Moonbug Entertainment, the CoComelon producer owned by Candle Media, has appointed Courtney Holt as the company’s first Global Head of Music and Strategic Audio Initiatives.
Holt will oversee Moonbug’s music label via alliances with partners and strengthened ties with established and emerging artists. He will also be responsible for the international expansion of the audio division and global music operations including further developing Moonbug’s music commercial and creative partnerships and exploring emerging audio-based initiatives.
In his most recent career chapter, Holt was a senior exec at Spotify but left the company in 2022 as it was beginning a pullback from podcasting and implementing staff and cost reductions.
Moonbug was acquired by Candle, which is led by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by private equity giant Blackstone, for $3 billion in 2021. The UK-based company is aiming to establish a globally music brand in the children’s entertainment sector.
Holt will oversee Moonbug’s music label via alliances with partners and strengthened ties with established and emerging artists. He will also be responsible for the international expansion of the audio division and global music operations including further developing Moonbug’s music commercial and creative partnerships and exploring emerging audio-based initiatives.
In his most recent career chapter, Holt was a senior exec at Spotify but left the company in 2022 as it was beginning a pullback from podcasting and implementing staff and cost reductions.
Moonbug was acquired by Candle, which is led by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by private equity giant Blackstone, for $3 billion in 2021. The UK-based company is aiming to establish a globally music brand in the children’s entertainment sector.
- 2/21/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
It has been two years since Jeff Zucker resigned from the top job at CNN over a consensual relationship with a network executive. Since then, he’s headed up RedBird Imi, a joint venture between Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital and Imi, an investment fund backed by the UAE. With a massive private equity war chest behind him, Zucker, 58, has been relentlessly hunting for deals. In a little over a year, he has invested in TV studio and motion picture company Media Res and news site Front Office Sports and just made an audacious bid to buy the U.K.’s Telegraph, provoking an outcry from journalists and politicians. On Feb. 17, Zucker’s firm bought powerhouse producer All3Media (which backed 1917, Fleabag, Squid Game: The Challenge, The Tinder Swindler and Penny Dreadful, among many other movies, docs and shows) for $1.45 billion. The mogul spoke to The Hollywood Reporter shortly after.
What...
What...
- 2/21/2024
- by Lachlan Cartwright
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement Thursday that it is “open to considering a variety of strategic options for our linear businesses,” but shot down a report that it was in active discussions to sell its ABC broadcast network and stations.
“At this time The Walt Disney Company has made no decision with respect to the divestiture of ABC or any other property and any report to that effect is unfounded,” the statement continued.
The statement followed a Bloomberg report that said Disney had held “initial” talks about a sale of ABC and its local stations to Nexstar, the local TV giant and owner of The CW network.
The Bloomberg story and subsequent Disney pushback came after Tom Carter, a former Nexstar executive and current adviser to the company, told a Bank of America conference Wednesday that should Disney’s ABC stations become available, Nexstar would be able...
“At this time The Walt Disney Company has made no decision with respect to the divestiture of ABC or any other property and any report to that effect is unfounded,” the statement continued.
The statement followed a Bloomberg report that said Disney had held “initial” talks about a sale of ABC and its local stations to Nexstar, the local TV giant and owner of The CW network.
The Bloomberg story and subsequent Disney pushback came after Tom Carter, a former Nexstar executive and current adviser to the company, told a Bank of America conference Wednesday that should Disney’s ABC stations become available, Nexstar would be able...
- 9/14/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former ABC News president James Goldston is joining Candle Media, founded and led by ex-Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, to head a new division focused on TV shows and movies based on true stories.
Goldston will serve as president of the new division, which will produce scripted and nonscripted features and series “inspired by true stories,” according to Candle.
Goldston spent 18 years at ABC News, including seven years as president, before exiting in 2021. After leaving ABC News, he founded Aquitania Films, creating documentary series for the U.S., U.K. and global market. With his move to Candle Media, Aquitania’s development slate will join Goldston and his team at Candle. Last year, the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol tapped Goldston to produce the hearings in Washington, D.C.
“Kevin and Tom have built a best-in-class team of storytellers at Candle Media,...
Goldston will serve as president of the new division, which will produce scripted and nonscripted features and series “inspired by true stories,” according to Candle.
Goldston spent 18 years at ABC News, including seven years as president, before exiting in 2021. After leaving ABC News, he founded Aquitania Films, creating documentary series for the U.S., U.K. and global market. With his move to Candle Media, Aquitania’s development slate will join Goldston and his team at Candle. Last year, the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol tapped Goldston to produce the hearings in Washington, D.C.
“Kevin and Tom have built a best-in-class team of storytellers at Candle Media,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Candle Media is expanding its presence in the documentary and nonfiction space.
The operating company run by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs is turning to another Walt Disney Co. veteran to run the studio: former ABC News president James Goldston.
The new division will focus on “scripted and non-scripted features and series inspired by true stories,” according to Candle. Goldston will be the division’s president.
Unlike Candle Media’s other deals so far (acquisitions and investments into companies like Hello Sunshine, Moonbug Entertainment, Faraway Road and Exile Content), Goldston will be building a new content company from scratch for the Blackstone-backed media operating company.
Well, almost from scratch. Goldston left ABC News in 2021 and formed his own production company called Aquitania Films. He will bring over his employees and development slate from that company to the new venture.
Goldston worked at ABC News for nearly 20 years, initially on 20/20 and Nightline.
The operating company run by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs is turning to another Walt Disney Co. veteran to run the studio: former ABC News president James Goldston.
The new division will focus on “scripted and non-scripted features and series inspired by true stories,” according to Candle. Goldston will be the division’s president.
Unlike Candle Media’s other deals so far (acquisitions and investments into companies like Hello Sunshine, Moonbug Entertainment, Faraway Road and Exile Content), Goldston will be building a new content company from scratch for the Blackstone-backed media operating company.
Well, almost from scratch. Goldston left ABC News in 2021 and formed his own production company called Aquitania Films. He will bring over his employees and development slate from that company to the new venture.
Goldston worked at ABC News for nearly 20 years, initially on 20/20 and Nightline.
- 2/21/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Deadline has learned that Hello Sunshine is shuttering its kids and animation business as part of a strategic decision to focus Candle Media’s kids and animation efforts under Moonbug, the family production studio the corp snapped up for a near 3 billion in November 2021.
Hello Sunshine will collaborate with Moonbug on future kids and animation projects.
As a result, a few individuals will be departing Hello Sunshine over the coming weeks.
The Blackstone-backed Candle Media, which is also co-run and co-founded by Tom Staggs, acquired Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine in August 2021 for 900M.
At last April’s Mip TV, Candle Media co-founder Kevin Mayer spoke about synergies between both Hello Sunshine and Moonbug. The latter is the production company behind popular kids shows like CoComelon. CoComelon was one of the top three streaming programs in 2022 with 37.8 billion minutes viewed on Netflix per Nielsen, behind Stranger Things (52B...
Hello Sunshine will collaborate with Moonbug on future kids and animation projects.
As a result, a few individuals will be departing Hello Sunshine over the coming weeks.
The Blackstone-backed Candle Media, which is also co-run and co-founded by Tom Staggs, acquired Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine in August 2021 for 900M.
At last April’s Mip TV, Candle Media co-founder Kevin Mayer spoke about synergies between both Hello Sunshine and Moonbug. The latter is the production company behind popular kids shows like CoComelon. CoComelon was one of the top three streaming programs in 2022 with 37.8 billion minutes viewed on Netflix per Nielsen, behind Stranger Things (52B...
