BreAnna Bell Polaris, the television network and digital platform owned by radio personality Sway Calloway and Rahman J. Dukes, is partnering with Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) free-streaming digital platform, HBCU GO in an exclusive deal to create content for the video on demand service as well as AMG’s other properties including The Grio. The programming will be focused on culture, music and news with special coverage around cultural moments including a special celebrating the 50th year anniversary of Hip Hop, and an investigative series around Jam Master Jay. “It’s important for us to showcase not only the amazing sports and news programming, but also the heartbeat of the HBCU and Black Experience – our culture,” said Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. “This new partnership with Polaris will provide amazing programming for our HBCU GO and TheGrio audiences highlighting music, Black culture and more.”
Disney Restructuring Takes Shape With Dana Walden & Alan Bergman Taking Streaming Oversight, International Content Shakeup, ESPN & Entertainment Ties
09.02.2023 - 21:35 / deadline.com
Disney Entertainment, the new division run by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, will oversee the company’s main streaming services including Disney+ as details of the company strategic restructuring emerge.
Additionally, the TV and film unit will now share some back-end functions with ESPN and employees from Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED), the Bob Chapek-created unit previously run by Kareem Daniel, and International Content and Operations coming under Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
Rebecca Campbell, Chairman, International Content and Operations, is the most senior executive to leave the business as part of the changes, which CEO Bob Iger said would also include around 7,000 job losses. Campbell has been with the company since 1997 and has held various roles including at the local stations group, President of Disneyland Resort and EMEA boss.
From the TV and film perspective, the biggest news coming out of the shake-up is that Walden and Bergman will oversee the company’s global streaming business and manage all content decisions for Disney+ and Disney-controlled Hulu. Streaming was previously overseen by DMED’s Daniel with Michael Paull, who was previously President, Direct to Consumer, DMED, now reporting to Walden and Bergman.
The split in the middle of steaming oversight between Bergman and Walden will also apply to marketing, with Asad Ayaz continuing to oversee marketing for Bergman’s creative groups in addition to Disney+, working closely with the Hulu marketing team, and Shannon Ryan continuing to oversee marketing for Waldena’s creative groups in addition to Hulu, working closely with the Disney+ marketing team.
In a memo to staff, Bergman, Walden and ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro addressed the fate of
ESPN Chief Pitaro’s Executive Shuffle Puts Burke Magnus Over Content, Rosalyn Durant Over Sports Rights
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Disney Entertainment Chief Dana Walden Elevates John Landgraf, Simran Sethi in TV Reorganization
will continue to oversee networks and ABC Owned Television Stations, and will add research, labor relations and TV business operations to her purview. Disney Television Studios will remain under Eric Schrier, who will expand his responsibilities to include our global original television strategy, working closely with our talented regional leaders.Read Walden’s full memo to staff below: Dear Colleagues, Since the announcement of Disney Entertainment, I’ve spent time thinking about how to organize my team in a way that will enable me to focus on my newly expanded role, in partnership with Alan.
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‘Echo’ and ‘Ironheart’ Likely Delayed Until 2024 & ‘Nova’ Development Slowed Down As Disney+ Reassesses Its Output
Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger commented that his company must become “better at curating” content that’s “extraordinarily expensive.” “We want the quality on the screen, but we have to look at what they cost us,” Iger said.
Paramount+ to Raise Prices as It Merges Streaming With Showtime
Paramount is betting that new and existing subscribers to Paramount+ are big fans of Showtime. Executives touted thr integration of the streaming service and the cable television channel as a key justification for raising prices for the direct-to-consumer service’s premium tier Thursday as they discussed the media giant’s earnings. Later this year, the top tier of Paramount+ will rise from $9.99 per month to $11.99 per month.
Giant Pictures Takes U.S. Theatrical, VOD Rights To Oscar-Nominated Documentary ‘A House Made Of Splinters’
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The Streaming Purge: Behind The Wave Of Library Content Removals & Its Impact On The Creative Community
Only 10 episodes of The Gordita Chronicles were produced before HBO Max canceled the comedy last summer amid a pullback on live-action kids and family programming. But at least creator Claudia Forestieri felt good knowing that new viewers could still find the show on the streamer.
HBO Content Set To Move From Disney+ Hotstar In India
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Tim Allen Is Back As Buzz Lightyear In ‘Toy Story 5’, Tweets, “See Ya Soon, Woody”
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These Bestselling Sofia Vergara Jeans Are Made to Flatter Your Curves
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Disney Details Strategic Restructuring; Dana Walden, Alan Bergman to Oversee Both Disney+ and Hulu in New Roles
The Walt Disney Company announced details Thursday of its strategic restructuring, which will, according to an official release, “refocus the organization on creativity, empower creative leaders and ensure they are accountable for all aspects of their businesses globally, and put the company’s streaming business on a path to sustained growth and profitability.” This offers some clarification and insight into the expanded roles of top executives Alan Bergman, Dana Walden and Jimmy Pitaro, first announced during the February 2023 earnings call with CEO Bob Iger on Wednesday. Thursday’s announcement states that, effective immediately, the company will be organized into (and around) three business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (aka DPEP, which was created by Iger in 2018).