Strategy: Last News

Naman Ramachandran A U.K. parliamentary inquiry that convened to gather evidence for the upcoming media bill pulled no punches, with top TV executives being probed on Tuesday. Though the proceedings began with the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Caroline Dinenage stating that the session was not about the “widely reported issues” at ITV show “This Morning,” committee members ploughed on nevertheless. (ITV CEO Carolyn McCall has been called to give evidence to the committee next week over an affair between former ITV anchor Phillip Schofield and a young employee.) Appearing before the committee, Magnus Brooke, group director of strategy, policy and regulation at ITV, was asked about the duty of care that the editorial team and senior managers provide to staff, especially young staff, at “This Morning” and ITV in general. In response, Brooke said: “There’s a very sophisticated and significant system of safeguarding and duty of care at ITV, with a very significant set of policies.”

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Anders Jensen, the CEO of leading Nordic streaming service, has stepped down from his position and is being replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann with immediate effect. Madsen Lindemann is the former CEO of MTG, which is the previous parent company of Viaplay Group and also listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Jensen’s exit comes as the company announced the downgrade of its short-term outlook for 2023 and has withdrawn its long term operational and financial guidance. During his tenure, Jensen spearheaded the streamer’s global roll-out, including in the U.S., and ramped up the output of scripted and unscripted originals.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Some multi-millionaires enjoy collecting vintage automobiles. Others take to the charity circuit or try to influence politics from behind the scenes. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has his own hobbies. One of them is taking a crowbar to what he believes are underperforming cable assets and renovating them wholesale. Zaslav has swung the wrecking ball time and again in his years leading the company once known as Discovery Communications, a collection of cable networks that had specialized in so-called “unscripted” programming — reality shows and documentary series. In 2008, he struck a pact with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions to transform the network once known as Discovery Health into OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network; scrapped a network once co-owned in part by The New York Times to create the true-crime stalwart Investigation Discovery; and flipped the outlet once known as Discovery Travel & Living Network into Planet Green, a network focused on the environment. When that didn’t pan out, it became Destination America in 2012, centered on American culture. In 2010, he tried to revamp Discovery Kids by forging a joint venture with toymaker Hasbro. Last year, the company refashioned DIY Network, an HGTV sibling focused on fix-it programming, around popular home-repair entrepreneurs Chip and Joanna Gaines and called the result Magnolia.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA congratulated the Directors Guild of America on reaching an agreement with the studios on Sunday, but both groups stressed that the deal does not change their own goals. Both guilds are intent on pushing back against “pattern bargaining,” in which the terms of the DGA deal are typically applied to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. The WGA has been on strike for a month, while SAG-AFTRA begins its negotiations on Wednesday. “Our bargaining strategy has never relied upon nor been dependent on the outcome or status of any other union’s negotiations, nor do we subscribe to the philosophy that the terms of deals made with other unions bind us,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the executive director of SAG-AFTRA, in a statement.

MPs today grilled an ITV boss on claims of 'bullying' at This Morning following allegations of a 'toxic and unhappy' environment at the daytime show.

SAG-AFTRA, which begins negotiations for a new contract on Wednesday, said today that its bargaining strategy remains unchanged in the wake of the tentative deal made last night by the Directors Guild and the studios.

Eamonn Holmes has had his say on Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning, where she made an emotional statement about co-host Phillip Schofield, and branded Josie Gibson the "star of the show".

Martin Frizell, the Editor of embattled ITV daytime show This Morning, has been rebuked by his employer for “extremely ill-judged” remarks about eggplants when questioned over the Phillip Schofield scandal.

The “erosion of the power of writers in the U.S.” can serve as a “learning opportunity” for European storytellers, according to The X Files creator Frank Spotnitz.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Peter Chernin’s global multi-genre studio The North Road Company has acquired Turkish film and TV powerhouse Karga Seven Pictures in its first major move to expand its international market footprint. The company, which is an offshoot of Red Arrow Entertainment Group, originated as a factual content creator in the U.S. before moving into Turkish scripted films and series. Their most recent standout products are Netflix’s original hits “Midnight at the Pera Palace” and “Rise of Empires: Ottoman.” But they now produce many of Turkey’s top shows, including “Hekimoglu” — adapted from the U.S. series “House.” Karga Seven’s founders — Emmy-nominated producers Sarah Wetherbee, Emre Sahin and Kelly McPherson — will remain in leadership roles, according to a statement. Wetherbee and Sahin will serve as global co-CEOs with McPherson as head of English-language content, alongside industry veteran and newly hired Ömer Müjdat Özgüner, who will now serve as Karga Seven’s Turkey CEO.