- 2/4/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The Upside Down took the No. 1 position on Nielsen’s 2022 streaming chart: Netflix’s blockbuster “Stranger Things,” led by the release of the fourth season, was the most-streamed TV show — and overall program — in the U.S. last year.
The sci-fi hit series ran up that hill to register a whopping 52 billion minutes streamed in 2022, the highest total since Covid-driven lockdowns drove audiences to watch 57.1 billion minutes of NBC’s “The Office” in 2020. The dominance of original content like “Stranger Things” was underscored by the fact that there are only 34 episodes of the Duffer brothers’ series, compared with 192 episodes of “The Office.”
According to Netflix, “Stranger Things 4” holds the title as the No. 1 most-watched English TV series in the first four weeks of release, with the fourth season having garnered 1.35 billion hours worldwide in the initial 28-day period. That’s followed by “Wednesday,” which scared up 1.24 billion hours watched in the same window.
The sci-fi hit series ran up that hill to register a whopping 52 billion minutes streamed in 2022, the highest total since Covid-driven lockdowns drove audiences to watch 57.1 billion minutes of NBC’s “The Office” in 2020. The dominance of original content like “Stranger Things” was underscored by the fact that there are only 34 episodes of the Duffer brothers’ series, compared with 192 episodes of “The Office.”
According to Netflix, “Stranger Things 4” holds the title as the No. 1 most-watched English TV series in the first four weeks of release, with the fourth season having garnered 1.35 billion hours worldwide in the initial 28-day period. That’s followed by “Wednesday,” which scared up 1.24 billion hours watched in the same window.
- 1/26/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Exile Content Studio has pounced on the film rights to “Hunter’s Run” by “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” creator, George R.R. Martin.
The sci-fi tale is the only one among Martin’s body of work that features a Latino lead, making it a natural fit for Exile Content which has produced a slew of content in Spanish and English.
Based on the sci-fi novel co-penned by Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham (“The Expanse”), “Hunter’s Run” follows Ramón Espejo who ekes out a living as a day laborer on a distant planet where he finds his living conditions no better off than what he left on planet Earth. He escapes but finds himself on the run for the murder of an interplanetary diplomat.
While out wandering, he comes upon a highly sophisticated alien race who, like him, are trying to stay hidden. “Survival is his only goal,...
The sci-fi tale is the only one among Martin’s body of work that features a Latino lead, making it a natural fit for Exile Content which has produced a slew of content in Spanish and English.
Based on the sci-fi novel co-penned by Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham (“The Expanse”), “Hunter’s Run” follows Ramón Espejo who ekes out a living as a day laborer on a distant planet where he finds his living conditions no better off than what he left on planet Earth. He escapes but finds himself on the run for the murder of an interplanetary diplomat.
While out wandering, he comes upon a highly sophisticated alien race who, like him, are trying to stay hidden. “Survival is his only goal,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs have made 10 acquisitions, beginning with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, and a minority investment in Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook, since launching their Blackstone-backed media company Candle Media in 2021.
But CEOs Mayer and Staggs told Variety‘s co-editor in chief Cynthia Littleton at Variety’s Entertainment Summit at CES on Friday the success in their strategy is balancing the assets tied to major names with content that punches “above its weight,” like that made by Moonbug Entertainment, which produces smash hit children’s series “CoComelon.”
A consistent presence on Netflix’s weekly Top 10 English-language TV series chart, Staggs described the value of “CoComelon” to Candle Media like this: “On a relative scale, it’s not the most expensive program we have, but it matters, and that’s what we like, we like programming that really matters to distributors,” Staggs said.
But CEOs Mayer and Staggs told Variety‘s co-editor in chief Cynthia Littleton at Variety’s Entertainment Summit at CES on Friday the success in their strategy is balancing the assets tied to major names with content that punches “above its weight,” like that made by Moonbug Entertainment, which produces smash hit children’s series “CoComelon.”
A consistent presence on Netflix’s weekly Top 10 English-language TV series chart, Staggs described the value of “CoComelon” to Candle Media like this: “On a relative scale, it’s not the most expensive program we have, but it matters, and that’s what we like, we like programming that really matters to distributors,” Staggs said.
- 1/6/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
In about 698 days, the Walt Disney Company is supposed to have its fourth CEO in three years.
Optimistically presuming that past and current House of Mouse boss Bob Iger really does hand over the keys to the Magic Kingdom in late 2024 to a designated successor, the soon-to-be 100-year-old media giant may look very different than it does now — as could the contracting industry overall.
It’s a reality in a self-described “age of great anxiety” that Iger himself is markedly responsible for in many ways, but rarely is held accountable for.
“Iger gets a lot of praise as an executive, a lot of it well deserved,” noted an agency captain of the Disney vet, who returned on November 20 to the CEO job he handed to Bob Chapek less than two years ago. “But one of his greatest accomplishments may be sidestepping his missteps. The billions in debt that came with the Fox purchase,...
Optimistically presuming that past and current House of Mouse boss Bob Iger really does hand over the keys to the Magic Kingdom in late 2024 to a designated successor, the soon-to-be 100-year-old media giant may look very different than it does now — as could the contracting industry overall.
It’s a reality in a self-described “age of great anxiety” that Iger himself is markedly responsible for in many ways, but rarely is held accountable for.
“Iger gets a lot of praise as an executive, a lot of it well deserved,” noted an agency captain of the Disney vet, who returned on November 20 to the CEO job he handed to Bob Chapek less than two years ago. “But one of his greatest accomplishments may be sidestepping his missteps. The billions in debt that came with the Fox purchase,...
- 12/23/2022
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello Sunshine has added two senior executives. Stefanie Markman is joining the Candle Media company as General Counsel and EVP, Business and Legal Affairs, and Wifreddy Chiang as EVP, Finance and Accounting.
Both report to Hello Sunshine COO Liz Jenkins.
Markman was most recently at Netflix where she spent the last eight years and headed up legal for US/Can/UK scripted original series including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, From Scratch and Outer Banks. Prior to Netflix, she worked in series Business and Legal Affairs at Viacom, and Features at New Line.
Chiang was EVP of Finance and Operations at Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios leading finance, accounting, and corporate development. He oversaw production financing for the company’s slate of feature films and TV, including Emmy-nominated The Tinder Swindler.
He had worked in a similar capacity at Ford’s previous company, Im Global, where he led the internal team in...
Both report to Hello Sunshine COO Liz Jenkins.
Markman was most recently at Netflix where she spent the last eight years and headed up legal for US/Can/UK scripted original series including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, From Scratch and Outer Banks. Prior to Netflix, she worked in series Business and Legal Affairs at Viacom, and Features at New Line.
Chiang was EVP of Finance and Operations at Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios leading finance, accounting, and corporate development. He oversaw production financing for the company’s slate of feature films and TV, including Emmy-nominated The Tinder Swindler.
He had worked in a similar capacity at Ford’s previous company, Im Global, where he led the internal team in...
- 10/4/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello Sunshine has added two senior executives. Stefanie Markman is joining the Candle Media company as General Counsel and EVP, Business and Legal Affairs, and Wifreddy Chiang as EVP, Finance and Accounting.
Both report to Hello Sunshine COO Liz Jenkins.
Markman was most recently at Netflix where she spent the last eight years and headed up legal for US/Can/UK scripted original series including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, From Scratch and Outer Banks. . Prior to Netflix, she worked in series Business and Legal Affairs at Viacom and Features at New Line.
