The Oscar nominations this week set off a new round of speculation about corporate image: Does it matter that Netflix’s potential Oscar take had dropped to 16 from 36 in 2020?
“I don’t give a f*ck about my corporate image and companies shouldn’t waste their time worrying about their’s.” Those were the words of Martin Davis, the only press agent ever to become CEO of a major media company.
Davis’ behavior in the ‘90s reflected his views: During his decade-long tenure at Paramount, the company endured a succession of public brawls and setbacks.
The Davis Doctrine is worth pondering today given the stalwart efforts of entities like Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros Discovery on image enhancement.
Under Bob Chapek, Disney spent 8.3 million to reward its newly recruited PR chief, Geoff Morrell, for his stint on improving the company’s corporate image. Morrell’s four-month tenure culminated in his firing and,...
“I don’t give a f*ck about my corporate image and companies shouldn’t waste their time worrying about their’s.” Those were the words of Martin Davis, the only press agent ever to become CEO of a major media company.
Davis’ behavior in the ‘90s reflected his views: During his decade-long tenure at Paramount, the company endured a succession of public brawls and setbacks.
The Davis Doctrine is worth pondering today given the stalwart efforts of entities like Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros Discovery on image enhancement.
Under Bob Chapek, Disney spent 8.3 million to reward its newly recruited PR chief, Geoff Morrell, for his stint on improving the company’s corporate image. Morrell’s four-month tenure culminated in his firing and,...
- 1/26/2023
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
The 20th Century Fox lot these days is haunted by the sounds of silence. Disney’s annexation of the Fox empire is imminent but the rules of the game provide that no one on either side is allowed to talk about it. Not even the top executives, and not even to one another.
With Hollywood on the brink of historic change, it’s too bad Louis B. Mayer isn’t around to witness it. It was back in 1924 when Mayer summoned every star in town, even the President of the United States, to honor the opening of his heralded new MGM studio.
The pomp and ceremony was as bogus as it was grand. Mayer’s actual assets at that moment totaled a mere $100,000. And the “G” in Metro Goldwyn Mayer (Samuel Goldwyn) had already fled the venture. Alert to all this, President Calvin Coolidge bailed at the last moment. MGM’s biggest star,...
With Hollywood on the brink of historic change, it’s too bad Louis B. Mayer isn’t around to witness it. It was back in 1924 when Mayer summoned every star in town, even the President of the United States, to honor the opening of his heralded new MGM studio.
The pomp and ceremony was as bogus as it was grand. Mayer’s actual assets at that moment totaled a mere $100,000. And the “G” in Metro Goldwyn Mayer (Samuel Goldwyn) had already fled the venture. Alert to all this, President Calvin Coolidge bailed at the last moment. MGM’s biggest star,...
- 12/6/2018
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated to include comments from At&T CEO Randall Stephenson: Not so fast, At&T.
After a flurry of corporate blue-skying over the past month since the official close of the company’s merger with Time Warner, antitrust regulators at the Department of Justice have filed an appeal of the judge’s decision that allowed it to happen.
The appeal comes after the $85 billion deal was sealed, meaning a positive outcome for the government in its latest effort would entail a breakup not unlike those At&T has been forced to cope with before in its century-plus of corporate empire-building.
The terse notice of appeal (read it here) is signed by Craig Conrath, who led the government’s legal team during the six-week trial of the lawsuit in the spring. The notice contains none of the reasoning behind the appeal, though the Doj is likely to continue insisting that the...
After a flurry of corporate blue-skying over the past month since the official close of the company’s merger with Time Warner, antitrust regulators at the Department of Justice have filed an appeal of the judge’s decision that allowed it to happen.
The appeal comes after the $85 billion deal was sealed, meaning a positive outcome for the government in its latest effort would entail a breakup not unlike those At&T has been forced to cope with before in its century-plus of corporate empire-building.
The terse notice of appeal (read it here) is signed by Craig Conrath, who led the government’s legal team during the six-week trial of the lawsuit in the spring. The notice contains none of the reasoning behind the appeal, though the Doj is likely to continue insisting that the...
- 7/12/2018
- by Dade Hayes and Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Washington — The Justice Department’s lead attorney Craig Conrath said that they had proved that the proposed merger between At&T and Time Warner would lessen competition and harm consumers, and in his closing arguments on Monday, he also referenced statements made by At&T’s CEO, Randall Stephenson.
Stephenson was present in the courtroom for the proceedings, along with Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes. Each had testified in the trial.
Conrath tried to show that At&T recognized the potential harm from a vertical merger transaction around the time it was exploring one with Time Warner.
He cited a conversation that Stephenson had with Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes in the summer of 2016, over Time Warner’s decision to buy a 10% stake in Hulu.
