EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired two key strategy executives to round out the team reporting to Jay Levine, Chief Strategy Officer & Business Operations. Eric Marcotte, a longtime Disney and Fox exec, is joining as EVP of Corporate Strategy and DJ Jacobs, who has held posts at Hartbeat, Riot Games and MRC, is coming aboard as EVP of Business Operations. They will work alongside Maria Anguelova, EVP, Global Head of Corporate Development. Levine shared the news with employees Wednesday in a m ...

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group marketing president JP Richards and co-president Keri Moore are leaving the company. The move is effective immediately and was revealed Monday afternoon. Their exits come after Lionsgate saw turbulence with a couple of major releases this summer including the John Wick spinoff Ballerina starring Ana de Armas ($132 million global box office gross) and The Weeknd-Jenna Ortega movie Hurry Up Tomorrow ($7.8 million global gross). Big titles to come on this year's slate include Goo ...

Core Insights - Netflix's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos showcased an extensive lineup of 47 upcoming series, films, and events during the second-quarter earnings call, highlighting the company's commitment to content production over the next 18 months [2][3] - The company is experiencing a long-term trend of transitioning from linear to streaming, with Sarandos emphasizing the importance of a consistent flow of content rather than relying solely on occasional hits [3][4] Content Strategy - Sarandos mentioned that successful titles like "Squid Game" and upcoming series such as "Wednesday" and "Stranger Things" are part of a broader strategy to maintain viewer engagement [4][5] - The company plans to release notable films including "Happy Gilmore 2," "Knives Out 3," and adaptations of "Chronicles of Narnia" and "Frankenstein" in the coming years [5][6] Upcoming Releases - Upcoming series for next year include new seasons of popular titles like "Bridgerton," "One Piece," and "Avatar: The Last Airbender," as well as new original series such as "Man on Fire" and "The Boroughs" [6][7] - Sarandos also highlighted the addition of major events like NFL games on Christmas Day, indicating a strategy to attract diverse audiences [6][7] Market Position - Sarandos noted that Netflix received 44 Emmy nominations, showcasing the quality of its content compared to competitors like HBO, which had fewer nominees [3][4] - The company remains confident in its ability to satisfy viewer demand, as indicated by Co-CEO Greg Peters' remarks about the ongoing desire for more content from subscribers [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix remains indifferent to legacy media networks despite a record number of companies divesting or selling their assets [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - Netflix's CFO, Spencer Neumann, stated that the company does not believe the consolidation of legacy media will significantly alter the competitive landscape [2] - The company has historically focused on building rather than acquiring, and sees substantial growth potential without changing this strategy [2][3] - Netflix is not interested in owning legacy media networks, which narrows down potential acquisition opportunities [3] Group 2: Industry Dynamics - Major media companies like Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate, and Disney are spinning off or selling their networks, creating M&A opportunities in the industry [2] - The ongoing consolidation in the media sector is likely to continue, but Netflix's approach remains focused on organic growth and strategic investments [2][3]

KPop Demon Hunters, released June 20 and, at 80 million views, one of Netflix’s biggest animated films ever with chart-topping music to boot, had co-CEO Ted Sarandos singing its praises today. The film “is a phenomenal success out of the gate. One of the things that I’m excited, really proud of the team over, is [that it’s] original animation — not a sequel, not a live action remake. Original animation … is very tough and has been struggling for years.” Leo, The Sea Beast and now Kpop Demon Hunters are ori ...

Netflix‘s deal with TF1, announced last month at Cannes Lions, will give both companies “an opportunity to learn,” the streamer’s co-CEO, Greg Peters, said Thursday on the company’s quarterly earnings call. The milestone teaming, which will see the French broadcaster’s programming offered within the Netflix app in France starting next summer, will also be a way for Netflix to put new technology to use. “We’ve invested a lot in a bunch of enabling capabilities that are either required or highly leveraged by ...