Chiang was EVP of Finance and Operations at Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios leading finance, accounting, and corporate development activities. He oversaw production financing for the company’s slate of feature films and TV, including Emmy-nominated The Tinder Swindler.
He worked in a similar capacity at Ford’s previous company, Im Global, where he led the internal team in...
Both report to Hello Sunshine COO Liz Jenkins.
Markman was most recently at Netflix where she spent the last eight years and headed up legal for US/Can/UK scripted original series including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, From Scratch and Outer Banks. . Prior to Netflix, she worked in series Business and Legal Affairs at Viacom and Features at New Line.
Chiang was EVP of Finance and Operations at Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios leading finance, accounting, and corporate development activities. He oversaw production financing for the company’s slate of feature films and TV, including Emmy-nominated The Tinder Swindler.
He worked in a similar capacity at Ford’s previous company, Im Global, where he led the internal team in...
- 10/3/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Daniel Batista has been tapped as chief digital officer of Candle Media’s Exile Content Studio.
In the role, Batista will oversee the podcast and digital content studios at the Spanish-language media studio. Batista comes to the position after serving as co-founder of Zoe Saldaña’s digital media studio Bese and consulting on new revenue streams for actor and comedian Eugenio Derbez and producer Ben Odell’s 3Pas Studios.
“In this next phase of Exile’s growth, Daniel will play a critical role in realizing our vision to create a content ecosystem built around compelling IP,” Exile Content Studio Chief Executive Officer Isaac Lee stated.
Kevin Mayer and Tom Stagg’s Candle Media acquired Exile Content Studio in May 2022. The company, founded by Lee, the former chief content officer of Univision and Televisa, creates content, including feature films, scripted and unscripted television, as...
Daniel Batista has been tapped as chief digital officer of Candle Media’s Exile Content Studio.
In the role, Batista will oversee the podcast and digital content studios at the Spanish-language media studio. Batista comes to the position after serving as co-founder of Zoe Saldaña’s digital media studio Bese and consulting on new revenue streams for actor and comedian Eugenio Derbez and producer Ben Odell’s 3Pas Studios.
“In this next phase of Exile’s growth, Daniel will play a critical role in realizing our vision to create a content ecosystem built around compelling IP,” Exile Content Studio Chief Executive Officer Isaac Lee stated.
Kevin Mayer and Tom Stagg’s Candle Media acquired Exile Content Studio in May 2022. The company, founded by Lee, the former chief content officer of Univision and Televisa, creates content, including feature films, scripted and unscripted television, as...
- 7/19/2022
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Hollywood is a place where no matter how fired you are, you’re not fired. At Disney alone, studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg wasn’t fired when then-chairman and CEO Michael Eisner tossed him out a window in 1994. Michael Ovitz wasn’t fired when Eisner did the same in 1996. Tom Staggs wasn’t fired when Bob Iger pushed him out as COO in 2016. Even Steve McPherson, who was ousted as head of ABC in 2010 amid a sexual harassment investigation, wasn’t fired. All were allowed to resign.
In the Bob Chapek era, Geoff Morrell, the chief corporate affairs officer who was dispatched at the end of April after three disastrous months, was allowed to resign, saying the new role was “not the right fit.” But Peter Rice, a respected executive with a career of more than three decades in the industry? He was straight-up...
Hollywood is a place where no matter how fired you are, you’re not fired. At Disney alone, studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg wasn’t fired when then-chairman and CEO Michael Eisner tossed him out a window in 1994. Michael Ovitz wasn’t fired when Eisner did the same in 1996. Tom Staggs wasn’t fired when Bob Iger pushed him out as COO in 2016. Even Steve McPherson, who was ousted as head of ABC in 2010 amid a sexual harassment investigation, wasn’t fired. All were allowed to resign.
In the Bob Chapek era, Geoff Morrell, the chief corporate affairs officer who was dispatched at the end of April after three disastrous months, was allowed to resign, saying the new role was “not the right fit.” But Peter Rice, a respected executive with a career of more than three decades in the industry? He was straight-up...
- 6/15/2022
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bob Chapek, the Disney CEO who is under siege, hopefully does not watch much TV. If he does, he’ll see a succession of fellow CEOs who seem prone to self-destruction — Adam Neumann of WeWork, Travis Kalanick of Uber, Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, etc. — portrayed on buzzy TV series. Viewing these shows back to back, the stolid Chapek might wonder whether the CEO is extinct as a folk hero.
To be sure, the CEOs depicted in this cycle of streamers’ series are uniformly greedy and delusional, though gifted in the hyperbole of “technospeak.” In WeCrashed, Neumann, played by Jared Leto, re-imagines renting work space as a business that “will elevate the world’s consciousness.” In Super Pumped, Kalanick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) re-defines Uber as a “higher form of life.”
The cycle is easy to dismiss except that headlines tell us a surprising number of working CEOs seem to be falling on their swords.
To be sure, the CEOs depicted in this cycle of streamers’ series are uniformly greedy and delusional, though gifted in the hyperbole of “technospeak.” In WeCrashed, Neumann, played by Jared Leto, re-imagines renting work space as a business that “will elevate the world’s consciousness.” In Super Pumped, Kalanick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) re-defines Uber as a “higher form of life.”
The cycle is easy to dismiss except that headlines tell us a surprising number of working CEOs seem to be falling on their swords.
- 3/31/2022
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate will not be acquiring STX Entertainment, leaving the cash-strapped indie studio to close its deal with The Najafi Companies or find financing to cover its outstanding $150 million debt, TheWrap has learned. Lionsgate submitted a best and final offer in recent days that was well under the $173 million offered late last year by The Najafi Companies, an individual close to the negotiations told TheWrap, adding that the bid was rejected by STX founder Robert Simonds and his top executives. That leaves the Phoenix-based Najafi — in partnership with Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer’s Forest Road Spac — to close an acquisition that was announced in December. That deal allowed a 45-day window in which Lionsgate explored making its own bid for the studio behind modest box office hits like “Hustlers,” “Bad Moms” and “Greenland.” STX must also continue negotiating with its primary lender, Jp Morgan, to extend terms that were supposed to be due in February.
- 3/11/2022
- by Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
Discovery shareholders are set to Ok the $43 billion merger with WarnerMedia on Friday, the last big step before AT&T completes the spinoff. Ahead of the deal’s expected close next month, a who’s-in/who’s-out parlor game is gaining intensity as CEO David Zaslav finalizes the leadership team.
Top managers who have been with the exec for years will be sticking around, working with a few battle-tested Warner execs, though likely without others. Kevin Mayer, the former Disney exec known for leading the launch of Disney+ and a string of M&a deals, is helping to shape the new org chart as a high-level consultant to Zaslav. The structure will be leaner and less top-heavy than what Warner vets are accustomed to as they settle into a third corporate ownership group in four years.
“Zas doesn’t do layers,” pronounced a former colleague.
Discovery and AT&T have promised...
Top managers who have been with the exec for years will be sticking around, working with a few battle-tested Warner execs, though likely without others. Kevin Mayer, the former Disney exec known for leading the launch of Disney+ and a string of M&a deals, is helping to shape the new org chart as a high-level consultant to Zaslav. The structure will be leaner and less top-heavy than what Warner vets are accustomed to as they settle into a third corporate ownership group in four years.
“Zas doesn’t do layers,” pronounced a former colleague.
Discovery and AT&T have promised...
