TV Networks Hammer Buyers for Big Rate Hikes in Early Upfront Ad Sales Talks

After Tom Brady‘s “difficult” retirement announcement at the beginning of February, fans are now wondering if his Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammate, Rob Gronkowski, will follow suite. Rob is currently a free agent, meaning he can pick his next location should he decide to keep playing. “Gronk had a taste of retired life that involved the WWE, television and commercial opportunities but was swayed back by his friend Tom Brady,” a source EXCLUSIVELY revealed to HollywoodLife. And now that Tom is gone, and Rob is a free agent and still young, he is leaning towards retiring again and going back to TV and other analyst opportunities.”

Just under two weeks after Jeff Zucker resigned from CNN, the cable newser’s chief marketing exec Allison Gollust is out too.

Sony will release it’s first movie of 2022, and second Tom Holland title after Spider-Man: No Way Home over the 4-day Presidents Day weekend, Uncharted, in what is expected to be a $70M+ haul worldwide.

Heroism, obsession, sheet ice and huskies. It’s a winning combination, the stuff of stories that show men – because these were stories about men – reaching beyond themselves to survive the elements. Sometimes, even in stories, they didn’t survive because they sacrificed themselves for their comrades, finding their best selves in tough situations. Before imaginary superheroes took over, these tall tales and true of derring-do used to fill children’s annuals.

Two very different musicals are wrapped up into one bewildering package with the New Group’s “Black No More,” which opened Tuesday night off-Broadway.  Part of the show is an occasionally on-the-money satire about a fictitious device from the 1930s that can turn black people white. The poetic opening narration brings to mind “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” But what follows is an unnecessarily bombastic melodrama that makes “Les Misérables” look like “Blue’s Clues.”2 hours, 30 minutes, with one intermission.

purrfect parody of “Titanic” has captured the hearts of cat lovers on Valentine’s Day. On Monday, viral video personality Owl Kitty released a pawsitively enchanting take on James Cameron’s romance epic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.Except this version saw the DiCaprio’s lovestruck Jack Dawson fall for a long-haired black tabby.

Where is the rest of the wolf pack? The cast for the Teen Wolf revival movie has been announced, but it doesn’t seem like everyone from the core group will be back.

Miranda Lambert has donated $20,000 to 20 animal shelters across the US to celebrate Valentine's Day.MORE: Miranda Lambert wows fans during fun date with her husbandThe 38-year-old country music star gave $1000 to 20 locations, according to Fox 17. "Shelter pets — especially the ones that are hardest to get adopted — and the people who care for them, have always had my heart," she shared.WATCH: Miranda Lambert shares video with her dog Delta Dawn, a pug and chihuahua mix"Valentine's Day gives me one more chance to show just how special they all are to me."Miranda also took to social media on the big day to share with fans that her organization MuttNation was celebrating 14 February by "helping you find your own mutt match" for those looking to adopt a pet pooch.MORE: Miranda Lambert dotes over her adorable animals as she shares rare glimpse into home lifeAlongside the quiz Miranda also shared a video of herself with dog Delta Dawn, a pug and chihuahua mix, whom she rescued from outside a Sonic in Oklahoma."I went to get a cherry limeade and left with a chug and cherry limeade," she shared.

He's been a longtime admirer of the Muppets.And Brett Goldstein recently brought one of his dreams to fruition when he dropped by Sesame Street and jumped in a trash can next to Oscar the Grouch.The 41-year-old Ted Lasso star joked that the green trash dweller was a 'kindred spirit' to him in a tweet from Tuesday after the official Sesame Street account shared a short clip featuring him. Same vibes: Brett Goldstein, 41, had a dream come true when he filmed an appearance on Sesame Street next to his 'kindred spirit' Oscar the GrouchIn the short video, Big Bird walks past a trash can and a recycling bin filled with Brett and Oscar.He pauses the song he's singing to himself to say to the two, 'Isn't it a beautiful day?' But the comedian and the Muppet aren't interested in Big Bird's cheeriness.Brett lets out a growl familiar to Ted Lasso fans and Oscar returns it, before both duck down into the bins and the lids flip closed.

