Top Stories

  • Apple Inc. executives have met with representatives from MGM Holdings Inc. and the Pac-12 Conference this year to discuss obtaining James Bond licensing rights and college sports rights, respectively, as part of an effort to expand Apple TV+’s offerings, according to people familiar with the matter. Sources say that while talks never reached advanced stages, the moves show the company’s willingness to make a multibillion-dollar content agreement. (The Wall Street Journal)
  • ViacomCBS Inc. is close to finalizing the purchase of a minority stake in Miramax for around $100 million, which would allow ViacomCBS to distribute Miramax films including “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love,” according to two people familiar with the matter. Per the terms of the reported deal, ViacomCBS and Paramount Pictures would develop new projects with Miramax and work on reboots of existing library titles. (Variety)
  • Kaja Sokola, a former teen model, has filed a lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court against Harvey Weinstein, Miramax and former Miramax owner Walt Disney Co., alleging that Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she was 16. Sokola removed herself from the federal class-action suit that was settled earlier this month for $47 million, saying in a statement that she “cannot accept the proposed ‘global settlement’ as fair or just.” (Los Angeles Times)

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General

Live Nation Settles U.S. Claims Against Ticketmaster Unit
David McLaughlin and Kelly Gilblom, Bloomberg 

Live Nation Entertainment Inc. has settled U.S. claims that it violated terms aimed at protecting competition in live music promotion and ticketing when regulators approved its purchase of Ticketmaster in 2010.

Cox Communications Hit With $1B Jury Verdict in Music Piracy Suit
Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter 

Cox Communications is liable for the infringement of more than 10,000 pirated songs, a Virginia jury held, and it’s going to cost the company $1 billion in damages.

Film

Universal in Talks With Lego Group to Develop New Films Based on Toys
Matt Donnelly, Variety 

Universal Pictures is in talks with the Lego Group to develop new feature film properties based on the popular block toys, numerous sources close to the pending deal told Variety.

50/50 in 2020? Half of Next Year’s 10 Highest Grossing Films Could Have Female Directors
Jeremy Fuster, The Wrap Pro

Female directors who have pushed for gender parity in Hollywood could achieve a milestone at the box office in 2020.

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ Flops in China on Friday Debut
Patrick Frater, Variety 

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is expected to the biggest film of the weekend globally and in North America, where an opening weekend of $170 million-$200 million is likely. But in China, it’s on course to be the weakest-performing installment of the new batch of “Star Wars” films.

Comscore Box Office Guru Steve Buck Heads To MarketCast As SVP Theatrical
Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline Hollywood 

We understand that MarketCast has tapped Steve Buck as its SVP Theatrical. In his new role, Buck will drive commercial sales and new business efforts for MarketCast’s theatrical products and services, which counts every major Hollywood studio and many independent producers as clients.

Imax Smashes $1 Billion Milestone at Global Box Office
Rebecca Rubin, Variety 

Imax is powering to a record year at the box office, crossing $1.035 billion in global ticket sales through Tuesday. With two weeks left in the year, those figures already cement a new high-water mark for the company that specializes in high-tech cinema.

Oscars Gender Gap: Female Directors in Best Picture Race Still Lag Far Behind Doc, International Categories
Brian Welk, The Wrap 

Women directed 23% of the films eligible for the 2019 Best Picture Oscar, an increase from 18% last year. But the number of women represented in the main categories still lags behind those in the documentary feature and international categories — where female directors are much more highly represented.

DGA Expresses Dismay Over New U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Deal’s Inclusion Of Copyright “Safe Harbor”
Ted Johnson, Deadline Hollywood 

As the House was poised to vote on Thursday on a revised U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, the Directors Guild of America expressed dismay that the pact includes a so-called “safe harbor” that shields internet companies from liability for third-party content on their sites.

Television

Here’s What Hallmark Channel Advertisers Actually Get Out Of The ‘Countdown To Christmas’
Simon Dumenco, AdAge

Hallmark Channel was in the news earlier this week for briefly pulling a bridal ad featuring a lesbian couple—and then, quickly and apologetically, reversing that decision. It was a rare, self-inflicted black eye for a cable network that’s better known at this time of year for its heaping, helping servings of Christmas cheer. 

New York Governor Signs TV Diversity Tax Credit Bill To Boost State’s Female & Minority Writers, Directors
David Robb, Deadline Hollywood 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill championed by the WGA East and the DGA that will support a study into the lack of opportunities for female and minority TV writers and directors in the state — after which $5 million from the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit can be allocated to incentivize the hiring of women and people of color to write and direct television in New York.

