AT&T Inks DirecTV Deal With Private Equity Firm TPG; Warner Media Parent Will Retain 70%, Net $7.8 Billion In Cash

EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, comedian/actress Iliza Shlesinger’s next book All Things Aside has landed at Abrams Books and Blackstone Audio for a 2022 publication.

EXCLUSIVE: WME has signed writer Valentina Garza, whose credits include co-executive producer roles on the CW’s Jane the Virgin and ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty.

EXCLUSIVE: In just two short years, Davita Scarlett has emerged as one of Robert and Michelle King’s MVP writer-producers, simultaneously serving as a co-executive producer on two of the duo’s series, The Good Fight for Paramount+ and Evil for CBS. Scarlett is now joining the talent roster of CBS Studios, which is behind The Good Fight and Evil, signing a multi-year overall deal to develop new projects for the studio targeting all platforms.

Verzuz, the wildly popular pandemic-era live-streamed music series, has been sold to the Triller Network, the company behind the video platform Triller, according to a Pitchfork report. Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, the hip-hop megaproducers behind Verzuz, will become "larger shareholders" as part of the deal, according to the report.

ViacomCBSNetworks International is deepening its ties in Asia through a new deal signed with South Korean company Something Special to co-develop TV formats. Inked by ViacomCBS division VIS, the deal gives the U.S.

Women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel laureate, has entered a multi-year programming partnership with Apple TV+. Under the multi-year pact, The I Am Malala author will work with the streaming platform on a slate of original programming spanning dramas, documentaries, children’s’ series and more that draw on her ability to inspire people around the world.

EXCLUSIVE: Charly Evon Simpson is getting into business with HBO. The prolific playwright is expanding her reach in television, signing an overall deal with the premium cabler. Under the pact, Simpson will serve as a consulting producer on the second season of Industry. She is also currently a member of the writing staff for the second season of Perry Mason, which recently earned three Critics Choice nominations.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKeke Palmer as signed an overall television deal with Entertainment One (eOne), Variety has learned exclusively.“I am thrilled to be partnering with eOne to create entertaining, meaningful, fun television experiences that will deeply connect with audiences and be reflective of our current world,” Palmer said.

Writer-producer Soo Hugh is getting into business with UCP. Hugh has signed a multi-year overall deal to develop, write and produce projects for the studio, a division of Universal Studio Group. As part of the deal, Hugh will launch an incubator program with the mandate of helping new Asian voices create shows and establish careers in the industry.

EXCLUSIVE: Fear The Walking Dead co-creator Dave Erickson has closed an overall deal with MRC Television. Under the multi-year pact, Erickson will exclusively work with the indie studio on the creation and development of television series on which he will serve as writer-showrunner or supervise other writers.

Danielle Turchiano Senior Features Editor, TVComedian Ronny Chieng has struck a deal with Netflix for three upcoming projects: two new stand-up specials and a docu-style comedy special, Variety has learned exclusively.The still-to-be-titled docu-comedy special is described as a “semi-scripted road trip comedy” in which Chieng and his fellow comedian David Fung journey through a one-of-a-kind tour of America’s Chinatowns to promote local businesses, explore Asian American culture and push “each

EXCLUSIVE:  Actor Lukas Gage has signed with ICM Partners for representation in all areas.

BBC Studios Inks First-Look Deal With Gobstopper Group BBC Studios has signed a first-look deal with Gobstopper Group, the company behind MTV’s Just Tattoo of Us and Revenge Prank With DJ Pauly D & Vinny. As part of its expansion plans, Gobstopper Group has launched Mermaid Studios in Belfast, helmed by Paddy Mckenna, the former head of development at Sony-owned Stellify, and Neil Dimmock, who joins from BBC One’s Sunday Morning Live.

Word to the wise: you might not want to come for Clare Crawley. The former Bachelorette star, 39, took to Instagram on February 17 and was totally feeling herself with her brand new ‘do when one Instagram user decided to leave a hurtful comment on the post. “Ughh give it up already! No one cares,” the hater wrote. Fortunately, Clare, who is never one to back down, had the best response.

The Second City, the Chicago-based improv and sketch comedy brand that spawned Hollywood talent like Tina Fey, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Keegan-Michael Key, has been acquired by Strauss Zelnick's private equity firm, ZMC. "We are very excited to partner with management and the incredible talent at The Second City to grow the brand and build a diverse organization that elevates all voices.

The Second City, the famed Chicago improv comedy outfit, has been acquired by private equity firm ZMC, whose founder and managing partner is longtime media figure Strauss Zelnick.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaThe Second City, a legendary theater that has nurtured generations of top comics, has sold to ZMC, a private equity firm run by Strauss Zelnick. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Maude Apatow, William Hurt, Corey Stoll, and Lara Pulver have all joined the cast of the upcoming AMC animated drama “Pantheon,” the network announced Thursday as part of the Television Critics Association winter press tour.Apatow (“Euphoria,” “The King of Staten Island”), Hurt (“Black Widow,” “Goliath,”), Stoll (“Billions,” “Ant-Man”) and Pulver (“The Angel of Darkness,” “Sherlock”) will be joining a voice cast that is jam-packed with diverse celebrity talent.

William Hurt (Black Widow, Goliath), Maude Apatow (Euphoria, The King of Staten Island), Corey Stoll (Billions, Ant-Man) and Lara Pulver (The Angel of Darkness, Sherlock) have joined the cast of Pantheon, AMC’s first animated, primetime drama. Additionally, Pantheon creator and showrunner Craig Silverstein is expanding his relationship with AMC Studios, the studio behind the series, with an exclusive multi-year overall deal.

NEW DELHI -- A New Delhi court on Wednesday acquitted a journalist of criminal defamation after she accused a former editor-turned-politician and junior external affairs minister of sexual harassment.M.J.