Mark Marshall has been given a lot of time to prepare for NBC Universal’s annual presentation to advertisers. Last year, he only had 72 hours.
Marshall, a longtime second-in-command at NBCU’s ad-sales division, at about this time last year found himself unexpectedly in charge of the company’s “upfront” process — an annual sale of advertising that has in recent years generated approximately $7 billion in commitments from sponsors — after the abrupt departure of his colorful predecessor, Linda Yaccarino. She had served in the role since 2012 and surprised her corporate bosses and dozens of clients by taking a new job as CEO of X, the social-media hub once known as Twitter.
NBC typically dazzles Madison Avenue with talk of BravoCon, “Sunday Night Football” and “Saturday Night Live.” Marshall was being asked to do just that when the chatter around the company was about anything else.
Within hours of Yaccarino’s departure becoming known,...
Marshall, a longtime second-in-command at NBCU’s ad-sales division, at about this time last year found himself unexpectedly in charge of the company’s “upfront” process — an annual sale of advertising that has in recent years generated approximately $7 billion in commitments from sponsors — after the abrupt departure of his colorful predecessor, Linda Yaccarino. She had served in the role since 2012 and surprised her corporate bosses and dozens of clients by taking a new job as CEO of X, the social-media hub once known as Twitter.
NBC typically dazzles Madison Avenue with talk of BravoCon, “Sunday Night Football” and “Saturday Night Live.” Marshall was being asked to do just that when the chatter around the company was about anything else.
Within hours of Yaccarino’s departure becoming known,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal is coming for your wallet as plans to raise the price of Peacock for the second time in two years get underway! The subscription price for the streaming service will increase by $2 this summer, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The price hike starts in July, with Peacock Premium jumping to $7.99. Meanwhile, Premium Plus, the tier offering limited advertising, download capability, and live local programming, boosts to $13.99. Annual plans for Premium go up to $79.99, while Premium Plus increases to $139.99.
Woof! Peacock’s new pricing structure will go into effect on July 18 for new customers, and existing subscribers will be charged more at their next billing cycle (on or after August 17). The price increase comes as the 2024 Summer Olympics prepare to broadcast from July 26 to August 11. Plans to increase Peacock’s price come after the company said in a quarterly review that it collected more than $1.1 billion in revenue.
Despite Peacock...
Woof! Peacock’s new pricing structure will go into effect on July 18 for new customers, and existing subscribers will be charged more at their next billing cycle (on or after August 17). The price increase comes as the 2024 Summer Olympics prepare to broadcast from July 26 to August 11. Plans to increase Peacock’s price come after the company said in a quarterly review that it collected more than $1.1 billion in revenue.
Despite Peacock...
- 4/29/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
NBCUniversal is hiking the price of Peacock for the second time in two years, tacking $2 onto the cost of the streaming service this summer, around the time of the Paris Olympics.
Beginning in July, the monthly price for Peacock Premium will increase to $7.99. Premium Plus, which offers limited advertising, download capability and live local programming, will now be $13.99. Annual plans will go up to $79.99 for Premium and $139.99 for Premium Plus.
The change will take effect starting July 18 for new customers, and for existing subscribers at their next billing date on or after August 17. The timing is similar to that of a 2023 hike, which was the first since Peacock’s launch in 2020. The Summer Olympics in Paris are slated to run from July 26 to August 11.
The pricing change comes just days after NBCU parent Comcast offered the latest snapshot of Peacock’s financials. In a quarterly earnings report last Thursday, the...
Beginning in July, the monthly price for Peacock Premium will increase to $7.99. Premium Plus, which offers limited advertising, download capability and live local programming, will now be $13.99. Annual plans will go up to $79.99 for Premium and $139.99 for Premium Plus.
The change will take effect starting July 18 for new customers, and for existing subscribers at their next billing date on or after August 17. The timing is similar to that of a 2023 hike, which was the first since Peacock’s launch in 2020. The Summer Olympics in Paris are slated to run from July 26 to August 11.
The pricing change comes just days after NBCU parent Comcast offered the latest snapshot of Peacock’s financials. In a quarterly earnings report last Thursday, the...
- 4/29/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast said chairman and chief executive Brian Roberts’ pay package for 2023 totaled $35.47 million, up from $32 million the year before. It included a $2.5 million base salary, stock awards valued at about $15 million, $9.2 million in option awards and $8.55 million in what’s called non-equity incentive plan compensation – like a cash bonus.
Proxies list the salaries of a company’s top five highest paid executives. They generally come out in the spring ahead of annual shareholder meetings.
Mike Cavanagh, Comcast president and Roberts’ no. 2, had a package worth $29.6 million, a drop from $40.5 million in 2022.
Proxy season, as it’s called, is drawing to a close with the last few in the media sector out today.
Earlier Friday, Liberty Media said CEO Greg Maffei was granted a package worth $28.7 million last year. And Kristin Dolan, who stepped into the CEO role at AMC Networks in February of 2023, had a package of $14.5 million for the year.
Proxies list the salaries of a company’s top five highest paid executives. They generally come out in the spring ahead of annual shareholder meetings.
Mike Cavanagh, Comcast president and Roberts’ no. 2, had a package worth $29.6 million, a drop from $40.5 million in 2022.
Proxy season, as it’s called, is drawing to a close with the last few in the media sector out today.
Earlier Friday, Liberty Media said CEO Greg Maffei was granted a package worth $28.7 million last year. And Kristin Dolan, who stepped into the CEO role at AMC Networks in February of 2023, had a package of $14.5 million for the year.
- 4/26/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with executive comments. Nearly four years since the launch of NBCUniversal streaming flagship Peacock, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh says the service is “seeing traction” with its blend of entertainment and sports.
The exec delivered the comment to Wall Street analysts after Comcast reported solid first-quarter financials, including Peacock’s $1.1 billion in revenue, narrower losses and subscriber count of 34 million.
Asked about Peacock’s original content spending outlook, Cavanagh replied in a qualitative rather than quantitative way.
“I think you can expect to see us having a very broad approach,” he said, without offering any specific figures. Sports and entertainment are “interplaying well with each other” on Peacock, he said. He noted the breakouts of Ted and Traitors Season 2 in the first quarter, which coincided with a record-setting NFL playoff telecast.
“It’s sports, it’s originals, it’s next-day airing of NBC content, it’s our library and it’s our pay-1 movies,...
The exec delivered the comment to Wall Street analysts after Comcast reported solid first-quarter financials, including Peacock’s $1.1 billion in revenue, narrower losses and subscriber count of 34 million.
Asked about Peacock’s original content spending outlook, Cavanagh replied in a qualitative rather than quantitative way.
“I think you can expect to see us having a very broad approach,” he said, without offering any specific figures. Sports and entertainment are “interplaying well with each other” on Peacock, he said. He noted the breakouts of Ted and Traitors Season 2 in the first quarter, which coincided with a record-setting NFL playoff telecast.
“It’s sports, it’s originals, it’s next-day airing of NBC content, it’s our library and it’s our pay-1 movies,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
You don't need a crystal ball to accurately predict what this summer's biggest TV event will be.
The 2024 Olympics are sure to overshadow everything else on television when they debut on July 26.
The quadrennial competition always captures the nation's attention like few other events, which is why networks are willing to shell out major bucks for the broadcast rights.
But these days, there are very few guarantees of success in the world of television, as potential viewers have more entertainment options than ever before.
Hell, until last year, even Super Bowl ratings were on a steady decline.
The situation has put networks like NBC in a difficult position:
Historically successful properties like the Olympics are more in demand than ever, as streamers and broadcast outlets fight over a TV audience that seems to shrink every year.
Those properties are delivering smaller ratings these days, but they represent a much smaller risk than,...
The 2024 Olympics are sure to overshadow everything else on television when they debut on July 26.
The quadrennial competition always captures the nation's attention like few other events, which is why networks are willing to shell out major bucks for the broadcast rights.
But these days, there are very few guarantees of success in the world of television, as potential viewers have more entertainment options than ever before.
Hell, until last year, even Super Bowl ratings were on a steady decline.
The situation has put networks like NBC in a difficult position:
Historically successful properties like the Olympics are more in demand than ever, as streamers and broadcast outlets fight over a TV audience that seems to shrink every year.
