Television

In the early moments of the annual game to lure advertisers to the Super Bowl, ViacomCBS is first and long. Signing 60 to 70 automakers, snack manufacturers and tech marketers  to sponsor the biggest TV event of the year is never an easy task. But doing so will be tougher for the newly-merged media conglomerate,

ViacomCBS, on the hunt for advertising dollars in a difficult economic moment, plans to take two shots at its target. The recently-merged company later today will offer a look at its various cable properties to media buyers and advertisers, and on Tuesday will debut the fall schedule for its CBS broadcast network. The two video

ViacomCBS president-CEO Bob Bakish told investors on Monday that the company feels no urgency to pursue any major acquisitions at present. During ViacomCBS’ 40-minute annual meeting of shareholders, Bakish also said the TV giant is starting to see “green shoots” in the scatter advertising marketplace. And he talked up the growth in usage of the

Iberseries, one of the Spanish-speaking world’s first international TV festivals, has launched an online version of what would have been some of the key events at its originally planned on-site first edition in Granada, Southern Spain, due to have run in late May. Set in the run-up and dates of that event, which was dashed

Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard are coming back for more screaming, wailing and swearing at their fictional children. FX has renewed the comedy “Breeders,” in which the two British actors star, for a second season. The announcement was made by the cabler’s president of original programming Nick Grad. Season 1 of “Breeders,” which is produced

“The Umbrella Academy” season 2 release date has been set for Netflix this summer, with the cast of the comic-based superhero franchise appearing in a quarantine videoconference teaser to pitch the show’s upcoming return. The dysfunctional-family superheroes will return with a new set of adventures on July 31, 2020, on Netflix worldwide. The live-action series is

U.K. industry org The Film and TV Charity has launched a free online resource for workers in film, TV and cinema who are seeking mental health support amid the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Launching Monday, at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, the online community resource has been developed by Big White Wall

Walter Presents, the streaming service for non-English language drama, has launched in New Zealand after striking a distribution deal with state broadcaster TVNZ. A dedicated Walter Presents section on the TVNZ OnDemand homepage will make more than 250 hours of international scripted programming exclusively available to viewers over the next six months, free of charge

Amsterdam’s IBC Show has been canceled for 2020 due to coronavirus restrictions on travel and social distancing. In a statement released Monday morning, IBC CEO Michael Crimp said that as governments unveil recovery plans, “it has become clear that a return to (a new) normal is unlikely to be achieved by September.” “It has also

Former “The Bachelorette” star Hannah Brown has apologized for her use of the N-word on social media. Brown took to Instagram Stories on Sunday with a post in which she wrote, “I owe you all a major apology. There is no excuse, and I will not justify what I said.  I have read your messages

ESPN’s 10-part docuseries “The Last Dance,” which is coming to an end Sunday, chronicles Michael Jordan’s final championship season with the Chicago Bulls and the drama that ensued. But where are the players, controversial figures and friends of “His Airness” now? Find out below:

Since its premiere four weeks ago, ESPN’s “The Last Dance” has captured the attention of basketball fans across the nation as they seek content during a time when professional sports have ground to a halt. The 10-part documentary following NBA legend Michael Jordan and six-time champions the Chicago Bulls will air its final two parts

Logan Williams, a young actor who appeared on CW’s “The Flash,” died on April 2 at 16 years old, and his mother has revealed that his death was caused by a fentanyl overdose. In an interview with the New York Post, Marlyse Williams announced that preliminary toxicology results showed that Logan overdosed on the opioid.

