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Heather Olander knew she would be taking on a challenge when she joined The CW as its first Head of Unscripted Programming.

Just hours after Broadway star Jodie Comer left the stage of the hit one-person show Prima Facie due to breathing issues caused by New York City’s poor air quality today, Actors’ Equity is urging its members to contact their union reps with safety concerns.

Academy Gold Rising career development program. Gold Rising teams up with several studios and organizations to aid students and young professionals from underrepresented communities develop their careers in the film industry. This year’s slate includes 90 students and 21 film and entertainment companies. The eight-week program kicked off on Wednesday with a two-day orientation process, consisting of a presentation on the Academy Film Archive and tours of the Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.  The Gold Rising program will commence with a graduation ceremony on August 10. After completion of the program, participants will be matched up with an Academy member for an eight-month mentorship experience. 

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Some people only get one chance to run CNN. Amy Entelis is about to embark on her second. The veteran news executive was one of three who took the reins at the Warner Bros. Discovery news outlet when Jeff Zucker, the previous chief, was forced out in February of last year after acknowledging a romantic relationship with Allison Gollust, once CNN’s chief marketing officer. Now Entelis will be part of a new trio leading the news giant after the Wednesday departure of former CEO Chris Licht. The challenges facing CNN have not diminished. Entelis will guide CNN’s news operations along with Virginia Moseley, recently named to oversee editorial operations, and Eric Sherling, recently appointed head of U.S. programming. David Leavy, a longtime Zaslav lieutenant who was named chief operating officer at CNN last week, will oversee business activities. The entire group must keep CNN moving forward as the 2024 presidential election cycle draws near, even as the outlet’s ratings have fallen and its staff has been buffeted by job cuts, programming changes and a seemingly endless cycle of senior executives coming and going.

Selome Hailu The Independent Television Service (ITVS) has tapped Carrie Lozano as its president and CEO following the departure of Sally Jo Fifer in January. The ITVS board selected Lozano after working with executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. Leading the organization, Lozano will work to “protect independent artists’ voices, editorial control and copyright while elevating nonfiction storytelling as an essential strategy for public media to reach new and diverse audiences.” She will enter the role on August 7. The ITVS board worked with the executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates to recruit its third President & CEO since the organization’s founding.

ITVS president and CEO Wednesday to succeed Sally Jo Fifer, who had held the position for 22 years. Lozano joins from the Sundance Institute, where she previously served as director of documentary film and artist programs.

“The View” hasn’t seen a truly heated fight at the table in quite some time, but that streak ended on Wednesday when the first segment of the show ended in a near-yelling match between hosts Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin, which moderator Whoopi Goldberg cut off by sending the show to commercial.Leading up to the argument was a discussion about former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie both officially declaring their candidacy for president in 2024. Once again, the women agreed that they don’t really see a lane for either man to have a real shot in the GOP pool, and wondered why they’re running at all.Knowing that Farah Griffin worked directly for Pence, both Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar looked to her for insight on what Pence’s strategy might actually be, and what she thinks of his candidacy.

Kim Cattrall is reflecting on losing her brother.

EXCLUSIVE: Kirstie Allsopp’s popular daytime series Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas is being rested for a year as part of Channel 4’s efforts to cut costs amid a chastening ad market slump.

Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment has set plans to partner with entertainment company 5th Planet Games (5PG) to acquire the Nordic production company Sagafilm EHF (Stella Blómkvist, The Minister).

FTC said the company’s Xbox Live signup process collected sensitive data before demanding that young users get parental approval, whereas the appropriate procedure is the reverse (get parents on board before collecting any sensitive data).Soliciting personal information, such as phone numbers, from players under 13 years of age before asking them to get parental approval was only part of Microsoft’s COPPA violation. Another key element, according to the complaint, is that “Microsoft allowed—by default—all users, including children to play third-party games and apps while using Xbox Live, requiring parents to take additional steps to opt out if they don’t want their children to access them.” This allowed children’s information to be shared with third-party developers without parental consent.In addition to the $20 million fine, the FTC proposed that Microsoft be required to keep parents informed (more than is already required) as well as delete child-linked info wherein parental consent is not obtained within two weeks of said data being collected.The FTC’s order has yet to be approved by a federal court, which is required for the fine and associated bolstered Xbox privacy protection terms to be forced onto Microsoft.“Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children’s privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Naman Ramachandran A U.K. parliamentary inquiry that convened to gather evidence for the upcoming media bill pulled no punches, with top TV executives being probed on Tuesday. Though the proceedings began with the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chair Caroline Dinenage stating that the session was not about the “widely reported issues” at ITV show “This Morning,” committee members ploughed on nevertheless. (ITV CEO Carolyn McCall has been called to give evidence to the committee next week over an affair between former ITV anchor Phillip Schofield and a young employee.) Appearing before the committee, Magnus Brooke, group director of strategy, policy and regulation at ITV, was asked about the duty of care that the editorial team and senior managers provide to staff, especially young staff, at “This Morning” and ITV in general. In response, Brooke said: “There’s a very sophisticated and significant system of safeguarding and duty of care at ITV, with a very significant set of policies.”