Those properties are delivering smaller ratings these days, but they represent a much smaller risk than,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Tyler Johnson
- TVfanatic
Oscar week is finally here! Ask anyone who has been in the thick of awards season and they’ll likely let out a huge sigh followed by exasperated admission that this has been one of the most hectic runs in recent memory. The condensed calendar, forced by last year’s dual strikes, could translate to more lively bashes, however, as there’s light at the end of the tunnel with Sunday’s Oscars. That can only mean that champagne is currently popping at A-list bashes across Los Angeles, and The Hollywood Reporter is on the scene everywhere from Vanity Fair and Elton John to MPTF’s Night Before. See below for the roundup of all the red carpet action.
Vanity Fair
Editor in chief Radhika Jones hosted a milestone 30th anniversary party at a custom designed structure that connects the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with Beverly Hills City Hall.
Vanity Fair
Editor in chief Radhika Jones hosted a milestone 30th anniversary party at a custom designed structure that connects the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with Beverly Hills City Hall.
- 3/7/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba and Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong touted the momentum of NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, thanks to the likes of Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-nominated Oppenheimer, as well as such series as Ted and The Traitors, and the benefits of having a combined offering of entertainment and sports content during an appearance at an investor conference in San Francisco on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Tmt Conference in a session that was webcast, he was asked about the recently unveiled sports streaming joint venture of Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp. “We’ve seen a lot of value in having sports and entertainment in one portfolio,” Armstrong responded. “Because as important as sports is, and it’s super important as an acquisition driver, it ends up being about 10 percent of our overall usage … but what are people sticking around for and doing in between sports is between our pay-one original library,...
Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Tmt Conference in a session that was webcast, he was asked about the recently unveiled sports streaming joint venture of Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp. “We’ve seen a lot of value in having sports and entertainment in one portfolio,” Armstrong responded. “Because as important as sports is, and it’s super important as an acquisition driver, it ends up being about 10 percent of our overall usage … but what are people sticking around for and doing in between sports is between our pay-one original library,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comcast hosted about 300 at its Philadelphia headquarters Tuesday to highlight the technology side of its business, one that’s less covered than entertainment but sets it apart from media rivals, and gives its content an attractive home.
The vibe at the first Comcast Converge was a bit upfront-ish, hosted by SNL’s Keenan Thompson for a New York contingent that’s not part of Comcast’s footprint including financial analysts, press and partners. “Technology has definitely changed how people watch [SNL],” said Thompson. “Fans will still come up to me and say they saw me on TV last night. But just as many folks say, ‘I saw you on YouTube,’ or ‘I loved you on Instagram.’ Or ‘You were very funny on Black-ish. I tell them that it’s not me, it’s Anthony Anderson, and at least they can Google ‘Who is Anthony Anderson’.”
There were Gritty jokes and Wawa jokes,...
The vibe at the first Comcast Converge was a bit upfront-ish, hosted by SNL’s Keenan Thompson for a New York contingent that’s not part of Comcast’s footprint including financial analysts, press and partners. “Technology has definitely changed how people watch [SNL],” said Thompson. “Fans will still come up to me and say they saw me on TV last night. But just as many folks say, ‘I saw you on YouTube,’ or ‘I loved you on Instagram.’ Or ‘You were very funny on Black-ish. I tell them that it’s not me, it’s Anthony Anderson, and at least they can Google ‘Who is Anthony Anderson’.”
There were Gritty jokes and Wawa jokes,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock Gained Millions of Customers During Exclusive NFL Wild Card Game, But How Does it Keep Them?
NBCUniversal executives acknowledge that retaining customers is the next challenge for the service, which is building scale steadily.
Despite all of the progress that Peacock has made over the past year, the streamer still has a ways to go in order to achieve the all-important status of being profitable. Peacock added 3 million subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2023, and another 2.8 million signed up just to watch the streamer’s exclusive NFL Wild Card game on Jan. 13. But during the company’s conference call to discuss its Q4 2023 earnings, executives from NBCUniversal’s parent company Comcast acknowledged that the challenge is not only in getting new customers signed up but keeping them signed up.
Peacock will get “Oppenheimer,” which led all movies with 13 Oscar nominations in February. The streamer will also offer every event of the 2024 Summer Olympics live. The real key to engagement for Peacock will be new, scripted originals...
Despite all of the progress that Peacock has made over the past year, the streamer still has a ways to go in order to achieve the all-important status of being profitable. Peacock added 3 million subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2023, and another 2.8 million signed up just to watch the streamer’s exclusive NFL Wild Card game on Jan. 13. But during the company’s conference call to discuss its Q4 2023 earnings, executives from NBCUniversal’s parent company Comcast acknowledged that the challenge is not only in getting new customers signed up but keeping them signed up.
Peacock will get “Oppenheimer,” which led all movies with 13 Oscar nominations in February. The streamer will also offer every event of the 2024 Summer Olympics live. The real key to engagement for Peacock will be new, scripted originals...
- 1/26/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Comcast execs did some more crowing about Peacock’s landmark AFC Wild Card game this month and said it drove paid signups to the streaming service. They declined to specify how many new customers came aboard but said they’re focused on retaining those — and all — subscribers and scaling up the streamer, which passed $1 billion in revenue and hit 31 million subscribers last quarter.
Losses of $845 million were narrowed, and peaked in 2023, but, in any case, the company isn’t stressing about that or about content spending — a bit of different playbook from other traditional media companies who have been pushing profitability over sub growth for the past year and a half. Comcast is bigger, more diversified and has the strongest balance sheet of the group. It has a massive “connectivity” business with cable, broadband and wireless.
Related: Peacock Restructures Marketing Operation, Resulting In Layoffs
That’s driven speculation the company...
Losses of $845 million were narrowed, and peaked in 2023, but, in any case, the company isn’t stressing about that or about content spending — a bit of different playbook from other traditional media companies who have been pushing profitability over sub growth for the past year and a half. Comcast is bigger, more diversified and has the strongest balance sheet of the group. It has a massive “connectivity” business with cable, broadband and wireless.
Related: Peacock Restructures Marketing Operation, Resulting In Layoffs
That’s driven speculation the company...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock, the streaming service of Comcast’s entertainment unit NBCUniversal, grew its fourth-quarter revenue by 57 percent to surpass $1 billion for a quarter for the first time, while narrowing its loss. The streamer ended 2023 with 31 million paying subscribers, the media, entertainment and technology giant disclosed Thursday.
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said at an investor conference in early December that Peacock had reached 30 million subs. It ended September with 28 million subscribers after adding 4 million during the third quarter. That meant a gain of around 3 million in the final quarter of 2023.
Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong told analysts during a morning call that the 3 million new Peacock subscribers during the latest financial quarter came in part from viewers drawn to NFL and Big Ten football games, without specifying actual numbers. NBCU’s loss related to Peacock amounted to $825 million in the fourth quarter, compared with a year-ago loss of $978 million on revenue of $660 million.
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said at an investor conference in early December that Peacock had reached 30 million subs. It ended September with 28 million subscribers after adding 4 million during the third quarter. That meant a gain of around 3 million in the final quarter of 2023.
Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong told analysts during a morning call that the 3 million new Peacock subscribers during the latest financial quarter came in part from viewers drawn to NFL and Big Ten football games, without specifying actual numbers. NBCU’s loss related to Peacock amounted to $825 million in the fourth quarter, compared with a year-ago loss of $978 million on revenue of $660 million.
- 1/25/2024
- by Georg Szalai and Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The entertainment company that everyone in Hollywood is talking about is based in a nondescript three-story office building in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts.
Nestled between an indoor ice-skating rink and a Home Depot distribution center is the headquarters of National Amusements, Inc., a movie theater operator with 22 cinemas in the U.S., almost all in the New York to Boston corridor.
But it’s not the movie theaters that have investment bankers, media moguls and opportunistic private equity firms salivating. National Amusements, the pride and joy of the media titan Sumner Redstone, and now controlled by his daughter Shari, serves as a holding company for the family’s most precious asset: voting control of Paramount Global, the owner of CBS, Paramount+, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and other media brands.
Paramount — or at least control of Paramount via National Amusements — now appears to be on the block, with Redstone reportedly...
Nestled between an indoor ice-skating rink and a Home Depot distribution center is the headquarters of National Amusements, Inc., a movie theater operator with 22 cinemas in the U.S., almost all in the New York to Boston corridor.
