Connected-TV Ad Platform Innovid to Acquire TVSquared for $160 Million

Paul Rudd was set to host for the fifth time. However, what was supposed to be his triumphant induction into the show's coveted five-timers club was somewhat spoiled by the COVID-19 surge in New York.Now, just over two months later, John Mulaney returned to host the show for his fifth time, and got the traditional fanfare with special guests Steve Martin and Candice Bergen — decked out in their traditional smoking jackets with a golden «5» logo emblazoned across them.The sketch began with Rudd lamenting how he missed his own special.«Well, not to be a total bitch but my five-timer show in December was going to be a lot better. That is, until the whole cast decided to call out sick,» Rudd said, before welcoming Mulaney into to club.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Russian invasion of Ukraine is reverberating in the classical music world, where star conductor Valery Gergiev, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is being forced to cancel engagements at La Scala in Italy as well as Carnegie Hall and other venues in the U.S.Gergiev, known to be an old friend and vocal supporter of Putin, last conducted Tchaikovsky’s opera “The Queen of Spades” on Wednesday evening at Milan’s famed La Scala opera house, where he was lightly booed, according to Italian press reports.On Thursday, as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala, who is the president of La Scala, publicly urged Gergiev to condemn Russia’s invasion, saying that if the conductor — who has not commented Putin’s move — did not issue a statement, “the collaboration will be over,” he said. Gergiev is next scheduled to appear at La Scala on March 5.

Milan Fashion Week there was a new air of glamour, joy and lots of style. One of our favorite Latina Powerhouses, Danna Paola arrived in Italy as an ambassador for Fendi, and from day one she has provided us tons fashion inspiration.

Fashion month continues! With New York and Paris checked off the list, celebs have made their way to Italy for Milan Fashion Week — and the street style is already off the charts. 

investigation have been returned to the people of Greece, prosecutors in New York announced Wednesday.The artifacts included a sculpture of a young man from about 560 B.C., known as a kouros, that is worth $14 million, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.The district attorney’s office has accused Steinhardt of relying on a “sprawling underworld of antiquities traffickers, crime bosses, money launderers and tomb raiders” to build his collection.The handover of the ancient objects to Greece occurred after the district attorney's office announced a deal in December under which Steinhardt was to surrender $70 million worth of artifacts acquired illegally from Greece and other countries including Egypt, Israel, Syria and Turkey.Under the agreement, Steinhardt will not face criminal charges but is subject to an unprecedented lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities. Steinhardt is a co-founder of Birthright Israel and a philanthropist who is chair of the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.A total of 55 artifacts worth a collective $20 million are being repatriated to Greece, prosecutors said, 47 of them from Steinhardt's collection and eight from another ongoing investigation.“While this collection of exquisite ancient artifacts is valued at 20 million dollars, each piece is an irreplaceable display of Greece’s enduring strength, history, and cultural heritage,” Bragg said in a news release.

New York Times and its style publication T Magazine. So, he's wearing a vest over a hoodie for fashion reasons, not weirdo reasons, okay? Okay.While in Milan, Hadid also walked the runway at the Fendi show, proving that tiny sunglasses and “wet look” hair are perfect for any occasion.And do you see that, TikTok teens? Do you see her side part? If Bella Freaking Hadid can then so can the rest of us, and I don't want to hear another word about it.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterReese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine has acquired lifestyle brand The Home Edit, the company announced on Wednesday.Founded by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, The Home Edit offers “full service organizing” in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, NYC, Nashville, Orange County, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, as well as “travel and DIY services” globally. Shearer and Teplin are the authors of New York Times bestseller “The Home Edit Life” and the creators of multiple product lines, including a recently announced exclusive Walmart collection.Shearer and Teplin are also the stars of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated “Get Organized with the Home Edit,” which is produced by Hello Sunshine and will debut its second season this year.