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Anders Jensen, the CEO of leading Nordic streaming service, has stepped down from his position and is being replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann with immediate effect. Madsen Lindemann is the former CEO of MTG, which is the previous parent company of Viaplay Group and also listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Jensen’s exit comes as the company announced the downgrade of its short-term outlook for 2023 and has withdrawn its long term operational and financial guidance. During his tenure, Jensen spearheaded the streamer’s global roll-out, including in the U.S., and ramped up the output of scripted and unscripted originals.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Some multi-millionaires enjoy collecting vintage automobiles. Others take to the charity circuit or try to influence politics from behind the scenes. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has his own hobbies. One of them is taking a crowbar to what he believes are underperforming cable assets and renovating them wholesale. Zaslav has swung the wrecking ball time and again in his years leading the company once known as Discovery Communications, a collection of cable networks that had specialized in so-called “unscripted” programming — reality shows and documentary series. In 2008, he struck a pact with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions to transform the network once known as Discovery Health into OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network; scrapped a network once co-owned in part by The New York Times to create the true-crime stalwart Investigation Discovery; and flipped the outlet once known as Discovery Travel & Living Network into Planet Green, a network focused on the environment. When that didn’t pan out, it became Destination America in 2012, centered on American culture. In 2010, he tried to revamp Discovery Kids by forging a joint venture with toymaker Hasbro. Last year, the company refashioned DIY Network, an HGTV sibling focused on fix-it programming, around popular home-repair entrepreneurs Chip and Joanna Gaines and called the result Magnolia.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA congratulated the Directors Guild of America on reaching an agreement with the studios on Sunday, but both groups stressed that the deal does not change their own goals. Both guilds are intent on pushing back against “pattern bargaining,” in which the terms of the DGA deal are typically applied to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. The WGA has been on strike for a month, while SAG-AFTRA begins its negotiations on Wednesday. “Our bargaining strategy has never relied upon nor been dependent on the outcome or status of any other union’s negotiations, nor do we subscribe to the philosophy that the terms of deals made with other unions bind us,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the executive director of SAG-AFTRA, in a statement.

MPs today grilled an ITV boss on claims of 'bullying' at This Morning following allegations of a 'toxic and unhappy' environment at the daytime show.

SAG-AFTRA, which begins negotiations for a new contract on Wednesday, said today that its bargaining strategy remains unchanged in the wake of the tentative deal made last night by the Directors Guild and the studios.

Martin Frizell, the Editor of embattled ITV daytime show This Morning, has been rebuked by his employer for “extremely ill-judged” remarks about eggplants when questioned over the Phillip Schofield scandal.

The “erosion of the power of writers in the U.S.” can serve as a “learning opportunity” for European storytellers, according to The X Files creator Frank Spotnitz.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Peter Chernin’s global multi-genre studio The North Road Company has acquired Turkish film and TV powerhouse Karga Seven Pictures in its first major move to expand its international market footprint. The company, which is an offshoot of Red Arrow Entertainment Group, originated as a factual content creator in the U.S. before moving into Turkish scripted films and series. Their most recent standout products are Netflix’s original hits “Midnight at the Pera Palace” and “Rise of Empires: Ottoman.” But they now produce many of Turkey’s top shows, including “Hekimoglu” — adapted from the U.S. series “House.” Karga Seven’s founders — Emmy-nominated producers Sarah Wetherbee, Emre Sahin and Kelly McPherson — will remain in leadership roles, according to a statement. Wetherbee and Sahin will serve as global co-CEOs with McPherson as head of English-language content, alongside industry veteran and newly hired Ömer Müjdat Özgüner, who will now serve as Karga Seven’s Turkey CEO.

Jennifer Coolidge has "made a lot of mistakes" in life. The 61-year-old actress shot to fame when she was cast as Stifler's Mom in the 1999 coming-of-age comedy 'American Pie' before going on to star opposite Reese Witherspoon in 'Legally Blonde' and alongside Hilary Duff in 'A Cinderella Story' but started to "pursue guys" rather than drive her career forward at that time. She told Variety: "Now that I’m old enough to really look back at my life and certainly my mistakes, I see a lot of those.

One of the most important rules in a negotiation is you have to be prepared to walk away from the table. This tactic, it seems, is not lost on Kim Cattrall.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor CNN chief Chris Licht told staffers Monday he wants to help them make the news rather than being a central figure in it. In the wake of a devastating profile of the CNN CEO published Friday by The Atlantic, Licht set about soothing frayed nerves Monday by telling employees on the news outlet’s regular morning call that “I should not be in the news unless it’s taking arrows for you. Your work is what should be written about,” according to two people familiar with the matter, The words are the first from Licht to be made public since the piece was unveiled. Thanks to a rich vein of unfettered access provided over months, the piece detailed the executive’s struggles — and some of his insecurities — during his first year on the job at the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed news outlet. David Zaslav, the CEO of the parent company, has articulated a strategy of eliminating some of the activist bent that resounded at CNN under its previous chief, Jeff Zucker. But Licht’s efforts to do so have been plagued by near-constant leaks and a restive staff, many of whom remain loyal to Licht’s predecessor, ousted after he admitted to a longstanding relationship with Allison Gollust, CNN’s former chief marketing officer.