Jennifer Coolidge has "made a lot of mistakes" in life. The 61-year-old actress shot to fame when she was cast as Stifler's Mom in the 1999 coming-of-age comedy 'American Pie' before going on to star opposite Reese Witherspoon in 'Legally Blonde' and alongside Hilary Duff in 'A Cinderella Story' but started to "pursue guys" rather than drive her career forward at that time. She told Variety: "Now that I’m old enough to really look back at my life and certainly my mistakes, I see a lot of those.

One of the most important rules in a negotiation is you have to be prepared to walk away from the table. This tactic, it seems, is not lost on Kim Cattrall.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor CNN chief Chris Licht told staffers Monday he wants to help them make the news rather than being a central figure in it. In the wake of a devastating profile of the CNN CEO published Friday by The Atlantic, Licht set about soothing frayed nerves Monday by telling employees on the news outlet’s regular morning call that “I should not be in the news unless it’s taking arrows for you. Your work is what should be written about,” according to two people familiar with the matter, The words are the first from Licht to be made public since the piece was unveiled. Thanks to a rich vein of unfettered access provided over months, the piece detailed the executive’s struggles — and some of his insecurities — during his first year on the job at the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed news outlet. David Zaslav, the CEO of the parent company, has articulated a strategy of eliminating some of the activist bent that resounded at CNN under its previous chief, Jeff Zucker. But Licht’s efforts to do so have been plagued by near-constant leaks and a restive staff, many of whom remain loyal to Licht’s predecessor, ousted after he admitted to a longstanding relationship with Allison Gollust, CNN’s former chief marketing officer.

Asda has announced that it is rolling out a major change across more than 600 stores in a move that will be less harmful to the environment.

Jennifer Coolidge got into the thick of things for a conversation with The Bear star Jeremy Allen White in Variety where they discussed their rise to the top of the industry, particularly over the last year. The actress, 61, opened up especially about the means through which she found early success with her work as a character actress and why she feels it was the wrong decision to not capitalize on them. When asked by Jeremy, 32, if she chose roles for longevity or because she found people she liked and wanted to work with, Jennifer responded: "Now that I'm old enough to really look back at my life and certainly my mistakes, I see a lot of those. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan share reactions to Outlander ending with season eightWhy Princess Eugenie's baby's birth is a huge royal firstRobin Roberts will leave Good Morning America in 2023 temporarily for very special reasonInside the 2023 Oscars goodie bagSean Penn and Charlize Theron grace the red carpet together"But I never had any strategy. I just went job to job. I have to say I made the terrible mistake of not riding the wave that I had early on. "The acclaimed comedienne continued: "It was sort of in the '90s when I had Legally Blonde, Best in Show, and American Pie.

Lidl has confirmed it will be rolling out a blanket policy in all of its supermarkets. The change, which is set to come into effect at the start of 2024, is likely to prove controversial with some shoppers.

An SNP MP will present a bill which would require the UK Government to publish a plan to end the use of food banks by 2030.

Mark Schilling Japan Correspondent Studio Ghibli, the iconic Japanese animation studio, will maintain a cloud of secrecy for as long as possible around “How Do You Live,” the final film from maestro Miyazaki Hayao (“Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Princess Mononoke”). The new movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters in Japan on July 14, but Studio Ghibli and its partners will do away with pre-release advertising and advanced information. To date it has released only a single enigmatic poster of a bird.

Angry residents of a West Lothian village who say they are cut off due to a lack of buses are calling on the council to step in and help.

Keir Starmer has said that oil and gas will be used in the UK "for many, many years" after unions raised concerns about Labour's energy plans.

The Writers Guild is congratulating the Directors Guild on achieving a tentative agreement on a new film and TV contract but says its strike will continue unabated and that its own bargaining positions “remain the same” as at the start of the strike on May 2.