McKinley Franklin editor Marc Becker, CEO of the Tangent Agency and former Universal executive who worked on campaigns for films including “Despicable Me” and “Fast & Furious,” died Aug. 27 of cancer. He was 37.
17.08.2023 - 01:15 / deadline.com
In the wake of large-scale staff reductions across Warner Bros Discovery that largely tailed off earlier this year, the marketing department at Max has now also experienced layoffs.
The tally of workers let go in the streaming unit is a double-digit number, a person familiar with the situation told Deadline. Because of the need to integrate the HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming outlets into the combined Max service that launched last May, no reductions had been seen in the marketing group up to this point. In the immediate aftermath of the $43 billion WarnerMedia-Discovery deal, billions of cost savings were promised, with the total rising from $3 billion initially to beyond $4 billion earlier this year.
WBD has not identified specific subscriber trends related to the launch of Max, though the company reported a total of 95.8 million subs across all services as of June 30. That represented a sequential loss of 1.8 million subscribers, though some decline had been projected given the merging of the two streaming services. (Discovery+ is still offered on a stand-alone basis.)
Since the April 2022 close of the merger, execs at WBD have been signaling their efforts to achieve billions in cost savings from the deal. Many in management, especially CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels, have criticized the “excesses” of the management team running WarnerMedia when it was owned by AT&T as well as what the CFO has called the industry’s “streaming exuberance.”
In some instances, WBD decided to jettison finished film or TV titles in order to hew to cost-cutting objectives, eliciting objections from the creative community.
“We got a lot of criticism, especially in the press at the time,” Wiedenfels said at a Wall Street conference earlier this
McKinley Franklin editor Marc Becker, CEO of the Tangent Agency and former Universal executive who worked on campaigns for films including “Despicable Me” and “Fast & Furious,” died Aug. 27 of cancer. He was 37.
Maisie Smith and Max George have jetted off on yet another lavish holiday as they spend the hot September in Morocco. Both the EastEnders star, 22, and the former boy bander, 34, have shared some snaps of their sunny getaway, with Maisie showing off her impressive abs in one photo. Posting to her Instagram Story, Maisie shared a mirror selfie in which she sported a black and white crop top, flashing her abs to the camera as she paired this with a low-waisted brown maxi skirt.
In today's fast-paced world, many businesses and organisations need the power of marketing to help get the word out about their services to the right type of audience. They need to stand out among their competitors and ensure their brand is represented appropriately too.
EastEnders fans are wondering if a major return may be on the cards for Max Branning, as the Cindy Beale comeback storyline unfolds.
EXCLUSIVE: Central Casting is responding to online chatter about its 20-year-old photo release form, which has suddenly drawn the ire of SAG-AFTRA members who worry that background actors are signing away control of their digital likeness.
EXCLUSIVE: DC’s The Flash, the Justice League spinoff movie starring Ezra Miller in the title role, pulled in1.1M US households in it’s Live+2 Day window on Max per Samba TV. The Andy Muschietti directed Warner Bros. title hit Warners streaming service on Aug. 25.
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Former Sony Music Entertainment executive Joel Klaiman has launched Ascend4m, described as a global music and entertainment marketing and consulting agency delivering broadscale media strategy and artist/brand-friendly direction and development. The new company’s focus is on music, media, marketing, and full-scale day-to-day talent management, aligning services for artists and businesses via a diverse range of content and media and music spaces, as well as for artists signed to its label.
With Leeds Festival well underway, a couple of former Strictly Come Dancing stars decided to get involved with some free McDonald's food.
Formula One racing is back with the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend!
Maisie Smith has been wowing her fans after posting recent holiday pictures of herself relaxing in the bath. Her followers told her she 'looks flawless' as she raises a glass and tastefully poses in the tub.
Alan Wake 2‘s The Dark Place trailer appeared last night (August 22) as part of the Gamescom Opening Night Live show, and fans were sent into a frenzy when it seemed that Max Payne would be a character in the new survival horror.Introduced in Remedy Entertainment‘s shooter series of the same name, Max Payne is a detective and an undercover member of the mafia in New York City. Though he is voiced by James McCaffrey, he is portrayed by Sam Lake in the original game, and Lake is the writer of Alan Wake and the director of Alan Wake 2.In the latest trailer, a character voiced by James McCaffrey and portrayed by Sam Lake slams Alan Wake against a wall and accuses him of being both a killer and cult leader.
The BBC is partnering with TikTok to create a boot camp for social media creators looking to break into the television industry.
Neon has expanded their marketing ranks by tapping A24 vets Alexandra Altschuler as VP Media and Don Wilcox as VP Marketing.
Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Layoffs have hit the streaming marketing team at HBO and Max. A source close to the situation told Variety Wednesday that the cuts are in the double digits, but no specific number was available at the time of publication. The insider says the content division is not impacted by these layoffs.
The Wanted's Max George became emotional during an episode of Tipping Point: Lucky Stars, dedicating his win to his late friend and bandmate Tom Parker.The episode saw Max face off against Loose Women panellist Linda Robson and Labour MP Jess Phillips in the hopes of winning the £20,000 jackpot for their chosen charities. After successfully gaining £6,900, Max opted to keep that money, rather than risk it all in a chance to win big. He told the show's host Ben Shephard: "I am happy with that.That was the right decision." Ben then asked: "It’s going to a really special charity.
Romantic throwback holiday snaps shared by loved-up actress Maisie Smith with boyfriend Max George have left fans melting on social media. The 22-year-old former EastEnders star shared pictures of a recent getaway on Instagram, with the caption "Oh what a lovely pair."
Made In Chelsea star Binky Felstead and her husband Max Fredrik Darnton have been enjoying a rare child-free holiday as the pair take a breather from their newborn schedules.The pair, who got married in July 2021, welcomed their second child together earlier this year who they have called Wilder. Binky and Max also share their other son Wolfie who is now two and she has a five-year-old daughter called India who is from her previous relationship with fellow Made In Chelsea star Josh Patterson. So, having seen their family grow even more this year it is no surprise that the young parents fancied a bit of a break from their parenting duties and went on a well-deserved holiday together.
Giant theater chain AMC Entertainment has promoted Ellen Copaken to SVP Marketing, effective immediately. She was also appointed to sit on the company’s management executive committee.
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter AMC Theatres has promoted Ellen Copaken to lead its marketing department. As senior VP of marketing, effective immediately, she will report to AMC’s chairman and CEO Adam Aron and will join the company’s executive committee. She’s taking over for Eliot Hamlisch, who recently departed the company.
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter IFC Films is bolstering its team with new executive hires and several internal promotions. As part of the expansion, Nicole Weis is joining the company as VP of distribution, where she will manage the theatrical rollout for IFC’s film slate.