Core Insights - Lionsgate has promoted Erin Westerman to president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group following Nathan Kahane's departure at the end of the year [1] - Westerman will oversee all aspects of the development and production of Lionsgate's theatrical slate, reporting to Adam Fogelson [1][2] Leadership and Impact - Adam Fogelson praised Westerman for her significant contributions to the studio, highlighting her intelligence, passion for theatrical moviegoing, and ability to attract filmmakers [2] - Westerman's leadership is expected to shape the future slate of Lionsgate films [2] Current Projects - Westerman is currently managing several upcoming films, including "The Long Walk" (September 12), "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (November 14), "The Housemaid" (December 25), and a Michael Jackson biopic [3] - Other notable projects include "I Can Only Imagine 2" (February 20, 2026) and expansions of the John Wick Universe [3][4] Films in Development - Major films under Westerman's leadership include a re-imagining of "American Psycho," a "Monopoly" film, a "Naruto" adaptation, a new "Blair Witch Project," and various projects within the John Wick franchise [4] Previous Achievements - Westerman has been instrumental in the success of films like "John Wick: Parabellum," "John Wick: Chapter 4," and "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," which grossed nearly $350 million worldwide [6] - Before joining Lionsgate, she produced successful films at Good Universe and worked at Walt Disney Studios [7]

Core Insights - Netflix exceeded Wall Street's expectations for Q2 earnings, reporting earnings per share of $7.19 and revenue of $11.079 billion, surpassing analyst consensus [1] - The company raised its full-year revenue forecast for 2025 to a range of $44.8 billion to $45.2 billion, up from the previous target of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion [2] - The increase in revenue forecast is primarily due to the depreciation of the U.S. dollar and strong business momentum from member growth and ad sales [3] Financial Performance - Netflix has stopped reporting subscriber numbers, stating that other metrics provide a better financial performance picture; however, subscriber growth was noted to be ahead of forecasts [4] - Total viewing hours increased by 1% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with subscribers watching over 95 billion hours of content [5] - Netflix shares have risen over 40% in 2025, closing at $1,274.17, slightly below the all-time high of $1,341.15 reached in June [6]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is expected to report strong second-quarter results, with analysts optimistic about its market position and financial performance, particularly in viewership gains and content monetization [1][2][4]. Group 1: Financial Performance Expectations - Analysts anticipate Q2 revenue around $11.04 billion, slightly above Netflix's guidance of $11.035 billion, with a consensus estimate for earnings per share (EPS) at $7.06 [4][5]. - Netflix shares have risen 41% in 2025 to date, starting Thursday's trading at $1,253, down from an all-time high of $1,341.15 in June [7]. - Several analysts have raised their price targets for Netflix, with Michael Morris of Guggenheim increasing his outlook to $1,400 from $1,150, citing the need for the company to prove its advertising business and programming strategy [8]. Group 2: Strategic Outlook and Market Position - Netflix has established a significant lead in the streaming industry, with no major global competitors currently [2]. - The company has shifted focus from reporting quarterly subscriber numbers to broader financial performance and strategic outlook, indicating a change in how investors should assess its value [3]. - Management's outlook includes a robust content slate for the second half of the year and expanded live content partnerships, which are expected to support long-term growth potential [9]. Group 3: Industry Context - The media industry is undergoing significant changes, with companies like Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney also set to report earnings, indicating a consolidating landscape [6]. - The advertising market has shown improvement, with more investment shifting towards connected TV (CTV), which could benefit Netflix's advertising strategy [9].

Core Perspective - The New York Times is reassigning its critics in pop music, theater, television, and classical music to introduce new perspectives in its coverage [1][2][3] Group 1: Changes in Critic Roles - Jon Pareles, Jesse Green, Margaret Lyons, and Zach Woolfe are the critics being reassigned, with the Times seeking new critics for these areas [2] - The shift in roles aims to bring different ideas and experiences to the coverage of core disciplines [3] Group 2: Goals and Future Direction - The company emphasizes the need for change to appeal to a growing national and international audience and to enhance its criticism approach [4] - The culture desk changes are part of a broader strategy to expand coverage beyond traditional reviews [3][4]