Phil Quartararo, a record executive for five decades at A&M, RCA, Island, EMI, Warner Bros. and Virgin Records, died today of pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles. He was 67.
08.11.2023 - 18:39 / deadline.com
Investors bid down shares of Warner Bros. Discovery today as its chief financial officer described a U.S. ad market “that has continued to be weaker than we had hoped” and a recovery that’s hard to predict “with any conviction.”
The shares are down more that 16% at about $9.77 in midday trading after quarterly earnings and commentary.
“It is becoming increasingly clear now that, much like 2023, 2024 will have its share of complexity, particularly as it relates to the possibility of continued sluggish advertising trends,” CFO Gunnar Weidenfels told a conference call with Wall Streeters after the numbers. International markets “remain more stable” in comparison to the U.S., he said, and streaming advertising is solid.
But ad revenue at WBD’s Networks segment fell to $1.7 billion, from $1.9 billion for the three months ended in September from the year before. “The state of the overall linear [market into] the second half of this year has been disappointing,” Weidenfels said. “And looking ahead, while it is early, the timing of an ad recovery is currently difficult for any of us [to predict] with any conviction.”
The situation could impact WBD’s gross leverage target as it continues to chip away at a hefty debt load — meaning the target could be out of reach “without a meaningful recovery” in the market. “We remain hopeful,” he said.
Asked about this during a Q&A, the CFO said he didn’t necessarily “intend to guide down.”
“The only reason I brought this up is that we had guidance out there hitting our leverage target range by the end of next year. And again, based on the early indications that we’re seeing from the market right now, I’m just not confident to stand here today and say, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’re
Phil Quartararo, a record executive for five decades at A&M, RCA, Island, EMI, Warner Bros. and Virgin Records, died today of pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles. He was 67.
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Phil Quartararo, the veteran record executive who played a major role in the success of the Spice Girls, Linkin Park and many others, has died, Variety has confirmed. Billboard reported that the cause of death was pancreatic cancer; he was 67. A familiar and friendly presence at countless concerts across the decades, “Phil Q.” — pictured above with Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks in 2001 — was renowned for his warm personality and firm handshake.
Warner Bros. Discovery has said British laws that restrict the period distributors can require exhibitors to screen their films may now be “outdated,” and it is time for the UK government to consider repealing the legislation.
Media, entertainment and tech companies held their own in the top 25 ranking of overpaid CEOs in 2022 by nonprofit As You Sow. Live Nation’s Michael Rapino ($139 million pay package) topped the list, which also included Netflix, Paramount Global and Warner Bros Discovery, as well as Charter, Apple and Alphabet.
There’s been an exciting new development for the already filmed movie Coyote vs Acme!
Jaden Thompson Congressman Joaquin Castro has taken to X/Twitter to call out Warner Bros. Discovery for planning to shelve the completed film “Coyote vs. Acme” for the sake of receiving a $30 million tax break.
Texas congressman Joaquin Castro has taken to X to slam Warner Bros Discovery for axing the $70M Coyote vs. Acme for a reported $30M tax writeoff. That said, as we first reported, the studio is changing course this week and screening the film for potential buyers, i.e. Amazon Prime (a leading contender), Apple and Netflix. This pivot by studio brass was made after a weekend in which the studio’s phone rang off the hook by the creative community over the cancelling of the finished film, as well as an outcry by the pic’s composer Steven Price among others online.
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Coyote vs. Acme” is officially on the market. Days after Warner Bros.
EXCLUSIVE: Screenings are being set up this week for streamers Amazon Prime, Apple and Netflix to check out and potentially acquire Warner Bros‘ axed Looney Tunes movie Coyote Vs. Acme after the studio’s phone ran off the hook the entire weekend from angry filmmakers and talent reps over their third feature film kill after Batgirl and Scoob Holiday Haunt! The more egregious Hollywood sin here with Coyote vs. Acme is that it’s a finished film, that was intended for a theatrical release, while the other two movies were still in the works.
Caroline Brew editor Andrew Scott is not particularly interested in playing an antagonist similar to his James Bond villain C from 2015’s “Spectre,” starring Daniel Craig. In a recent interview with British GQ, the actor expressed his desire to continue playing more nuanced roles. “If I’m honest, it’s not a territory that I feel like I would want to go over again.
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has expressed concerns about Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford's state of mind, insisting he currently looks 'unhappy' and 'moody'.
Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Another Warner Bros. movie bites the dust. The studio no longer plans to release “Coyote vs.
Warner Bros Discovery is reteaming with Taiwanese production company DaMou Entertainment to produce HBO Asia original Fired Up! (working title), an adaptation of hit Kakao webtoon Itaewon Class.
Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav opened the company’s quarterly earnings presentation with remarks on the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, remaining “hopeful” that the work stoppage will end “soon” following the Hollywood studios’ move to adjust AI language in its “last, best and final offer” to the actors union. “We are hopeful we will reach a resolution to the SAG-AFTRA strike soon,” Zaslav said during WBD’s third-quarter earnings call Wednesday.
Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Warner Bros. Discovery narrowed its third-quarter loss as the media giant, grappling with billions of dollars in debt as a result of the 2022 merger that created it, saw the box-office success of “Barbie” offset by a 12% decline in advertising at its portfolio of TV networks. The owner of CNN, the Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s third quarter was mixed with ‘Barbie’ coin and free cash flow beloved by Wall Street offset by sluggish advertising and the impact of the actors’ strike on the one of the industry’s biggest content creators.
Eastenders star Charlie Brooks has made Janine Butcher one of the most iconic TV villains of recent years. But originally Janine was played by a different actress who left fame entirely to forge a new career. In fact over the years the character, known for her transformation from sweet girl to husband killer, has been portrayed by three actors.Taking on the role in 1999, Charlie is today considered the definitive Janine.
Free TV Networks, a new programming entity with a presence in both over-the-air broadcast and streaming, has enlisted Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate and Gray Television as partners and suppliers.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Unscripted queer reality dating series “Boys Like Boys” is to air on Warner Bros. Discovery’s TLC channel in Taiwan in early 2024, making it the first local LGBTQ+ dating reality show to air on linear TV in the territory. The show is an original production by GagaOOLala, Asia’s out and proud LGBTQ+ streaming service, which is pitching an expanded array of queer content at the Taiwan Creative Contents Fest (TCCF) that launches Tuesday in Taipei. “Boys Like Boys” had its premiere at the Kaohsiung International Film Festival and is now available worldwide on GagaOOLala and WeTV in the Philippines and Thailand, where the ‘Boys Love’ genre has become highly popular.
As Kelsey Grammer says in his 2020 low-budget action movie Money Plane, “Whatever you want to wager on, the money plane has you covered. You want to bet on a dude f*cking an alligator? Money Plane.”