Author Judy Blume says she worries about intolerance in the US, following the removal in schools of some of her novels.
16.03.2023 - 11:35 / variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Revenues at Bertelsmann’s Luxembourg-based RTL Group, a media giant which owns Fremantle, climbed 9% to a record €7.2 billion ($7.6 billion) for the financial year 2022. However, the company’s EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes and amortization) slid 6% to €1.08 billion, down from €1.15 billion in 2021. RTL attributes this to higher streaming start-up losses and lower TV advertising revenue at RTL Deutschland, and the exits of RTL Belgium and Groupe M6. These effects were partly offset by record adjusted EBITA contributions from RTL Nederland and Fremantle, RTL said. The RTL Group has interests in 56 television channels, nine streaming services and 36 radio stations. The group’s content business, Fremantle, is one of the world’s largest creators, producers and distributors of scripted and unscripted content, including “American Idol,” “Britain’s Got Talent” and “The X Factor.”
Group profit was €766 million, down from €1.4 billion in 2021. But 2021 was positively impacted by capital gains of €717 million from the sale of video advertising platform SpotX. Fremantle’s revenue was up 22% to €2.3 billion, up from 2021’s €1.9 billion. RTL’s stated ambition to build Fremantle into a €3 billion company by 2025 remains in place. Streaming revenue – which includes SVOD, TVOD, in-stream and distribution revenue from RTL+ in Germany and Hungary and Videoland/RTL XL in the Netherlands – was up by 20%, to €267 million (2021: €223 million), thanks to the rapidly growing number of paying subscribers. Paying subscribers for RTL’s streaming services in Germany, the Netherlands and Hungary soared 44% to 5.5 million. Streaming start-up losses were €233 million. RTL’s advertising revenue was €3.72 billion (2021:
Author Judy Blume says she worries about intolerance in the US, following the removal in schools of some of her novels.
Selome Hailu As one of the most widely banned authors in American history, Judy Blume has some opinions on censorship. In an interview for the cover of Variety‘s Power of Women issue, the legendary author of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” spoke about her own experiences being censored and the recent Roald Dahl controversy, wherein Puffin Books came under fire for publishing “updated” editions of Dahl’s books including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach.” “What do I think about rewriting the Roald Dahl books?” Blume scoffed. “I think if Roald Dahl was around, you would be hearing what he thinks about that. Whatever he is, whatever he’s accused of being, there’s a lot of truth there. But the books are the books. Kids still love the books, and they love them the way he wrote them. So I don’t believe in that.”
Prologue At the start of the 1950s, in the suburbs of Elizabeth, N.J., a nearly teenage Judy Blume found herself at odds with the rhythms of her body. She hadn’t inherited her Aunt Gert’s large breasts. (“My mother worried terribly that I would take after my father’s sister, who had to have bras made to fit her,” says Judy, now 85. “I always say she worried them right off me!”) And she hadn’t yet started her period. (“I wanted it so desperately. But when I finally got it, I couldn’t tell anybody, because I had told them I had gotten it in the sixth grade!”)
Katy Perry has shared that she’s five weeks sober amid an ongoing pact she has with Orlando Bloom.The two A-listers have been engaged since 2019 and welcomed their daughter Daisy a year later. Now Katy, 38, has shared that she and her Pirates of the Caribbean actor fiancé have embarked on a new pact as they’ve both vowed to ditch the booze.They’re currently five weeks in and, while Katy’s wavering, she’s determined not to give in. “I've been sober for five weeks today… I've been doing a pact with my partner and I want to quit,” she told PEOPLE.
Katy Perry has been staying away from alcohol.