Conrath said, Bewkes wanted to give Stephenson a “heads up” about a “little vertical integration,” as Hulu was launching its own multichannel service and ostensibly would need Time Warner content.
Stephenson was present in the courtroom for the proceedings, along with Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes. Each had testified in the trial.
Conrath tried to show that At&T recognized the potential harm from a vertical merger transaction around the time it was exploring one with Time Warner.
He cited a conversation that Stephenson had with Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes in the summer of 2016, over Time Warner’s decision to buy a 10% stake in Hulu.
Conrath said, Bewkes wanted to give Stephenson a “heads up” about a “little vertical integration,” as Hulu was launching its own multichannel service and ostensibly would need Time Warner content.
- 4/30/2018
- by Ted Johnson
- Variety Film + TV
Washington — The At&T-Time Warner antitrust trial began to wind down on Monday as the Justice Department presented two expert witnesses who have raised doubts about the cost savings and new revenue that can be tied to the merger.
At&T’s John Stankey, tasked with overseeing the integration of the companies, last week testified that his group had identified about $2.5 billion in merger synergies, including cost savings and additional revenue. Those synergies may play a role in how U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ultimately views the transaction, as they make the case that the merger will produce certain efficiencies.
One of the Doj’s witnesses, Ronald Quintero, said that none of the companies claimed synergies that he studied could be verified through documentation or were not specific to the merger. He said that some of the figures that At&T-Time Warner used were speculative.
In a contentious cross-examination,...
At&T’s John Stankey, tasked with overseeing the integration of the companies, last week testified that his group had identified about $2.5 billion in merger synergies, including cost savings and additional revenue. Those synergies may play a role in how U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ultimately views the transaction, as they make the case that the merger will produce certain efficiencies.
One of the Doj’s witnesses, Ronald Quintero, said that none of the companies claimed synergies that he studied could be verified through documentation or were not specific to the merger. He said that some of the figures that At&T-Time Warner used were speculative.
In a contentious cross-examination,...
- 4/24/2018
- by Ted Johnson
- Variety Film + TV
The time has come to augment the endangered species list, with Hollywood media moguls as the latest entries. They used to be the loudest voices in the room, but now you need a scorecard to figure out who’s in charge of what.
Consider this week: The CEOs of At&T and Time Warner took the stand in federal court to slam the Justice Department for opposing their vaunted merger (what will be the fate of CNN and HBO?). Les Moonves must audition again for the (dubious?) privilege of running the newest proposed iteration of CBS-Viacom. With the abrupt dismissal of Gary Barber, MGM shareholders are looking for a new leader and business plan (will the Mark Burnett attachment hold firm?). And tense meetings continue within the newly forged Disney-Fox empire to hammer out a new power structure (will Rupert Murdoch truly limit his clout to the Fox News propaganda machine?...
Consider this week: The CEOs of At&T and Time Warner took the stand in federal court to slam the Justice Department for opposing their vaunted merger (what will be the fate of CNN and HBO?). Les Moonves must audition again for the (dubious?) privilege of running the newest proposed iteration of CBS-Viacom. With the abrupt dismissal of Gary Barber, MGM shareholders are looking for a new leader and business plan (will the Mark Burnett attachment hold firm?). And tense meetings continue within the newly forged Disney-Fox empire to hammer out a new power structure (will Rupert Murdoch truly limit his clout to the Fox News propaganda machine?...
- 4/19/2018
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
In federal court on Wednesday, Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes gave his reasons why the $85 billion merger with At&T should move ahead and attacked government theories on why the deal should be blocked as "ridiculous." He expressed confidence on the witness stand during a direct examination and then skated through a fairly unchallenging cross-examination that left trial observers openly questioning the government's strategy.
His testimony comes nearly at the one-month mark of one of the biggest antitrust showdowns in decades. The U.S. Justice Department asserts that the merger would raise prices for consumers throughout ...
His testimony comes nearly at the one-month mark of one of the biggest antitrust showdowns in decades. The U.S. Justice Department asserts that the merger would raise prices for consumers throughout ...
- 4/18/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Time Warner, the empire that was once poised to conquer both Hollywood and the web, is about to fade into a mere corporate subsidiary, reminding industry players yet again that the ground is shifting under them. Jeffrey Bewkes could walk away with a $95 million exit visa when Tw is absorbed into the amorphous corporate blob known as At&T, as his acolytes at HBO, CNN, Warner Bros and Turner wait nervously to discover what lies in store for them. The bottom-line question…...
- 8/3/2017
- Deadline TV
Time Warner, the empire that was once poised to conquer both Hollywood and the web, is about to fade into a mere corporate subsidiary, reminding industry players yet again that the ground is shifting under them. Jeffrey Bewkes could walk away with a $95 million exit visa when Tw is absorbed into the amorphous corporate blob known as At&T, as his acolytes at HBO, CNN, Warner Bros and Turner wait nervously to discover what lies in store for them. The bottom-line question…...
