The Companies/Studios Thread

Topic

Ever since i couldn’t decide which thread i report the news that either on movies or television, so instead, i’m creating this new thread will be about the companies focusing on studios, productions, distributions, theatrical marketings and media companies from Disney, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sony, Lionsgate, Netflix, etc.

Mmmkay? mmkay!

Replies

HBO Max and DC Universe’s Relationship Still Being Worked Out (x)

WarnerMedia’s HBO Max streaming service is set to debut this May, and is set to share some orginal content with its sister streaming service, DC Universe, as well as featute some DC-based shows that will not be on the DC-themed service. HBO Max’s Chief Content Officer Kevin Reilly said this week that the relationship between the two is still being ironed out – but hopes both can continue.

“We’re working out what those mechanics are,” Reilly said (according to The Hollywood Reporter). “We have to figure out those two subscriptions, and we haven’t worked out the mechanics of what that’s going to look like.”

Universal and Warner Bros. to Form DVD Joint Venture as Disc Sales Keep Dwindling (x)

The studios announced that Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment entered into a pact to form a new joint venture to distribute DVDs in North America for new releases, library titles and TV content for up to 10 years.

The companies expect the proposed JV to be operational by the first quarter of 2021. The North American joint venture, comprising leadership from both studios, is to be headed by longtime Universal exec Eddie Cunningham (pictured above), who is currently president of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

In addition, under a separate agreement, the studios struck license agreements to divvy up DVD distribution in countries outside North America. Under that arrangement, UPHE will handle distribution of Warner Bros.’ DVD home entertainment products in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan, expected to go live in the third quarter of 2020. Warner Bros. will assume responsibility for distribution of Universal’s DVD products in the U.K. (including Ireland), Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, expected to occur in the first quarter of 2021.

We cover the general industry news (movies, TV, and streaming along with box office results) in this thread: Box Office Mojo: The Business of Hollywood Thread

Wasn’t that just for box office news?

No, it was a catchall for industry news for movies, TV, and streaming. Box office returns are discussed but it was also meant for discussions on the business side of things.

Disney drops Fox name from 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures and rebrands labels as 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures (x)

In a move at once unsurprising and highly symbolic, the Walt Disney Company is dropping the “Fox” brand from the 21st Century Fox assets it acquired last March, Variety has learned. The 20th Century Fox film studio will become 20th Century Studios, and Fox Searchlight Pictures will become simply Searchlight Pictures.

On the TV side, however, no final decisions have been made about adjusting the monikers of production units 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios. Discussions about a possible name change are underway, but no consensus has emerged, according to a source close to the situation.

Disney has already started the process to phase out the Fox name: Email addresses have changed for Searchlight staffers, with the fox.com address replaced with a searchlightpictures.com address. On the poster for Searchlight’s next film “Downhill,” with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell, the credits begin with “Searchlight Pictures Presents.” The film will be the first Searchlight release to debut with the new logo. “Call of the Wild,” an upcoming family film, will be released under the 20th Century banner, sans Fox.

Those logos won’t be dramatically altered, just updated. The most notable change is that the word “Fox” has been removed from the logo marks. Otherwise, the signature elements — swirling klieg lights, monolith, triumphal fanfare — will remain the same.

For those are curious why they had to change the band, from Deadline

from what I understand, legally Disney can still use Fox if they want to in logos, however, the reason for dropping the big name is to avoid confusion with the consumer, especially as the Murdochs keep the Fox name in regards to their big broadcast network and cable and business news cable networks.

I’m assuming that nowadays the word “fox” is a toxic band name because of Fox News still around. Does that also change to the Disney movie The Coyote and the Hound?

I’m really don’t like they change the band name, but understandably so.

On one hand, i’m not a fan of drops “Fox” names, both 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures are like one of the most iconic company names of all time. On another hand, i get that Disney has to change it to avoid confusion with the consumer since the Murdochs keep the “Fox” name for broadcast & news cable networks.

I think the report is accurate; it’s to avoid confusion and association.

I wouldn’t say that Fox is toxic, Murdoch will still make millions from the pieces he chose to hang onto, and that’s due to millions of consumers consuming. The fact that Murdoch owned the studio was never something I liked, but I was watching their ‘X-Men’ movies for example, and I liked or disliked those based on the films themselves.

Randy Freer, Hulu CEO, exits after more Disney restructuring (x)

Randy Freer is out at Hulu. Freer and Disney announced the once-chief executive officer of the biggest Netflix rival is leaving the company amidst wider restructuring at the House of Mouse. Expected to stay in his current position for a few more weeks to help guide the company through a transition, Hulu executives that once reported to Freer will instead report directly to those who lead Disney’s direct-to-consumer offerings.