But it’s not the movie theaters that have investment bankers, media moguls and opportunistic private equity firms salivating. National Amusements, the pride and joy of the media titan Sumner Redstone, and now controlled by his daughter Shari, serves as a holding company for the family’s most precious asset: voting control of Paramount Global, the owner of CBS, Paramount+, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and other media brands.
Paramount — or at least control of Paramount via National Amusements — now appears to be on the block, with Redstone reportedly...
- 12/15/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
To understand the connection between sports and streaming video, consider this: Amazon’s $1 billion per year deal to stream Thursday Night Football is literally changing U.S. internet habits. Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, speaking Dec. 4 at a Ubs conference, said Amazon’s Tnf game “comprises roughly 25 percent of all internet traffic on Thursday nights” and that it single-handedly “moved peak data usage on our broadband network from Sunday night to Thursday night.” And Comcast, with more than 32 million broadband internet subscribers, knows where users are spending that valuable bandwidth.
It’s a cliché to say that sports is the glue holding together what’s left of the pay TV bundle, but while the bundle isn’t dead yet, every media company with sports rights has decided to go all in on streaming. Or, as analyst Brad Adgate notes, this is the year that leagues and broadcasters are starting to say,...
It’s a cliché to say that sports is the glue holding together what’s left of the pay TV bundle, but while the bundle isn’t dead yet, every media company with sports rights has decided to go all in on streaming. Or, as analyst Brad Adgate notes, this is the year that leagues and broadcasters are starting to say,...
- 12/15/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Only Murders in the Building and The Bear, meet The Mandalorian and Loki.
Hulu content is now available on Disney+, with the company officially adding a Hulu tile to its homepage Wednesday, placing it alongside brands like Marvel, Pixar, Disney and Star Wars.
The tile will be available to anyone with both a Disney+ and a Hulu subscription, and clicking through will take them to a Hulu content hub, featuring most of Hulu’s original and acquired TV series and movies.
Subscribers to both services will see the Hulu tile automatically (assuming they signed up with the same email), with no other process required to get the Hulu content. Notably, Disney will automatically factor in whether users are subscribers to the advertising-supported tiers or ad-free tiers. In other words, if a user subscribes to Disney+’s ad-free tier but doesn’t pay premium for Hulu’s ad-free tier, the Disney+ shows will be ad-free,...
Hulu content is now available on Disney+, with the company officially adding a Hulu tile to its homepage Wednesday, placing it alongside brands like Marvel, Pixar, Disney and Star Wars.
The tile will be available to anyone with both a Disney+ and a Hulu subscription, and clicking through will take them to a Hulu content hub, featuring most of Hulu’s original and acquired TV series and movies.
Subscribers to both services will see the Hulu tile automatically (assuming they signed up with the same email), with no other process required to get the Hulu content. Notably, Disney will automatically factor in whether users are subscribers to the advertising-supported tiers or ad-free tiers. In other words, if a user subscribes to Disney+’s ad-free tier but doesn’t pay premium for Hulu’s ad-free tier, the Disney+ shows will be ad-free,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Telemundo Enterprises is getting a new chairman.
The Spanish-language content division of NBCUniversal has named Luis Fernández its new chairman. Fernández, the former president of its news division Noticias Telemundo, will report to Cesar Conde, who oversees the NBC News Group, the NBC local stations and Telemundo.
He succeeds Beau Ferrari, who was elevated to chairman of Telemundo three years ago. Ferrari will become a senior advisor to Conde.
Fernández, who had led Telemundo’s news division since 2015, had previously retired from the company at the end of 2021. Before joining Telemundo, he served as CEO of Radio Television Española (Rtve), Spain’s state-run TV and radio service; as president of Univision Entertainment and Univision Studios; and as international CEO of Real Madrid.
“Throughout his extraordinary career, Luis has time and again shown visionary leadership, building and growing the most successful Spanish language media organizations in the United States and overseas,...
The Spanish-language content division of NBCUniversal has named Luis Fernández its new chairman. Fernández, the former president of its news division Noticias Telemundo, will report to Cesar Conde, who oversees the NBC News Group, the NBC local stations and Telemundo.
He succeeds Beau Ferrari, who was elevated to chairman of Telemundo three years ago. Ferrari will become a senior advisor to Conde.
Fernández, who had led Telemundo’s news division since 2015, had previously retired from the company at the end of 2021. Before joining Telemundo, he served as CEO of Radio Television Española (Rtve), Spain’s state-run TV and radio service; as president of Univision Entertainment and Univision Studios; and as international CEO of Real Madrid.
“Throughout his extraordinary career, Luis has time and again shown visionary leadership, building and growing the most successful Spanish language media organizations in the United States and overseas,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The streaming service has also achieved its goal of peak losses this year, says Comcast President Mike Cavanagh.
Peacock has officially taken flight. NBCUniversal’s streaming service had an impressive 2022 that saw it double its subscriber total while other streamers labored to change their models, prioritizing a boost in average revenue per user (Arpu) over subscriber numbers.
Peacock now numbers 30 million users, an increase from the 28 million it claimed in its third quarter earnings report. The additions mean that Peacock will have added at least 10 million users in 2023. Comcast President Mike Cavanagh says that Peacock has achieved peak losses, and can start building toward profitability. Sign Up $5.99+ / month peacocktv.com Peacock’s Continued Growth
At last count in October, Peacock revealed that it had 28 million subscribers. That number represented its third quarter totals, showing a slower growth than mega-sized streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, but steady progress nevertheless.
The...
Peacock has officially taken flight. NBCUniversal’s streaming service had an impressive 2022 that saw it double its subscriber total while other streamers labored to change their models, prioritizing a boost in average revenue per user (Arpu) over subscriber numbers.
Peacock now numbers 30 million users, an increase from the 28 million it claimed in its third quarter earnings report. The additions mean that Peacock will have added at least 10 million users in 2023. Comcast President Mike Cavanagh says that Peacock has achieved peak losses, and can start building toward profitability. Sign Up $5.99+ / month peacocktv.com Peacock’s Continued Growth
At last count in October, Peacock revealed that it had 28 million subscribers. That number represented its third quarter totals, showing a slower growth than mega-sized streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, but steady progress nevertheless.
The...
- 12/5/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Peacock has hit 30 million paying subscribers, and Comcast thinks it will only continue to get bigger.
At the Ubs Global Media and Communications conference Monday morning, Comcast president Mike Cavanagh revealed the new subscribers number, adding that the average Arpu (average revenue per user) is $10 per month.
“Remember we started cold three years ago because of the change in ownership of Hulu,” Cavanagh said, adding that the company was pleased with Peacock’s growth, and is focused on growing it domestically.
Peacock, he added, is NBCUniversal’s gateway to streaming.
“We’re still very significant in distribution — as much as anybody in the traditional linear world — nothing’s going to change the gravity that that side of the business is feeling, but the infrastructure that we have as we bring it to life, in the form of Peacock, is a great is a great way to think about the game we’re trying to play,...
At the Ubs Global Media and Communications conference Monday morning, Comcast president Mike Cavanagh revealed the new subscribers number, adding that the average Arpu (average revenue per user) is $10 per month.
“Remember we started cold three years ago because of the change in ownership of Hulu,” Cavanagh said, adding that the company was pleased with Peacock’s growth, and is focused on growing it domestically.
Peacock, he added, is NBCUniversal’s gateway to streaming.
“We’re still very significant in distribution — as much as anybody in the traditional linear world — nothing’s going to change the gravity that that side of the business is feeling, but the infrastructure that we have as we bring it to life, in the form of Peacock, is a great is a great way to think about the game we’re trying to play,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comcast has collected what it hopes will be a first payment from Disney for its stake in Hulu, marking “the beginning of a process” to value the streamer, company President Mike Cavanagh said at a media conference Monday.
The anticipated $8.61 billion dollar check arrived Friday, he told investors at a Ubs media conference in NYC.
Disney said it that it will acquire the remaining 33% stake in Hulu it doesn’t already own from the NBC Universal parent. A deal between the Hulu owners established a floor of that amount. Any additional payout, or not, will depend on an evaluation process underway with both companies and their investment banks. The process was moved up — to this fall from January of 2024 — and the Disney check was due Dec. 1.
The 2019 agreement included a put/call that allowed Comcast to ‘put’ its stake to Disney, or the Bob Iger-run company to buy it.
The anticipated $8.61 billion dollar check arrived Friday, he told investors at a Ubs media conference in NYC.