- 8/3/2017
- Deadline
AOL boss Steve Case, you’ve got hate mail — according to a study by crowd-sourced business insights firm Owler 19. Tim Armstrong, AOL — 44.4/100 18. Charlie Vogt, Imagine Communications — 53.5 /100 17. nm2880042 autoBrian L. Roberts[/link], Comcast — 56.9 /100 16. Richard L. Plepler, HBO — 60.5 / 100 15. Peter Hamilton, Tune — 62.5/100 14. James C. Smith, Thomson Reuters — 66.8/100 13. Thomas Dooley, Viacom — 70.5/100 In November 2016, Bob Bakish was named acting CEO when Dooley stepped down just months after becoming interim chief executive following the ouster of Philippe Dauman. 11. Mike Hopkins, Hulu — 71.5/100 (tie) 11. Jeffrey Bewkes, Time Warner —...
- 6/1/2017
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Time Warner on Wednesday reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings. The entertainment conglomerate's Warner Bros., HBO and Turner units all posted growth in the period. The entertainment conglomerate, led by CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, reported adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $1.25 per share, compared with $1.22 per share in the year-ago period, or 97 cents on an adjusted basis. Wall Street had on average forecast $1.09 per share. Net income reached $1.04 billion, compared with $967 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted operating income, another profitability metric, jumped 85 percent to $1.8
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- 11/3/2015
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings as its Turner networks unit posted solid bottom-line growth and Warner Bros. recorded growth in adjusted operating income despite analysts' expectations for a decline. Overall, the entertainment conglomerate, led by CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted earnings per share of $1.25 compared with 98 cents in the year-ago period. Wall Street had on average forecast $1.02-$1.03. Stifel, Nicolaus analyst Benjamin Mogil said film unit outperformance "was largely attributed to stronger-than-expected video game contributions coupled with lower-than-expected expenses," while Turner saw
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- 8/4/2015
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings as its Turner networks unit posted a 26 percent increase in adjusted operating income to hit its highest quarterly result ever. The entertainment conglomerate, led by CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted earnings per share of $1.19 compared with 97 cents in the year-ago period. Wall Street had on average forecast $1.09. The figures exclude Time Inc., which the company spun off into a separate company last year. Read More Entertainment Earnings Season: What Analysts Are Optimistic (or Worried) About Net income came in at $970 million, down
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- 4/28/2015
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes told an investor day Wednesday that the company has entered "a new era" after selling off various units and appointing new unit leaders, forecasting the firm would double its earnings in the coming years. Bewkes added that Tw had "more than sufficient scale to compete" and to continue to grow and do well despite recent chatter about a possible takeover. Read more Fox's Chase Carey Talks Fox "Ratings Headwinds," Time Warner Bid Time Warner has grown adjusted earnings per share of 25 percent on a compound basis over the past five
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- 10/15/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes and his team will take their message to the Street on Wednesday. Wall Street, that is. The executives are set to outline the entertainment conglomerate's outlook at an investor meeting in New York, where they will no doubt justify a decision three months ago to rebuff an $80 billion takeover offer from Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. Since the offer, which amounted to $85 a share, Time Warner stock has been trending lower. On Monday, it closed down 2 percent to $70.64. While the stock is up 10.4 percent in the
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- 10/14/2014
- by Georg Szalai, Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Haim Saban, the multibillionaire media mogul who is chairman of Univision Communications, said he isn't surprised by Rupert Murdoch's attempt to acquire Time Warner because CEO Jeffrey Bewkes has been grooming the company for a takeover. Speaking on Bloomberg TV Tuesday, Saban said Bewkes has "trimmed the company to the point where he's prepared it for a takeover" and that, in doing so, he may eventually prove himself to be more clever than competing chief executives like Murdoch at 21st Century Fox, Bob Iger at Walt Disney and Brian Roberts at Comcast. "You have companies like Comcast acquiring assets like
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- 7/29/2014
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner has changed its bylaws to prevent shareholders from calling special meetings, a move Wall Street interpreted as a way to thwart a takeover bid from 21st Century Fox. Before the change in its bylaws, which were disclosed Monday in a regulatory filing, Time Warner allowed just 15 percent of its shareholders to call a meeting. Photos Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox has bid about $80 billion — about $85 a share — to acquire Time Warner, but Time Warner's board and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes have rejected the proposal. Some analysts predict that 21st Century
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- 7/21/2014
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The ten highest-paid CEOs of 2013 were announced on Tuesday, as calculated by the Associated Press and Equilar, an executive pay research firm. CBS head Les Moonves, with $65.6 million, came in second to Nabors Industries' Anthony Petrello by nearly $3 million. Walt Disney's Bob Iger nabbed the seventh-highest spot on the list with $34.3 million. Photos: Anna Wintour, Bill O'Reilly, Alec Baldwin Celebrate THR's Most Powerful People in NY Media Also among the top-billed executives are Viacom's Philippe Dauman, Discovery's David Zaslav, Time Warner's Jeffrey Bewkes and Comcast's Brian Roberts. See the list below:
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- 5/27/2014
- by Ashley Lee, The Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes was paid $32.5 million in fiscal 2013, up from $25.9 million a year prior, the company said Monday in a regulatory filing. Bewkes' base pay of $2 million did not change, but his stock awards rose slightly and his option awards shot up to $7.8 million, compared with $3 million in the previous year. On Monday, the stock closed down fractionally to $65.05. Story: CBS' $67 Million Man -- Does Leslie Moonves' Moolah Make Sense? Time Warner stock has been performing well lately, up 40 percent in the past 18 months. John
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- 4/21/2014
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's very possible that no one loves to see famous people more than Lena Dunham, who approaches each award show and gala event with a seemingly endless amount of joy. Despite being fairly famous (and very Internet-famous) herself, if she runs into anyone who's been in anything, she beams like a teen at the final Wanted concert. See Lena get all effusive with Taylor Swift, Aubrey Plaza, Amy Poehler, Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes (the most famous of all those names), and many more. It's a real joy.
