Google Firms Up Streaming Ad Ties With Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery And Paramount

Zack Sharf Digital News Director A 15-year-old “Lord of the Rings” fan film titled “The Hunt for Gollum” is back online and streaming on YouTube after it was temporarily blocked in the aftermath of Warner Bros. revealing its next “Rings” movie has the same title (via Entertainment Weekly). The fan film, which centers on Gandalf tasking Aragorn with hunting down Gollum before the latter can find Frodo and the One Ring, has earned 13 million views since its debut more than a decade ago.

Jay Blades has taken aim at The Repair Shop after stepping back from the BBC show. The presenter made the decision to have a break from filming amid troubles in his personal life.

Jay Blades has reportedly "cut ties" with BBC's The Repair Shop, stepping back from the show following his marriage split and a tragic loss.The BBC host is said to be taking a break from the popular series and has been noticeably absent from filming due to personal issues. The news comes just six days after his wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen announced their marriage had ended. In what appears to be a subtle jab at the BBC show, Jay has removed all references to The Repair Shop from his social media accounts on X and Instagram, as reported by The Sun.

Naman Ramachandran Warner Bros. Discovery has appointed entertainment creative advertising and marketing specialist, Once Upon a Time, and brand consultancy and creative agency, BigSmall, for the European launch of streamer Max.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Netflix used to say its goal was to become HBO faster than HBO could become Netflix. Well, Netflix succeeded on that front. Now Warner Bros.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Warner Bros. will release the first of its new batch of “The Lord of the Rings” films in 2026, which will focus on Andy Serkis’s Gollum. Original “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy filmmaker Peter Jackson and his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing the movie and “will be involved every step of the way” on the movie, Warner Bros.

Max streaming services in the US starting this summer, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday.Customers will be able to sign up on any of the three individual websites and chose from an ad-free or ad-supported plan. No prices were disclosed.Both Disney and Warner Bros are trying to build their streaming businesses as customers ditch traditional cable packages, in part because many of them rejected having to pay for a large bundle with dozens of channels.Butas the number of streaming apps exploded, consumers have complained about having to sign up for multiple subscriptions.The Disney/Warner bundle will simplify payment with one bill, and possibly offer a discount from the cost of subscribing to each app separately.Further details will be announced in the coming weeks, the companies said.Disney+ offers the company’s animated and live-action movies plus film and TV shows from Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery — ordinarily rivals for consumers’ time and money — are teaming up for a triple-play bundle of Disney+, Hulu and Max. The companies announced a new streaming bundle comprising Disney+, Hulu and Max will be available this summer in the U.S.

Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are breaking ground in streaming with a bundled offering featuring Disney+, Hulu and Max in a single package.

EXCLUSIVE: Production, finance, and sales company Panorama Motion Pictures will make its Cannes market debut with a slate of projects from Catalyst Studios and other independent producers.

Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav largely evaded questions about NBA talks and Paramount Global‘s potential as a WBD merger partner, but he did weigh in on the hot topic of executive pay.

EXCLUSIVE: Ed Adams, who has been with Warner Bros. Animation for 15 years, is retiring.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Classic TV network MeTV is turning its cartoon block into a new network. Owner Weigel Broadcasting Co. announced Wednesday that it will launch MeTV Toons as a new national TV network focused on classic animation, “from Hollywood-era shorts to made-for-television favorites.” MeTV Toons, which launches June 25, is a collab between Weigel and Warner Bros.

Glen Kyne is exiting his role as Senior Vice President and Head of Networks at Warner Bros Discovery Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) on July 5.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Internet-TV provider Fubo dropped all Warner Bros. Discovery networks from its lineup, alleging that the media company was seeking “above-market rates” and refused to license Turner Sports networks separately. In a statement Tuesday, Fubo said it attempted to renew its Discovery content agreement with WBD for networks including Discovery, HGTV, Food Network and TLC.

Ethan Shanfeld David Cross and Bob Odenkirk made headlines in 2022 when they announced plans to reunite for the docu-style Paramount+ comedy “Guru Nation,” in which the “Mr. Show” masterminds were cast as rival cult gurus manipulating the minds of their deluded followers.

Fathom Events will partner with Warner Bros. Pictures in bringing filmmaker Daniela Völker’s documentary The Commandant’s Shadow to theaters across the U.S. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, with an encore presentation the following day. Screenings will be available in 500+ theaters across the Fathom network of cinemas. Tickets go on sale from today at Fathom Events and participating theater box offices. 

Naman Ramachandran Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) South Asia has a sizzling summer slate lined up in the kids space including a mix of anime and homegrown IP. Launching on the Indian animation-focused Pogo channel in May is new Indian IP “Jay Jagannath.” The series portrays the friendship between the Hindu God Lord Jagannath, who has taken the form of a child, Jagan, and his devout follower Balaram.

Lorraine Kelly got straight to the point in her reaction to Prince Harry appearing to cut ties with the UK, as she gave a blunt four-word reaction.The chat show host discussed Harry registering himself as a US resident in her ITV show Lorraine with royal correspondent Russell Myers, but made it clear she didn't find it surprising as she stated: "That's where he lives". Speaking on Thursday's episode of her show, 18 April, Lorraine, 64, said: "Prince Harry making a lot of the front pages this morning after officially registering himself as an American resident.

Lorraine Kelly reacted to the news of Prince Harry listing his primary residence as the US on the latest episode of her ITV show.