Lily Rose Depp was spotted while getting into character for her role in the upcoming drama series The Idol in Los Angeles.The 22-year-old actress wore pin curls in her hair and was ready to shoot in a face full of makeup, as she prepared to shoot scenes forThe Weeknd's HBO show.Depp was dressed in a long, navy blue dress with black trimming, as well as a long black coat. Working: Lily Rose Depp was spotted while getting into character for her role in the upcoming drama series The Idol in Los AngelesUnderneath the dress the performer, who's the daughter of Johnny Depp andVanessa Paradis, wore a pair of light grey sweatpants.

Sarah Jessica Parker made a shocking revelation on Monday's episode of her pal Andy Cohen'slate-night talk show Watch What Happens Live.After admitting she has chosen not read any criticism of the Sex and the City revival, which hit HBO Max in December, the56-year-old New Year's Eve star told viewers she had a 'confession' to make 'everybody.''I have not seen episodes three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten yet. It’s my problem,' the two-time Emmy winnerdivulged to the host, 53.

While NBC delivered the most-watched Super Bowl in five years, that also didn't stop HBO's Euphoria from delivering a series high as well.HBO aired the sixth episode of Euphoira's second season during the big game on Sunday night, entitled A Thousand Little Trees of Blood, which drew in a series high 5.1 million viewers, via Deadline.The show rose an impressive 20% from the previous week - an episode where Rue Bennett (Emmy winner Zendaya) hit rock bottom - with the tally also surpassing the season average by 45%. Super Bowl:While NBC delivered the most-watched Super Bowl in five years, that also didn't stop HBO's Euphoria from delivering a series high as well Series high:HBO aired the sixth episode of Euphoira's second season during the big game on Sunday night, entitled A Thousand Little Trees of Blood, which drew in a series high 5.1 million viewers, via DeadlineThe new episode followed Rue as she continued her struggle with both sobriety and her suicidal tendencies as her mother (Nika King) tries to get her into a rehab facility.The ratings uptick isn't terribly surprising given the outpouring of praise for Zendaya's performance in last week's episode, Stand Still Like the Hummingbird.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAllison Gollust, the chief marketing officer at CNN, has resigned from the network following a WarnerMedia investigation into “issues associated with Chris Cuomo and former Governor Andrew Cuomo,” according to a memo from Jason Kilar, the company’s CEO.“Performed by a third-party law firm and led by a former federal judge, the investigation was comprehensive and definitive.  It was commissioned in September and concluded this weekend, which now allows me to share additional information with you,” Kilar said.

Andrew Whitworth drops by an upcoming edition of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, where the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle opens up about the team’s win at this year’s Super Bowl.

Editors Note: In Hollie McKay’s latest special report for Deadline, the veteran foreign affairs correspondent and Only Cry for the Living: Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield author is in eastern Ukraine, where Vladimir Putin’s forces loom just over the border as Russia threatens a possible invasion.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe nation’s big media companies are on a new mission: finding ways to unite thousands of individual binge-watchers into a cohesive mass audience.Madison Avenue is eager to chase consumers moving from TV to new streaming hubs like Paramount Plus, Peacock and HBO Max. But when advertisers do, they find a much different set of viewing patterns than they do on the old familiar screen.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorRob Master loves the idea of putting commercials into new Hollywood streaming hubs like Peacock, HBO Max and Paramount Plus. But he’s not so enchanted with the costs being demanded by the media companies that own the sites.NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia and others are seeking a premium from sponsors eager to attach their ads to streaming shows.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorWarnerMedia tried to put its best foot forward on Wednesday by focusing on the future of its own media assets, rather than questions about its looming spinoff from AT&T and merger with Discovery.Executives at the AT&T-owned media conglomerate put a spotlight on the company’s broad array of media outlets and talent during an upfront presentation to advertisers. The showcase, largely pre-taped, featured Leslie Odom Jr.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe largest TV networks are getting ready to snare billions of dollars from Madison Avenue. And lose them, all at the same time.Expectations are high for the industry’s annual upfront, when TV networks try to sell the bulk of their commercial inventory for the upcoming season.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorIn decades past, the networks’ sports departments were usually given just a sliver of the overall time in any upfront presentation. In 2021, Fox Sports is stepping out on its own.The Fox Corp.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTV usually belongs to the celebrities who play the nation’s favorite characters — people such as Ellen Pompeo, the star of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” or Milo Ventimiglia from NBC’s “This Is Us.” During the industry’s upfront market, however, many eyes move instead to the network ad-sales chiefs.These execs will be out in full force over the next several weeks, eager to keep the tens of billions of advertising dollars flowing into their companies’ corporate coffers.