Viacom and CBS

• Viacom Inc. has increased the purview of four veteran programming executives, with two other executives –  Kent Alterman and Sarah Levy – leaving the company ahead of its expected merger with CBS Corp. next month. Chris McCarthy will oversee four additional networks, while David Nevins, who currently manages Showtime, will add CBS Television Studios and BET to his portfolio. 

• CBS reported third-quarter operating income of $501 million, down $189 million year over year, with revenue up 1 percent to $3.30 billion. Content licensing and distribution revenues also increased 1 percent, while affiliate and subscription fee revenues rose 12 percent, in part due to increased fees from affiliated stations and retransmission revenues, as well as growth from streaming services. 

• In its final earnings report before merging with CBS, Viacom reported $3.43 billion in quarterly revenue, with Paramount Pictures having a profitable year for the first time since 2015, with the company attributing the growth in full-year film revenue to “licensing and ancillary revenues.” Viacom’s Pluto TV streaming service also saw gains, with monthly active users now totaling approximately 20 million, a 70 percent increase this calendar year. 

Streaming services

• Former HBO Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Plepler, who oversaw the development of shows including “Game of Thrones” and “Veep,” is discussing an exclusive production deal between his newly formed production company, RLP & Co., and Apple TV+, according to a person familiar with the matter. The source said that if a deal is finalized, it could happen in the next few weeks. 

• Walt Disney Co.’s Disney+ streaming service experienced outages during its Nov. 12 launch, with more than 8,000 subscribers noting service disruptions and error messages around 9 a.m., according to DownDetector.com, though insiders noted that the majority of consumers were able to watch content with no issues. In a statement, Disney attributed the problems to “consumer demand” that had “exceeded our high expectations.” 

• HBO Max is reportedly in talks to reunite the six stars of “Friends” for an unscripted reunion special that would stream exclusively on the platform, which is set to launch next year and will feature all 10 seasons of the sitcom. Sources say that Bob Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and its direct-to-consumer service, has been advocating for the special, though a deal with the cast and creators is far from being complete.

• NBCUniversal is looking for 10 sponsors to purchase ad packages worth $25 million or $15 million for its upcoming Peacock streaming service, according to people familiar with the pitch. Sources say NBCUniversal is not offering guarantees of subscriber numbers or impressions, but will be monitoring ad frequency to prevent overexposure and will use the same prime pod model it has been using on its linear networks. 

Talent agencies 

• Abrams Artists Agency has signed the Writers Guild of America’s Code of Conduct, becoming one of more than 70 agencies – including Verve, Kaplan Stahler and Buchwald – that can represent Guild members. The Big Four agencies, William Morris Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, ICM Partners and United Talent Agency, have yet to sign the Code, which bans agency packaging fees and affiliate production. 

• Creative Artists Agency is reportedly discussing replacing nearly $760 million in debt with a new $1.15 billion loan that would be used to buy back shares from a minority of employees. Those with equity positions – including Bryan Lourd and Richard Lovett – will have the option to sell their shares or hold on to their stakes. 

Netflix

• Mo’Nique filed a lawsuit against Netflix Inc., alleging racial and gender discrimination after she said she was offered $500,000 for a stand-up special, while other comedians, including Eddie Murphy and Ellen DeGeneres, were offered millions of dollars. Netflix said in a statement that it takes “accusations of discrimination very seriously” but said it will be fighting the lawsuit as it believes the offer made to Mo’Nique was “fair.” 

• After receiving complaints, including one from Polish premier Mateusz Morawiecki, Netflix will edit the documentary series “The Devil Next Door” to amend inaccurate maps that located Nazi concentration camps in modern-day Poland. In a statement, Netflix said it stands by the filmmakers, but would add clarifying text to the maps in the coming days.

• The American Film Institute’s AFI Fest is happening now and will run through Thursday. Highlights include screenings of films such as “A Hidden Life,” Amazon Studios’ “The Aeronauts” and “The Banker,” which will later stream on Apple TV+. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos will also be there in conversation with Susan Ruskin, the dean of the AFI Conservatory. 

• Recode’s annual Code Media conference will be held Monday and Tuesday. Led by Recode’s Peter Kafka and Kara Swisher, topics of discussion include the future of digital media companies, content creation and distribution and the role of emerging studios like Blumhouse, Annapurna and A24 in Hollywood. A number of speakers, including Disney’s direct-to-consumer and international Chairman Kevin Mayer, will be featured. 

• Nominations for the Grammy Awards will be announced on Wednesday, while nominations for the Film Independent Spirit Awards will be announced on Thursday. 

• The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will host the 2019 Entertainment Industry Conference Thursday starting at 8:30 a.m. Highlights include a panel on the streaming age, as well as discussions with Ty Warren, vice president of worldwide productions for Netflix, and Executive Director of the California Film Commission, Colleen Bell. 

1) As Film, Television Seek Inspiration In Real Events, How Soon Is Too Soon?
Sarah Shevenock, Morning Consult 

2) Like Y Combinator, but for Hollywood Scripts
Lydia Horne, Wired 

3) It’s No Joke: Audiences Want Antiheroes, Moral Ambiguity in Films
Sarah Shevenock, Morning Consult 

4) CBS Chief Will Get $100 Million Severance and Still Keep His Job
Anders Melin and Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg 

5) Netflix is leaving millions on the table by not giving ‘The Irishman’ a wide theatrical release
Sarah Whitten, CNBC 

6) Can Kevin Mayer Deliver the Future of Disney?
Erich Schwartzel and Joe Flint, The Wall Street Journal 

7) Streaming wars are starting to claim casualties
Tim Peterson, Digiday 

8) Days of Our Lives: Entire Cast Released From Contract — Is the End Nigh?
Michael Ausiello, TVLine 

9) Kevin Durant and other NBA stars are funding a start-up with their millions to challenge TV sports
Bob Woods, CNBC 

10) Can NBC Halt Jimmy Fallon’s Long Ratings Tumble?
Marisa Guthrie, The Hollywood Reporter