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Nathan Henry is set to appear on the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity Australia.The Geordie Shore star, 32, is reportedly set to jet off to South Africa, where the reality TV show is filmed, in a matter of weeks, after landing the "huge opportunity". An insider said Nathan, who joined the cast of MTV's Geordie Shore in 2011, "really wants" to do the show and it's came at the perfect time for the reality star.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Toronto’s Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival, has added 12 films to its Special Presentations program. The first tranche of titles was announced March 14. The festival runs April 27 to May 7. World premieres include Canadian journalist Michelle Shephard’s “The Man Who Stole Einstein’s Brain,” the uncovering of the story behind the pathologist who stole the genius’ brain in 1955; “The Rise of Wagner,” a chilling exposé on the collusion between Wagner Group mercenaries and the Kremlin, which has resulted in secret killings and countless human rights violations; “We Are Guardians,” the story of the Indigenous guardians of the Brazilian Amazon, struggling to protect their territories from the ravages of extractive industries, deforestation, corrupt politicians and profit hungry global corporations; “Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?,” a chronicle of dissident Hong Kong politician and activist Nathan Law’s fight for democracy; and director Barry Avrich’s “Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella,” a portrait of Canada’s first Jewish Supreme Court judge, a passionate advocate for the disabled community and visible minorities.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Tencent Music Entertainment grew its 2022 profits by 21% to $533 million (RMB3.68 billion), helped by cost cutting and a growing subscription base. It achieved this despite a 9% decrease in revenues to $4.1 billion (RMB28.3 billion). The group, which is backed by Chinese tech and entertainment giant Tencent and has stock market listings on the New York Stock Exchange and in Hong Kong, is China’s largest digital music outfit and controls large equity stakes in Spotify and (in a consortium with Tencent) Universal Music Group. Tencent Music’s own operations divide loosely into two clusters: mass market music streaming, with paid-for and free tiers; and “social entertainment,” including karaoke and other derivative products.
Gary Lineker admitted he was 'glad to be back' on the BBC to present Manchester City''s FA Cup tie against Burnley, after controversially being told to step back from presenting Match of the Day last weekend.
The American Cinematheque is bringing on Jason Blum, Nicole Brown, Charles D. King, and Scott Stuber as the newest members of its board of directors.“Each brings a unique perspective and appreciation of film culture and exhibition as the AC continues to expand its programming and community engagement,” stated American Cinematheque Chairman Rick Nicita.Blum founded Blumhouse, a multimedia film and TV company regarded as the driving force in horror that recently entered the video game business.
Her blue crushes! Kate Bosworth has dated several fellow actors over the years including Orlando Bloom and Justin Long.
Princess Diana shook up the royal family from the moment she entered the picture, but did you know how much trouble she used to get into?!
Princesses gone wild! Sarah Ferguson recalled dressing up as cops with Princess Diana for her hen party in 1986 — and admitted the night got a little out of hand.
Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson have gotten into some trouble! On Tuesday's episode of, Fergie dished on the time she and Diana got arrested ahead of her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew for impersonating police officers. The Duchess of York revealed that she and Diana were out for her bachelorette (Hen Party) and decided it would be clever to dress up as policewomen for the occasion. However, their night of trouble started with them getting kicked out of a bar. «We went into this nightclub,» Ferguson tells Clarkson about their night out.
Sarah Barlow is dicing with danger next week on Coronation Street as she ends up drinking with the enemy. After she rows with husband, Adam, she announces that she’s off to the hotel he booked for their date night on her own.
Marcus Mumford, Anna Calvi and Hozier are among the artists set to play a fundraising event for Turkey and Syria in London next month.On Saturday, April 15, the famous Royal Albert Hall will host the event, which will raise funds for War Child and the Turkey Mozaik Foundation in response to the deadly recent earthquake.The night will also feature guest appearances by Olivia Colman, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Omid Djalili, as well as the Turkish and Syrian Solidarity Ensemble.Olivia Colman said of her involvement: ‘Why would I NOT take part? If it was my family, people I knew and loved, I would hope people would do what they could to help me. I don’t know how anyone could read about another human’s suffering and not want to do something.”Marcus Mumford added: “I’ve been a Global Ambassador for War Child UK since 2014 and in that time I’ve been privileged to see their vital work in Central African Republic, Iraq, Gaza and Jordan.
Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Zaib Shaikh, Canada’s Consul General to Los Angeles, hosted the country’s annual Canada at the Oscars soiree Thursday at his official residence in Hancock Park. The event was the first stop of the night for many Oscar-nominated Canadians including “Women Talking’s” Sarah Polley, Sheila McCarthy and Kate Hallet. Polley was headed to the Macro party. Other attendees were going to the Oscar Wilde Awards or the South Asian Excellence Pre-Oscars Celebration. Also in attendance were “Turning Red’s” Domee Shi, who landed an Oscar for best animated feature, Brendan Fraser and “The Whale” prosthetics makeup designer Adrien Morot.
BTS member Suga has donated ₩1,000,000 (roughly US$76,000) to aid earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.Suga’s donation “for emergency relief in Turkey and Syria” was revealed by non-governmental organization Save The Children today (March 9), which is also the K-pop idol’s birthday, in a statement to South Korean media outlet OSEN.“So many children and families have suffered great damage from this earthquake,” Suga said, according to OSEN, as translated by Soompi. “I send my condolences to the survivors and victims.”“I hope that this becomes at least a bit of help to children affected by the earthquake and hope this [donation] is used to provide relief goods for children,” he added.