Latest in Corporate Affairs

UPDATED WITH BELLONI MEMO: Four years after Matthew Belloni ostensibly took over from Janice Min at The Hollywood Reporter, the long time writer for the Tinseltown trade is exiting in the middle of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Though stressing in a memo to staff that the move is “100% amicable,” Belloni…

The Nacelle Company, Comedy Dynamics' parent, has promoted Cisco Henson to president of production. The company  specializes in comedy and pop cultural historical documentaries. During his time with The Nacelle Company, Henson has served as an EP for its Netflix series The Movies That Made Us and The Toys That Made Us…

ViacomCBS  said Friday it’s closed on the acquisition of a 49% stake in Miramax from owner beIN Media Group, whih will retain 51% in the company. The current Miramax leadership team will continue in their existing roles. ViacomCBS said that $150 million of the $375 million pricetag was paid at closing and it’s…

Walt Disney said Thursday that it has made the “difficult” decision to furlough employees “whose jobs aren’t necessary at this time” after April 18 due to the economic hit from the coronavirus and uncertainties as to when large chunks of its business will be operational again. Disney’s statement (below) didn’t specify…

Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris on Thursday slapped a buy rating on shares of Fox Corp. — a rare upgrade in a period of dislocation and dire predictions by Wall Street across media and entertainment. Morris upped his recommendation from “neutral” – basically a hold – calling Fox the best positioned among its…

Incoming WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar said Wednesday that expanding HBO Max internationally and getting the technology right are two takeaways from his time growing Hulu and subsequent launch of a smaller VOD service called Vessel. WarnerMedia parent AT&T revealed earlier today that Kilar will take the top job starting…

EXCLUSIVE: At a time when every segment of our industry is struggling with layoffs and furloughs because of the coronavirus pandemic, the $9.3 billion owed to many that is just sitting there in a California state Unclaimed Property fund might well come in handy. The state of California owes the Motion Picture…

The multi-front legal battle between Quibi and Eko over motion flipping technology has just gone to DEFCON 2, kind of. “Plaintiff JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd. – Israel seeks a preliminary injunction enjoining Defendant Quibi Holdings LLC from misappropriating Eko's proprietary technology for mobile device optimized ‘Real…

As tech companies look for ways to help during the Coronavirus pandemic the key thing many can offer is connectivity. Comcast, the nation’s biggest broadband provider will provide free Xfinity WiFi hotspots located in businesses and outdoor locations across the country for anyone – including people who don't or can’t…

Deadline has confirmed that Lionsgate has put re-structuring in effect largely in its film marketing and distribution departments, laying off a company-wide number in the high teens according to a source familiar with the matter. I understand this was in the works for some time, and is in no way related to the great…

Disney’s executive chairman and former CEO Bob Iger will forgo salary and his successor as chief executive Bob Chapek will take a 50% pay cut as companies address the economic upheaval and corporate and public pain and PR of the coronavirus. In a memo to Disney employees, Chapek said that effective April 5, VPs will…

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today that some of Hollywood's biggest names have put some big bucks on the City of Angels' frontlines fighting the coronavirus pandemic. "I've seen it in the can-do spirit of some of the pillars of our community who are making personal contributions that we're redistributing…