie.com/newsletter/putting-warner-bros-discovery-merger-into-perspective/
WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar On Being “First Over The Wall” With Day-And-Date Streaming
https://deadline.com/2022/04/jason-kilar-warner-media-ceo-streaming-hbo-max-legacy-1234994818/
Jimmy Wang Yu Dies: Martial Arts Action Star In Hong Kong Films Was 79
https://deadline.com/2022/04/jimmy-wang-yu-dead-martial-arts-action-star-in-hong-kong-obituary-1234996171/
Bobby Rydell, Pop Singer and ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ Actor, Dies at 79
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/bobby-rydell-dead-bye-bye-birdie-1235125840/
Clip from Bye Bye Birdie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS38PiZ2-RA
Jack Higgins, Author of ‘The Eagle Has Landed,’ Dies at 92
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/10/obituaries/jack-higgins-dead.html
The 110 Best Thriller, Crime and Suspense Novels of All Time
https://parade.com/1327285/michael-giltz/best-thriller-books/
True Confessions! 32 Bestselling Authors Pick the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of All Time
https://parade.com/1340532/michael-giltz/authors-pick-their-favorite-mystery-crime-thriller/
Rifelion Media
https://www.rifelion.com
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