Disney said it that it will acquire the remaining 33% stake in Hulu it doesn’t already own from the NBC Universal parent. A deal between the Hulu owners established a floor of that amount. Any additional payout, or not, will depend on an evaluation process underway with both companies and their investment banks. The process was moved up — to this fall from January of 2024 — and the Disney check was due Dec. 1.
The 2019 agreement included a put/call that allowed Comcast to ‘put’ its stake to Disney, or the Bob Iger-run company to buy it.
- 12/4/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Jeff Shell, whose tenure running NBCUniversal came to an abrupt end last spring, is in advanced talks to join private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners.
The executive, who had already been working in an informal capacity with the firm, is in discussions to come aboard full time early next year, a rep from the company told Deadline.
The Wall Street Journal had the first report on the negotiations.
Shell exited NBCU last April after an internal investigation uncovered an “inappropriate” relationship with a colleague, who was later identified as a reporter and host with CNBC. In the months after Shell’s departure, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh took on Shell’s oversight duties and handed out promotions to key execs at NBCU like Donna Langley and Mark Lazarus.
RedBird, which is led by former Goldman Sachs banker Gerry Cardinale, has made a number of high-profile investments in entertainment and sports. It has helped bankroll Skydance Media,...
The executive, who had already been working in an informal capacity with the firm, is in discussions to come aboard full time early next year, a rep from the company told Deadline.
The Wall Street Journal had the first report on the negotiations.
Shell exited NBCU last April after an internal investigation uncovered an “inappropriate” relationship with a colleague, who was later identified as a reporter and host with CNBC. In the months after Shell’s departure, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh took on Shell’s oversight duties and handed out promotions to key execs at NBCU like Donna Langley and Mark Lazarus.
RedBird, which is led by former Goldman Sachs banker Gerry Cardinale, has made a number of high-profile investments in entertainment and sports. It has helped bankroll Skydance Media,...
- 11/27/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock emerged as a bright spot in Comcast’s third quarter earnings report on Thursday. The platform added 4 million subscribers for a total of 28 million. This, combined with increased prices for the streamer, grew its revenue to $830 million. In addition to its solid earnings numbers, several other indicators look positive for Peacock in the short, medium and long term. The question is whether NBCUniversal will be able to fully take advantage of these strengths to make Peacock a more competitive platform.
In the immediate term, Peacock has been well positioned to weather the content stoppages of the strikes with its catalog of unscripted content. Highly in-demand competition series from NBC like “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice” are available on Peacock. The platform’s lineup of Bravo reality series is a cornerstone of its library and WWE shows often rank among the most in-demand on Peacock.
The end of the...
In the immediate term, Peacock has been well positioned to weather the content stoppages of the strikes with its catalog of unscripted content. Highly in-demand competition series from NBC like “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice” are available on Peacock. The platform’s lineup of Bravo reality series is a cornerstone of its library and WWE shows often rank among the most in-demand on Peacock.
The end of the...
- 10/30/2023
- by Christofer Hamilton
- The Wrap
Wall Street gave decidedly mixed reviews to Comcast’s third-quarter earnings report, even though the numbers beat analysts’ expectations on both the top and bottom lines.
Shares in the media giant fell more than 8% to close at $39.15, in part due to investor angst over a surprising decline in broadband subscribers. The total dropped 18,000 year-over-year to settle at 32.3 million, though analysts had forecast an increase of 3,600 subscribers.
The closing price is the stock’s lowest since June 6. While stocks across the media sector, including notables like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global, have been in the red thus far in 2023, Comcast’s is up 5%.
During a fairly uneventful, hour-long conference call with analysts after the release of the numbers, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh was asked about domestic advertising. Although the vital line item declined 8% compared with the year-ago quarter, a bigger drop than the 5% one in the prior quarter, Cavanagh...
Shares in the media giant fell more than 8% to close at $39.15, in part due to investor angst over a surprising decline in broadband subscribers. The total dropped 18,000 year-over-year to settle at 32.3 million, though analysts had forecast an increase of 3,600 subscribers.
The closing price is the stock’s lowest since June 6. While stocks across the media sector, including notables like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global, have been in the red thus far in 2023, Comcast’s is up 5%.
During a fairly uneventful, hour-long conference call with analysts after the release of the numbers, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh was asked about domestic advertising. Although the vital line item declined 8% compared with the year-ago quarter, a bigger drop than the 5% one in the prior quarter, Cavanagh...
- 10/26/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
NBCUniversal’s flagship streamer Peacock reached 28 million subscribers after adding 4 million during the latest quarter, and did so on a narrowed loss of $565 million.
The studio’s streaming service lost $614 million in the year-ago period. The entertainment conglomerate earlier pointed to “peak losses” at around $3 billion for Peacock this year, which on Thursday were reduced to a $2.8 billion loss outlook.
The latest Peacock earnings report, published as part of Q3 results from NBCU parent company Comcast, also showed streamer revenues coming in at $840 million, up 64 percent from a year-earlier.
Comcast Corp. president Mike Cavanagh on a morning analyst call said the media giant was sticking to its plans for Peacock to anchor its transition to the streaming space from legacy linear TV networks. “We continue to be pleased with our progress in the few short years since we’ve pivoted our streaming strategy as a result of the ownership changes at Hulu,...
The studio’s streaming service lost $614 million in the year-ago period. The entertainment conglomerate earlier pointed to “peak losses” at around $3 billion for Peacock this year, which on Thursday were reduced to a $2.8 billion loss outlook.
The latest Peacock earnings report, published as part of Q3 results from NBCU parent company Comcast, also showed streamer revenues coming in at $840 million, up 64 percent from a year-earlier.
Comcast Corp. president Mike Cavanagh on a morning analyst call said the media giant was sticking to its plans for Peacock to anchor its transition to the streaming space from legacy linear TV networks. “We continue to be pleased with our progress in the few short years since we’ve pivoted our streaming strategy as a result of the ownership changes at Hulu,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shares of Comcast slipped as much as 8% in pre-market trading on Thursday despite beating Wall Street expectations for its third quarter of 2023.
The NBCUniversal parent reported adjusted net income of $4.48 billion, or earnings of $1.08 per share, up 6.2% and 12.5% year over year, respectively. Total revenue grew 0.9% year over year to $30.1 billion, while analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research were expecting earnings of 94 cents per share on revenue of $29.64 billion.
Peacock, which added 4 million paid subscribers during the quarter, posted revenue of $830 million, up 64% year over year compared to $506 million a year ago. Meanwhile, the streamer’s adjusted Ebitda loss narrowed to $565 million, compared to $614 million a year ago. The company expects Peacock to hit peak losses of $2.8 billion in 2023, down from previous guidance of peak losses of $3 billion, and “meaningful Ebitda improvement” for the streamer in 2024.
But revenue in the Studios segment dropped 25% year over year thanks to a dismal film...
The NBCUniversal parent reported adjusted net income of $4.48 billion, or earnings of $1.08 per share, up 6.2% and 12.5% year over year, respectively. Total revenue grew 0.9% year over year to $30.1 billion, while analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research were expecting earnings of 94 cents per share on revenue of $29.64 billion.
Peacock, which added 4 million paid subscribers during the quarter, posted revenue of $830 million, up 64% year over year compared to $506 million a year ago. Meanwhile, the streamer’s adjusted Ebitda loss narrowed to $565 million, compared to $614 million a year ago. The company expects Peacock to hit peak losses of $2.8 billion in 2023, down from previous guidance of peak losses of $3 billion, and “meaningful Ebitda improvement” for the streamer in 2024.
But revenue in the Studios segment dropped 25% year over year thanks to a dismal film...
- 10/26/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Editor’s note: Deadline will update this post as more donations and efforts by major media entities are announced.
Updated, 11:21 Am: Skydance is the latest media company to make a seven-figure commitment to the Israel and Middle East relief effort, pledging $1 million to American Friends of Magen David Adom through an employee match program. CEO David Ellison is subsidizing the donation in part.
“Skydance stands with Israel, strongly condemns the attacks against its citizens, is donating support to the victims of this tragic act of terrorism, and prays for the safe release of innocents hostages,” the company said in a statement.
Previously: 10: 33 Am: Comcast is the latest media company to open its coffers amid Israel’s war with Hamas, committing $2 million to aid humanitarian efforts.
The amount includes $1.5 million sent to Save the Children Federation, Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief and American Friends of Magen David Adom.
The...
