Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, July 1st, 2024:
PRODUCTION NOTES
We're entering a long holiday weekend here in the U.S. and so I wanted to update you on the publishing schedule. There will be a regular newsletter on Tuesday and a shortened one on Wednesday. While there's unlikely to be a ton of new things to talk about, a network or two always bury bad news going into the holidays. And also on Wednesday, I'll have the story of Minnesota's own example of the Dark Side Of Kids TV: a casting agent for kids who was convicted of abusing some of his clients. More than a decade after he had previously pled guilty to abusing teens at a church summer camp.
There won't be a newsletter on Thursday or Friday (unless some HUGE story breaks) and I'll be back on a regular schedule beginning next Monday. As an FYI, on Tuesday, July 9th I'll be headed to Pasadena for the TCAs, which begin on Wednesday. And as was the case in February during the last TCAs, there will be a daily newsletter, but the timing from day-to-day is likely to be unpredictable, given the nature of the event.
And as a reminder, reach out if you'd like to meet up while I'm there.
WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER?
Last week I wrote about some possible changes at the Hollywood Reporter and that brief piece prompted a number of people to reach out with thoughts on what might be happening at that Penske Media-owned outlet. I heard from former and current Penske employees, as well as studio marketing and advertising people. I reached out to some people I knew and the result is an interesting snapshot of how some in the industry see the outlet.
It's not one of those stories in which you can get a lot of people to speak on the record, so I weeded out a lot of one-off comments from sources that I couldn't confirm from other people. But given the reach PMC has in the entertainment business, you don't see a lot of critical coverage of the company. Other than the occasional leak in The Wrap.
In other words, go read the entire piece:
Roshan's hiring began with an awkward introduction to the THR staff, many of whom had a loyalty to the then-current editor Nekesa Mumbi Moody. I've heard several stories similar to one I heard from a former THR employee, who said the hiring came as a surprise to much of the staff: "I've never quite experienced a mood shift like the one that happened when Maer came on board. The news of his hire was about to be leaked (I always assume to The Wrap), so we all found out like everyone did: by reading about it on THR."
Maer was described to me by multiple sources as having a management style that is "equal parts chaos and missed opportunities." One source still working at the publication told me that Maer's stint at the outlet has been marked by the sense THR's corporate owners wanted a change. But what that change might look like and how to move in that direction was never made clear in direct conversations.
This is a story I am going to continue to follow, so if you have anything to share, please reach out via email at
A CONFEDERACY OF (STREAMING) DUNCES
Another week, another rumor about Warner Bros Discovery looking to do a streaming partnership with a struggling rival. Today, CNBC's Alex Sherman reported that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has an interest in merging Max and Paramount+ as a joint venture, according to people familiar with the matter:
One of the companies that has expressed a desire to reach a deal is Warner Bros. Discovery, according to people familiar with the matter. Combining Max and Paramount+ could strengthen both services by allowing them to better compete with Netflix and Disney’s suite of platforms (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN) for eyeballs and future content.
Stories about WBD putting together a joint streaming venture surface on a regular basis and they haven't happened yet, in large part it doesn't solve any of the company's streaming problems. And it certainly wouldn't help Paramount, which lost about $1.6 billion on it direct-to-consumer business in 2023.
And the problem with that is a larger combined streaming platform wouldn't necessarily be profitable. Yes, there are some savings WBD's frugal executives can wring out of the joint effort. But unless the plan would be to sell the combined service for around $25 a month, both companies would end up making less per subscriber.
One bit of synergy that might come from a joint streaming venture might be to add Paramount +'s live sports rights to the upcoming sports platform coming from WBD, Fox and Disney. Adding Paramount's games would give that service closer to being a one-stop shop for streaming sports fans.
ODDS AND SODS
* The Max Original adult animated series Kite Man: Hell Yeah! premieres July 18th. The series features characters from the Max Original adult animated series Harley Quinn, which has been renewed for a fifth season.
The NY Times is reporting that aging mogul Barry Diller is considering a run at acquiring Paramount Global.
* The lack of a government office and shortcomings in job training are keeping film and TV producers from choosing Minnesota, industry members say.
* A few weeks ago I highlighted commentary creator Jenny Nicholson's four-hour review of the ill-fated Star Wars hotel had garnered around 9 million views. But Nicholson has posted on X that Disney "tried and failed" to copyright her video. She appealed and won the claim. The bad news for her is that YouTube will hold her Adsense revenue from the video in an escrow account for 30 days before she has access to it.
* Apple TV+ has given a series order to The Dispatcher, with Colin From Accounts star Patrick Brammall in the lead role. He'll play a police detective whose 3-year-old daughter disappeared without a trace 10 years earlier.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
MONDAY, JULY 1ST:
* Basketball Wives Season Premiere (VH1)
* 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way (PBS)
* Outrageous Love With NeNe Leakes Series Premiere (Lifetime)
* Parents Gone Wild Series Premiere (Lifetime)
* POV: Hummingbirds (PBS)
* Sharks Gone Viral (NatGeo)
* Shy (Crunchyroll)
* Star Trek: Prodigy Season Premiere (Netflix)
* Supersized Sharks (NatGeo)
* The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Trained To Death By The Most Powerful Party, Became Invincible Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* The Wall Season Premiere (NBC)
* 30 For 30: No Scope: The Story Of FaZe Clan (ESPN)
TUESDAY, JULY 2ND:
* Detective Maria Kallio Season Two Premiere (Viaplay)
* Disco: Soundtrack Of A Revolution Finale (PBS)
* Hard Knocks: Offseason With The New York Giants Season Premiere (HBO)
* Sprint Series Premiere (Netflix)
SEE YOU ON TUESDAY!
Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, July 1st, 2024
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- By Rick Ellis