- 3/11/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Maureen Polo, who has been an exec at WarnerMedia and Gm of streaming service Fullscreen, has been named head of direct-to-consumer at Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
The newly created role will enable the company to continue expanding its content and offerings. Polo will oversee a Dtc portfolio including recent acquisition The Home Edit, plus Reese’s Book Club and Fair Play. She will also be responsible for ramping up Sol.ar, Hello Sunshine’s social agency offering, and pursuing new direct-to-consumer opportunities. She will report directly to Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden.
While “direct-to-consumer” is used as a descriptor in the world of streaming video, it has a much broader meaning in the consumer world. A wide range of brands, from Casper mattresses to Peloton to Smile Direct Club, have disrupted traditional marketing by leveraging digital and social media to gain a customer base without using the usual intermediaries.
The newly created role will enable the company to continue expanding its content and offerings. Polo will oversee a Dtc portfolio including recent acquisition The Home Edit, plus Reese’s Book Club and Fair Play. She will also be responsible for ramping up Sol.ar, Hello Sunshine’s social agency offering, and pursuing new direct-to-consumer opportunities. She will report directly to Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden.
While “direct-to-consumer” is used as a descriptor in the world of streaming video, it has a much broader meaning in the consumer world. A wide range of brands, from Casper mattresses to Peloton to Smile Direct Club, have disrupted traditional marketing by leveraging digital and social media to gain a customer base without using the usual intermediaries.
- 3/1/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Will Smith and Jessica Chastain walked away with leading actor and actress statuettes for their performances in “King Richard” and “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” at the SAG Awards. Their success has catapulted the two to the forefront of their respective Oscar races, which could create a first in Academy Awards history. It also shows that if performers want a date with a major acting award, they may have to make their own opportunities happen instead of passively waiting around for Hollywood to present them with a killer script.
If the two actors, who are both on their third Oscar noms for acting, manage to pull off wins, it would be the first time two actors won for movies they produced. In addition, they would be the third and fourth in the 94-year history of the Oscars to achieve it.
The possible frontrunners would follow last year’s best actress winner Frances McDormand for “Nomadland,...
If the two actors, who are both on their third Oscar noms for acting, manage to pull off wins, it would be the first time two actors won for movies they produced. In addition, they would be the third and fourth in the 94-year history of the Oscars to achieve it.
The possible frontrunners would follow last year’s best actress winner Frances McDormand for “Nomadland,...
- 2/28/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Hello Sunshine has acquired The Home Edit and aims to help accelerate the household organizing outfit’s move into a lifestyle brand. Its founders Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin are stars of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Get Organized with the Home Edit, produced by Hello Sunshine, that will debut its second season this year.
The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. This is Hello Sunshine’s first deal sine it was acquired by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs’ Blackstone-backed Candle Media last year.
The Home Edit, which Shearer and Teplin launched six years ago, bills itself as a one-stop shop for home organizing through in-home services in nine markets, product sales and a blog. Its website says it aims to “reinvent traditional organizing, and merge it with design and interior styling.”
Hello Sunshine, founded by Reese Witherspoon, said the deal reflects its “commitment to growing its direct-to-consumer offerings and deepening...
The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. This is Hello Sunshine’s first deal sine it was acquired by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs’ Blackstone-backed Candle Media last year.
The Home Edit, which Shearer and Teplin launched six years ago, bills itself as a one-stop shop for home organizing through in-home services in nine markets, product sales and a blog. Its website says it aims to “reinvent traditional organizing, and merge it with design and interior styling.”
Hello Sunshine, founded by Reese Witherspoon, said the deal reflects its “commitment to growing its direct-to-consumer offerings and deepening...
- 2/23/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine has acquired lifestyle brand The Home Edit, the company announced on Wednesday.
Founded by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, The Home Edit offers “full service organizing” in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, NYC, Nashville, Orange County, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, as well as “travel and DIY services” globally. Shearer and Teplin are the authors of New York Times bestseller “The Home Edit Life” and the creators of multiple product lines, including a recently announced exclusive Walmart collection.
Shearer and Teplin are also the stars of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated “Get Organized with the Home Edit,” which is produced by Hello Sunshine and will debut its second season this year.
Per Hello Sunshine, its purchase of The Home Edit shows the media company’s “commitment to growing its direct-to-consumer offerings and deepening connections with female audiences through quality storytelling, commerce and experiences.” Hello...
Founded by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, The Home Edit offers “full service organizing” in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, NYC, Nashville, Orange County, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, as well as “travel and DIY services” globally. Shearer and Teplin are the authors of New York Times bestseller “The Home Edit Life” and the creators of multiple product lines, including a recently announced exclusive Walmart collection.
Shearer and Teplin are also the stars of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated “Get Organized with the Home Edit,” which is produced by Hello Sunshine and will debut its second season this year.
Per Hello Sunshine, its purchase of The Home Edit shows the media company’s “commitment to growing its direct-to-consumer offerings and deepening connections with female audiences through quality storytelling, commerce and experiences.” Hello...
- 2/23/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine has forged a storytelling partnership with World of Women (WoW), the Nft collective that is cracking open the male-dominated world of crypto currency while celebrating inclusivity and equality. World of Women launched in July 2021 with some 10,000 artworks from women creators, quickly becoming one of the most popular and profitable purveyors of non-fungible tokens.
As part of the partnership, Hello Sunshine will build out the World of Women character universe and franchise into entertainment properties including feature films, scripted and unscripted TV series. The move is another sign of the growing popularity of NFTs and the potential they hold for traditional media companies on the prowl for intellectual property.
They will also launch a Hello Sunshine x World of Women live event in conjunction with other diverse women-led Nft projects. The goal is to educate women about this new space.
“While the crypto and Nft space is largely dominated by men,...
As part of the partnership, Hello Sunshine will build out the World of Women character universe and franchise into entertainment properties including feature films, scripted and unscripted TV series. The move is another sign of the growing popularity of NFTs and the potential they hold for traditional media companies on the prowl for intellectual property.
They will also launch a Hello Sunshine x World of Women live event in conjunction with other diverse women-led Nft projects. The goal is to educate women about this new space.
“While the crypto and Nft space is largely dominated by men,...
- 2/17/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Moonbug Entertainment is expanding its kid-vid footprint by snapping up Little Angel, a popular producer of YouTube videos and songs for preschoolers.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The acquisition is Moonbug’s first since it was bought in a $3 billion deal by Candle Media, the next-generation media roll-up venture headed by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by private-equity firm Blackstone. Moonbug’s previous acquisitions have included CoComelon, itself a powerhouse YouTube kids’ content player.
The Little Angel Network, which houses YouTube channels Little Angel and Little World, has more than 88 million subscribers on YouTube worldwide. Since 2019, the brand has seen its global viewership double and now delivers some 1.5 billion monthly views.
Moonbug said it plans to grow Little Angel “exponentially” by investing in content, expanding distribution across its global network, and creating more ways for audiences to engage with the brand.
“Little Angel...
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The acquisition is Moonbug’s first since it was bought in a $3 billion deal by Candle Media, the next-generation media roll-up venture headed by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by private-equity firm Blackstone. Moonbug’s previous acquisitions have included CoComelon, itself a powerhouse YouTube kids’ content player.
The Little Angel Network, which houses YouTube channels Little Angel and Little World, has more than 88 million subscribers on YouTube worldwide. Since 2019, the brand has seen its global viewership double and now delivers some 1.5 billion monthly views.