The World’s Highest-Paid Hosts 2019: Dr. Phil Tops The List With $95 Million
Madeline Berg, Forbes

Dr. Phil can’t write prescriptions or come to your rescue if you faint on an airplane. He can’t perform brain surgery or fix a broken bone. 

Sofia Vergara Meets With NBC for ‘America’s Got Talent’ Judge Spot
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter 

NBC and America’s Got Talent are making moves to fill the two empty judges’ seats on the talent competition. The network and producer Fremantle met with Modern Family star Sofia Vergara on Wednesday to discuss her joining the summer series.

Jori Arancio Joins WarnerMedia As EVP Communications For HBO Max, TNT, TBS & truTV
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline Hollywood 

Former SVP Communications for ABC & ABC Studios Jori Arancio has been named EVP, Communications, HBO Max, TNT, TBS & truTV.

TV Executives Share Their No. 1 Priorities for 2020
Kelsey Sutton and Jason Lynch, Adweek 

Enjoy the holiday season while you can, TV executives, because it’ll be a busy 2020 ahead.

MSNBC’s Biggest Election Year Fight May Be With the Left
Jeremy Barr, The Hollywood Reporter

MSNBC is used to taking shots from Republicans and conservative media competitors. But, in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, the network is facing consistent criticism from some of the people most likely to champion it: progressive Democrats.

Technology and New Media

Netflix says ‘Klaus’ is a hit with nearly 30 million views worldwide
Lisa Richwine, Reuters 

Netflix Inc’s animated holiday movie “Klaus” has been watched in nearly 30 million households worldwide during its first month, landing among the streaming service’s most-watched original movies, according to data the company provided to Reuters.

YouTube Created a Generation of Young Stars. Now They Are Getting Burned Out.
Georgia Wells, The Wall Street Journal 

The latest trend among YouTube’s hottest stars: feeling burned-out by the whole experience. Having achieved success, some top influencers are deciding to disconnect from the video-sharing platform, worn down by what some say are the demands of YouTube’s algorithm for fresh content to promote.

You See Pepsi, I See Coke: New Tricks for Product Placement
Tiffany Hsu, The New York Times 

First came product placement. In exchange for a payment, whether in cash, supplies or services, a TV show or a film would prominently display a brand-name product.

Meet the unlikely pair behind Netflix’s crack at the next ‘Game of Thrones’
Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times 

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Henry Cavill are a study in contrasts. She is diminutive, he imposing.

How Ninja Set Off an ‘All-Out Talent War’ in Video Gaming
Lucas Shaw and Olga Kharif, Bloomberg 

On Aug. 1, a rail-thin 28-year-old with hair dyed red, white and blue altered the course of video gaming with three words: “The next chapter.” That tweet introduced a video in which Tyler Blevins, known to his fans as Ninja, announced he was moving from Twitch, a video site owned by Amazon.com Inc., to Mixer, a rival site owned by Microsoft Corp.

Ad-Tech Providers Rubicon Project and Telaria Merge With a Focus on Streaming TV
Sahil Patel, The Wall Street Journal

Two advertising technology companies known for providing tools for publishers are banding together to capture a greater share of advertising dollars on streaming television and to better compete with technology giants such as Alphabet Inc. -owned Google.

The golden age of kids’ YouTube is over. Good.
Rebecca Jennings, Vox 

If the YouTube generation had its own version of The Wiggles, it’d be Bounce Patrol. It’s not just that they’re both Australian children’s music groups, although that’s probably the main thing.

Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research

‘Bombshell’ wasn’t for women, they know this stuff. It’s for the ‘gender defensive’ men
Charles Randolph, Los Angeles Times 

“Bombshell” was written before the Weinstein story broke. Why does a man write a movie about sexual harassment? 

What Happens to TV After ‘Game of Thrones?’ Ask HBO.
Andrew Gruttadaro, Los Angeles Times 

On May 19, 2019, at just before 10:30 p.m. ET, almost 14 million people watched as Jon Snow emerged from the Wall with a band of wildlings. (5.7 million more would watch within the next week.)

Will 2020 Finally Be the Year of the Populist Oscars?
Owen Gleiberman And Ramin Setoodeh, Variety 

For the last decade, the Oscars have faced charges of elitism. While the average movie-goer has gravitated toward tentpoles with the Avengers or Yoda, Hollywood’s annual celebration of film has gotten much smaller, doling out trophies to independent movies such as “Green Book,” “The Shape of Water,” “Moonlight,” “Spotlight” and “Birdman.”

‘Two Popes,’ ‘Dark Waters,’ ‘Hidden Life’ — filmmakers are finding religion
Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times 

After a screening of “The Two Popes” in New York recently, screenwriter Anthony McCarten recalls being approached by an audience member with a surprising take on the film.

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