Updated, 11:21 Am: Skydance is the latest media company to make a seven-figure commitment to the Israel and Middle East relief effort, pledging $1 million to American Friends of Magen David Adom through an employee match program. CEO David Ellison is subsidizing the donation in part.
“Skydance stands with Israel, strongly condemns the attacks against its citizens, is donating support to the victims of this tragic act of terrorism, and prays for the safe release of innocents hostages,” the company said in a statement.
Previously: 10: 33 Am: Comcast is the latest media company to open its coffers amid Israel’s war with Hamas, committing $2 million to aid humanitarian efforts.
The amount includes $1.5 million sent to Save the Children Federation, Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief and American Friends of Magen David Adom.
The...
- 10/13/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast is donating $2 million to humanitarian relief efforts in Israel and the region after Hamas terror attacks that hit the country over the weekend.
The NBCUniversal parent is the latest Hollywood media giant to support humanitarian efforts after Paramount and Disney announced their own donations this week.
“We are horrified and deeply saddened by the brutal attack on Israel. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones through unspeakable acts of terrorism and the devastation of war,” Comcast CEO and chairman Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh, Comcast Corp. president, said in a joint statement sent to employees on Oct. 10 and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
In another move on Friday, Comcast announced it will commit in all $2 million to aid the humanitarian efforts in Israel and the Middle East region. That includes $1.5 million going immediately to Save the Children Federation Inc., Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief,...
The NBCUniversal parent is the latest Hollywood media giant to support humanitarian efforts after Paramount and Disney announced their own donations this week.
“We are horrified and deeply saddened by the brutal attack on Israel. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones through unspeakable acts of terrorism and the devastation of war,” Comcast CEO and chairman Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh, Comcast Corp. president, said in a joint statement sent to employees on Oct. 10 and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
In another move on Friday, Comcast announced it will commit in all $2 million to aid the humanitarian efforts in Israel and the Middle East region. That includes $1.5 million going immediately to Save the Children Federation Inc., Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief,...
- 10/13/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comcast has pledged $2 million to aid humanitarian efforts in Israel and the Middle East.
The donation will give $1.5 million immediately to Save the Children Federation Inc., Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief, and American Friends of Magen David Adom.
The NBCUniversal parent will also donate up to $500,00 for all employee donations to the organizations in addition to contributions previously made through its matching gift program.
“We are horrified and deeply saddened by the brutal attack on Israel. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones through unspeakable acts of terrorism and the devastation of war,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and president Mike Cavanagh said in a note to employees on Tuesday. “As these catastrophic events unfold, we are so grateful for the tireless dedication and bravery of our NBC and Sky news colleagues who are on the ground risking their lives to shine a light on this terrible conflict.
The donation will give $1.5 million immediately to Save the Children Federation Inc., Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief, and American Friends of Magen David Adom.
The NBCUniversal parent will also donate up to $500,00 for all employee donations to the organizations in addition to contributions previously made through its matching gift program.
“We are horrified and deeply saddened by the brutal attack on Israel. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones through unspeakable acts of terrorism and the devastation of war,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and president Mike Cavanagh said in a note to employees on Tuesday. “As these catastrophic events unfold, we are so grateful for the tireless dedication and bravery of our NBC and Sky news colleagues who are on the ground risking their lives to shine a light on this terrible conflict.
- 10/13/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The Walt Disney Company is donating $2 million to organizations providing humanitarian relief to those affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
“In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Israel this past weekend, we must all do what we can to support the innocent people experiencing so much pain, violence, and uncertainty — particularly children,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “We condemn these attacks, the hate that motivated them, and all acts of terrorism, and we will continue working to find more ways to provide support in the region, and to honor the victims, their families, and all those affected by this war.”
Disney is donating $1 million to Magen David Adom, which is part of the Red Cross Red Crescent movement and provides emergency medical and blood banking services in Israel, as well as $1 million to other nonprofit organizations in the region with a focus on providing aid to children.
“In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Israel this past weekend, we must all do what we can to support the innocent people experiencing so much pain, violence, and uncertainty — particularly children,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “We condemn these attacks, the hate that motivated them, and all acts of terrorism, and we will continue working to find more ways to provide support in the region, and to honor the victims, their families, and all those affected by this war.”
Disney is donating $1 million to Magen David Adom, which is part of the Red Cross Red Crescent movement and provides emergency medical and blood banking services in Israel, as well as $1 million to other nonprofit organizations in the region with a focus on providing aid to children.
- 10/13/2023
- by Elizabeth Wagmeister
- Variety Film + TV
Major Hollywood studios and CEOs are speaking out about the Israel-Hamas war, condemning the deadly attacks and standing with the Jewish community.
SAG-AFTRA is the second union in the entertainment industry to release an official response. The written statement was released on Oct. 13.
“SAG-AFTRA deplores and condemns the horrific acts of aggression against the Israeli people on Oct. 7. The attack was a fundamental violation of human rights and dignity. There is no justification for the murder and kidnapping of civilians. We mourn the loss of life and urge the safe return of those who are missing and held hostage. We stand united against hatred and violence and pray for peace.”
Paramount Global is the first major Hollywood studio to release an official statement on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“Paramount Global condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas. We stand with the people of Israel and the global Jewish community,...
SAG-AFTRA is the second union in the entertainment industry to release an official response. The written statement was released on Oct. 13.
“SAG-AFTRA deplores and condemns the horrific acts of aggression against the Israeli people on Oct. 7. The attack was a fundamental violation of human rights and dignity. There is no justification for the murder and kidnapping of civilians. We mourn the loss of life and urge the safe return of those who are missing and held hostage. We stand united against hatred and violence and pray for peace.”
Paramount Global is the first major Hollywood studio to release an official statement on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“Paramount Global condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas. We stand with the people of Israel and the global Jewish community,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Elizabeth Wagmeister
- Variety Film + TV
Entertainment executive Liz Jenkins has been named to the newly created role of chief business officer for the NBCUniversal Studio Group. The former COO of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine joins the company with an expansive title to oversee strategy and business operations, reporting to studio chairman and NBCU Chief Content Officer Donna Langley.
“Liz has established herself as an industry leader with a deep understanding of the complexities of our business, and her unique perspective and varied experience fuel her drive for innovation,” Langley said of the hire. “She is a builder; whether it’s brands, individual projects, or culture. As the Studio Group continues to develop and adapt to the new industry climate, Liz will be an incredible partner to me and the broader NBCUniversal team.”
Jenkins will serve as “connective tissue” within the company’s content business, which Langley assumed control of in a July reorganization led by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh.
“Liz has established herself as an industry leader with a deep understanding of the complexities of our business, and her unique perspective and varied experience fuel her drive for innovation,” Langley said of the hire. “She is a builder; whether it’s brands, individual projects, or culture. As the Studio Group continues to develop and adapt to the new industry climate, Liz will be an incredible partner to me and the broader NBCUniversal team.”
Jenkins will serve as “connective tissue” within the company’s content business, which Langley assumed control of in a July reorganization led by Comcast president Mike Cavanagh.
- 9/5/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Liz Jenkins has been named to the newly created position of chief business officer for NBCUniversal Studio Group.
Jenkins joins the conglomerate from Reese Witherspoon’s multimedia company Hello Sunshine, where she most recently served as chief operating officer. The executive will report to NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley, who announced the hiring Tuesday.
Langley also shuffled her cabinet of lieutenants, elevating some execs while changing the reporting structure of others. Peter Levinsohn, formerly vice chairman and chief distribution officer for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, has been elevated to chairman of global distribution for the studio group. Jimmy Horowitz has also been upped, with the “vice” dropped from his title, becoming chairman, NBCUniversal business affairs and operations.
Jenkins’ hiring and the shuffling occur after this summer’s reorganization of NBCUniversal. Comcast president Mike Cavanagh expanded Langley’s responsibilities to include overseeing all content for the company,...
Jenkins joins the conglomerate from Reese Witherspoon’s multimedia company Hello Sunshine, where she most recently served as chief operating officer. The executive will report to NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley, who announced the hiring Tuesday.
Langley also shuffled her cabinet of lieutenants, elevating some execs while changing the reporting structure of others. Peter Levinsohn, formerly vice chairman and chief distribution officer for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, has been elevated to chairman of global distribution for the studio group. Jimmy Horowitz has also been upped, with the “vice” dropped from his title, becoming chairman, NBCUniversal business affairs and operations.