- 1/28/2014
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes said Wednesday that the entertainment conglomerate now expects to complete the planned spin-off of its Time Inc. publishing unit in early 2014 instead of late this year. He said this will give new Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp, who takes on the role next month, a little more time to "refine" the company's strategy. "Having someone of Joe’s caliber in place is a key element" of making the spin a success, he said. Story: Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes Says CNN's Jeff Zucker Is 'Working Out Great' During an earnings conference call
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- 8/7/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported higher second-quarter financials that exceeded Wall Street estimates. It also raised its full-year financial targets. Based on the latest results, Tw said it now expects its 2013 adjusted earnings per share growth to hit the mid-teens percentage range compared with the $3.24 recorded for 2012. It had previously predicted low double-digit growth. Photos: Inside DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson's Fangirl Office The entertainment conglomerate, led by CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted second-quarter earnings of $771 million, compared with $413 million in the year-ago period. Earnings per share rose to
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- 8/7/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
July 9 marks day one of the Allen & Co. gathering of media moguls in Sun Valley, Idaho. The full list of attendees has yet to leak, though insiders are acknowledging some of the names expected at the 31st annual event. Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes is expected, though there’s no indication yet that new -- and apparently very busy -- Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara will attend. Activision Blizzard CEO (and Moneyball actor) Bobby Kotick will attend, as will CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, Paramount Pictures head Brad Grey and, briefly, Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, sources
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- 6/27/2013
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported higher first-quarter earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The entertainment conglomerate, led by chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted earnings of $720 million, up 24 percent from the $583 million in the year-ago period. Wall Street had on average predicted a profit of $710 million. Story: Time Warner CEO: 'Nobody' Will Pay for Aereo Service Quarterly revenue amounted to $6.94 billion, down less than 1 percent from $6.98 billion in the year-ago period. Analysts had on average expected $7.15 billion though. Time Warner, which recently said it would spin
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- 5/1/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jeffrey Bewkes won’t be getting a raise in his base salary for the next five years, but he could earn an additional $30 million in stock bonuses during that time frame under the terms of his new deal, disclosed in a regulatory filing Monday. Bewkes’ former contract was set to expire Dec. 31, but he recently signed on as chairman and CEO of Time Warner for another five years, until Dec. 31, 2017, and he’ll qualify for $6 million in additional bonuses each of those five extra years, assuming the company thrives under his leadership. “Bewkes’ base salary and the
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- 11/26/2012
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner said Tuesday it has extended the employment contract of chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes for five years. The agreement keeps him in the top post at the entertainment conglomerate through 2017. Bewkes’ base salary and bonus target will remain unchanged, Time Warner said. "Additionally, the agreement provides for annual long-term incentive awards that are tied directly, and solely, to future financial and shareholder returns," it added. “It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated board of directors, and I appreciate their confidence in me and in the strategy we have formulated to drive the
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- 11/20/2012
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported lower second-quarter earnings, but reiterated its full-year financial forecast. The entertainment conglomerate, led by CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted a profit of $429 million, compared with $637 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted operating profit declined 5 percent to $1.2 billion. Revenue declined 4 percent to $6.7 billion. Financial improvements in the TV networks unit were not enough to offset declines in the film and TV entertainment and publishing divisions. Operating income in the latest period included $147 million in charges related to the shutdown of Turner’s general entertainment network, Imagine,
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- 8/1/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“The Hollywood Reporter has really hurt their credibility. I don’t understand how they could write that stuff. It isn’t true,” Time Warner told me. The strong denial was about a July 11th THR article claiming that Time Warner chief executive Jeffrey Bewkes recently asked Warner Bros chairman and CEO Barry Meyer to remain on the job beyond his scheduled December 2013 departure date – and the veteran executive declined. THR hangs it on ”a knowledgeable source”. Time Warner explained to me, “This story is a complete fabrication. We could not lie about it. Why would we lie about this? Because it’s going to come out one way or the other. Everybody who talked to the Reporter explained that no part of this is true – but they kept writing. How ridiculous.” As for who replaces Barry Meyer, that is if anyone replaces him, ”There’s not even any need to...
