Hollywood Buzz: August 2024
By Natalie Lifson, Agent Trainee at Buchwald and your co-Editor-in-Chief at THA
Everything you may have missed in the trades last month...
Unions
SAG-AFTRA continues to strike against video game companies. Read more here.
On August 12th, the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 80), which represents more than 5,000 animation workers, began negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Read more here.
Casting Assistants Vote Unanimously In Favor Of Teamsters Representation -Deadline, 8/12
Teamsters Casting Negotiations Pause Without Deal. -THR, 8/30
New bargaining dates for casting directors, associate casting directors and casting assistants will be scheduled before their pact expires on Sept. 30. -THR, 8/30
Production Assistants Launch Ambitious Bid for Unionization With LiUNA -THR, 9/2
Check out our monthly “Who’s On Strike?” column for more detailed updates on union strikes and negotiations.
Paramount x Skydance Merger
Last month, we shared information about a potential acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance. We reported that on July 11th, Paramount Global announced that they will be acquired by Skydance, with a caveat: If Paramount’s owner, National Amusements, gets a better offer before August 21st, they can pay Skydance a $400 million fee to break the contract and accept the other offer instead.
Since then: On August 19th, only 2 days before the deadline, Edgar Bronfman Jr. countered Skydance’s proposal of $8.4 Billion with a bid of $4.3 Billion, which he then raised to $6 Billion. Although he offered less in terms of dollars, his proposal would offer more money directly to the shareholders. Bronfman dropped the bid entirely on August 26th.
Read more here.
Lawsuits & Disputes
Ongoing
Disney and DirectTV currently have a carriage deal, which is defined as “a contract between a content provider and a cable or satellite television operator, in which the operator agrees to carry the provider’s channels in exchange for a fee.” As the current contract expires and Disney and DirectTV negotiate terms of its renewal, they have not been able to come to an agreement on terms. This has resulted in blackouts of Disney content on DirectTV. Read more here.
NBA Slam Dunks Warner Bros Discovery, Says Company Lacks Reach & Cash To Challenge Amazon TV Rights Deal; TNT Insists League’s “Actions Are Unjustified” As Court Battle Heats Up -Deadline, 8/24
In Win for Studios, Mattel Prevails in $46 Million Suit Filed by Producer Over Allegation of Stolen Reality Show -Variety, 8/6
New AI Lawsuit From Authors Against Anthropic Targets Growing Licensing Market for Copyrighted Content -THR, 8/20
Venu x Fubo (Ongoing)
Disney, Fox & Fubo Lawyers Clash In NY Court As Venu Sports Antitrust Lawsuit Goes Before Judge -Deadline, 8/6
Fubo alleges that the vertically-integrated media companies have engaged in a years-long campaign to block Fubo’s sports-first streaming business resulting in significant harm to both Fubo and consumers. -Cynopsis, 8/16
Judge temporarily blocks sports streaming service Venu, siding with Fubo on antitrust concerns. The joint venture was created by Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox and Disney’s ESPN. -CNBC, 8/16
Disney, Fox and WBD responded in a joint statement: “We respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling and are appealing it. We believe that Fubo’s arguments are wrong on the facts and the law, and that Fubo has failed to prove it is legally entitled to a preliminary injunction. Venu Sports is a pro-competitive option that aims to enhance consumer choice by reaching a segment of viewers who currently are not served by existing subscription options.” -Newsweek, 8/16
Judge In Fubo Lawsuit Against Disney, Fox And Warner Bros Discovery Eyes February Start To Jury Trial -Deadline, 8/26
Resolved
Disney and NBCUniversal are locked in a dispute about how much the former must pay the latter for absorbing the rest of Hulu. -Deadline, 8/7