Jenkins’ hiring and the shuffling occur after this summer’s reorganization of NBCUniversal. Comcast president Mike Cavanagh expanded Langley’s responsibilities to include overseeing all content for the company,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Marshall, a nearly 10-year veteran of NBCUniversal, has been promoted to Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships.
The elevation follows a hectic period last May when Marshall took on new duties on short notice at the NBCU upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall. Marshall was pressed into service to handle the day’s lead remarks and spearhead the event after his former boss, Linda Yaccarino, abruptly decamped during rehearsals to join Twitter (now X) as CEO. Marshall and NBCUniversal Media Group Chairman Mark Lazarus both addressed the stunning departure of Yaccarino (as well as the exit of former NBCU CEO Jeff Shell in April) in scripted onstage comments.
As interim chairman, Marshall presided over an upfront process yielding cash commitments described by NBCU as “roughly in line” with record-setting 2022 results. The ad market has been turbulent for all sellers of late, with labor strife adding to a cluster of economic stresses.
The elevation follows a hectic period last May when Marshall took on new duties on short notice at the NBCU upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall. Marshall was pressed into service to handle the day’s lead remarks and spearhead the event after his former boss, Linda Yaccarino, abruptly decamped during rehearsals to join Twitter (now X) as CEO. Marshall and NBCUniversal Media Group Chairman Mark Lazarus both addressed the stunning departure of Yaccarino (as well as the exit of former NBCU CEO Jeff Shell in April) in scripted onstage comments.
As interim chairman, Marshall presided over an upfront process yielding cash commitments described by NBCU as “roughly in line” with record-setting 2022 results. The ad market has been turbulent for all sellers of late, with labor strife adding to a cluster of economic stresses.
- 8/30/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Mark Marshall has been named chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal after filling in on an interim basis.
Marshall has been acting as interim chairman since May, when Linda Yaccarino departed the company to serve as CEO of Twitter. He stepped in to lead the team through its upfront, a day after Yaccarino’s departure, which NBCUniversal said resulted in cash commitments roughly in line with last year’s upfront, which was the company’s highest grossing to date, in the midst of a tough advertising environment.
Marshall has been reporting to Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television and streaming, rather than to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who Yaccarino had last reported ot.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven...
Marshall has been acting as interim chairman since May, when Linda Yaccarino departed the company to serve as CEO of Twitter. He stepped in to lead the team through its upfront, a day after Yaccarino’s departure, which NBCUniversal said resulted in cash commitments roughly in line with last year’s upfront, which was the company’s highest grossing to date, in the midst of a tough advertising environment.
Marshall has been reporting to Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal television and streaming, rather than to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, who Yaccarino had last reported ot.
“Mark stepped into this role on an interim basis at one of the most critical times of year for the ad sales business, and over the past three months he has more than proven...
- 8/30/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBCUniversal has appointed Zoë Friend as its new executive vice president of consumer insights.
In her new role, Friend will be responsible for delivering insights that will help guide key business decisions and evolve strategies across NBCU’s television and streaming platforms. She will join the media giant on Sept. 6 and report to chief data officer Will Gonzalez.
Prior to NBCUniversal, Friend served as the head of custom research at MarketCast, leading the firm across all business segments including entertainment, social media, tech, gaming, lifestyle brands, youth, identity and marketing sciences. She later moved into a role leading MarketCast’s Content Insights group, guiding content development of film and series for numerous streaming clients.
Before that, she worked as the vice president of consumer insights at Netflix, where she cultivated the streamer’s content and marketing research team and helped inform the company’s multibillion-dollar budget for original series and movies.
In her new role, Friend will be responsible for delivering insights that will help guide key business decisions and evolve strategies across NBCU’s television and streaming platforms. She will join the media giant on Sept. 6 and report to chief data officer Will Gonzalez.
Prior to NBCUniversal, Friend served as the head of custom research at MarketCast, leading the firm across all business segments including entertainment, social media, tech, gaming, lifestyle brands, youth, identity and marketing sciences. She later moved into a role leading MarketCast’s Content Insights group, guiding content development of film and series for numerous streaming clients.
Before that, she worked as the vice president of consumer insights at Netflix, where she cultivated the streamer’s content and marketing research team and helped inform the company’s multibillion-dollar budget for original series and movies.
- 8/17/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The writers and actors strikes are good for business? Fake news, says the guilds. Well, technically, the WGA called that point-of-view “calculated disinformation.” Of course, they’re also the union back at the bargaining table with the studios of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Truth is, the companies are saving money, but only in the short term. With no productions comes no production costs — the free cash flow is truly free-cash flowing. It’s been a temporary reprieve for both the strapped streamers who now realize their business isn’t bulletproof and for the legacy media companies reliant on the dying linear-television medium. But that’s the whole thing; it’s temporary.
Still, the town’s chief financial officers are making hay while the sun shines and the studio lights do not. Better-than-expected results in the June quarter have given way to improved forecasts for the September one.
Truth is, the companies are saving money, but only in the short term. With no productions comes no production costs — the free cash flow is truly free-cash flowing. It’s been a temporary reprieve for both the strapped streamers who now realize their business isn’t bulletproof and for the legacy media companies reliant on the dying linear-television medium. But that’s the whole thing; it’s temporary.
Still, the town’s chief financial officers are making hay while the sun shines and the studio lights do not. Better-than-expected results in the June quarter have given way to improved forecasts for the September one.
- 8/15/2023
- by Brian Welk and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh pushed back against recent speculation that the media conglomerate would consider a strategic partnership with Disney for ESPN.
“I’ve been asked about and read some speculation that in some way we might be interested in swapping businesses [with Disney] as part of what’s going on in the sports space, and I would just say that that’s very improbable,” he said during the company’s second quarter earnings call on Thursday. “As you could imagine, there’s tremendous issues around tax, minority shareholders, structuring generally, so I would put aside the idea that there’s anything inorganic that is likely to happen around ESPN in particular.”
Cavanagh went on to tout NBCUniversal’s own sports business and Peacock’s live sports lineup
“I think we’ve got one of the best portfolios in sports. Sunday Night Football, Big 10, Nascar, Epl, WWE, Olympics next year, PGA rights.
“I’ve been asked about and read some speculation that in some way we might be interested in swapping businesses [with Disney] as part of what’s going on in the sports space, and I would just say that that’s very improbable,” he said during the company’s second quarter earnings call on Thursday. “As you could imagine, there’s tremendous issues around tax, minority shareholders, structuring generally, so I would put aside the idea that there’s anything inorganic that is likely to happen around ESPN in particular.”
Cavanagh went on to tout NBCUniversal’s own sports business and Peacock’s live sports lineup
“I think we’ve got one of the best portfolios in sports. Sunday Night Football, Big 10, Nascar, Epl, WWE, Olympics next year, PGA rights.
- 7/27/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The relationship between Disney and Comcast is… complex, to say the least. The House of Mouse is currently expected to buy the 33% stake of Hulu that Comcast currently owns, but a very public discourse regarding the valuation of that stake has caused some eyebrow-raising over the past year in media circles.
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Still, companies spar over valuations all the time, and it’s unlikely that the business relationship between the two companies is frayed to the breaking point. In fact, some industry analysts believe that Comcast and Disney might decide to partner again, as Disney is seeking allies to help it launch a streaming version of ESPN and its sibling channels that won’t require a cable or satellite subscription.
Speaking during Comcast’s second-quarter earnings report, the company’s president Mike Cavanagh said that he felt it was “highly improbable” that Comcast would partner with Disney on ESPN.
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Still, companies spar over valuations all the time, and it’s unlikely that the business relationship between the two companies is frayed to the breaking point. In fact, some industry analysts believe that Comcast and Disney might decide to partner again, as Disney is seeking allies to help it launch a streaming version of ESPN and its sibling channels that won’t require a cable or satellite subscription.
Speaking during Comcast’s second-quarter earnings report, the company’s president Mike Cavanagh said that he felt it was “highly improbable” that Comcast would partner with Disney on ESPN.
- 7/27/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Comcast President Mike Cavanagh called the notion that the company could enter the picture as rival Disney looks for a strategic partner for ESPN “very improbable.”
Speaking on the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Cavanagh said the scenario would involve too many complications to be feasible.
“I’ve been asked about and read about speculation that in some way we might be interested in swapping businesses as part of what’s going on in the sports space, and I would just say that that’s very improbable,” the exec said.
