Comcast Q1 Profit Rises on Cable, Sky Results While NBC Seeks Pandemic Recovery

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox News filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss a massive $1.6 billion lawsuit from by voting-technology firm Dominion Voting Systems, citing concerns about freedom of speech and introducing a new development to the closely-watched case.In the motion, Fox News said Dominion failed to identify “any actionable defamation” by Fox News and did not stipulate facts that Fox News presented the items Dominion challenges “with actual malice.”“The freedoms of speech and press

Gallery: The best romantic movies for that warm and fuzzy feeling (Espresso)It would, then, have been tempting to ask Lisa to just wear some big jumpers for a few months. But instead, the writers used the pregnancy as an opportunity for one of Phoebe's most popular storyline: the surrogacy journey with her brother Frank Jr and his wife, Alice.

Netflix, Sky Team For Writing Fellowship Netflix and Sky have joined forces with Sex Education writer Bisha K Ali to launch a UK screenwriting fellowship for people from under-represented backgrounds. The scheme offers up to six successful applicants the chance to join a year-long program, during which they will receive £22,568 ($32,000) to write a spec script for an original idea, as well take on a placement in a Sky or Netflix writers’ room.

In an unprecedented move, streaming giant Netflix and Comcast-backed pay-TV operator Sky are teaming up with “Sex Education” and “Ms. Marvel” writer Bisha K Ali to create a screenwriting fellowship for six U.K. writers that will provide them with financial aid, a support network and ultimately a job in a writers’ room for either a Netflix or Sky program. For Variety, Anne Mensah, VP of U.K. Original Series, and Jane Millichip, chief content officer for Sky Studios, discuss their vision for

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Heading into Season 2 of Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, creator, executive producer and star Josh Thomas was trying to figure out the best way to address the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of a Freeform comedy.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJimmy Fallon, host of “The Tonight Show,” and NBCU are expanding their programming together under a new development deal.“The Kids Tonight Show,” a late-night program hosted by young people, is among the projects being developed under a new pact struck between NBCUniversal and Fallon’s production outlet, Electric Hot Dog.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorRobin Roberts worked from home for a good part of the pandemic while hosting America’s most-watched morning-news program.

Griff has spoken to NME at today’s BRIT Awards about new music, her touring plans and wanting to collaborate with Taylor Swift. You can watch the full interview in the video above.Ahead of receiving her Rising Star award at this year’s BRIT’s, Griff said she was “really nervous” before reflecting on her achievements over the last year.“This is all a bit surreal.

A member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has told Sky News he wants HFPA and Golden Globe Awards bosses to be held accountable for the lack of diversity in the organisation and ongoing controversy surrounding the high-profile awards. Responding to NBC's decision not to televise the Golden Globes next year (for the first time in 26 years) unless the organisation behind it - the HFPA - makes significant changes to its membership after it emerged that it hasn't had a single black

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNielsen’s TV yardstick has been found wanting.A review of recent Nielsen efforts to map out TV audience activity determined the company likely undercounted TV audiences in February of this year, a development that is expected to intensify a growing rift between the measurement giant and the TV networks who depend on it to set discussions with advertisers that help undergird billions of dollars in advertising.The Media Rating Council, an industry organization that

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAMC Networks said first quarter profit rose even as it navigated declines in revenue and operating income in the midst of a challenging environment.The New York owner of the AMC, IFC and Sundance cable networks said net income came to $87 million, or $2.02 per share, compared with $68.7 million, or $1.22 per share in the year-earlier period.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNBC and Lilly Singh will end her late-night program, “A Little Late With Lilly Singh,” after two years, the latest sign that TV networks are rethinking how to handle a widening array of wee-hours programs as viewing habits shift.Singh has signed a first-look deal with Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, to develop unscripted projects.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorViacomCBS said first-quarter profit surged as the company enjoyed the benefits of ad sales associated with Super Bowl LV and lured 6 million new subscribers to streaming outlets such as Paramount Plus.The New York owner of CBS, Showtime and Nickelodeon said revenue increased 14% to $7.41 billion, up from nearly $6.5 billion in the year-earlier quarter.

live TV debate between Scotland’s five main party leaders. Policy on covid recovery, foreign travel and the creation of a National Care Service was hammered out in a lively discussion.

While much of the world was eager to bid farewell to the year that brought the world to a standstill, a team of female comics decided to the best way to kick 2020 to the curb was to give the year its own funeral.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNBC’s “Tonight Show” will try a new way to break out of TV’s late-night pack.The Jimmy Fallon-led program is launching a new six-episode miniseries that chronicles how the show maneuvered during the coronavirus pandemic, moving to “at home” broadcasts that featured the host and his family, and its eventual return to NBC’s TV studios with fewer bells and whistles.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorDiscovery revealed the big challenge behind getting involved in the media industry’s streaming wars: A new broadband hub can bring in millions of new customers — but it also requires millions of dollars in investment.The New York owner of Food Network, HGTV, TLC and its flagship Discovery cable outlet said Wednesday that its first-quarter profit slumped after it ramped up spending for content and marketing related to Discovery Plus, the streaming-video outlet it

Comcast's European pay giant Sky is working on a new eight-part supernatural crime thriller. The Rising —which starts filming in the U.K.'s Lake District next month —marks the first series produced entirely in-house by Sky's production arm Sky Studios, which is is working with exec producer Julian Stevens, who produced BBC dramas The Fall and Informer.