Asda has announced that it is rolling out a major change across more than 600 stores in a move that will be less harmful to the environment.

Jennifer Coolidge got into the thick of things for a conversation with The Bear star Jeremy Allen White in Variety where they discussed their rise to the top of the industry, particularly over the last year. The actress, 61, opened up especially about the means through which she found early success with her work as a character actress and why she feels it was the wrong decision to not capitalize on them. When asked by Jeremy, 32, if she chose roles for longevity or because she found people she liked and wanted to work with, Jennifer responded: "Now that I'm old enough to really look back at my life and certainly my mistakes, I see a lot of those. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan share reactions to Outlander ending with season eightWhy Princess Eugenie's baby's birth is a huge royal firstRobin Roberts will leave Good Morning America in 2023 temporarily for very special reasonInside the 2023 Oscars goodie bagSean Penn and Charlize Theron grace the red carpet together"But I never had any strategy. I just went job to job. I have to say I made the terrible mistake of not riding the wave that I had early on. "The acclaimed comedienne continued: "It was sort of in the '90s when I had Legally Blonde, Best in Show, and American Pie.

Lidl has confirmed it will be rolling out a blanket policy in all of its supermarkets. The change, which is set to come into effect at the start of 2024, is likely to prove controversial with some shoppers.

Mark Schilling Japan Correspondent Studio Ghibli, the iconic Japanese animation studio, will maintain a cloud of secrecy for as long as possible around “How Do You Live,” the final film from maestro Miyazaki Hayao (“Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Princess Mononoke”). The new movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters in Japan on July 14, but Studio Ghibli and its partners will do away with pre-release advertising and advanced information. To date it has released only a single enigmatic poster of a bird.

Angry residents of a West Lothian village who say they are cut off due to a lack of buses are calling on the council to step in and help.

The Writers Guild is congratulating the Directors Guild on achieving a tentative agreement on a new film and TV contract but says its strike will continue unabated and that its own bargaining positions “remain the same” as at the start of the strike on May 2.

released a memo to members of the actors guild congratulating the Directors Guild of America on reaching a tentative agreement on a new labor contract while noting that such a deal will have no impact on SAG-AFTRA’s own labor talks beginning this week. “Our bargaining strategy has never relied upon nor been dependent on the outcome or status of any other union’s negotiations, nor do we subscribe to the philosophy that the terms of deals made with other unions bind us,” the memo reads.

announcement post. “In the current environment, we find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm.”Users are now free to post content that claims there was fraud in the 2020 U.S.

In a defiant clarion call for continued solidarity and endurance as the Writers Guild’s strike enters its second month, WGA negotiating committee co-chair Chris Keyser says in a new video that the guild’s fight for a fair contract is not one that’s being fought for writers alone, but for the entire labor movement.

Writers Guild of America has assured members in a memo that a potential agreement between Hollywood’s studios and the Directors Guild of America will not break their strike, saying that solidarity between the entertainment unions will safeguard against it and that the “era of divide and conquer is over.”“Our position is clear,” the guild wrote. “To resolve the strike, the companies will have to negotiate with the WGA on our full agenda.”In a memo posted to the WGA’s contract website, the guild’s negotiating team pointed to the conclusion of the last writers strike in 2008, as the DGA reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that became the pattern upon which the AMPTP set its deal with the WGA.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer This is not 2008. That was the message sent on Thursday by the Writers Guild of America, which argues that the current strike — now a month old — will not end the way the last one did 15 years ago. In 2008, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers got a deal with the Directors Guild of America, which set the pattern for the deal that ended the writers strike after 100 days. In an email to members, the WGA argued that the studios are once again pursuing a similar “divide and conquer” strategy.

The Writers Guild told its members today that the AMPTP’s “divide and conquer” strategy isn’t working, and that if the companies think they can pit one guild against the other, make a deal with the Directors Guild and force the WGA to accept it and end its strike – as was the case with the WGA’s last strike – they are mistaken.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor For the first time, rival streaming services Netflix and Paramount+ are coming together in a price-discounted bundle, exclusively for Verizon wireless customers in the U.S. The limited-time deal, through Verizon’s +play subscription-aggregation hub, offers the carrier’s mobile customers a price point of $25.99/month for Netflix Premium and Paramount+ With Showtime — a 19% discount ($5.99 off) the regular monthly price of the two services sold separately. (You’ll still need two separate apps to watch each of the streamers.) Netflix Premium, the streamer’s priciest plan that includes up to four simultaneous streams and content in up to 4K Ultra HD, is regularly $19.99/month. Paramount+ With Showtime will cost $11.99/month when it officially becomes Paramount Global’s top-tier, ad-free streaming plan later in June.