New Initiatives
CNN Launches FAST Streaming Channel Focused On Original Series -THR, 8/7
Just for Laughs Is Back: Comedy Festival Sets New Dates After Bankruptcy and Canceled 2024 Edition -Variety, 8/21
ESPN, best known for its comprehensive portfolio of national sports rights, sees a chance to get into the business of making games available to fans on a local basis. -Variety, 8/28
Ratings
Industry Trends
Development Fees For Writers On The Rise Amid Depressed TV Buying -Deadline, 8/22
80% of adults 18-34 watch both linear and streaming TV -Cynopsis, 8/16
AI
Hollywood’s Divide on Artificial Intelligence Is Only Growing: “While unions aim to establish guardrails and artists are going to court, studios are looking to use AI tools more often in production.” -THR, 8/6
Condé Nast Inks Multiyear OpenAI Deal for Its Magazine Brands -THR, 8/20
New AI Lawsuit From Authors Against Anthropic Targets Growing Licensing Market for Copyrighted Content -THR, 8/20
How Much Should AI Giants Pay Hollywood? What Insiders Say Has Stalled Any Licensing Deals -Variety, 8/21
California Passes Law Requiring Consent for AI Digital Replicas of Dead Performers -Variety, 8/31
California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers and regulate AI -AP, 9/1
For more about AI, read “From Chaos to Clarity: My Journey with AI in Hollywood” by THA contributor Audrey Henson.
Layoffs
Read “The Laid-Off Assistant: Navigating Mass Layoffs In an Uncertain Industry” by Matthew Threadgill in this month’s edition of THA.
Disney
Disney Entertainment Television Consolidates Casting Of ABC-Hulu-Onyx & 20th TV-ABC Signature -Deadline, 8/6
Disney Turns Streaming Profit For First Time And Ahead Of Schedule -Deadline, 8/7
Disney and NBCUniversal are locked in a dispute about how much the former must pay the latter for absorbing the rest of Hulu. -Deadline, 8/7
Disney Plans To Spend $5B On Movies & TV In Europe Over Next Five Years -Deadline, 8/9
It was “a mistake” to tell CNBC in an interview last year that linear TV assets “may not be core” to the company, Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a new podcast interview. -Deadline, 8/21
Disney Board Committee to Find Bob Iger’s CEO Successor Will Be Led by Morgan Stanley’s James Gorman -Variety, 8/21
Disney Fined $36,000 for Fatal Fall on Set of Marvel Series ‘Wonder Man’ -Variety, 8/23
Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly exploring the sale of smaller assets after considering the possibility of splitting its linear from its streaming and studio businesses. -Cynopsis, 8/7
Warner Bros. Discovery Merges Theme Park, Studio Tour and Retail Groups Into One Division -Variety, 9/5
Paramount
Paramount Television Studios Shutting Down Amid Cutbacks -Deadline, 8/13
To help save $500 million, Paramount is shuttering its namesake studio. But not to worry, they still have two left. -THR, 8/21
Paramount and Skydance merger progresses. Read more here.
ESPN
ESPN has begun a series of sweeping organizational changes that will elevate some top executives and see others part way with the sports programming giant. In a memo to employees, ESPN’s President of Content Burke Magnus outlined a new structure that will make ESPN “more strategic, collaborative and nimble.” -Cynopsis, 8/27
ESPN, best known for its comprehensive portfolio of national sports rights, sees a chance to get into the business of making games available to fans on a local basis. -Variety, 8/28
CBS
CBS Loses Bid to Dismiss Lawsuit From ‘SEAL Team’ Scribe Over Alleged Racial Quotas for Hiring Writers -THR, 8/15
Netflix
Netflix Says 2024 Upfront Ad Commitments More Than Doubled -Variety, 8/20
NBC
Disney and NBCUniversal are locked in a dispute about how much the former must pay the latter for absorbing the rest of Hulu. -Deadline, 8/7
Peacock Sets First Live Comedy Special -Deadline, 9/3
NBC Pulls Back ‘Tonight Show’ to Four Nights Per Week -Variety, 9/6
Film Festivals
Awards
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