Eriq Gardner • March 24, 2026

Will Live Nation Get Away With It?

A surprise deal with Trump’s antitrust cops seems to have tilted the courtroom odds in favor of Live Nation in its antitrust fight. But as state A.G.s press on, and the trial comes to a close, litigator Jeffrey Kessler is working inside the paint to distill the case to something jurors can understand: greed.

Matthew Belloni • March 20, 2026

Netflix’s ‘KPop’ Sequel Megadeals

The runaway success of the animated musical was so unexpected that the streamer didn’t have its creators locked in for a follow-up. Now, thanks to all those streams and dolls and even ‘Demon Hunters’-branded ramen, the filmmakers (and producer Sony Pictures) are getting rewarded. Here’s what the deals look like.

Eriq Gardner • March 17, 2026

The Jeff Shell Legal Saga Takes a Startling Turn

Strip away the theatrics, and R.J. Cipriani’s headline-making battle against Paramount president Jeff Shell may be the silliest Hollywood lawsuit filed this year. But that doesn’t mean the story is going away—or that Shell doesn’t have a bigger problem on his hands.

Julia Alexander • March 17, 2026

Should David Ellison Buy Roku Next?

The ubiquitous free streaming service that comes preinstalled on a third of TVs could massively amplify distribution for a company like Comcast, Netflix, or even the world-conquering WarnerMount. But did Ellison already miss his moment?

Matthew Belloni • March 13, 2026

The 2026 Awards Season Awards!

From Chalamet’s self-immolation and Hamnet’s self-inflation to Sydney Sweeney’s seriously bad timing, this awards season—with months of shilling and striving and butt-kissing—concludes with my own annual awards season accolades.

Eriq Gardner • March 10, 2026

Murdoch’s Mexico War & An Ellison Merger Lesson

News and notes on Fox’s bizarre trademark war in Mexico, a Ninth Circuit appeal that could revive the NFL’s $4.7 billion Sunday Ticket punishment, and why Disney may soon be negotiating streaming bundles with itself.

Kim Masters • March 10, 2026

David Ellison’s Troubling H.R. File

Hollywood’s newest mogul has risen to the head of—potentially—two studios so quickly that there are still vast reaches of his leadership style to explore. One early trend: a tendency to hire managers with sketchy pasts and see largely unremarkable results.

Matthew Belloni • March 6, 2026

Gerry Cardinale Swears He Isn’t Firing Everybody

Paramount’s board member and chief dealmaker insists his $111 billion acquisition of Warner Discovery will make financial sense without the mass layoffs Hollywood fears. But can the cashflow of CBS, a combined streaming platform with 200 million subscribers, and the backing of the Ellisons succeed where past debt-fueled mergers have not?

Eriq Gardner • March 3, 2026

The CAA Blacklist Comes to Light

An Aaron Sorkin protégé’s claim that CAA stole his pilot idea has evolved into a trial over whether the agency steered his career into the Hollywood equivalent of witness protection.

Scott Mendelson • March 2, 2026

Amazon’s $200 Million Hail Mary

For one of its biggest movies ever, Amazon MGM is betting on a Ryan Gosling sci-fi tentpole from the Spider-Verse guys. And while it has most of the markings of success—positive early buzz, a plot you can distill for your friends—the definition of success is quickly changing.

Matthew Belloni & William D. Cohan • February 27, 2026

The Ellisons Catch the Warners Falling Knife

Netflix’s shock exit from the Warner Bros. Discovery sweepstakes likely gives Paramount the victory, saddling them with a mountain of debt, and a slightly smaller mountain of unanswered questions. Why did Ted & Co. walk away so abruptly? Can Paramount get this thing through regulators? And exactly how many people are about to get fired?

Julia Alexander • February 25, 2026

Problems in the FAST Lane

While free, ad-supported TV platforms are definitely having a moment, in both viewership and ad growth, they’re also struggling to transcend their downmarket reputation as a halfway house for second-tier (and worse) content.

Eriq Gardner • February 24, 2026

Can Trump Claim His Live Nation Scalp?

Next week’s looming government trial against Live Nation is driving settlement chatter to new heights, while raising questions about just how badly the White House wants an antitrust trophy.

Kim Masters • February 24, 2026

Trump’s UFC Math Problem & Reiner’s MAGA Partner

The president’s promise of a stadium-sized crowd for a July Fourth UFC match on the South Lawn is running into some significant logistical hurdles. Plus a Castle Rock cease-and-desist and the Hollywood link between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein.

Matthew Belloni • February 20, 2026

Ted Sarandos Hits the Mattresses on the 45-Day Window

As Warner Bros. gives Paramount another week to raise its bid, Netflix’s unflappable co-C.E.O. shares his thoughts (and makes some promises) about movie releases and the entertainment business in a post-merger world.