- 7/18/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
“The Hollywood Reporter has really hurt their credibility. I don’t understand how they could write that stuff. It isn’t true,” Time Warner told me. The strong denial was about a July 11th THR article claiming that Time Warner chief executive Jeffrey Bewkes recently asked Warner Bros chairman and CEO Barry Meyer to remain on the job beyond his scheduled December 2013 departure date – and the veteran executive declined. THR hangs it on ”a knowledgeable source”. Time Warner explained to me, “This story is a complete fabrication. We could not lie about it. Why would we lie about this? Because it’s going to come out one way or the other. Everybody who talked to the Reporter explained that no part of this is true – but they kept writing. How ridiculous.” As for who replaces Barry Meyer, that is if anyone replaces him, ”There’s not even any need to...
- 7/18/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline TV
This story first appeared in the July 20 issue of The Hollywood Reporter. It's a game that has continued to fascinate Hollywood: Who will run Warner Bros.? The succession issue is now back in play as Time Warner chief executive Jeffrey Bewkes recently asked Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Barry Meyer to remain on the job beyond his scheduled December 2013 departure date. The veteran executive declined to extend his tenure, a knowledgeable source tells THR. (A Time Warner spokesman disputes this.) Photos: 9 Highest Paid Entertainment CEOs If so, the decision would start a countdown for Bewkes
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- 7/11/2012
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John King's CNN show has been canceled.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that "John King USA," which has been on the air since March of 2010, has been yanked from the network lineup. The show will end on June 29th. In its place, Wolf Blitzer's "The Situation Room" will expand back to three hours.
In a memo to staff, CNN president Ken Jautz said that King will become the network's "lead campaign correspondent."
King has long been one of CNN's top political reporters, and he hosted the network's Sunday morning show, "State of the Union" before moving to primetime. But he struggled to gain much traction in the ratings, remaining a perennial third place finisher to Fox News (where Bret Baier has dominated the timeslot) and MSNBC.
The shift comes as CNN is battling through one of its worst ratings crises in decades. In May, the network saw...
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that "John King USA," which has been on the air since March of 2010, has been yanked from the network lineup. The show will end on June 29th. In its place, Wolf Blitzer's "The Situation Room" will expand back to three hours.
In a memo to staff, CNN president Ken Jautz said that King will become the network's "lead campaign correspondent."
King has long been one of CNN's top political reporters, and he hosted the network's Sunday morning show, "State of the Union" before moving to primetime. But he struggled to gain much traction in the ratings, remaining a perennial third place finisher to Fox News (where Bret Baier has dominated the timeslot) and MSNBC.
The shift comes as CNN is battling through one of its worst ratings crises in decades. In May, the network saw...
- 6/13/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Aol TV.
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman on Thursday defended digital licensing deals that his company has struck with the likes of Netflix for its cable networks, particularly Nickelodeon, amid suggestions that they have affected ratings. Just on Wednesday, Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes had cited ratings gains for his Cartoon Network and became the latest to argue that Netflix availability of Nickelodeon content, such as iCarly and SpongeBob SquarePants, was hurting the network. When analysts questioned Dauman about the issue during Viacom's quarterly earnings conference call, he said, "We are getting nice revenues through these subscription VOD deals." Dauman pointed out
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- 5/3/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported improved first-quarter adjusted operating profit and net income that was lower than in the year-ago period, but ahead of Wall Street estimates. Adjusted operating profit grew 6 percent to $1.4 billion. The entertainment conglomerate, led by CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted a quarterly profit of $581 million, compared with $651 million in the year-ago period. Revenue of $7.0 billion, up 4 percent from the year-ago period. For cancelled HBO series Luck, the conglomerate took a $35 million impairment charge, in line with analysts' expectations of a $30 million-$35
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- 5/2/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- TIme Warner said Monday that chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes received compensation worth $25.9 million last year. The total pay package, details of which were disclosed in a regulatory filing, compares with the $26.3 million he made in 2010. Bewkes got the same $2 million base salary in both years. His performance-based bonus for 2011 amounted to $13.5 million, down from $14.4 million a year earlier. His 2011 compensation also included a slight decline in the value of option awards but higher stock awards. Tw's filing also said that it calculated that
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- 4/1/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York - "The media business, and the TV business in particular, has thrived" in recent years despite concerns about digital challenges, Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes told an investor conference on Tuesday. But he urged his peers to make more content available on new platforms in authentication deals with pay TV operators to take full advantage and urged those distributors to focus on better user interfaces and easy authentication processes. At one stage, he even pushed the investment community to push distributors. Bewkes also touted the UltraViolet initiative, which has seen Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Fox, Universal and
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- 2/28/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner on Wednesday reported slightly higher fourth-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations. For the full year 2011, the company also touted its highest revenue growth since 2003 and a profit record for Warner Bros. The stock rose before the stock market opened. The entertainment conglomerate, led by chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, posted a quarterly profit of $773 million, compared with $769 million in the year-ago period. On an earnings-per-share basis, the company exceeded analysts' expectations. Revenue rose 5 percent to $8.2 billion despite some ratings challenges at the company's TV networks unit.
