Warner Bros. Discovery Unveils Revamped Leadership for Japan, Australia, New Zealand

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefWarner Bros. Discovery has partnered with energy company Shell for an adrenaline-filled show, “Dare to Ride,” that has begun airing on Discovery in Southeast Asia and India. “Dare to Ride” showcases some of Asia’s most accomplished riders as they attempt to conquer the region’s most iconic routes with just their bikes, their wits, and their technical knowhow.

READ MORE: Stephen Ferris feels Ulster star could move abroad after latest snub But that was only one of his Test starts for him in an injury-hit season and Ulster will be hopeful this latest setback does not hamper his prospects of being ready for the start of next term. Farrell was already dealing with the loss of hooker Rob Herring for the first Test of a series that begins in Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, with Niall Scannell already in New Zealand as back-up, while Mack Hansen is isolating after picking up Covid. In the All Blacks' camp, meanwhile, a third probable backs starter has picked up Covid with Will Jordan joining centres Jack Goodhue and David Havili on the sidelines, along with head coach Ian Foster and John Plumtree, hastening former Leinster and Ireland supremo Joe Schmidt into the set-up.

Jack Johnson has announced he’ll be embarking on a run of Australian and New Zealand shows later this year.The tour comes in support of his latest album ‘Meet The Moonlight’, which arrived last Friday (June 24). It’ll see Johnson and his band arrive in Australia in late November, playing shows in Perth, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, before heading to New Zealand’s Auckland and Napier.He’ll be supported by Emily Wurramara and Ziggy Alberts for the Australian dates, with The Black Seeds joining him in New Zealand.Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday July 1 at 10am local time, and will be available to purchase here.A post shared by Jack Johnson (@jackjohnson)It’ll be the first time the singer has visited Australia since 2019’s Byron Bay Bluesfest, and his first New Zealand shows since 2017.‘Meet The Moonlight’ marks Johnson’s eighth studio album and his first LP release in five years.

PlayStation Plus tiered system has launched in its last regions today (June 23) – find out the biggest games you can play here.The Essential, Extra and Premium tiers offer a number of differing benefits that stack the higher players go, with each now available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.Essential subscribers get the current PlayStation Plus offerings, whilst Extras will also get a number of PS4 and PS5 games, with Premium subscribers getting game trials and classic games on top of that.Sony also noted today that a number of PAL-based regions will get NTSC support for a “majority” of their classic game library, meaning players will be able to choose between 50Hz and 60Hz display settings.We’ve compiled a list of some of the most notable games from each platform available in Europe today for subscribers, but you can easily find the full list per platform here.

Mura Masa has released a brand new single, ‘hollaback bitch’ – you can check it out below.The Guernsey musician’s latest track – which features Shygirl and Channel Tres – is the latest preview of his upcoming third album, ‘demon time’, which is set to be released on September 16 via Polydor Records.The follow-up to 2020’s ‘R.Y.C.’ will also feature previously released tracks, ‘blessing me’ (with Pa Salieu and Skilliben), ‘2gether’ and ‘bbycakes’ (with Lil Uzi Vert, PinkPantheress and Shygirl).Combining elements of house, early 2000s R&B and vogue culture, as well as a slick rap verse from LA-based artist Channel Tres, you can check out ‘hollaback bitch’ below:Besides releasing the fresh club single, Mura Masa has also revealed the tracklist for ‘demon time’.In addition to the aforementioned singles, the album will also feature fresh cuts like ‘up all week’ featuring Slowthai, ‘slomo’ with Tohji and Midas The Jagaban and ‘blush’ with Leyla.Check out the tracklist for ‘demon time’ below:Mura Masa is currently in the midst of a summer tour that will include performances at All Points East and this weekend’s Glastonbury.

Naman Ramachandran Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film franchise, faced a shrieking Mandrake plant as he unveiled Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse, a fan-favorite set from the films, where students were taught their Herbology lessons with Professor Pomona Sprout. Built by the original Harry Potter filmmakers, the greenhouse is home to many exotic and magical plants. The new expansion opens at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on July 1, and is part of a new feature titled “Mandrakes and Magical Creatures,” which will run through Sept.

Now leaving Riverdale, next stop … New Zealand? KJ Apa revealed he’s planning to visit home later this year — and the actor just might need to convince partner Clara Berry to make their vacation a little more permanent.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefProduction is underway in the lush and remote northern tip of New Zealand on “Far North,” a premium drama series for Sundance Now. The fact-based series stars local acting legend, Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars,” “Once Were Warriors”) and award-winning actress, Robyn Malcolm (“Top of the Lake”) as an everyday couple who foil an international crime ring’s largest ever deal in the Pacific.The series was researched and created and is being directed by David White (“This Town,” “Meat”).

Ed Sheeran has announced three new dates for his upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2023 – find tickets here.The new shows, which have been added “due to overwhelming demand”, will take place on February 1 at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand; February 11 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand; and February 19 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Additionally, more tickets have been released for the singer-songwriter’s concerts in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.Tickets to the newly announced shows will go on sale on Thursday, June 23. Tickets to several of the previously announced concerts are also currently available.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefWarner Bros. Discovery Latin America has acquired streaming and Pay-TV rights to Indonesian-produced kids animation series “The Beachbuds” for play in Latin America.

Conan Gray has shared details of a four-date Australasian tour, which is set to take place this coming November.The tour, announced today (June 16), will mark Gray’s second visit to Australia following his inaugural run of shows in February of 2020. The Auckland date will also mark Gray’s first time ever in New Zealand.The tour will be in support of ‘Superache’, Gray’s second studio album, which is set for release next Friday (June 24).

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Entertainment has named Vanessa Picken to the role of chair and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand. Reporting to Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer, she will begin her new role in September.Based in Sydney, Picken will oversee all operations, artist signings, marketing, and business partnerships for the company, according to the announcement.

Kate Bush has shared a new statement on ‘Running Up That Hill’ after it reached a new peak on the Official UK Singles Chart.The 1985 single has been witnessing a resurgence after it featured as a prominent part of the storyline in Stranger Things 4.Yesterday (June 11), the track landed at Number Two on the Official UK Singles Chart. It was held off the top spot only by Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’, which has remained Number One for 10 consecutive weeks.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefBefore the COVID-19 pandemic New Zealand was preparing a series of measures to expand on its reputation as one of the world’s top-flight filming locations. Generous subsidies, Oscar-winning crafts teams and stunning locations had made it the destination of choice for “Mulan,” “Lord of the Rings” “Mission Impossible: Fallout” and “The Power of the Dog.”While the country coped strongly with the virus, disease control measures isolated the country and caused uncomfortably long lockdowns in Auckland, its biggest city and principal film-making hub. The effect of COVID and lockdowns was to overshadow the infrastructure improvements and industry developments that continued apace.

Warner Bros Discovery is wasting no time in unveiling new leadership teams across the globe with the most recent structure outlined for Japan, Australia and New Zealand under James Gibbons, President and Managing Director of the region. This follows teams in EMEA, India, Southeast Asia and Korea being confirmed in the past 36 hours.

The newly combined Warner Bros Discovery has set out its core leadership teams for India, Southeast Asia and Korea (aka INSEAK) under the region’s President and Managing Director Clement Schwebig.