Ahead of its debut of Apple TV Plus, Apple posted financial results for the September 2019 quarter that were well above Wall Street estimates and included an all-time high $12.5 billion in services revenue, up 18% year over year. The tech giant reported revenue of $64.0 billion (up 1.8%) and net income of $13.69 billion
Minutes after Twitter announced that it would ban all political advertising, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg used his company’s Q3 2019 earnings call for a defense of political ads, arguing that they were free speech that was worth standing up for — even if this type of advertising was unpopular, and not all that meaningful in
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced that the social service will no longer sell political advertising — an issue that has ensnared Facebook in recent weeks. “We’ve made the decision to stop all political advertising on Twitter globally. We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought,” Dorsey wrote in a tweet Wednesday. We’ve made
In May 2018, CNN reporters An Phung and Chloe Melas published an investigative story about Morgan Freeman that detailed allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior leveled by eight women. So when Freeman’s voice was heard narrating the opening video at Tuesday’s WarnerMedia presentation to investors, it was a surprise — and a slap in the
AT&T is rolling out three new unlimited wireless plans — and with the new packages, subscribers will no longer have free access to WatchTV, the 35-plus live TV channels the telco launched last year. In addition, AT&T’s most expensive tier will now include HBO for free, whereas it previously offered customers on the top package
October 30, 2019 12:24PM PT Gerard Butler will star in the elevated action thriller “The Plane,” which will be produced by Di Bonaventura Pictures and MadRiver Pictures. MadRiver Intl. will launch sales at AFM next week and CAA Media Finance will handle the domestic rights to the film. The script was written by Charles Cumming
October 30, 2019 12:03PM PT Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp has been granted a six-month extension of its debt waiver from a French business court in order to give the Paris-based company more time to seal a deal with its lenders. The financially struggling company was initially given a six-month debt reprieve from the court in May
October 30, 2019 12:03PM PT In one of the most awesome moves we’ve seen in a long time, John Fogerty is using the money he was paid for the canceled Woodstock 50 festival to donate a home to a U.S. war veteran. There will be a groundbreaking ceremony around the donation on Nov. 11 —
Will Arnett is adding another chunky block to his box of Lego. The actor, who voices Batman in the “Lego Movie” franchise, has signed on to host and executive produce the “Lego Masters” competition series at Fox. Premiering on Feb. 5, 2020, “Lego Masters” features pairs of Lego enthusiasts facing off in brick-building challenges. Throughout
October 30, 2019 11:33AM PT The Directors Guild of America has reached a tentative new three-year agreement for staffers at ABC, CBS and NBC and sent the pact to members for ratification. The contract covers staff and freelance members employed in news, sports and operations at the companies’ television networks and many of their owned
Adam McKay is developing a limited series about Jeffrey Epstein at HBO, Variety has learned. The untitled series is based on Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown’s upcoming book about Epstein. Brown’s reporting was a driving force behind the multimillionaire financier’s arrest this past July on sex trafficking charges. McKay will executive produce along
Breaking News TMZ/Getty Composite Kim Kardashian says her image is worth millions — more than $10 million — and that’s why she’s suing a makeup app for allegedly jacking one of her pics. Kim claims in the new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, iHandy used a 2017 photo of her to promote a makeup and beauty
October 30, 2019 11:05AM PT Anthem Entertainment announced that they have acquired a catalog of songs from Boardwalk Music Group, which were co-written by songwriter Eric Frederic (Ricky Reed). The catalog includes hits by artists such as Halsey, Leon Bridges, Lizzo, and more. The acquired catalog includes the smash single “Truth Hurts” from Lizzo, which
When embroiled in the utter despair of a breakup, your outer aesthetic is often the last thing on your mind. But after enough Netflix binges and late-night Seamless orders, the need to peel off your sweats and slip into something more socially acceptable can start to arise. You may assume the perfect post-breakup look doesn’t
A group of digital journalists at NBC News have asked the company to recognize their efforts to unionize, the latest sign of strife at the NBCUniversal operation to break out as it grapples with accusations of how it has handled recent employee matters over the past two years. “There have been several different situations at