Moonbug said it plans to grow Little Angel “exponentially” by investing in content, expanding distribution across its global network, and creating more ways for audiences to engage with the brand.
“Little Angel...
- 2/9/2022
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The still-unnamed media startup founded by Disney vets Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by venture capital firm Blackstone, has found its latest acquisition in Israeli production company Faraway Road Productions.
Faraway operates a first-look deal with Netflix and is behind the series Fauda (pictured above) and Hit & Run.
Mayer and Staggs' company has already acquired Hello Sunshine and Moonbug Entertainment – both of which were significantly bigger acquisitions than Faraway, notes The Hollywood Reporter, which pegs the purchase price of the latter at under $50 million.
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Faraway operates a first-look deal with Netflix and is behind the series Fauda (pictured above) and Hit & Run.
Mayer and Staggs' company has already acquired Hello Sunshine and Moonbug Entertainment – both of which were significantly bigger acquisitions than Faraway, notes The Hollywood Reporter, which pegs the purchase price of the latter at under $50 million.
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- 12/28/2021
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
The roll-up media venture led by ex-Disney execs Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer has set its next acquisition: Faraway Road Productions, the Israeli entertainment company behind Netflix series “Fauda” and “Hit & Run,” Variety has confirmed.
The deal for Tel Aviv, Israel-based Faraway — founded by and headed by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz (pictured above) — is the third for the still-unnamed company formed by Stagg and Mayer with the backing of private-equity company Blackstone. It’s a comparatively small tuck-in: The price tag for Faraway is under $50 million, according to a source familiar with the pact, compared with $3 billion for kids’ media company Moonbug Entertainment and $900 million for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
Issacharoff and Raz first inked a deal with Netflix in 2017 for political thriller “Fauda,” in which Raz also stars, based on his and Issacharoff’s experience serving in the Israel Defense Forces‘ special forces unit. The duo...
The deal for Tel Aviv, Israel-based Faraway — founded by and headed by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz (pictured above) — is the third for the still-unnamed company formed by Stagg and Mayer with the backing of private-equity company Blackstone. It’s a comparatively small tuck-in: The price tag for Faraway is under $50 million, according to a source familiar with the pact, compared with $3 billion for kids’ media company Moonbug Entertainment and $900 million for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
Issacharoff and Raz first inked a deal with Netflix in 2017 for political thriller “Fauda,” in which Raz also stars, based on his and Issacharoff’s experience serving in the Israel Defense Forces‘ special forces unit. The duo...
- 12/23/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Westbrook Inc., the entertainment company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, has ended talks to sell to a new media venture backed by Blackstone Group and executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, sources tell Variety.
The two parties began discussions in mid-September, Variety previously reported, with the former Walt Disney Co. honchos looking to scoop up the 2-year-old company behind the streaming series “Red Table Talk” and the forthcoming Oscar contender “King Richard.”
The sales talks ceased this week, two individuals familiar with the parties said. Sources noted it was possible that both sides could reevaluate and return to the table in the future. It’s unclear what halted the transaction, though one insider noted the difficulty in calculating a valuation for Westbrook — a company in its relative infancy that’s also led by two superstars and has credits including the Netflix hit “Cobra Kai.” A different source...
The two parties began discussions in mid-September, Variety previously reported, with the former Walt Disney Co. honchos looking to scoop up the 2-year-old company behind the streaming series “Red Table Talk” and the forthcoming Oscar contender “King Richard.”
The sales talks ceased this week, two individuals familiar with the parties said. Sources noted it was possible that both sides could reevaluate and return to the table in the future. It’s unclear what halted the transaction, though one insider noted the difficulty in calculating a valuation for Westbrook — a company in its relative infancy that’s also led by two superstars and has credits including the Netflix hit “Cobra Kai.” A different source...
- 10/26/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner’s Magnolia Pictures has hired investment bank Stephens to explore selling the company.
Content is currently in high demand and Magnolia, a leading independent film distributor for two decades, has a substantial library of about 500 titles.
“We went through this process 8-10 years ago and did not sell it then, and we may not sell this time. But the climate this time is strong and we have done extraordinarily well,” president and co-founder Eamonn Bowles tells Deadline — including during the pandemic, with the library throwing off more cash than ever. “We have these ten year old films making more than in their third year,” he said.
A deal would follow hookups between Amazon-MGM (still pending) and the acquisition of Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine by a new Blackstone-backed group led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs for a sum said to be about $900 million.
Content is currently in high demand and Magnolia, a leading independent film distributor for two decades, has a substantial library of about 500 titles.
“We went through this process 8-10 years ago and did not sell it then, and we may not sell this time. But the climate this time is strong and we have done extraordinarily well,” president and co-founder Eamonn Bowles tells Deadline — including during the pandemic, with the library throwing off more cash than ever. “We have these ten year old films making more than in their third year,” he said.
A deal would follow hookups between Amazon-MGM (still pending) and the acquisition of Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine by a new Blackstone-backed group led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs for a sum said to be about $900 million.
- 10/6/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Argus Capital Corp., the Spac run by former CBS executives Joe Ianniello and Marc DeBevoise, has set its IPO pricing. Offering 26,500,000 units to the public at $10 apiece, Argus aims to raise $265 million to acquire businesses in the “tech-driven media landscape.”
Starting Wednesday, the special-purpose acquisition company’s IPO units are being listed on the Nasdaq under Arguu. The initial public offering is expected to close tomorrow. Its Class A common stock is expected to trade under Argu. (Redeemable warrants will trade under Arguw.)
“Argus’ business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses,” according to the mission statement outlined in the IPO’s press release. “While Argus may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any industry or sector, it intends to identify and complete a business transaction with a company in the tech-driven media industry.
Starting Wednesday, the special-purpose acquisition company’s IPO units are being listed on the Nasdaq under Arguu. The initial public offering is expected to close tomorrow. Its Class A common stock is expected to trade under Argu. (Redeemable warrants will trade under Arguw.)
“Argus’ business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses,” according to the mission statement outlined in the IPO’s press release. “While Argus may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any industry or sector, it intends to identify and complete a business transaction with a company in the tech-driven media industry.
- 9/22/2021
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Endeavor has no plans to exit the content creation business once it completes the required sale of its production unit.
Mandated by the franchise agreement the company signed with the Writers Guild of America in February, the forthcoming sale of Endeavor Content will see Ari Emanuel’s shop part with 80% of its interests in making scripted film and television. But, Emanuel noted, unscripted content is still in play.
“We’ll still have 20% of the restricted business, and nonscripted we will grow significantly. We think its a huge grower on a global scale. It’ll also be local, U.S. domestic. We will move into that space pretty aggressively,” said Emanuel, speaking at Tuesday’s Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference.
Variety reported last week that Endeavor was seeking a minimum of $500 million for Endeavor Content from a mix of strategic buyers. At the conference, Emanuel said an ideal model for their sale...
Mandated by the franchise agreement the company signed with the Writers Guild of America in February, the forthcoming sale of Endeavor Content will see Ari Emanuel’s shop part with 80% of its interests in making scripted film and television. But, Emanuel noted, unscripted content is still in play.
“We’ll still have 20% of the restricted business, and nonscripted we will grow significantly. We think its a huge grower on a global scale. It’ll also be local, U.S. domestic. We will move into that space pretty aggressively,” said Emanuel, speaking at Tuesday’s Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference.
Variety reported last week that Endeavor was seeking a minimum of $500 million for Endeavor Content from a mix of strategic buyers. At the conference, Emanuel said an ideal model for their sale...
