They want crap, Carolcoexecutive Peter Hoffman once told theLos Angeles Times, Every time people tell you they dont, its bull. They want crap. Hoffman was reflecting on the lackluster audience response to the Oscar-nominatedMusic Box (1989), while sci-fi action blockbusters such asTotal Recall(1990) were filling coffers like mad. Long before independent production houses like Skydance, A24, and Blumhouse were making...

X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, has been sold. Elon Musk said Friday that xAI, his artificial intelligence company, had acquired X in an all-stock transaction that values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion ($45 billion, his original take-private price, minus $12 billion in debt). Thats $1 billion more than the take-private price of $44...

In a sign of the times for cable TV, the legacy home shopping brand QVC Group says that it is laying off approximately 900 staffers and consolidating operations as it pivots to focus on the opportunity presented by live social shopping. QVC Group is the parent company of both QVC and HSN (formerly Home Shopping Network), and is controlled by...

Carol Lombardini, the top negotiator representing Hollywoods major studios in contract deals with unions, saw pay rise to $3.7 million in the fiscal year that included the monthslong writers and actors strikes. Lombardini, the longtime president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, recently stepped aside for an advisory position after a 15-year run. The AMPTP, which negotiates...

As the Trump administration campaigns against diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the media and entertainment sector, FCC chair Brendan Carr has urged the agencys enforcement arm to open an investigation into Disney and ABC. Carr, in a letter to Disney chief executive Bob Iger released on Friday, said the probe will concern whether Disney maintained discriminatory policies through racial...

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said his decision to stand by Dave Chappelle and his Netflix special, The Closer, after backlash about what was seen as transphobic jokes was not an easy choice, but one that he continues to stand by. Theyre never easy calls. But I think its rooted in a principle of protecting free speech and expression, Sarandos said....

On May 14 of last year, Amazon MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke took the stage at Pier 36 in New York City, looking to convince advertisers that Amazon was playing to win in Hollywood. Welcome to the next hundred years of Amazon MGM Studios, Salke said to those gathered in the cavernous event space, which also featured piles of cash...

Scott Rudin is planning to return to Broadway next season. The film and theater producer, who left the Broadway industry in 2021 after an article in The Hollywood Reporter detailed numerous claims of Rudin bullying assistants, now says he plans to stage three Broadway productions next season, with two starring Laurie Metcalf and directed by Joe Mantello, according to The...

The Hollywood Reporter is set to debut a Spanish-language edition in partnership with Tasty Media. As part of a multiyear licensing deal, The Hollywood Reporter en Espaol will offer original content highlighting the best in Ibero-American cinema and television for Spanish-speaking readers. Expanding our best-in-class editorial to markets outside the United States has been a major priority for the THR...

Media mogul John MalonesLiberty Media which owns the Formula One racing circuit, and a stake in events promoter Live Nation Entertainment, among others has disclosed that Greg Maffeis 2024 compensation package amounted to $24.3 million before giving up his president and CEO roles at the end of the year. Maffei had earned $28.7 million in 2023, $22.4 million in 2022,...

The Walt Disney Company announced Friday the appointment of Tamotsu Hiiro as managing director for Japan. He will report to Disney APAC president Luke Kang. Hiiro will take over the Japan leadership role from Carol Choi, who led the territory for Disney for the last five years. Choi will maintain her regional executive responsibilities as evp for APAC studios, original...

Employment in the entertainment industry in California saw major gains last year, adding nearly 15,000 jobs as it rebounds from sharp contraction leading up to and during the 2023 strikes. But the latest Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, released on Thursday, shows that work in the sector remains far below pre-strike levels. Only a quarter of jobs lost...

Kate Hudsons Netflix basketball comedy Running Point made a big bow on Nielsens latest streaming viewership snapshot even as Prime Videos Reacher led the chart overall for the week. Reacher totaled up 1.48 billion minutes viewed during the Feb. 24-March 2 frame, Nielsen said in its weekly update on Thursday.Last weeks champ, Netflixs Robert De Niro political thriller Zero Day,...