The passage of time in Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” both metaphorically and literally frames the story of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) and his rise through the Philadelphia Mafia to become friends with union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) — and eventually his murderer. Based on Sheeran’s memoir, “I Heard You Paint Houses,” which spans
October 30, 2019 10:15AM PT Andrew Garfield will star in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tick, Tick… Boom!” for Netflix. Variety first reported in June that Netflix had won the movie rights to “Tick, Tick … Boom!” with “Hamilton” creator Miranda attached to direct and Garfield the top choice to star. His deal was announced on Wednesday. “Dear
“Turn around, don’t drown!” Standing in a street with rapidly rising waters, The Weather Channel meteorologist Chris Warren is imploring drivers to steer clear of flash floods. Moments later, as if to prove his point, a car floats by. Only, Warren isn’t risking his life to record the network’s latest extreme weather segment. Instead, he’s
Development exec and producer Jennifer Gwartz has been tapped to become 20th Century Fox Television’s executive vice president of comedy and drama. At the Disney-owned studio, she will oversee scripted development of live-action comedies and dramas, identifying writing talent, guiding ideas from pitch to pilot, overseeing teams of execs in comedy development and drama development,
Walk the hallways of Fox Entertainment’s headquarters at its Century City lot, and you’ll find posters touting the company’s new mission statements. One hypes Fox’s “brand pillars,” which include “big swings,” “mass appeal” and “visceral reactions.” Another reminds employees, “We don’t play by the rules, we change the game.” Then there’s the slogan that perhaps
October 30, 2019 9:45AM PT Landmark Theatres has hired veteran Regal Entertainment executive Paul Serwitz as president and chief operating officer. The arthouse chain made the announcement on Wednesday, a week after Ted Mundorff resigned from his post as the longtime CEO of Landmark Theatres. Mundorff’s departure came less than a year after Landmark was
Cameron Douglas was born into Hollywood royalty. The son of Oscar-winner Michael Douglas and the grandson of screen legend Kirk Douglas, he grew up in a cocoon of wealth and privilege. Outwardly, life may have seemed picture perfect, but Douglas began using drugs in his teens. By his 20s, he was injecting cocaine and later,
Kevin MacLellan is exiting NBCUniversal after nearly two decades. MacLellan, the chairman of NBCU’s global distribution and international operations, will stay on with the company during the transition period before his official departure. Jeff Shell, chairman of NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment, made the announcement to staffers in a memo on Wednesday that has been obtained
Kamala Harris is not leading in the polls or in fundraising. After a surge over the summer, following her first Democratic presidential debate performance, her campaign has steadily lost steam. But Harris is still the favorite among Hollywood donors, who, for once, are following their hearts and ignoring the trends. Harris has received more contributions
October 30, 2019 9:33AM PT There aren’t many music honors that Taylor Swift hasn’t yet received, and another one is on the way: She’ll receive the “Artist of the Decade” award at next month’s 2019 American Music Awards, show producers Dick Clark Productions announced on Wednesday. She is already up for five nominations at the
MGM TV is moving in to production in the Middle Kingdom through a development pact for local-language shows with China Star Omnimedia. The deal calls for MGM to work with China Star Omnimedia (previously known as Star China Media) on developing and producing shows for local audiences. China Star will distribute the programs in China,
From its inception, Epix was destined to be a trailblazer for an industry on the cusp of disruption. The premium TV service was initially conceived in 2007 as a joint venture of Blockbuster Video, Comcast and Lionsgate. At that time, YouTube was only 2 years old but growing fast enough to strike fear in the
Exclusive Getty Composite Settle down drama queens and pot stirrers, ’cause everything’s coming up roses between Khloe Kardashian and Caitlyn Jenner … literally. There have been rumors Khloe and Caitlyn are beefing and that’s one of the reasons why Khloe was NOT part of Caitlyn’s 70th birthday dinner entourage Tuesday night. But, sources close to
An essential part of Epix’s fall slate is the dramatic “Godfather of Harlem,” starring Forest Whitaker (who also executive produces) as the real-life Bumpy Johnson. Taking place in the mid-1960s after Johnson got out of prison, the show mixes the familial challenges Johnson faced when returning home with the political issues of the time. It
Bruce Wayne’s butler is getting ready for some more action. Epix has renewed “Pennyworth” for a 10-episode second season. Season 2 of the DC and Warner Horizon Television drama will begin production in Jan. 2020, with the goal of premiering later that year on the premium cabler. The one-hour drama series follows Bruce Wayne’s legendary