That includes direct-to-consumer chairman Kevin Mayer, who some Hollywood insiders suggest could be taking over for Bob Iger upon the chief’s retirement next year. In a statement obtained by THR, Mayer explains the move will help Disney scale up their direct-to-consumer offerings, allowing the same people to run both Hulu and Disney+.

“I want to thank Randy for his leadership the last two years as CEO and for his collaboration the past several months to ensure an exceptionally bright future for Hulu,” Mayer says in his statement. “With the successful launch of Disney+, we are now focused on the benefits of scale within and across our portfolio of DTC businesses.”

The executive continues, “Further integrating the immensely talented Hulu team into our organization will allow us to more effectively and efficiently deploy resources, rapidly grow our presence outside the U.S. and continue to relentlessly innovate. There is a tremendous amount of opportunity ahead, and I am confident in our ability to accelerate our positive momentum and better serve consumers.”

Freer thanked Disney — in addition to minority shareholders NBCUniversal and Fox — for allowing him to run the proverbial OTT ship for a time. The executive joined Hulu as CEO in 2017 and of late, has been reporting directly to Mayer.

He adds, “I am grateful for my time at Hulu and the opportunity to work and learn with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of people. I also want to thank Kevin and the Walt Disney Company, as well as NBCUniversal and Fox, for providing me the opportunity to lead Hulu during a time of tremendous growth and significant industry transformation. Hulu has established itself as a leading choice for consumers looking for the best TV service available today, and I am confident Hulu will thrive inside Disney under DTCI’s leadership.“

ViacomCBS plans to launch new streaming service with CBS All Access, Paramount, & Viacom Channels (x)

According to CNBC, CBS and Viacom have officially merged, the company is working on creating a combined product for their streaming products. While it does not appear any decision has been made official, the new streaming service could see combining CBS All Access with content from Paramount Pictures, as well as Viacom owned networks (Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET), and streaming service Pluto TV.

As the parent of Showtime, the report suggests that the streaming service could bundle Showtime for a premium. While it appears that details are still being sorted, it is expected to be less than $10 for the base product, with higher tiers ad-free and with Showtime bundled. Just last week, CBS All Access announced that their latest original Star Trek: Picard help set sign-up records for the streaming service. Prior to that, ViacomCBS Chief Digital Officer-CBS Interactive CEO Marc DeBevoise announced that CBS All Access and Showtime reached a collective 10 million subscribers. He believe the streamers will hit 25 million by 2022, given the 60 percent annual subscriber growth rate.

I remember when Paramount used to produce movies that were worth paying for. Not like, y’know, Sonic the Hedgehog and Top Gun Maverick. Good times, good times…

(I kid, of course: Paramount is responsible for the Mission: Impossible franchise, which I thoroughly enjoy, and small films like A Quiet Place.)

CBS and Viacom have a really weird relationship because they are separate entities owned by Sumner Redstone and have been forced into merger by bothing being subsidiaries of National Amusements.

Literally the only reason to do this is so they can make a streaming service. Otherwise it would not be fiscally wise because they don’t really have any crossover consumers (i’m told) and it just makes their revenue stream taxable at a higher rate. Evidently theyve crunched the numbers with new subscribers but if the streaming service falls over I’ll bet $50 they separate again.

Bob Iger steps down as the Disney CEO and will be replaced by Bob Chapek. (x)

The Bob is dead, long live the Bob.

A longtime Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger has stepped down from his position, with Bob Chapek named as his successor. Chapek is a 27-year veteran of the House of Mouse, working the past few years as Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. Iger will however retain his role as Executive Chairman of Disny’s board of directors, at least through the end of his current contract on December 31, 2021. Iger will continue to “lead the company’s creative endeavors” in this position.

“With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of 21st Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO,” Iger said in the announcement, “I have the utmost confidence in Bob, and look forward to working closely with him over the next 22 months as he assumes this new role and delves deeper into Disney’s multifaceted global businesses and operations, while I continue to focus on the company’s creative endeavors.”

Chapek’s CEO duties are described as overseeing “all of the Company’s business segments and corporate functions.” Chapek will report to Iger and the Board of Directors.

A replacement for the role Chapek is vacating – Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products – will be named “at a future time.”

I think on balance this is really replicating the Box Office Thread that looks at the business side of things. The same Bob Iger story being posted, let’s put it all there.