- 9/21/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns hinted at a potential deal — nothing specific- — as media M&a heats up with the indie studio a prime target. Wall Streeters have called it both desirable and easily digestible in terms of cost for a bigger player.
But asked outright about the company as a takeout target, he was coy: “We do expect to see more consolidation in the media space. That’s a given. And we are obviously one of the last remaining very large companies. And there is great scarcity value out there. What we are going to do is to explore ways to increase the value of our stock price,” Burns told the virtual Goldman Sachs Communacopia media conference Tuesday.
The stock was trending down today at about $13. It’s well off it’s 52-week low near $6, but also down from its high in the spring of over $20.
AT&T is cutting...
But asked outright about the company as a takeout target, he was coy: “We do expect to see more consolidation in the media space. That’s a given. And we are obviously one of the last remaining very large companies. And there is great scarcity value out there. What we are going to do is to explore ways to increase the value of our stock price,” Burns told the virtual Goldman Sachs Communacopia media conference Tuesday.
The stock was trending down today at about $13. It’s well off it’s 52-week low near $6, but also down from its high in the spring of over $20.
AT&T is cutting...
- 9/21/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
SpringHill Co., the media and entertainment company controlled by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, is moving closer to clinching an investment led by RedBird Capital Partners.
Sources with knowledge of the process indicated it appears to be gaining momentum, but they did not specify the size of the stake or the total amount of the investment. When word surfaced earlier this year that SpringHill was in play, its valuation was pegged at about $750 million.
RedBird Capital has taken part in a string of sports media deals, including the Yes network acquisition and Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia’s purchase of the XFL. It is also an investor in Skydance, a prolific film and TV production outfit. Other entities in the mix to be part of the new investment in SpringHill include Nike and Fenway Sports Group.
People familiar with the negotiations expect James and Carter to remain in control of the company,...
Sources with knowledge of the process indicated it appears to be gaining momentum, but they did not specify the size of the stake or the total amount of the investment. When word surfaced earlier this year that SpringHill was in play, its valuation was pegged at about $750 million.
RedBird Capital has taken part in a string of sports media deals, including the Yes network acquisition and Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia’s purchase of the XFL. It is also an investor in Skydance, a prolific film and TV production outfit. Other entities in the mix to be part of the new investment in SpringHill include Nike and Fenway Sports Group.
People familiar with the negotiations expect James and Carter to remain in control of the company,...
- 9/15/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Disney and TikTok executive Kevin Mayer invited the audience at today’s Rts Convention in the UK to pitch names for his new, still untitled media company, which is backed by investment firm Blackstone. He might want to come up with one soon, as the outfit’s high-profile acquisition drive, which has seen it secure a megabucks deal for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, doesn’t look set to abate any time soon.
This week, it was reported that Mayer’s company is in talks to acquire Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Inc, marking its second major buy, and the exec today teased that the deals won’t end there.
“[Hello Sunshine] will be part of a larger whole. We’re going to bring in other category-defining businesses and brands that will fill out a whole spectrum of audiences,” he commented, adding that he couldn’t spill...
This week, it was reported that Mayer’s company is in talks to acquire Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Inc, marking its second major buy, and the exec today teased that the deals won’t end there.
“[Hello Sunshine] will be part of a larger whole. We’re going to bring in other category-defining businesses and brands that will fill out a whole spectrum of audiences,” he commented, adding that he couldn’t spill...
- 9/15/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Kevin Mayer, the former Walt Disney Co. streaming chief and TikTok CEO who also serves as chairman of global sports streamer Dazn Group, on Wednesday lauded Reese Witherspoon for having “her finger on the pulse of her audience.”
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, he said that “brands are only meaningful when they attach emotionally to a certain audience, and she has next-generation women … firmly in mind. … I love what she is doing. It’s an underserved audience.”
A so far unnamed media company led by Mayer and former Walt Disney CFO Tom Staggs ...
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, he said that “brands are only meaningful when they attach emotionally to a certain audience, and she has next-generation women … firmly in mind. … I love what she is doing. It’s an underserved audience.”
A so far unnamed media company led by Mayer and former Walt Disney CFO Tom Staggs ...
- 9/15/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Kevin Mayer, the former Walt Disney Co. streaming chief and TikTok CEO who also serves as chairman of global sports streamer Dazn Group, on Wednesday lauded Reese Witherspoon for having “her finger on the pulse of her audience.”
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, he said that “brands are only meaningful when they attach emotionally to a certain audience, and she has next-generation women … firmly in mind. … I love what she is doing. It’s an underserved audience.”
A so far unnamed media company led by Mayer and former Walt Disney CFO Tom Staggs ...
Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, he said that “brands are only meaningful when they attach emotionally to a certain audience, and she has next-generation women … firmly in mind. … I love what she is doing. It’s an underserved audience.”
A so far unnamed media company led by Mayer and former Walt Disney CFO Tom Staggs ...
- 9/15/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jannat Gargi has been named senior vice president and head of documentaries at Westbrook, where she will be tasked with making non-fiction features and premium series.
She joins the media company from Vice Studios, where she most recently held the role of vice president of documentaries. At Vice, Gargi developed documentaries such as “Flee,” which won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and will be released by Neon this fall, as well as a limited series for ESPN’s “30 For 30” about the American Gladiators.
Westbrook is the media company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Its films and series include “Cobra Kai,” “Red Table Talk” and “King Richard.” The company was in the headlines over the weekend after news broke that it was in talks to sell itself to a media venture backed by private equity firm Blackstone and led by Disney vets Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer.
She joins the media company from Vice Studios, where she most recently held the role of vice president of documentaries. At Vice, Gargi developed documentaries such as “Flee,” which won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and will be released by Neon this fall, as well as a limited series for ESPN’s “30 For 30” about the American Gladiators.
Westbrook is the media company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Its films and series include “Cobra Kai,” “Red Table Talk” and “King Richard.” The company was in the headlines over the weekend after news broke that it was in talks to sell itself to a media venture backed by private equity firm Blackstone and led by Disney vets Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer.
- 9/13/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s multi-tiered media company, Westbrook Inc., may soon enter the fold of a still-unnamed entertainment conglomerate being forged by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs.
That nascent venture, backed by private equity giant Blackstone Group to the tune of $2 billion, finalized its first acquisition last month of Reese Witherspoon’s female-focused media outfit Hello Sunshine for a reported $900 million. Now, it has its sights set on Westbrook, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (Rumblings about Westbrook’s acquisition initially surfaced at the time of the Hello Sunshine deal).
Westbrook Studios produces the likes of Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, while its digital arm, Westbrook Media, is behind HBO Max’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special and a forthcoming YouTube docuseries starring Alicia Keys.
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That nascent venture, backed by private equity giant Blackstone Group to the tune of $2 billion, finalized its first acquisition last month of Reese Witherspoon’s female-focused media outfit Hello Sunshine for a reported $900 million. Now, it has its sights set on Westbrook, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (Rumblings about Westbrook’s acquisition initially surfaced at the time of the Hello Sunshine deal).
Westbrook Studios produces the likes of Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, while its digital arm, Westbrook Media, is behind HBO Max’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special and a forthcoming YouTube docuseries starring Alicia Keys.
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- 9/13/2021
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
Kevin Mayer’s and Tom Staggs’s (still) unnamed media company is in talks to acquire Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Media.
Westbrook Media is the production company behind “Cobra Kai,” “Red Table Talk” and the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” drama reboot. Westbrook, which is led by CEO Kosaku Yada and President Tera Hanks, launched in 2019. It sold a dozen shows in 2020.