At least one professional sports organization is ready to bring back its fans. Professional Bull Riders, which is owned by UFC parent Endeavor, will allow fans – albeit not a packed house – to attend a July event in South Dakota. PBR becomes the first sports organization to welcome fans back into the arena since

Fred Willard was a gifted comedian whose unique style and improv roots made him a formidable performer. That’s how his longtime friend and frequent collaborator Martin Mull remembered Willard, who died May 15 at the age of 86. “He was absolutely, unconditionally original,” Mull told Variety. “He worked so spontaneously. He had such a closet that

Phyllis George, one of the first leading female sports broadcasters, died on Friday due to complications from a blood disorder. She was 70. George’s career in front of the camera began in 1974 as the co-host of “Candid Camera” on CBS. That same year, she then joined the “NFL Today” team alongside veteran sports braodcasters

There’s something to be said, given all Catherine the Great did in her lifetime as the late 18th-century ruler of Russia, that the unfortunate bestiality rumor — you know, the one about the horse — remains. “Fake news,” said Elle Fanning on the Variety After Show, presented by National Geographic, on Instagram Live. “It’s pretty

“Star Trek” is boldly going back to its roots. CBS revealed Friday that it had given a series order to “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” a new show that will take place on the starship Enterprise in the years prior to James T. Kirk coming aboard as captain. The new show is set, like other

NBC has renewed the dramedy series “Good Girls” for a fourth season, Variety has learned exclusively. The news comes after the show’s third season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced many productions to fall short of their episode orders after production was suspended across the board. Thus Season 3 of the show

Timothy Olyphant is the latest star to sign on to “The Mandalorian” Season 2, Variety has confirmed with sources. The exact nature and scope of Olyphant’s role is being kept under wraps. He joins previously confirmed Season 2 cast members Temuera Morrison, Rosario Dawson, and Michael Biehn. Reps for Olyphant and Disney did not immediately respond

Barça Studios and Sony Music Latin Iberia are teaming to produce “Talent Explorers,” an animated series which marks the third title from Barça Studios, the burgeoning film-TV content arm of F.C. Barcelona, one of the world’s biggest soccer clubs. The series – which sees Max, a 15 year-old boy, Roc,  big bear with a heart

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to keep television and film production on an indefinite hiatus, Showtime is shifting its programming strategy to spotlight its documentary series and features by plugging them into the Sunday night schedule, the network’s most-watched programming block. The premium cabler has also picked up the Matt Tyrnauer-directed four-part docuseries “The Reagans,”

Wise Entertainment has signed a first-look deal at Amazon. Wise Entertainment is a production company known for producing five seasons of the Emmy-nominated Hulu drama “East Los High.” The company was founded by producer/writer/director Katie Mota and producer Mauricio Mota. “We are thrilled to be working with Amazon Studios, and their incredibly innovative team,” Katie

Sinclair Broadcast Group will pay more than 1,000 of its eligible freelance sports broadcast technicians $2,500 each in the second phase of its assistance program, Variety has learned exclusively. A company spokesman said Friday that the payment — a response to the COVID-19 pandemic — will total more than $3 million. The payment comes nearly

You can now add Apple’s “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” to the burgeoning list of TV series which are producing one-off, virtual specials. The workplace comedy series, which hails from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” stars and executive producers Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, has shot a half-hour quarantine episode launching May 22 on Apple TV

“American Idol” has been renewed for a fourth season at ABC. The news comes just days ahead of the Season 3 finale, which will air on the broadcast network on May 17. Among the performances scheduled for the finale are: Luke Bryan performing his new single “One Margarita;” Katy Perry performing her new single “Daisies;”

ESPN’s “The Last Dance,” which reaches its climax May 17, focuses on Michael Jordan and the six-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls. In one sense, the show couldn’t come at a better time, filling the void caused by canceled live sporting events and delivering the exploits of a legend. Production house Sim intended to assemble the

It was revealed in Bong Joon Ho’s 2013 feature film “Snowpiercer” that the titular train needed children in order to carry on its mission of lapping the globe in perpetual motion. They were cogs in the machine — literal replacement parts — as the train was already wearing down after only a few years of

“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” like many other reality shows this season, is going virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic. VH1 ru-vealed on Friday that both “Drag Race’s” reunion episode on May 22 and the Season 12 finale on May 29 have been shot virtually. In previous seasons, the finale was filmed in front of a live audience,

When it came to designing the court of Peter III in Hulu’s “The Great,” which premieres May 15, production designer Francesca di Mottola carefully avoided the style of the Versailles-like Russian Winter Palace. “We wanted to invent our world for the show,” she says.  Created by Tony McNamara, “The Favourite” screenwriter, the show focuses on