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- 2/8/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York - Time Warner's stock has had a strong run since the fall, leading Barclays Capital analyst Anthony Diclemente on Monday to downgrade his rating on it to "equal weight," similar to other Wall Street observers' "neutral" rating, from "overweight." "Since Sept. 1, Tw shares are up 21 percent, versus the S&P 500 up 9 percent, nearly reaching our 12-month price target of $38 more quickly than we anticipated," Diclemente wrote in a report. Among challenges for the company, led by chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, he cited "tough comparisons" for the conglomerate's film unit in
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- 1/30/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York - Time Warner said Monday it has partnered with aid organizations to combat the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa with the help of DC Entertainment superheroes and the slogan "We Can Be Heroes." Tw chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes promised at a press event at the entertainment conglomerate's headquarters here a "very forceful, multifaceted campaign" that will take advantage of all company units, including their story telling, brand and marketing capabilities, as well as their global reach, to raise awareness and funds as social responsibility "is in the DNA of the company." Hoping to get
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- 1/23/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Top entertainment executives are being targeted for harassment by activists because of their companies' support of the Stop Online Piracy Act that is being discussed in Congress. Sources say that Jeffrey Bewkes, chairman and CEO of Time Warner, one of many Hollywood conglomerates that have publicly backed the proposed anti-piracy legislation, recently received menacing phone calls and e-mails from Sopa critics. (One source says voice-mails have been left swearing at executives, though that has not been confirmed). Bewkes' personal information also has been disseminated online among activists opposing Sopa. A Time Warner spokesman declined to comment. Photos:
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- 1/13/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Georg Szalai
New York - After a long search, Time Warner has chosen Laura Lang, who has been CEO of digital advertising powerhouse Digitas, as the new CEO of its Time Inc. magazine unit, the entertainment conglomerate said on Wednesday. Lang, who has led Publicis-owned Digitas since 2008 after joining the firm in 1999, is expected to continue an aggressive digital push by the unit, which is the largest U.S. magazine publisher. Her hire comes after Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes early this year fired Jack Griffin who had caused a culture clash as leader of the magazine division, according to
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New York - After a long search, Time Warner has chosen Laura Lang, who has been CEO of digital advertising powerhouse Digitas, as the new CEO of its Time Inc. magazine unit, the entertainment conglomerate said on Wednesday. Lang, who has led Publicis-owned Digitas since 2008 after joining the firm in 1999, is expected to continue an aggressive digital push by the unit, which is the largest U.S. magazine publisher. Her hire comes after Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes early this year fired Jack Griffin who had caused a culture clash as leader of the magazine division, according to
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- 11/30/2011
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emmys Live-Blog; Emmys By The Numbers; Backstage At The Emmys; Emmy Analysis: Broadcast TV’s Big Awards Comeback Updated: The who’s who from the small-screen world were all dressed up for TV’s biggest night. A look at the movers and shakers. (Photos by Lysa Nalin Studios) Time Warner’s Jeffrey Bewkes, left, and HBO’s Richard Plepler Left: Warner Bros TV Group’s Bruce Rosenblum with wife Andie Right: ABC-Disney’s Anne Sweeney and husband Phil Miller 20th Century Fox TV’s Dana Walden, second from left, with husband Matt, and Gary Newman, right, with wife, attorney Jeanne Newman Left: CBS TV Studios’ David Stapf and wife Tami; Right: Warner Bros TV’s Peter Roth and wife Andrea Left: The CW’s Mark Pedowitz and wife Carolyn Martin; Right: NBC’s Bob Greenblatt and Richard Licata HBO’s Eric Kessler, Bill Nelson and Michael Lombardo Read More »...
