Strategy: Last News

Nothing to hide! As some Real Housewives confess to trying the weight loss drug Ozempic, Gina Kirschenheiter is stepping on the scale to prove a point.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Hong Kong Disneyland theme park managed a 22% increase in visitor numbers in its most recent financial year allowing it to modestly reduce its annual losses. The park, which is jointly owned by the Hong Kong government and Walt Disney, with the government holding a narrow majority, reports a financial year to the end of September – and does so more than seven months in arrears. It has been loss-making for the past eight financial years and has made profits in only three years since its opening in 2005. The 2021-2022 financial year was again complicated by the city’s strict anti-COVID restrictions. It was fully closed for three and a half months (longer than the previous financial year) and operated under other social distancing and pandemic measures. Additionally, inbound tourism was heavily curtailed, especially from mainland China. That meant that during the reporting period, the park and hotels were largely visited by locals only.

Telly, a startup led by a co-founder of Pluto TV, is taking a novel tack in promoting its dual-screen smart TV sets.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Ilya Pozin made a bunch of money when Viacom bought Pluto TV, the free video-streaming company he co-founded, for $340 million four years ago. Since exiting Pluto about a year after that deal closed, Pozin has been working on another startup venture — one he thinks will be a much bigger deal. On Monday, Pozin’s brainchild, Telly, comes out of stealth after two years in development. Telly wants to ship out thousands (and eventually millions) of free 4K HDTVs, which would cost more than $1,000 at retail, according Pozin. The 55-inch main screen is a regular TV panel, with three HDMI inputs and an over-the-air tuner, plus an integrated soundbar. The Telly TVs don’t actually run any streaming apps that let you access services like Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+; instead, they’re bundled with a free Chromecast with Google TV adapter.

Two-dozen TV, film and animation companies have won funding from the BFI and UK government’s latest £2.1M ($2.6M) Global Screen Fund payout.

Aiden McGeady has thanked Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson for his time and insight after a meeting with the Parkhead power broker.

Jason Sudeikis’s award-winning creation of Ted Lasso was inspired, in part, by the arrival of Donald Trump on the political scene. 

Myleene Klass has admitted becoming an MP is on her “list”, but won’t reveal for which party. The former Hear’Say singer turned radio presenter and businesswoman was announced on Friday as the winner of the first Legends version of the reality show – nearly 17 years after she finished runner-up. And having branched out from music into running a clothing line as part of a business empire, she told the Sunday Telegraph she has been approached by both Conservatives and Labour to enter politics.

William and Kate have shared incredible behind the scene footage of the Coronation. The Prince and Princess of Wales posted a link to the five-minute clip with the caption: "The Coronation Weekend. A film by Will Warr."

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Freshman drama “Quantum Leap” is taking a quantum leap to Tuesdays, as NBC unveiled a mostly strike-proof fall schedule that features three new series (two dramas and a comedy) and a crowded midseason bench. The Peacock net’s lineup is heavy as always on football and Dick Wolf: And even more so on the pigskin, as NBC’s new deal to cover Big Ten football kicks in with a new Saturday showcase. But with few changes in store, the network will rely on established series to launch its freshman entries. NBC will use unscripted mainstay “The Voice” on Mondays to launch the new Jesse L. Martin starrer “The Irrational,” based on author Dan Ariely’s “Predictably Irrational,” at 10 p.m. On Tuesday, the hit “Night Court” revival will continue to lead off the night and help launch the new comedy “Extended Family,” starring Jon Cryer and Donald Faison, and from Mike O’Malley, at 8:30 p.m.

Yaccarino, a graduate of Penn State University, served as the chair of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal, acting as «the strategic and operational bridge across the entirety of NBCUniversal's global networks, properties, and business units,» according to her profile on LinkedIn. Her role involved monetizing the company's networks, digital and streaming platforms, distribution and commerce partnerships, and client relationships.

Lionsgate has merged its Production and Acquisitions groups under a single Content banner, to be headed by Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane.

Charna Flam Lionsgate announced it has merged its production and acquisitions groups under a single content banner, and the new division will be led by Nathan Kahane, Motion Picture Group president. The new structure, announced Friday by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake, will optimize Lionsgate’s impact in developing, producing and acquiring a wider breadth of films for distribution. Joining Kahane, Lionsgate’s Jason Constantine has been named Motion Picture Group’s co-president, and will oversee creative strategy and report directly to Kahane. Constantine drove acquisitions of the “John Wick,” “Expendables” and “Saw” franchises.

The country's leading trade union body has blasted the Scottish Government’s energy strategy on moving to a future beyond oil and gas.

BreAnna Bell “The Winchesters” has been canceled after one season at The CW, with the network also canceling the reboot of “Kung Fu” after three seasons. “As we reimagine the new CW, we had to make some tough programming decisions,” The CW said in a statement. “We thank our partners at Warner Bros. and the casts and creative teams of ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘The Winchesters’ for all their hard work, creativity and dedication.” The “Supernatural” prequel series “The Winchesters” followed demon hunters Sam and Dean’s parents, John (Drake Rodger) and Mary (Meg Donnelly), telling the story of how the couple met as teens and how they ultimately came together to save the entire world. The story is told from Dean’s (Jensen Ackles) perspective, marking the first return of Ackles’ character since the series finale in November of 2020.

The CW has been busy north of the border.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Since its establishment in 2019, Leonine Studios has become one of Germany’s leading film distributors. Forged by the merger of two companies, Concorde Film and Universum Film, the distribution powerhouse releases between20 and 25 films a year, including around five in-house productions or co-productions, says Bernhard zu Castell, Leonine Studios’ chief distribution officer. “Our aim is to offer a slate of event movies that is an optimal blend of genres for all target groups and all our partners in the highest possible quality,” adds zu Castell, who previously headed Universum Film. “This strategy was key in establishing ourselves as a reliable distributor and licensor for all content platforms.”

Naman Ramachandran International documentary marketplace Sunny Side of the Doc has revealed the 42 projects from 23 different countries that make up the official selection for its 34th edition. The projects will participate in pitch sessions in front of more than 300 international decision-makers, including major broadcasters, streamers, foundations, distributors, buyers and other investors looking for stories with the biggest impact. This year’s call for projects received 320 responses from 56 different countries (compared to 275 in 2022), 43% of which were led by female filmmakers. The pre-selection committee selected the 42 most inspiring and promising projects.

When you're fast-tracked into senior football, compared to Lionel Messi by your captain and command a £37million fee all before your 19th birthday it's fair to say you've set the bar high.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Jenny Tartikoff, the executive VP of global communications at Paramount Pictures, has departed the studio. “I wanted to let you know that Jenny Tartikoff informed me that she will be departing the company, effective today,” Paramount’s president & CEO Brian Robbins said in a statement. “She has been a trusted colleague to us, and I am grateful for her contributions to the studio and our team. Please join me in wishing her the very best.” Tartikoff, a veteran of Universal and Spotify, was hired at Paramount in November of 2021. She reported to Robbins and was responsible for the studio’s corporate communication strategies, including media relations, executive and internal communications and corporate social responsibility.

Disney will be yanking some content from streaming as it rethinks its costs and strategy, and is looking at a content impairment charge of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion as it does.