Telemundo Promotes Juan Ponce to SVP and General Manager of Telemundo Streaming Studios

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Walt Disney Company has confirmed plans to launch the Disney Plus Hotstar streaming service in Thailand from the end of this month. It will be closely partnered with local telecoms provider AIS.The service will launch on June 30, 2021 and be offered at THB799 ($26.20) per year.

John Krasinski is heading across the pond!

For the latest Rochdale news sign up to the MyRochdale newsletter here

Mónica Marie Zorrilla “El Señor de los Cielos” star Rafael Amaya has inked a multi-project deal with Telemundo Global Studios, committing to starring in various original productions. The Mexican entertainer’s first project is slated to premiere later this year.

Rafael Amaya, known for his role in Telemundo’s Emmy-winning series El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies), has closed a multi-project deal with Telemundo Global Studios. Under the pact, Amaya will star in various Telemundo Global Studios original productions with his first project slated to air later this year.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorDef Jam Recordings has elevated promotion veteran Nicki Farag to Executive Vice President and General Manager.According to the announcement, in her new role, Farag will oversee the label’s day-to-day operations, working with artists, managers and staff to develop strategies and execute plans on behalf of the label’s diverse roster of global superstars and emerging talent.

John Mayer has announced details of his forthcoming eighth studio album ‘Sob Rock’, his first in four years.Sharing the album’s 1980s-inspired artwork on social media, Mayer confirmed that his new record will arrive on July 16.It’s his first album since 2017’s ‘The Search For Everything’, a loose concept album based around dealing with a break-up.Mayer has been anything but quiet since his last LP, however.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentMarking the biggest Spanish-language literary adaptation deal of the year, Telemundo Global Studios has signed with Spain’s Planeta for exclusive rights to the complete library of all time best-selling Spanish-language writer Corín Tellado, which reaches nearly 4,000 titles.The deal signals another big swing by Telemundo Global Studios, the domestic and international scripted unit of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, which early this May

LOS ANGELES -- Two stolen hand-carved religious artifacts, sandstone lintels dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries, were returned to the Thai government on Tuesday in a ceremony more than 50 years overdue.The 1,500-pound (680-kilogram) antiquities had been stolen and exported from Thailand — a violation of Thai law — roughly a half-century ago, authorities said, and donated to the city of San Francisco.

Sponsored content on local news is a problem, and John Oliver has proven why.

John Krasinski is getting ready for the long-awaited release of A Quiet Place Part II!

Last year, after years of keeping mum about issues he had with the storytelling in the recent “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, John Boyega spoke out about the treatment that his character, Finn, received in those features. He mentioned how he felt that Disney and Lucasfilm shortchanged the character and didn’t give him powerful, showstopping “moments” to shine, which he felt was particularly troubling because Finn is one of the few Black characters in the franchise.

“I am honored and humbled that the board has trusted me to lead the LMGI and am proud to carry on theincredible work done by our past presidents and board members, all equally responsible for bringing the Guild to where we are today. I look forward to working with this dedicated group of international location professionals to have us grow larger and stronger than before.

John Rakich has been elected president of the Locations Managers Guild International, succeeding Mike Fantasia, founding member and president since 2018. Founded in 2003, LMGI is a global organization of location professionals in the motion picture, television, commercial and print production industries. It is not a union, however. Teamsters Local 399 represents location managers at the bargaining table.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Disney Plus streaming service is expected to roll out in Thailand at the end of next month. If confirmed, that would be the service’s fourth territory in the highly competitive Southeast Asia region.Multiple sources have told Variety that the service will be branded as Disney Plus Hotstar in Thailand and become operational from June 30.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefDisney Plus made the greatest progress among premium streaming platforms in Southeast Asia in the first quarter of the year, according to new research.AMPD Research, affiliated with Media Partners Asia, said that the video streaming market leader remains YouTube with a 68% share, ahead of TikTok with 21% in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Discovery chief David Zaslav, whose sizable corner of the media business is getting a lot bigger, said he had previously looked at the idea of creating a “global HBO,” but all the best series were taken.

In an unprecedented move, streaming giant Netflix and Comcast-backed pay-TV operator Sky are teaming up with “Sex Education” and “Ms. Marvel” writer Bisha K Ali to create a screenwriting fellowship for six U.K. writers that will provide them with financial aid, a support network and ultimately a job in a writers’ room for either a Netflix or Sky program. For Variety, Anne Mensah, VP of U.K. Original Series, and Jane Millichip, chief content officer for Sky Studios, discuss their vision for

Bruce Willis and John Travolta are teaming up!