• Warner Bros. Discovery said it plans to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming service to be available next summer before turning its attention to the launch of a new free, ad-supported platform. (The New York Times) The company also reported a combined 92.1 million subscribers between HBO, HBO Max and Discovery+, up 1.7 million subscribers from the previous quarter, in its first earnings report as a fully merged company. (Variety) 
• Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. is working on a deal to spin off or sell a piece of its Starz cable network in September, but potential partners have also shown interest in the brand’s film and TV studios, the company said in an earnings call. Possible buyers are realizing the studio’s potential value following last year’s $8.5 billion sale of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to Amazon.com Inc., executives said. (Bloomberg)
• AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. reported a total revenue of $1.16 billion, up from $444.7 million a year ago, and announced that it narrowed quarterly losses in its second quarter report, citing summer blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jurassic World: Dominion” for bumping its earnings. The company also issued a special “APE” dividend in the form of preferred shares to reward its vocal individual investors. (Deadline)

How Inflation Concerns Are Impacting Consumer Spending

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AMC Networks Hits 10.8M Streaming Subs, U.S. Ad Revenue Drops in Second Quarter

Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter

AMC Networks, the cable networks and streaming company that operates the likes of AMC, AMC+, IFC, BBC America, Acorn TV and Shudder, reported a 5 percent drop in U.S. advertising revenue in the second quarter, but said it grew its streaming subscribers in the period to end June with 10.8 million, up from 9.5 million as of the end of March.

Christina Spade Will Take Over as AMC Networks’ CEO

Brian Steinberg, Variety

Christina Spade, a veteran media executive who was previously chief financial officer of the former ViacomCBS, has been named the new chief executive of AMC Networks, tasked with leading the small but influential media company through a tricky time in the media business.

Arbitrator rules in favor of WGA, Netflix pays millions more in residuals

Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times

The Writers Guild of America West said Thursday that 216 writers who worked on Netflix theatrical films received an additional $42 million in unpaid residuals thanks to a recent arbitration ruling.

U.S. Streamers and Studios More Flexible in Engaging With European Producers

Nick Vivarelli, Variety

The rules of engagement between U.S. studios and streamers and European producers are starting to change.

Judge: Kevin Spacey must pay $30M to ‘House of Cards’ makers

Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

A judge on Thursday ruled that Kevin Spacey and his production companies must pay the makers of “House of Cards” nearly $31 million because of losses brought on by his 2017 firing for the sexual harassment of crew members.

Ezra Miller Accused of More Harassment, Grooming: ‘I Was Misled by an Extremely Manipulative Actor’

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire

A new report also sheds more light on their relationship with Tokata Iron Eyes and Miller’s erratic behavior in Iceland, where they were filmed choking a fan.

‘Pose’ Star Angelica Ross Will Make Broadway Debut in Chicago

Andrew Gans, Playbill

The openly trans actor will join the Tony-winning revival in September.

Man charged in the shooting and robbery of Lady Gaga’s dog walker was sentenced to 4 years in prison

Cheri Mossburg, CNN

One of the people charged in the shooting and robbery of Lady Gaga’s dog walker in Los Angeles was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison, authorities said.

TIFF Unveils Midnight, Discovery, and Wavelengths Lineups, from ‘The Al Yankovic Story’ to Ti West’s ‘Pearl’

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire

Midnight Madness will open with the “deranged” biopic of the comedy legend starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Lady Gaga appears to confirm casting in ‘Joker’ sequel

Reuters

Pop star and actress Lady Gaga appeared to confirm her casting in the upcoming motion picture sequel to the Oscar-winning psychological thriller “Joker” on Thursday by posting a musical teaser on Twitter.

‘Lupin’s Omar Sy To Lead John Woo’s Reimagining Of ‘The Killer’ For Peacock

Matt Grobar, Deadline

Universal has announced that Lupin‘s Omar Sy will lead John Woo’s reimagining of his 1989 crime drama The Killer for Peacock.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, Ana Navarro join ‘The View’ as cohosts

David Bauder, The Associated Press

ABC’s “The View” has named two Republicans — Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro — as regular panelists on the daytime talk show, and neither are fans of former President Donald Trump.

‘Devil in the White City’ Ordered to Series at Hulu, Keanu Reeves to Star

Joe Otterson, Variety

The long-gestating adaptation of “Devil in the White City” is officially ordered to series at Hulu with Keanu Reeves set to star in one of the lead roles, Variety has learned.

How “virtual production” is making next-gen movie magic

Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios

The green screen of the future is essentially a massive computer monitor, powered by video game software that can generate almost any environment a filmmaker might want in a TV show or movie.

Video game giants see hundred million dollar dip in revenue amid recession fears

Shannon Liao, The Washington Post

The U.S. economy is facing numerous setbacks, with inflation rising to a 40-year-high, consumer spending declining and a labor market slowdown. Even the video game industry — often described as “recession-proof” because of consumers’ tendency to turn to games in a downturn — hasn’t been insulated from the general downward shift.

Instagram’s TikTok-ification drives an exodus to rivals

Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios

Photographers, designers and other creative types turned off by Instagram’s pivot to TikTok-like features are tentatively moving to alternative platforms.

Reddit Expands Live Audio ‘Talk’ Feature to All Users

Erin Gee, Billboard

The company expands the feature beyond top subreddits to all of its 52 million daily active users.

It’s Time for Big-Name Artists to Join Music’s New Labor Movement

Damon Krukowski, Vanity Fair

A new proposal by Rep. Rashida Tlaib calls for streaming services like Spotify to divert some of their record profits to musicians in the form of direct royalties. An indie-rock veteran (remember Galaxie 500?) explains why your favorite major-label artists have yet to join the chorus of calls for change.

The Managers on the Front Lines of Rap’s Generational Shift

Grant Rindner, Rolling Stone

From SoFaygo to G Herbo, the rising crop of rappers fluent in the language of Gen Z are being managed by MCs of a previous era

‘All for it’ or ‘distasteful’? Fans of the late icon Selena weigh in on a new, remixed single.

Edwin Flores, NBC News

The song, already topping one chart on iTunes, is spurring controversy around an upcoming album produced by her family, decades after the Queen of Tejano music’s death.

Kelis Snaps Back at Beyhive Teasing Over Removal of ‘Milkshake’ Interpolation: ‘Nobody Cried’

Gil Kaufman, Billboard

Even though her song is no longer a part of Beyoncé‘s Renaissance album, Kelis still had a few more things to say about it.

Johnny Depp, Jeff Beck Accused of Stealing Lyrics From Incarcerated Man’s Poem

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

Depp and Beck’s “Sad Motherfuckin’ Parade” appears to share numerous lines with “Hobo Ben,” a toast performed by Slim Wilson and recorded by esteemed folklorist Bruce Jackson in the mid-Sixties