Should the talks turn into a deal, it’ll be a suitable follow-up to a big splash Mayer and Staggs made last month, when they purchased Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine for $900 million. Hello Sunshine is the production company behind HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” and Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show” — all of which starred Witherspoon. Hello Sunshine is also the home to Reese’s Book Club.
As part of that deal, Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden...
Westbrook Media is the production company behind “Cobra Kai,” “Red Table Talk” and the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” drama reboot. Westbrook, which is led by CEO Kosaku Yada and President Tera Hanks, launched in 2019. It sold a dozen shows in 2020.
Should the talks turn into a deal, it’ll be a suitable follow-up to a big splash Mayer and Staggs made last month, when they purchased Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine for $900 million. Hello Sunshine is the production company behind HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” and Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show” — all of which starred Witherspoon. Hello Sunshine is also the home to Reese’s Book Club.
As part of that deal, Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden...
- 9/13/2021
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Westbrook Studios, the Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith company behind Telluride Film Festival favorite King Richard and series Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, has held exploratory talks with a number of potential buyers including the new venture led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by the Blackstone Group.
Blackstone and Westbrook both declined comment Sunday, but sources confirmed the talks amidst a major grab for content this year so far that’s seen Amazon agreeing to buy MGM and Discovery to merge with WarnerMedia.
The still unnamed Mayer/Staggs media company in early August became a majority investor in Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine, its first deal. It called itself “an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises – with Hello Sunshine as a cornerstone, initial pillar of that strategy.” It said that it aims to bring together “elite talent operating at the intersection of content,...
Blackstone and Westbrook both declined comment Sunday, but sources confirmed the talks amidst a major grab for content this year so far that’s seen Amazon agreeing to buy MGM and Discovery to merge with WarnerMedia.
The still unnamed Mayer/Staggs media company in early August became a majority investor in Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine, its first deal. It called itself “an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises – with Hello Sunshine as a cornerstone, initial pillar of that strategy.” It said that it aims to bring together “elite talent operating at the intersection of content,...
- 9/12/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Inc. could become the latest celebrity-backed media company to secure a splashy deal.
The company, which produces the popular “Red Table Talk” on Facebook Watch and is backing the upcoming “King Richard,” is in negotiations to sell itself to the unnamed media venture run by former Walt Disney Co. executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Variety has confirmed. It would be the second high-profile acquisition by Mayer and Staggs, who are being financed by private-equity giant Blackstone Group. It follows their purchase of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, which they bought in August in a deal valued at $900 million.
It’s unclear if Westbrook will fetch as high a price, but it seems unlikely given that it is only two years old and doesn’t have as established a track record of hits (although critics griped the pair overpaid for Hello Sunshine...
The company, which produces the popular “Red Table Talk” on Facebook Watch and is backing the upcoming “King Richard,” is in negotiations to sell itself to the unnamed media venture run by former Walt Disney Co. executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Variety has confirmed. It would be the second high-profile acquisition by Mayer and Staggs, who are being financed by private-equity giant Blackstone Group. It follows their purchase of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, which they bought in August in a deal valued at $900 million.
It’s unclear if Westbrook will fetch as high a price, but it seems unlikely given that it is only two years old and doesn’t have as established a track record of hits (although critics griped the pair overpaid for Hello Sunshine...
- 9/12/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Inc. is in talks to be acquired by the unnamed media company led by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, sources familiar with the deal told The Hollywood Reporter.
With the Smiths’ Westbrook Inc., Mayer and Staggs’ media venture would have access to the production studio, Westbrook Studios, behind films like King Richard and hit TV series like Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, as well as Westbrook’s digital arm, Westbrook Media, that sold 12 shows last year — including a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special on HBO Max and a docuseries featuring Alicia Keys on YouTube.
Mayer and Westbrook declined ...
With the Smiths’ Westbrook Inc., Mayer and Staggs’ media venture would have access to the production studio, Westbrook Studios, behind films like King Richard and hit TV series like Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, as well as Westbrook’s digital arm, Westbrook Media, that sold 12 shows last year — including a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special on HBO Max and a docuseries featuring Alicia Keys on YouTube.
Mayer and Westbrook declined ...
- 9/12/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Inc. is in talks to be acquired by the unnamed media company led by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, sources familiar with the deal told The Hollywood Reporter.
With the Smiths’ Westbrook Inc., Mayer and Staggs’ media venture would have access to the production studio, Westbrook Studios, behind films like King Richard and hit TV series like Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, as well as Westbrook’s digital arm, Westbrook Media, that sold 12 shows last year — including a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special on HBO Max and a docuseries featuring Alicia Keys on YouTube.
Mayer and Westbrook declined ...
With the Smiths’ Westbrook Inc., Mayer and Staggs’ media venture would have access to the production studio, Westbrook Studios, behind films like King Richard and hit TV series like Red Table Talk and Cobra Kai, as well as Westbrook’s digital arm, Westbrook Media, that sold 12 shows last year — including a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special on HBO Max and a docuseries featuring Alicia Keys on YouTube.
Mayer and Westbrook declined ...
- 9/12/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Shawn Levy had a fantastic weekend at the box office. Not only did his long-awaited 20th Century Studios Ryan Reynolds film Free Guy overperform in the face of a daunting pandemic with a $28.3M domestic start, the videogame-inspired romantic comedy repped a huge win for original tentpole material on the big screen.
“This is the first non-ip, non-sequel that Disney has released in literally years. And not just because of the pandemic, but because of the culture of our industry, which more and more rarely bets, and bets big –they’ll bet small—but bets big on a new, original movie. That was the bet that Emma Watts placed and that Disney doubled down on,” Levy tells us on Crew Call this morning.
Listen to our conversation below:
We also spoke to Levy about his next Netflix movie with Reynolds, The Adam Project due out next year.
“This is the first non-ip, non-sequel that Disney has released in literally years. And not just because of the pandemic, but because of the culture of our industry, which more and more rarely bets, and bets big –they’ll bet small—but bets big on a new, original movie. That was the bet that Emma Watts placed and that Disney doubled down on,” Levy tells us on Crew Call this morning.
Listen to our conversation below:
We also spoke to Levy about his next Netflix movie with Reynolds, The Adam Project due out next year.
- 8/16/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Leading Hollywood dealmakers and M&a experts Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs, Jeff Sagansky and Faiza Saeed will join TheWrap editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman at TheGrill 2021, presented by WrapPRO, on September 29-30.
“Acquire or Die: Navigating the Era of Mega-Mergers & Spacs” will address the explosion of Hollywood mergers and the ramifications of ongoing industry consolidation. After WarnerMedia and Discovery, Amazon and MGM and the rise of special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs), is this the path to sustainability?
Mayer and Staggs recently announced plans to acquire Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine at a $900 million valuation as part of their yet-unnamed media venture, backed by Blackstone. Spac pioneer Sagansky has co-founded seven blank-check companies within the last 10 years, making him a household name within the industry. Saeed is one of the industry’s go-to M&a advisors, having working with clients including Disney, Viacom and Time Warner.
For over a decade, TheWrap’s Grill...
“Acquire or Die: Navigating the Era of Mega-Mergers & Spacs” will address the explosion of Hollywood mergers and the ramifications of ongoing industry consolidation. After WarnerMedia and Discovery, Amazon and MGM and the rise of special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs), is this the path to sustainability?