As I think it’s fair to say we all expected, Britney Spears has signed a deal to publish a new memoir. That deal is with publishing house Simon & Schuster and is reportedly worth as much as $15 million.Spears, of course, spent more than thirteen years in a conservatorship that took away her control of her own personal and financial affairs.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSpotify’s deal with Joe Rogan, the popular podcast host who has attracted a swarm of controversy in recent weeks, is worth more than $200 million, according to a new report by the New York Times.Citing anonymous sources, the Times reported that “the true value” of the deal negotiated between Spotify and Rogan — spanning three and a half years — was “at least $200 million, with the possibility of more.” Previously, the pact had been said to be worth more than $100 million, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Over the past month, Rogan has faced a backlash from Spotify users and artists over his use of the N-word in past episodes of his podcast and accusations that Rogan’s show has spread COVID misinformation. On the Feb.

BMG has acquired a whole load of music rights from the estate of blues musician John Lee Hooker. This includes his entire publishing catalogue – in a joint deal with Fujipacific Music – all of his royalty income from his recordings, and a sizeable chunk of his actual recorded music catalogue, spanning releases put out from 1980 and posthumously since his death in 2001.The Hooker estate is managed by JAM Inc.

Larry David may not be a fan of much, but he loved being a part of the cryptocurrency platform FTX’s Super Bowl 2022 ad.

For the laughs! John Mulaney and Pete Davidson’s friendship has fascinated fans since the comedians toured together — and their bond has only gotten stronger.

Naman Ramachandran Kino Lorber has acquired U.S. rights to writer-director Ajitpal Singh’s debut feature, “Fire in the Mountains,” which premiered in the World Dramatic Competition of the Sundance Film Festival in 2021.A powerful feminist tale set in a tourist homestay in the Himalayan foothills of northern India, the film centers around a woman (Vinamrata Rai), the sole breadwinner of the household, who scrimps and saves for her son’s medical treatment, while her alcoholic husband believes that an expensive shamanic ritual is the answer to all their woes.The film is produced by Alan McAlex and Ajai Rai of prolific Indian arthouse producers Jar Pictures alongside Mauli Singh and Amit Mehta.

Sting has sold his entire songwriting to Universal Music Publishing Group in a deal rumoured to be worth over $250 million (£184 million).The agreement covers all Sting’s solo songs, including the likes of ‘Shape Of My Heart’, ‘Fields Of Gold’ and ‘Englishman In New York. The deal also extends to the songs Sting wrote for The Police, such as ‘Roxanne’, ‘Every Breath You Take’ and ‘Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic’.“I am delighted to have Jody (Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group) and the team curate and manage my song catalogue,” said Sting.“It is absolutely essential to me that my career’s body of work have a home where it is valued and respected – not only to connect with longtime fans in new ways but also to introduce my songs to new audiences, musicians and generations.“Throughout my career, I have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with UMG as my label partner, so it felt natural to unite everything in one trusted home, as I return to the studio, ready for the next chapter.”Gerson added: “So many memories from my youth are tied to the great songs written by Sting — whether it was first seeing the Police perform in Philadelphia or hearing his music on the radio or playing those albums until I wore them out.“I could never have imagined that someday I would get to lead a company that will be the guardian of Sting’s remarkable songwriting legacy.

Cinema Guild has acquired U.S. rights to Cane Fire, an award-winning documentary from director Anthony Banua-Simon, with plans to release it in theaters across the U.S., beginning with a New York theatrical premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on May 20.

Innovid and TVSquared, two companies focused on measuring linear TV and streaming, are merging in a $160 million deal aimed at providing a larger-scale alternative to Nielsen.

Amy Schneider has a few big plans on deck now that her run on Jeopardy! has come to an end. The 42-year-old contestant revealed that she’s not rushing to spend all of her $1.4 million winnings at once, but she does have a few big purchase in mind to treat herself after the historic run. Amy revealed that she has travel on the mind in a Thursday February 2 interview with The New York Post.