- 9/19/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes received compensation worth $26.3 million in 2010, according to a proxy statement filed Tuesday. The 58-year-old executive saw his base salary increase by a quarter-million dollars, to $2 million. Additionally, he got a bonus of $14.4 million and $5.52 million in stock and $4.07 in options. His total compensation is up 34 percent over the previous year, when he received $19.6 million. Also read: 'From Iger to Dauman to Murdoch, Media Mogul Salaries Swell in 2010' According to the filing, "The Compensation Committee approved an increase in Mr. Bewkes’...
- 3/30/2011
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Superman fans seem split between sympathy and contempt for the estates of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster who have gone after their legal right to reclaim certain aspects of the Man of Steel's copyright. Back in December, Joanne Siegel, wife of Jerry and the model for Lois Lane way back at the beginning, wrote a letter to Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, which is heartfelt and puts a human face on all the courtroom drama that has gone on. It will be interesting to see how/if the studio responds and how far-reaching this letter is thanks to the Internet. Normally we would only print an excerpt, but with all due respect and acknowledgment of Deadline as the source, we felt it important to present the entire letter. Please weigh in on your views. December 10, 2010 Jeffrey L. Bewkes Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Time Warner Inc. Dear Jeff,...
- 3/28/2011
- ComicBookMovie.com
In 2010, Netflix spent roughly $550 million on postage fees, a sum that has declined significantly from years past and could drop even lower in 2011. Thanks to ramped up streaming efforts, the number of DVDs Netflix is mailing out to subscribers is beginning to slow, says Steve Swasey, VP of corporate communications. That's good news for the Los Gatos, CA-based company, which pays about "$1 roundtrip" per DVD, according to Swasey, and significantly less to deliver that content online.
But such success in the digital market has also increased competition from the likes of Amazon, HBO, and Hulu--not that Netflix feels any of these companies have become direct competitors yet.
"There will be [competition] at some point--Netflix won't run without pure competition for long," Swasey says. "Right now, there are three models, and Netflix is running uniquely with the subscription model."
The other two models, he explains, are the pay-per-view model, which is "the Amazons and Apples and Blockbusters,...
But such success in the digital market has also increased competition from the likes of Amazon, HBO, and Hulu--not that Netflix feels any of these companies have become direct competitors yet.
"There will be [competition] at some point--Netflix won't run without pure competition for long," Swasey says. "Right now, there are three models, and Netflix is running uniquely with the subscription model."
The other two models, he explains, are the pay-per-view model, which is "the Amazons and Apples and Blockbusters,...
- 2/11/2011
- by Austin Carr
- Fast Company
Miami – Time Warner’s CEO Jeffrey Bewkes famously compared Netflix to the Albanian army, saying it wasn’t going to take over the world. Now that army is planning a frontal attack on the crown jewels of the Warner empire -- its first run movie output.
At Natpe on Tuesday morning, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said that in advance of 2014 when HBO’S pay TV output deal with Warner Bros. expires, his company will make an offer for those rights that if nothing else will make HBO pay more to keep them.
“We will be an aggressive bidder for that content,” stated Sarandos. “That will be good for Warner Bros., not so good for HBO.”
Sarandos brushed aside Bewkes’s “Albanian army” comments in December to the New York Times as simply his “aggravation” about being questioned about the impact of Netflix rapid growth, expansion and high stock price.
At Natpe on Tuesday morning, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said that in advance of 2014 when HBO’S pay TV output deal with Warner Bros. expires, his company will make an offer for those rights that if nothing else will make HBO pay more to keep them.
“We will be an aggressive bidder for that content,” stated Sarandos. “That will be good for Warner Bros., not so good for HBO.”
Sarandos brushed aside Bewkes’s “Albanian army” comments in December to the New York Times as simply his “aggravation” about being questioned about the impact of Netflix rapid growth, expansion and high stock price.
- 1/25/2011
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After winning a decade long battle with Blockbuster, Netflix's troubles are still far from over. The company is increasingly facing heat for its rapidly growing success. In recent weeks, Netflix has been at the center of a war between Comcast and its service provider, Level 3. Today, more heat comes courtesy of Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, who belittled Netflix and insinuated that its potential is overhyped.
"It's a little bit like, is the Albanian army going to take over the world?" Bewkes said in an interview with the New York Times. "I don't think so."
Bewkes' criticism isn't out of left field. Netflix's success hinges on licensing deals for content with media corporations such as Time Warner, and the more its library of TV and movies expands, especially online, the more likely consumers will be willing to cut the cable cords. This is an issue of particular concern of Bewkes,...
"It's a little bit like, is the Albanian army going to take over the world?" Bewkes said in an interview with the New York Times. "I don't think so."
