More from Alex Weprin
CNN Pushes Back on Fact-Checking Criticism From Debate: “Up to the Candidates”
CNN is pushing back after critics blamed the channel for its handling of last night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The critics, most of them Democrats, took aim at CNN and moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, with the absence of real-time fact checking one of the major issues. A […]
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After Selling CAA Stake, Private Equity Giant TPG Launching New Company in Talent Management and Representation Business
TPG is getting back into the talent business. The private equity giant, which sold its stake in CAA last year to French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, is launching a new company that will “acquire, invest behind and build a diversified global business centered on talent management, representation and adjacent verticals.” Michel Pratte, former President of Boat […]
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YouTube Stars Rhett & Link to Launch Comedy Series ‘Wonderhole’ in August (Exclusive)
YouTube stars Rhett & Link are expanding their content in the comedy space. The duo, who host Good Mythical Morning and own Mythical Entertainment, will launch a new comedy series on their Rhett & Link YouTube channel in August. The new series, Wonderhole, “combines docu-comedy, sketch comedy, original music, visual FX, celebrity cameos, and outright […]
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With CNN Debate Hours Away, Multiple News Outlets Are Still Seeking More Access
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election is hours away, with CNN set to play host at one of its studios in Atlanta. But as the clock ticks down to 9 p.m., multiple journalism groups are weighing in publicly, asking CNN to expand access to coverage of the event. While the debate will be […]
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Big East Inks Basketball Rights With Fox, NBC and TNT Sports
In a major media rights deal for college basketball, the Big East has inked new long-term pacts with Fox Sports, NBC Sports and TNT Sports. The new deals run through the 2030-2031 season, with Fox serving as its lead broadcast partner. However, perhaps the most significant part of the new deal is the addition of […]
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Fox-Backed Streaming Platform Caffeine Abruptly Shuts Down
Another streaming platform bites the dust. Caffeine, a social streaming sports platform that had raised nearly $300 million from companies like Fox, Disney, Cox, Andreessen Horowitz and Greylock, abruptly shuttered on Wednesday. “We’re at the point where we are still not quite profitable, so we’ve made the decision to end the service as of June […]
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Prince Harry to Receive ESPN’s Pat Tillman Award at 2024 ESPYs
ESPN is giving an award to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. Harry will receive the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Service at this year’s ESPY Awards, which will be held July 11 on ABC, and be hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams. The Tillman award is “given to a person with a strong connection […]
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Stella Artois, Chef? How ‘The Bear’ Added in Brand Deals for Season ThreeÂ
For the third season of FX’s The Bear, don’t be surprised if you see a Stella Artois on one of the restaurant tables (or in a chef’s hands), or perhaps a reference to American Express or its reservation app Resy, which has become a staple of the high-end dining scene. They are brands that fit […]
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NBC Brings A.I. Al Michaels to Peacock for Customized Paris Olympics Recaps
NBC is bringing Al Michaels back for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Or rather, NBC is bringing a version of Al Michaels generated by artificial intelligence to this year’s Games. The company says that it is turning to generative AI software to re-create the iconic sportscaster’s voice, which will provide customized Olympic recaps for Peacock subscribers […]
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Dish’s New Plan to Stop Cord-Cutting: How About a Free Netflix Subscription?
The satellite TV firm Dish is the latest pay TV company to get into the bundled entertainment space, and it is entering with an aggressive offer: free Netflix. The company said Wednesday that customers who sign up for a two-year contract will get Netflix’s ad-supported tier for free, or if they want the ad-free tiers, […]
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Streaming Profits Are Tough to Find. Niche Movie and TV Platforms See a Way Forward
By now everyone in Hollywood seems to accept that streaming is a cutthroat business. It may not be zero sum (most studies suggest that consumers will pay for about four streaming services at a time), but it is mighty close to it. And with Netflix holding a secure lock on one of those subscriptions for […]
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Verizon Brings Streaming Deals to Home Internet Customers As Part of Major Brand Refresh
Verizon is bringing a new bundle that includes significant entertainment options to market, but this time it is gearing it toward home internet customers. As part of a major brand refresh that will also see the company debut a new logo and loyalty program, the telecom giant will also roll out what it is calling […]
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