New Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade Says TMZ Can Become “Huge Entertainment Studio” – Mipcom Cannes

A few hours after a story emerged that indicated there’s little love for him among Twitter workers past and present, the service’s former Twitter CEO and cofounder Jack Dorsey has responded.

Universal Orlando Resort today announced the closing of at least five attractions to make way for what it termed “new family entertainment.” Fievel’s Playland, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, Curious George Goes to Town, DreamWorks Destination and Shrek and Donkey’s Meet & Greet will permanently close at end of day on January 15 203, according to an announcement posted to the resort’s Twitter page.

Ziwe is back with the second half of the second season of her namesake talk show and she has declared a “diversity war.”

At 15 million paid subscribers, Peacock isn’t on the same level as other streaming services, but NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell says that’s no accident.

EXCLUSIVE: Rob Clark, Fremantle’s veteran Director, Global Entertainment, who helped develop The X Factor, Got Talent and Apprentice franchises globally across two decades, is exiting the company.

“CSI” showrunner and executive producer Carol Mendelsohn and producing partner Julie Weitz have struck a multi-year first-look broadcast direct deal with Fox Entertainment, president of entertainment Michael Thorn announced at MIPCOM Cannes. The duo’s previous deal with Universal Television is now over.Under the terms, Mendelsohn and Weitz will develop scripted dramas for the Fox.

The Lord of the Rings franchise can reach the $6B-plus scale of Marveland Star Wars, according to the man who brokered the sale of the IP to Sweden’s Embracer Group, who revealed new information about the deal.

Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season one has had a “halo effect” on the streamer’s other tentpoles such as The Boys and Wheel of Time, according to Studios boss Jennifer Salke.

Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti has criticized the global streamers’ approach to rights and data sharing, as he predicts “in five-to-10 years time IP and talent will be the most important way of creating value.”

Marta Balaga Banijay will continue to be innovative and sustainable, CEO Marco Bassetti said at Mipcom.  When asked about the company’s future growth, and a recent SPAC deal, he added:  “It’s helping us not to lose all the opportunities the market can give us. We have all that we need in order to grow, definitely.”  “But our growth should follow a certain strategy. We don’t want to lose our DNA. So far, it has worked.”  Last year, the company produced more than 90 pilots. In October, Banijay confirmed the proposed acquisition of Beyond International Limited. Bassetti also commented on Banijay’s takeover of Endemol Shine.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor CANNES – The newly constituted senior entertainment team at Fox Corp. came to Mipcom this year with checkbooks in hand. The trio of executives who offered the keynote address Monday evening at the international content conference were blunt in telling the crowd that they came to make some new friends around the world and strike some deals. The company is bucking the trend in media toward direct-to-consumer subscription platforms. Fox is putting its resources into content and IP that can travel around the world and be adaptable in many forms. “While others are trying to hide their content behind paywalls, we are doing the opposite,” said Rob Wade, who was promoted this month to CEO of Fox Entertainment (“I’m 10 days in to the job,” he noted with a smile on stage). “We see the potential of working with (outside) networks, producers and distributors to be able to get our content out there further.”

The members of K-pop band BTS will serve their mandatory military duties under South Korean law, their management company said Monday, effectively ending a debate on exempting them because of their artistic accomplishments.

BBC DG Tim Davie and Studios CEO Tom Fussell have said the BBC is now a “fully global operation,” as they shared a stage for the first time at Mipcom Cannes.

ITVX and Viaplay four-partner Litvinenko, which will see David Tennant playing the doomed Russian dissident, has sold into 80 territories ahead of its launch. AMC+ and Sundance Now have taken rights in the U.S., while Prime Video bagged Canada from distributor ITV Studios. 

EXCLUSIVE: Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland is focusing on M&A and talent, and is rewarding high-performing labels with extra investment as he enters his first Mipcom Cannes in the new role.

Jon Gosselin is getting called out by the CEO of his daughter’s beauty brand!

Bill Murray “hated” various cast members on Saturday Night Live, specifically Chris Farley and Adam Sandler.Following allegations made by Geena Davis regarding a “bad” experience with Murray while filming 1990’s Quick Change, Schneider discussed his experience with the actor in an interview with SiriusXM’s Jim Norton & Sam Roberts.When one of the hosts mentioned Jaws actor Robert Shaw, who was rumoured to have been difficult on set, Schneider brought up Murray.“That’s the same thing with Bill Murray,” Schneider said. “I won’t say who the filmmaker was, but like Bill Murray, it’s like, ‘He’s gonna come, he’s gonna change the dialogue. He’s gonna change things, and it’s gonna be great, but you don’t know who you’re gonna get, which Bill Murray you’re gonna get.

Rob Schneider claimed that Bill Murray "absolutely hated" the "Saturday Night Live" cast when he guest-hosted the NBC comedy sketch series. The 58-year-old "SNL" alum recalled the 72-year-old actor's loathing for the show's cast members during an appearance on SiriusXM’s "The Jim Norton & Sam Roberts Show" Thursday.  "He wasn’t very nice to us," Schneider said of Murray. "He hated us on ‘Saturday Night Live’ when he hosted.

Rob Schneider claimed during an interview on SiriusXM's show that Bill Murray was difficult to work with and he «hated us» when the famed actor returned for one of his several hosting stints on Norton was in the middle of discussing rumors of an actor being difficult on the set of, when the 58-year-old actor and comedian interjected and mentioned he had a similar experience with Murray, who was an  cast member from 1976 to 1980 and served as a host five times. «That's the same thing with Bill Murray,» said Schneider on Thursday while promoting his new comedy, Daddy Daughter Trip. «I won't say who the filmmaker was, but 'Bill Murray is gonna come, he's gonna change the dialogue. He's gonna change things, and it's gonna be great but you don't know who you're gonna get.

Zack Sharf On the heels of Geena Davis’ revelation that Bill Murray was allegedly inappropriate with her during the making of “Quick Change” comes a new interview with Rob Schneider claiming Murray hated “Saturday Night Live” cast members Adam Sandler and Chris Farley. Schneider was being interviewed on SiriusXM’s “The Jim Norton & Sam Roberts Show” (via THR) when he said that his “SNL” cast got a warning when Murray came to host an episode. An unnamed filmmaker told Schneider and the team: “Bill Murray is gonna come, he’s gonna change the dialogue. He’s gonna change things, and it’s gonna be great, but you don’t know who you’re gonna get. Which Bill Murray you’re gonna get. The nice Bill Murray? Or you’re gonna get the tough Bill Murray?”