Disney CEO Bob Iger initiated a round of armchair quarterbacking earlier this month when he laid out his thinking about ESPN’s future during an interview with CNBC. While the company remains bullish on sports, he said, “We’re going to be open minded about looking for strategic partners that could either help us with distribution or content.” A team-up...
Speaking on the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Cavanagh said the scenario would involve too many complications to be feasible.
“I’ve been asked about and read about speculation that in some way we might be interested in swapping businesses as part of what’s going on in the sports space, and I would just say that that’s very improbable,” the exec said.
Disney CEO Bob Iger initiated a round of armchair quarterbacking earlier this month when he laid out his thinking about ESPN’s future during an interview with CNBC. While the company remains bullish on sports, he said, “We’re going to be open minded about looking for strategic partners that could either help us with distribution or content.” A team-up...
- 7/27/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Mike Cavanagh, the president of Comcast who was recently named the de-facto head of NBC Universal, said the company remains “committed to reaching a fair deal [with actors and writers] as soon as possible, so we can get back to doing what we do best, which is making great content together.”
In a change, he kicked off the media giant’s post-earnings conference call today instead of CEO Brian Roberts. The hands-on chief executive spoke very little this time.
Disney CEO Bob Iger was excoriated by guild members for recent comments on CNBC calling the demands of striking guilds “unreasonable.”
Cavanagh, a former banker who works closely with Roberts, added oversight of NBCU in April after the suden departure of Jeff Shell and has just restructured the entertainment business under four top executives with Donna Langley in the top studios chair. Asked to elaborate a bit more on the strike, and its impact on Peacock in particular,...
In a change, he kicked off the media giant’s post-earnings conference call today instead of CEO Brian Roberts. The hands-on chief executive spoke very little this time.
Disney CEO Bob Iger was excoriated by guild members for recent comments on CNBC calling the demands of striking guilds “unreasonable.”
Cavanagh, a former banker who works closely with Roberts, added oversight of NBCU in April after the suden departure of Jeff Shell and has just restructured the entertainment business under four top executives with Donna Langley in the top studios chair. Asked to elaborate a bit more on the strike, and its impact on Peacock in particular,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh poured cold water on speculation that the media and cable conglomerate might ink a deal with Disney to take a piece of ESPN.
“I’ve been asked about and read some speculation that in some way we might be interested in swapping businesses [with Disney]… in the sports space,” he said on Comcast’s Q2 earnings call. “And I would just say that that’s very improbable,” given “tremendous issues” around taxes and minority shareholder deal structures. “So I would put aside the idea that there’s… anything inorganic, you know, that is likely to happen around ESPN in particular, which is what we’ve been asked about,” Cavanagh said.
Cavanagh’s comments come after Disney chief Bob Iger said in a July 13 interview with CNBC that the Mouse House was looking for a strategic partner for ESPN. Subsequently CNBC reported that Disney has had talks with the NFL,...
“I’ve been asked about and read some speculation that in some way we might be interested in swapping businesses [with Disney]… in the sports space,” he said on Comcast’s Q2 earnings call. “And I would just say that that’s very improbable,” given “tremendous issues” around taxes and minority shareholder deal structures. “So I would put aside the idea that there’s… anything inorganic, you know, that is likely to happen around ESPN in particular, which is what we’ve been asked about,” Cavanagh said.
Cavanagh’s comments come after Disney chief Bob Iger said in a July 13 interview with CNBC that the Mouse House was looking for a strategic partner for ESPN. Subsequently CNBC reported that Disney has had talks with the NFL,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Comcast president Mike Cavanagh addressed the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes during the NBCUniversal parent company’s second quarter earnings call Thursday.
“We are committed to reaching a fair deal with the guilds as soon as possible,” Cavanagh said. “Beyond that, for all involved in the industry, broadly, a prolonged work stoppage and the longer it goes, the worse it’ll be. It is obviously going to have a negative impact all around.”
The WGA work stoppage has been ongoing since May 2, while SAG-AFTRA went on strike July 14.
The strikes have brought scripted film and TV production to a standstill across Hollywood as the actors and writers unions continue picketing against the studios repped by the AMPTP.
“As you look at Peacock, I wouldn’t point out anything in particular related to strikes and its effect in 2023, the second half of the year,” Cavanagh told analysts Thursday. “Obviously, the longer a strike,...
“We are committed to reaching a fair deal with the guilds as soon as possible,” Cavanagh said. “Beyond that, for all involved in the industry, broadly, a prolonged work stoppage and the longer it goes, the worse it’ll be. It is obviously going to have a negative impact all around.”
The WGA work stoppage has been ongoing since May 2, while SAG-AFTRA went on strike July 14.
The strikes have brought scripted film and TV production to a standstill across Hollywood as the actors and writers unions continue picketing against the studios repped by the AMPTP.
“As you look at Peacock, I wouldn’t point out anything in particular related to strikes and its effect in 2023, the second half of the year,” Cavanagh told analysts Thursday. “Obviously, the longer a strike,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Media giant Comcast beat on its top and bottom line for the three months ended in June with theme parks and studio strong, even as the latter basks in another giant opening, for Opppenheimer, in the current third quarter.
Total revenue nosed up 1.7% to $30.5 billion for the second quarter ended in June. Net income jumped 25% to $4.28 billion. Eps of $1.02 compared with $0.76 a year ago.
At studios, adjusted Ebitda surged by $258 million to $255 million driven by the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.3 billion in worldwide box office in the second quarter, and Fast X.
Theme Parks adjusted Ebitda increased 32% to $833 million, its highest on record, reflecting year-on-year growth at Universal Beijing, Universal Japan and Universal Hollywood. The parks in Asia were still partly closed or at reduced capacity for part of last year.
“The consistent investments...
Total revenue nosed up 1.7% to $30.5 billion for the second quarter ended in June. Net income jumped 25% to $4.28 billion. Eps of $1.02 compared with $0.76 a year ago.
At studios, adjusted Ebitda surged by $258 million to $255 million driven by the The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.3 billion in worldwide box office in the second quarter, and Fast X.
Theme Parks adjusted Ebitda increased 32% to $833 million, its highest on record, reflecting year-on-year growth at Universal Beijing, Universal Japan and Universal Hollywood. The parks in Asia were still partly closed or at reduced capacity for part of last year.
“The consistent investments...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast reported its Q2 earnings Thursday, with its NBCUniversal division reporting some huge gains but also underscoring the challenge of making streaming into a profitable business. Overall, Comcast handily smashed Wall Street expectations in both revenue and earnings per share.
Peacock now has 24 million subscribers, up from 22 million last quarter and 13 million a year ago, and its revenue rose by 85 percent to $820 million. But the streaming service continues to lose money, reporting a loss of $651 million in the quarter, compared to a loss of $704 million last quarter, and $444 million a year ago. Notably, Comcast said that most of the new subscribers in the quarter were the result of converting free Comcast subs into paying subs.
And the advertising market continues to be challenged, with the media division reporting an advertising decline of 4.9 percent compared to last year. Overall media revenue was essentially flat, thanks to improved distribution revenue (including the...
Peacock now has 24 million subscribers, up from 22 million last quarter and 13 million a year ago, and its revenue rose by 85 percent to $820 million. But the streaming service continues to lose money, reporting a loss of $651 million in the quarter, compared to a loss of $704 million last quarter, and $444 million a year ago. Notably, Comcast said that most of the new subscribers in the quarter were the result of converting free Comcast subs into paying subs.
And the advertising market continues to be challenged, with the media division reporting an advertising decline of 4.9 percent compared to last year. Overall media revenue was essentially flat, thanks to improved distribution revenue (including the...
- 7/27/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peacock hit a total of 24 million paid subscribers during the second quarter of 2023 as Comcast beat Wall Street expectations.
The cable and media conglomerate reported adjusted net income for the quarter of $4.7 billion on Thursday, or $1.13 per share. Total revenue grew 1.5% year over year to $30.5 billion, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew 4.2% year over year to $10.2 billion.
Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research expected the NBCUniversal parent to report earnings of 98 cents per share on revenue of $30.3 billion.
Peacock, which added 2 million paid subscribers during the quarter, posted revenue of $820 million, up from $444 million in the prior year period. But the streamer posted an adjusted Ebitda loss of $651 million, widening from $467 million a year ago. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said there is “no change” to the company’s guidance that Peacock will hit peak losses of around $3 billion in 2023.
