Showtime Networks and Lionsgates Entertainment One have been drawn into a legal battle accusing them of ripping off a Ron Howard movie in Yellowjackets. In a copyright infringement lawsuit filed on Nov. 14 in New York federal court, a company that holds the rights to survival thriller Eden alleges strikingly similar elements in the works. Both follow a soccer team...

A legal brawl has broken out between mogul Alexander Shustorovich and IMG Talent, whose affiliate WME faces the prospect of losing a portion of its music roster as part of a forced sale of the premier classical music management firm IMG Artists. A company owned by the Russia-born U.S. citizen has filed a lawsuit looking to enforce an arbitration ruling...

Netflix has been sued for copyright infringement by a producer, who alleges that his script for a project hes producing was ripped off to make Rez Ball. Rob Grabow, in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in California federal court, says the movie copied elements of his script for The Gift of the Game. Like Rez Ball, it follows a high...

Disney shares rocketed higher in Thursday trading after the major studio, led by CEO Bob Iger, reported its latest quarterly results, including strong film unit results, driven by the likes of Deadpool Wolverine and Inside Out 2. The entertainment powerhouses streaming business also touted that Disney+ has crossed the 120 million subscriber mark and boosted its bottom line, reporting operating...

On Nov.2, CBS and CMT simulcast a one-hour prerecorded benefit on behalf of the United Way for relief following hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused $50 billion-plus in damages across Appalachia and the broader Southeast. Blake Shelton, the Zac Brown Band, J.B. Smoove and others made appearances and performed. While the effort raised $6.2 million, it was also indicative of...

Satirical news site The Onion has won the bidding to acquire the assets of Alex Jones Infowars, with the support of Sandy Hook families. The site acquired Infowars after their auction bid was selected by the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee overseeing the Free Speech Systems bankruptcy proceedings. Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, will...

In one of its first post-election personnel moves, CNN has promoted David Chalian to svp and Washington, D.C. bureau chief, a key role as the next Trump administration looks to staff up amid the presidential transition frame. In the role, the cable news network says Chalian will now oversee all political coverage for CNN as well as polling, decision desk...

Disney expects to spend $24 billion in content in its fiscal 2025, up slightly from 2024 when the company says it spent $23.4 billion. The company disclosed its planned content spend in its annual report. Dont expect a flurry of additional movies or TV shows, however, as sports programming expenses are set to rise next year thanks to contractual rate...

The Walt Disney Co., RelianceIndustriesLtd. (RIL),and Viacom 18 Media Private Ltd. said Thursday that the merger of the media and JioCinema businesses of Viacom18 into Star India has become effective, creating a big joint venture in India. In addition, RIL has invested around $1.4 billion into the joint venture (JV) for its growth. The JV has allotted shares to Viacom18...

The Walt Disney Co. ended its fiscal 2024 on a high note, thanks in large part to its theatrical film division and growth in streaming, even as its ESPN and experiences businesses dragged down net income slightly compared to a year earlier. The entertainment giant reported revenues of $22.57 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended Sept. 30, up...

Ben Affleck has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and while on a panel at CNBCs Delivering Alpha Summit Wednesday, he weighed in on a number of topics being closely watched by Hollywood, including the looming deal for Skydance to buy Paramount and the growing use of generative artificial intelligence by the industry. Affleck, of course,...

Spotify is doubling down on video, and bringing creators along for the ride. The streaming giant opened doors of its Los Angeles campus located in the citys Arts District on Wednesday for Now Playing, a five-hour, invite-only event during which plans for new video and monetization offerings and well as a new platform called Spotify for Creators were revealed and...

Netflix film executive Niija Kuykendall is departing the company after three years. The vp film joined the streaming service in October 2021 and managed faith-based, young adult and holiday features. She will exit at the end of the year following a transitional period. Her forthcoming slate includes Tyler PerrysThe Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington in the story of the...