Lionsgate & IMG Ink Multi-Year Consumer Products Pact

EXCLUSIVE: PodcastOne, a leading podcast platform and a subsidiary of LiveOne, has entered into a multi-year agreement with Kevin Connolly’s boutique media network ActionPark Media (APM).

EXCLUSIVE: Two months into their run as Warner Bros Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, have hammered out a multi-year deal to handle the international distribution of MGM’s theatrical titles, commencing with Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All in November and continuing with the 2023 slate and beyond; the second title under the pact being Creed III in March.

Selome Hailu The Ebo twins, Adamma and Adanne Ebo, have entered a multi-year overall deal with 20th Television and 20th Television Animation. Under the deal, they will develop, create and produce live-action and animated series for all platforms. Currently, the Ebo twins are developing “Supashawty Girls, Funkamatic Bangbang” with 20th Television Animation for Freeform.The American-Nigerian filmmaking duo made their feature film debut with “Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul” starring Regina Hall and Sterling K.

EXCLUSIVE: Charter Communications is getting out of the original programming business. The decision to shut down Spectrum Originals comes as Katherine Pope, who launched and spearheaded the effort as Charter’s Head of Original Content, is leaving to become President of Sony Pictures Television Studios.

Johnny Depp’s post-trial post, but he’s still in good graces with Dior. The fashion company has been sharing photos and videos of the actor, revealing a new contract with the controversial artist.

Aussie streamer Stan is tightening its ties with Sony Pictures Television.

Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Productions has signed a multi-year first-look deal with FuboTV for unscripted content.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorMaximum Effort, the production and advertising company co-founded by Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey, inked a multiyear, first-look deal for unscripted content deal with subscription-TV streamer FuboTV.FuboTV will issue Maximum Effort $10 million worth of shares of common stock in the company, “as part of the overall consideration for Maximum Effort’s participation in the collaboration,” per a regulatory filing Monday.Under the pact, FuboTV has the right to obtain third-party financing to fund all original content, with both Fubo and Maximum Effort jointly owning all original content produced.As part of the deal for an exclusive first-look for unscripted TV series, Maximum Effort will launch Maximum Effort Network — a linear channel on FuboTV over which Maximum Effort Productions will have full creative control — and will also have a blind scripted deal with FuboTV. Prior to forming Maximum Effort in 2018, Reynolds and Dewey teamed on the “Deadpool” movies.

ABC Signature extended its deal with Yara Shahidi and her 7th Sun Production Company to include a partnership with Onyxn Collective.

expected to go to Alyssa Farah Griffin). Navarro has often filled in when Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines or Sunny Hostin is out.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSunny Hostin is staying put at the most dramatic table on television.Hostin has inked a multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal to continue as co-host on “The View,” Variety has exclusively learned. The renewal deal will take Hostin through Season 28 of the ABC daytime show, which she currently co-hosts with Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Sara Haines — all of whom will be returning next season.ABC declined to comment on Hostin’s deal.As Variety previously reported, “The View” is expected to cast former Trump staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin as a co-host next season, which begins in September, filling the conservative seat on the panel that has been vacant ever since Meghan McCain left the show in 2021.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterLionsgate, the studio behind “John Wick,” “The Hunger Games” and Starz, has entered the podcasting space. The company launched a new division called Lionsgate Sound, which will operate as a full-service podcast production company, handling titles for the studio’s film and television business while also overseeing projects for third-party clients.Lionsgate Sound will launch with four shows, including a podcast from rapper 50 Cent.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaScreenHits TV and TCL Television have entered into a multi-year deal that should substantially expand the streaming aggregator’s reach. As part of the pact, ScreenHits’s Android and Google TV app will be installed in 44 million TCL connected televisions globally.TCL currently operates in more than 160 countries. ScreenHits TV allows users to integrate the streaming platforms they subscribe to such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Bloomberg and Starz into one central hub.

Carson Burton Fox Corp. struck multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Verizon on Wednesday, adding ad-supported streamer Tubi and Fox Weather as part of its offerings via Fios TV.Per Verizon and Fox, the extended agreement will see the continued distribution all of Fox’s brands on Fios TV, including Fox News Media, Fox Sports, Fox broadcast network and local Fox owned-and-operated TV stations in markets like New York, Washington, D.C.

Keanu Reeves‘ kind gesture to an 80-year-old fan has resurfaced online after being shared in a Reddit post.On the website, one person explained how their grandmother had developed a crush on the Matrix and John Wick star, since he reminded her of her late husband.After suffering a stroke in her early 70s, the grandmother was rendered housebound for 10 years of her life, but found comfort in Reeves’ movies, watching everything from Bill And Ted to The Matrix.The Reddit user then went onto explain how their uncle bumped into the Reeves at a restaurant in Los Angeles, and how it led to a lengthy phone conversation between the actor and his elderly fan.“Not too long after The Matrix came out my uncle was in LA for business and was eating at a really swanky restaurant when Keanu came in with a woman,” they wrote.“When he finished his meal my uncle came up to their table and said, ‘I don’t usually do this, but I just wanted you to know that my 80-year-old mother loves you and has seen all of your movies. You remind her of my dad.’“He said Keanu asked if he had a cell phone on him and when he confirmed that he did, he said, ‘Give her a call, I want to talk to her.’“He spoke with my grandmother for several minutes and it absolutely made her year.

Fox has completed a multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Verizon for its Fios TV platform.

Made with love! Jillian Harris and partner Justin Pasutto can’t get enough of their two children — and fans are right there with them.

EXCLUSIVE: Key programming continues for the 20th annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) taking place August 5th – 13th.