To help Peacock reach profitability, NBCUniversal is...
The cable and media conglomerate reported adjusted net income for the quarter of $4.7 billion on Thursday, or $1.13 per share. Total revenue grew 1.5% year over year to $30.5 billion, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew 4.2% year over year to $10.2 billion.
Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research expected the NBCUniversal parent to report earnings of 98 cents per share on revenue of $30.3 billion.
Peacock, which added 2 million paid subscribers during the quarter, posted revenue of $820 million, up from $444 million in the prior year period. But the streamer posted an adjusted Ebitda loss of $651 million, widening from $467 million a year ago. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said there is “no change” to the company’s guidance that Peacock will hit peak losses of around $3 billion in 2023.
To help Peacock reach profitability, NBCUniversal is...
- 7/27/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Comcast investors will get a closer look Thursday at Mike Cavanagh and Brian Roberts’ strategy for getting Peacock to profitability and revamping NBCUniversal’s leadership as the cable company reports its second-quarter earnings.
Over the last several months, that strategy has been complicated not only by the existential threat of cord-cutting in the traditional TV business but also the historic double strike by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America.
The direct effects of the labor dispute won’t be visible in the quarter’s results, which ended in June before talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA broke down. But Michael Hodel, Morningstar’s director of equity research for media and telecommunications, anticipates the topic will loom large over the earnings call. It might even help the company’s bottom line, at least in the near term.
“I expect the actors’ and writers’ strikes will be a topic of conversation...
Over the last several months, that strategy has been complicated not only by the existential threat of cord-cutting in the traditional TV business but also the historic double strike by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America.
The direct effects of the labor dispute won’t be visible in the quarter’s results, which ended in June before talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA broke down. But Michael Hodel, Morningstar’s director of equity research for media and telecommunications, anticipates the topic will loom large over the earnings call. It might even help the company’s bottom line, at least in the near term.
“I expect the actors’ and writers’ strikes will be a topic of conversation...
- 7/26/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Universal Orlando Resort will debut an all-new themed land featuring DreamWorks Animation’s animated characters from Trolls and Shrek to Kung Fu Panda next year.
The new DreamWorks land, coming to Universal Studios Florida is part of a group of new entertainment experiences hitting the resort in 2024, “and is a continuation of Universal’s commitment to rich storytelling that places guests of all ages in the most incredible and immersive environments,” according to an announcement today. The new land, which will span four acres, is part of a move to refresh the former KidsZone space at Universal Orlando Resort
The Comcast/NBC Universal-owned park didn’t give an opening date and said more details will be forthcoming, the park’s website said guests “will share special moments with their favorite characters like Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse and explore themed, interactive play spaces and attractions that bring such popular franchises as Shrek,...
The new DreamWorks land, coming to Universal Studios Florida is part of a group of new entertainment experiences hitting the resort in 2024, “and is a continuation of Universal’s commitment to rich storytelling that places guests of all ages in the most incredible and immersive environments,” according to an announcement today. The new land, which will span four acres, is part of a move to refresh the former KidsZone space at Universal Orlando Resort
The Comcast/NBC Universal-owned park didn’t give an opening date and said more details will be forthcoming, the park’s website said guests “will share special moments with their favorite characters like Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse and explore themed, interactive play spaces and attractions that bring such popular franchises as Shrek,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock is phasing in the first price hike in its three-year history, which will increase the rate for the streaming service’s Premium tier by $1 a month and that of Premium Plus by $2 a month.
After the increase, the new prices will be $5.99 for Premium and $11.99 for Premium Plus. The latter tier is virtually ad free and also includes access to live, local NBC channels and the ability to download programming. The update will take effect on August 17 for existing subscribers and immediately for new ones.
NBCUniversal parent Comcast will report new figures later this month as part of quarterly earnings, but as of March 31, Peacock had 22 million subscribers. The service has grown more rapidly than most since a strategic shift in 2021 from its free, ad-supported origins toward a focus on paid subscribers. Still, it remains a laggard compared with traditional company-backed rivals Disney+, Max and Paramount+, not to mention...
After the increase, the new prices will be $5.99 for Premium and $11.99 for Premium Plus. The latter tier is virtually ad free and also includes access to live, local NBC channels and the ability to download programming. The update will take effect on August 17 for existing subscribers and immediately for new ones.
NBCUniversal parent Comcast will report new figures later this month as part of quarterly earnings, but as of March 31, Peacock had 22 million subscribers. The service has grown more rapidly than most since a strategic shift in 2021 from its free, ad-supported origins toward a focus on paid subscribers. Still, it remains a laggard compared with traditional company-backed rivals Disney+, Max and Paramount+, not to mention...
- 7/18/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
The promotion of Donna Langley, the head of the Universal film studio, to chief content officer overseeing all of NBCUniversal’s entertainment divisions, is Comcast President Mike Cavanagh’s first big decision in his tenure running the media business directly. It’s a savvy move to advance a quietly accomplished leader while other major studios are struggling, many insiders told TheWrap.
“In a time when these studios are a mess, it’s a safe move,” a producer told TheWrap about promoting Langley, referring to the box office woes and internal challenges at rivals like Bob Iger’s Walt Disney Company and David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery.
“It seemed inevitable,” one top talent agent told TheWrap. “There were rumors for a while that she wanted more responsibility and to move further up the Comcast hierarchy.”
True or not, Langley’s tenure has been marked by a lack of public drama...
“In a time when these studios are a mess, it’s a safe move,” a producer told TheWrap about promoting Langley, referring to the box office woes and internal challenges at rivals like Bob Iger’s Walt Disney Company and David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Discovery.
“It seemed inevitable,” one top talent agent told TheWrap. “There were rumors for a while that she wanted more responsibility and to move further up the Comcast hierarchy.”
True or not, Langley’s tenure has been marked by a lack of public drama...
- 7/10/2023
- by Scott Mendelson and Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
It wasn’t all that long ago that being the CEO of a major media or entertainment company was the top of the heap. The moguls of the day, from Ted Turner and Sumner Redstone to Rupert Murdoch and Steve Ross, dominated the culture — and earned billions in the process.
But the CEO gig ain’t what it used to be. David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, has become public executive enemy No. 1 for many industry workers amid the Writers Guild of America’s ongoing strike.
Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos is a close second, while Disney chief Bob Iger finds himself back in the CEO seat, but under much more challenging circumstances, all while trying to figure out who, if anyone, has what it takes to succeed him after his predecessor and successor Bob Chapek lasted only two and a half years.
At Apple and Amazon, entertainment is...
But the CEO gig ain’t what it used to be. David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, has become public executive enemy No. 1 for many industry workers amid the Writers Guild of America’s ongoing strike.
Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos is a close second, while Disney chief Bob Iger finds himself back in the CEO seat, but under much more challenging circumstances, all while trying to figure out who, if anyone, has what it takes to succeed him after his predecessor and successor Bob Chapek lasted only two and a half years.
At Apple and Amazon, entertainment is...
- 7/7/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The news Thursday about Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley’s ascent to bring TV content under her domain doesn’t just speak to the greater NBCUniversal plan to have a more unified strategy across theatrical, TV and streaming.
It’s also a testament to NBCU realizing and relishing the risk-taking, creative-friendly asset the company has in Langley.
There was talk following NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s exit over sexual harassment claims that Langley would inherit the post given her billion-dollar-grossing track record at the film studio and as a level-headed balancer of scales in negotiations. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gave those interim duties to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, but that wasn’t a means to sideline Langley.
Related: Comcast President Mike Cavanagh Makes His Mark As NBCUniversal Chief With Exec Reorg, Donna Langley’s Dual Film-tv Role
While brass tacks oversee of news, sports and sundry NBCU ops are not her thing,...
It’s also a testament to NBCU realizing and relishing the risk-taking, creative-friendly asset the company has in Langley.
There was talk following NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s exit over sexual harassment claims that Langley would inherit the post given her billion-dollar-grossing track record at the film studio and as a level-headed balancer of scales in negotiations. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts gave those interim duties to Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, but that wasn’t a means to sideline Langley.
Related: Comcast President Mike Cavanagh Makes His Mark As NBCUniversal Chief With Exec Reorg, Donna Langley’s Dual Film-tv Role
While brass tacks oversee of news, sports and sundry NBCU ops are not her thing,...
- 7/7/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
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