Mayer and Staggs recently announced plans to acquire Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine at a $900 million valuation as part of their yet-unnamed media venture, backed by Blackstone. Spac pioneer Sagansky has co-founded seven blank-check companies within the last 10 years, making him a household name within the industry. Saeed is one of the industry’s go-to M&a advisors, having working with clients including Disney, Viacom and Time Warner.
For over a decade, TheWrap’s Grill...
- 8/13/2021
- by Emily Vogel
- The Wrap
Hollywood and media industry financing sources have tended to be cyclical, with new money refreshing the old every few years. The current cycle of private equity investment, though, is bucking that history and could extend the M&a wave for years to come, dealmakers say.
Transactions like the $900 million takeover of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, via a partnership between Blackstone and former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, set tongues wagging. The sky-high valuation (reportedly at more than seven times revenue) for a company with few owned assets prompted speculation about froth in the market. Still, virtually any firm with a claim to any intellectual property is believed to be for sale, either wholesale or in parts. Among the sellers are LeBron James’ SpringHill, Imagine and Legendary. Even though the deal doesn’t rely on private funds, Amazon’s pending $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM shows the nearly insatiable...
Transactions like the $900 million takeover of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, via a partnership between Blackstone and former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, set tongues wagging. The sky-high valuation (reportedly at more than seven times revenue) for a company with few owned assets prompted speculation about froth in the market. Still, virtually any firm with a claim to any intellectual property is believed to be for sale, either wholesale or in parts. Among the sellers are LeBron James’ SpringHill, Imagine and Legendary. Even though the deal doesn’t rely on private funds, Amazon’s pending $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM shows the nearly insatiable...
- 8/8/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Women have owned the Hollywood headlines lately by defying “the rules” – all sorts of rules. Scarlett Johansson has challenged Disney’s dealmaking prowess by filing high-profile litigation. Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon has sold her media business to two former top Disney dealmakers for $900 million insisting that she and her female creatives will still run the show at Hello Sunshine. At the same time, Olympic athletes like Alexi Pappas and Allyson Felix are spurning rich Nike deals to pursue both equity and influence in new fashion brands.
“The culture of the American workplace still conspires against professional women,” insists the feminist writer Hanna Rosin. In sports and Hollywood, however, her thesis seems to be history (her book was titled The End of Men). Women have been scoring a succession of power jobs in the #MeToo media marketplace, as recent headlines reflect.
“A decision to select a male candidate over a woman today...
“The culture of the American workplace still conspires against professional women,” insists the feminist writer Hanna Rosin. In sports and Hollywood, however, her thesis seems to be history (her book was titled The End of Men). Women have been scoring a succession of power jobs in the #MeToo media marketplace, as recent headlines reflect.
“A decision to select a male candidate over a woman today...
- 8/5/2021
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have set an expansive new deal with ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Studios that calls for the pair to produce 14 movies for Paramount Plus based on the enduring Comedy Central animated franchise.
The pact also renews “South Park” as a series for Comedy Central through its 30th season in 2027. Bloomberg News reported that the deal was valued at $900 million over the six-year term.
That’s an eye-popping number that includes the license fees for 14 movies and three additional 10-episode seasons of the “South Park” series, produced through the pair’s Park County banner. It’s understood that the deal calls for ViacomCBS to advance Parker and Stone $150 million a year to cover their fees for the upcoming productions as well as their ongoing profit participation stakes from the franchise.
That deal puts a $1 billion-plus valuation on Park County, which also encompasses Parker and Stone...
The pact also renews “South Park” as a series for Comedy Central through its 30th season in 2027. Bloomberg News reported that the deal was valued at $900 million over the six-year term.
That’s an eye-popping number that includes the license fees for 14 movies and three additional 10-episode seasons of the “South Park” series, produced through the pair’s Park County banner. It’s understood that the deal calls for ViacomCBS to advance Parker and Stone $150 million a year to cover their fees for the upcoming productions as well as their ongoing profit participation stakes from the franchise.
That deal puts a $1 billion-plus valuation on Park County, which also encompasses Parker and Stone...
- 8/5/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
As might be expected, Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer, the former Disney execs who are acquiring Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company in a $900 million deal, are bullish about their shiny new toy, the anchor of their as-yet-nameless Blackstone-backed media company. “It’s not a production company, first of all. It is a pretty well-configured, multiple business-line company, and is really a next generation company,” Mayer explained in an interview with TheWrap a few hours after the deal was announced on Monday. But outside observers of the deal seem to be split right down the middle, calling the acquisition of Witherspoon’s female-focused content company for a $900 million valuation either a “brilliant move” or a faulty equation that just “doesn’t add up.” Although $900 million is small change — well, smaller — compared to Amazon’s recent acquisition of MGM for $8.45 billion, it’s a landmark sum for a content company without...
- 8/4/2021
- by Diane Haithman and Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Ashton Kutcher will star opposite Reese Witherspoon in the Netflix romcom Your Place or Mine based on the original script by Aline Brosh McKenna who is also making her feature directorial debut on the project.
In Your Place or Mine, two best friends who live on opposite coasts swap homes for a week and see their whole lives change. Deadline first reported about Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films’ deal on the co-production with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Bateman and Costigan will produce through their first-look deal with Netflix alongside Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine and McKenna for Lean Machine.
Aggregate’s Ozark series, which Bateman stars in, directed and exec produced, clocked a third season that was watched by 29M households WW in its first four weeks. Ozark counts three Primetime Emmy wins: one for Bateman in 2019 for...
In Your Place or Mine, two best friends who live on opposite coasts swap homes for a week and see their whole lives change. Deadline first reported about Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films’ deal on the co-production with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Bateman and Costigan will produce through their first-look deal with Netflix alongside Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine and McKenna for Lean Machine.
Aggregate’s Ozark series, which Bateman stars in, directed and exec produced, clocked a third season that was watched by 29M households WW in its first four weeks. Ozark counts three Primetime Emmy wins: one for Bateman in 2019 for...
- 8/3/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Two blockbuster media deals in announced in May — the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger and Amazon’s $8.45 billion acquisition of MGM — was as clear a sign as any that Hollywood’s next chapter would be defined by big streamers spending big to get even bigger — and, presumably, choking out the competition. Now meet its corollary: A new company led by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs announced it would acquire a majority stake in Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine — not with an eye toward building a streaming service, but as the cornerstone of a plan to become a streaming-content powerhouse.
The $900 million price tag for Witherspoon’s company sounds insane by Hollywood standards, and it is: That valuation comes from the tech industry, not from studio comps. More importantly, as box-office and Nielsen impact declines as a metric of clout, the Blackstone-backed deal shows there’s room for major TV...
The $900 million price tag for Witherspoon’s company sounds insane by Hollywood standards, and it is: That valuation comes from the tech industry, not from studio comps. More importantly, as box-office and Nielsen impact declines as a metric of clout, the Blackstone-backed deal shows there’s room for major TV...
- 8/3/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
The merger frenzy in Hollywood moved to a new level this week when Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine was bought for a stunning $900 million by a pair of former Disney executives, Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer, for their new as-yet-nameless Blackstone-backed media company. Staggs and Mayer, who also are part of the tidal wave of SPACs that have popped up over the last year, are seeking to create a company that will roll up a number of independent content companies, with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine as the first in their fold, they told TheWrap in an interview. The two explained the staggering valuation they placed on a company that has produced hits like HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” and Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show” — but doesn’t actually have an extensive library of content that it owns. And they talked up the e-commerce strengths,...
- 8/3/2021
- by Tim Baysinger and Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
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