Wall Street traders are now betting that Warner Bros. Discovery not only will be sold to Netflix, but also easily approved by US and overseas regulators – with so-called “short interest” in the stock recently evaporating, On The Money has learned.For much of the year, the media giant known as WBD had seen increase in its short interest – or bets that its stock will fall. In fact, WBD has been among the more heavily shorted entertainment stocks, according to an analysis by S3 Partners (Full disclosure S3’s f ...

Lionsgate Studios has appointed former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as a director on the company's board effective immediately, it said on Monday. ...

SANTA MONICA, Calif. & KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Illumination (HQ: Santa Monica, CA, USA; Founder and CEO: Chris Meledandri) and Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Minami-ku, Japan; President and Representative Director: Shuntaro Furukawa, "Nintendo†hereafter) revealed the first look at Yoshi in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros., during a Nintendo Direct presentation today. The film will be released worldwide by Universal Pictures in April 2026. The ...

Core Insights - Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) have announced a landmark global Pay-1 licensing deal, marking an industry-first for Pay-1 rights, which will allow SPE's feature films to stream on Netflix worldwide after their theatrical and home entertainment windows [8] - The new Pay-1 arrangement will begin rolling out later this year, with full global availability expected by early 2029 [8] - Netflix currently holds Pay-1 rights to SPE's feature films in select territories, including the U.S., Germany, and Southeast Asia, with popular titles such as Uncharted and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse [8] Netflix's Perspective - Netflix emphasizes that providing exclusive access to Sony's films enhances the value of their subscriptions for members globally [8] - The company is excited to expand its offerings of iconic film franchises and original content to a worldwide audience [2][8] Sony's Perspective - Sony Pictures Television views the new Pay-1 deal as a significant enhancement of their partnership with Netflix, reinforcing the appeal of their theatrical releases to a global audience [5] - The deal highlights Sony's independence and ability to create valuable opportunities for stakeholders and partners [6] Upcoming Titles - Some of the first SPE feature films to stream on Netflix as part of this deal include The Nightingale, Buds, The Legend of Zelda (live-action), Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and a quartet of Beatles films directed by Sam Mendes [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is likely to amend its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to an all-cash bid, which could expedite the approval process from shareholders [1][2]. Group 1: Netflix's Offer - Netflix's current deal to acquire WBD's assets, including HBO Max and the Warner Bros. film studio, is valued at $27.75 per WBD share, translating to an equity value of $72 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion [1]. - An all-cash offer would allow WBD shareholders to vote on the deal more quickly, potentially moving the vote up to late February or early March [2][3]. Group 2: Shareholder Voting Process - Under the existing agreement, the shareholder vote is expected to occur in the spring or early summer, with stock-based deals requiring more financial disclosures and time for approval [3]. - Transitioning to an all-cash offer would streamline the voting process, reducing the time and expense associated with the approval [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Paramount Skydance is actively pursuing a hostile acquisition of WBD, having filed a lawsuit to obtain information regarding WBD's board's rejection of its $30-per-share offer in favor of Netflix [4]. - Paramount argues that its offer is superior in value, particularly considering the estimated worth of WBD's TV networks, and has sought to strengthen its bid with support from Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison [5].

Core Viewpoint - The Walt Disney Company is expected to report strong first-quarter financial results driven by the box office success of "Zootopia 2" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash" [1][5][6] Box Office Performance - Disney's "Zootopia 2" grossed $1.59 billion worldwide in 2025, making it the second highest-grossing film of the year, behind the Chinese film "Ne Zha 2" [2] - "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has grossed $1.083 billion worldwide in its first 18 days, with $306 million domestically and $777.1 million internationally [3] - The film is tracking to potentially reach the $2 billion milestone, although it is currently pacing behind previous installments in the franchise [3][4] Financial Expectations - Analysts expect Disney to report first-quarter revenue of $25.65 billion, an increase from $24.69 billion in the same quarter last year [7] - Earnings per share are anticipated to be $1.57, down from $1.76 in the previous year [7] - Disney has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share for 10 consecutive quarters, but revenue has been more challenging, with only four out of the last 10 quarters exceeding estimates [7] Stock Performance - Disney shares have seen a 2.7% gain over the last 52 weeks, currently trading at $114.07, within a range of $80.10 to $124.69 [9]

分组1 - Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) shares increased by 3.5% following Paramount Skyance's enhanced bid, with a cash offer of $30 per share remaining unchanged and Larry Ellison guaranteeing over $40 billion in equity financing [1][2] - Paramount shares rose over 4% after Warner advised shareholders to reject the hostile bid, raising concerns about the Ellison family's commitment to funding the deal [2] - Netflix's shares fell more than 1% despite refinancing part of its $59 billion bridge loan to support its bid for Warner's film studio and streaming businesses, which were valued at nearly $83 billion [2][10] 分组2 - Larry Ellison's involvement in the deal suggests a strong financial backing, potentially positioning Paramount favorably in the competition for Warner Brothers [3][6] - The importance of content in the evolving media landscape, particularly in relation to AI, is highlighted, indicating that the ability to produce quality content will be crucial for future competitiveness [4][8] - The regulatory challenges surrounding the deal are significant, with Paramount facing more pressure to secure the acquisition compared to Netflix, which is expected to manage its content production effectively regardless of the outcome [13]

Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 20, 2025) - Filmio Studios has unveiled a new fan-commitment data layer within its greenlighting framework, leveraging measurable audience signals emerging from the Film.io platform's Superfan Beta launch. The initiative demonstrates immediate benefits for fans, creators, studio partners, and Filmio Studios itself-marking a shift toward community-informed development where substantial audience support becomes evident before production begins.Film.io Go Sc ...

Set and studio landlords like Hackman Capital are already suffering from a slowdown in TV and film production. https://t.co/ZLIkwXLKNr ...

Core Insights - Gold Tree Studios, a subsidiary of Gold Tree, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy despite securing $1 billion in financing earlier this year [1][4] - The bankruptcy filing indicates the company holds assets between $100,000 and $500,000, while liabilities range from $1 million to $10 million [2] - The reasons for Gold Tree Studios' financial difficulties remain undisclosed, raising concerns about its financial management [4] Company Overview - Gold Tree Studios is based in West Hollywood and offers services such as editing suites, 360-degree sound stages, and color grading [3] - The studio was associated with an upcoming film featuring notable actors Al Pacino and Jessica Chastain [3] Industry Impact - The bankruptcy raises questions about the future of ongoing projects, particularly the anticipated film involving high-profile actors [4] - The lack of communication from Gold Tree and Malka Group contributes to uncertainty in the industry, leaving investors and insiders awaiting further developments [5]