Politics

With demand surging for sports-themed films and TV series, Authentic Brands Group and David Glasser’s 101 Studios have launched Sports Illustrated Studios, an exclusive home for film and TV adaptations of the magazine’s work. Plans call for several scripted or unscripted feature films and TV series per year, as well as podcasts. Their basis will be the magazine’s “unique looks at the culture and characters that transcend the game,” in the words of the official announcement. In charge of all production, distribution and marketing for Sports Illustrated Studios will be 101 Studios, which Glasser started after leaving his longtime post at the Weinstein Company. First out of the gate will be Covers , an episodic look at SI ’s top cover stories of all time, culled from a roster of thousands involving a host of sports figures, teams, celebrities and political figures. “Sports Illustrated has covered every major story in sports since the 1950s and, before the … [Read more...] about Sports Illustrated Studios Launches As Joint Film/TV Venture By Authentic Brands And 101 Studios

The BBC’s appointment of Chair Richard Sharp “should not stand” and the process was “fatally flawed,” according to former Director General John Birt . The embattled Sharp, who is awaiting the result of a government inquiry into his appointment, was described by Birt as “a person of obvious weight and consequence but an unsuitable candidate in one vital respect.” “I don’t think the appointment should stand,” Birt told the UK’s influential DCMS Committee (DCMSC) this afternoon. “This isn’t about political connections because governments of all kinds have appointed BBC Chairs who enjoy their confidence. But having known every BBC Chair for decades, governments have tended to have a good record for appointing people with an independent cast of mind, who will protect the BBC’s independence.” Deadline revealed last week that the BBC had raised concerns about the way the government was going about appointing its new Chairman before the controversial hire of Sharp, who has … [Read more...] about Richard Sharp Appointment “Should Not Stand,” Says Former BBC Director General

The Roys are back with a vengeance. The Season 4 premiere of Succession drew an audience of 2.3M on Sunday across HBO Max and linear telecasts, which is a series high for same-day viewers. Total viewing for Sunday night was up 62% compared to Season 3’s premiere viewership of 1.4M in October 2021. At the time, that marked the best premiere night performance of any HBO original series since HBO Max launched in May 2020. Sunday’s viewership is also up about 33% from the Season 3 finale’s 1.7M. Season 3 averaged about 7.2M viewers per episode, according to HBO. HBO also says that all previous seasons of Succession saw a 4x increase in viewership in the week leading up to the Season 4 premiere, compared to the week prior. While viewing for Succession Season 4 does trail behind other Sunday shows like House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and Euphoria, the premiere episode tracked ahead of the Season 2 premiere of The White Lotus (1.9M). By the end of the … [Read more...] about ‘Succession’ Soars To Series High Audience Of 2.3M For Final Season Premiere