Bewkes' criticism isn't out of left field. Netflix's success hinges on licensing deals for content with media corporations such as Time Warner, and the more its library of TV and movies expands, especially online, the more likely consumers will be willing to cut the cable cords. This is an issue of particular concern of Bewkes,...
- 12/13/2010
- by Austin Carr
- Fast Company
New York - The era of media moguls is over, Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said here Wednesday.
Nowadays, big companies are the stars, and firms from the traditional and new media worlds act on the same stage, he said on the opening day of the 2010 International Council Meeting at The Paley Center for Media in a session that was webcast.
In the old media business world, people spoke of moguls who were often self-promoting guys and undisciplined when it came to deals and the like. "We're not moguls anymore," Bewkes said later. "We're reasonable people" who try to make the right decisions.
Asked about Netflix, which has given industry players headaches as they try to figure out whether it is friend or foe, Bewkes lauded the convenience and "great interface" of its online streaming service.
“We don’t worry about antagonizing Netflix,” he said. “But what you...
Nowadays, big companies are the stars, and firms from the traditional and new media worlds act on the same stage, he said on the opening day of the 2010 International Council Meeting at The Paley Center for Media in a session that was webcast.
In the old media business world, people spoke of moguls who were often self-promoting guys and undisciplined when it came to deals and the like. "We're not moguls anymore," Bewkes said later. "We're reasonable people" who try to make the right decisions.
Asked about Netflix, which has given industry players headaches as they try to figure out whether it is friend or foe, Bewkes lauded the convenience and "great interface" of its online streaming service.
“We don’t worry about antagonizing Netflix,” he said. “But what you...
- 11/17/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York - Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said Wednesday that the company will launch premium VOD films in HD, and eventually in 3D, by the second quarter and said that it may make sense to lengthen the 28-day delay, with which its studio currently makes DVD releases available to Netflix and DVD rental kiosk operator Redbox.
He made the comments on Time Warner's third-quarter earnings conference call, which put the spotlight on new and emerging ways to distribute content digitally.
Tw executives also said that the conglomerate's HBO business will end the year with about 1.5 million fewer subscribers than it had at the end of 2009 driven by a decline in Cinemax non-revenue-generating, or promotional, subscribers. Last year, Dish Network had a Cinemax promotion, which has ended, the company said. As many as 15%-20% of total subscribers at any time are promotional, non-revenue generating users. Tw also...
He made the comments on Time Warner's third-quarter earnings conference call, which put the spotlight on new and emerging ways to distribute content digitally.
Tw executives also said that the conglomerate's HBO business will end the year with about 1.5 million fewer subscribers than it had at the end of 2009 driven by a decline in Cinemax non-revenue-generating, or promotional, subscribers. Last year, Dish Network had a Cinemax promotion, which has ended, the company said. As many as 15%-20% of total subscribers at any time are promotional, non-revenue generating users. Tw also...
- 11/3/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes says Rick Sanchez might someday return to CNN despite his controversial statements against Jews running the media and Jon Stewart.
"He did a lot of good work on CNN and anything is possible. I wish him well," Bewkes said in an interview on “Your World with Neil Cavuto” on Fox News Channel Wednesday (via Newser). "I think that he is a talented guy and he will have a lot of interest in different channels and, who knows, maybe some day the right place for him is at one of ours."
But it won't be any time soon.
Added Bewkes of rehiring Sanchez, who released an apology Thursday: "I don’t think we should do that now and I am sure he would like to try something new as well."
Bewkes says he was "not involved" in the decision to fire Sanchez, but he "knew" and agreed.
"He did a lot of good work on CNN and anything is possible. I wish him well," Bewkes said in an interview on “Your World with Neil Cavuto” on Fox News Channel Wednesday (via Newser). "I think that he is a talented guy and he will have a lot of interest in different channels and, who knows, maybe some day the right place for him is at one of ours."
But it won't be any time soon.
Added Bewkes of rehiring Sanchez, who released an apology Thursday: "I don’t think we should do that now and I am sure he would like to try something new as well."
Bewkes says he was "not involved" in the decision to fire Sanchez, but he "knew" and agreed.
- 10/7/2010
- by By Lindsay Powers
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes spoke to Fox Business Network.s (Fbn) Neil Cavuto about the battle between television and digital realms, the firing of Rick Sanchez, the future of television and recent changes at CNN, saying Parker-Spitzer.s debut .leaves room for improvement,. that Jon Klein.s firing was part of a .structural change. that .needed. to happen and Klein was .not surprised. to be let go. Fox Business Network' Neil Cavuto asked the following On whether he would hire Rick Sanchez back: .You know, I wish Rick well. He did a lot of good work on CNN. Anything is possible. I wish him well. He is a talented guy, he is going to have a lot of interest in different channels.
- 10/7/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
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