Recent stories about Entertainment

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Photo by Bloomberg.

microsoft markets

Microsoft’s Big Activision Bet

By Martin Peers · Jan. 18, 2022 5:00 PM PST

Bobby Kotick could be the star in a fun new videogame we’ll call The Great Escape: how a CEO extricates himself from a scandal over his handling of sexual harassment allegations by selling his company. Not only does the Activision Blizzard CEO get to keep his job until the deal closes—at least a year from now—but the value of his stock just rose... Bobby Kotick could be the star in a fun new videogame we’ll call The Great Escape: how a CEO...

Art by Mike Sullivan

entertainment media/telecom

Inside the Battle for Streaming’s Home Screens: Hollywood Egos Collide With Algorithms

By Jessica Toonkel · Jan. 18, 2022 6:00 AM PST · 2 comments

Last summer, executives at Eurosport—a London-based live sports TV network owned by U.S. media company Discovery—couldn’t believe their eyes. Discovery+, a new streaming service from Eurosport’s parent company, wasn’t promoting live events from the Tokyo Olympics on the home screen of the service in European... Last summer, executives at Eurosport—a London-based live sports TV network owned by U.S....

From left: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Blackstone's Joe Baratta, Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs and Reese Witherspoon. Photos by Bloomberg; AP. Art by Mike Sullivan

markets startups

Inside Blackstone’s Plans to Create an Entertainment Empire

By Jessica Toonkel · Jan. 6, 2022 6:00 AM PST · 1 comment

Two years ago, Joe Baratta couldn’t figure out what Blackstone, the private equity giant he worked for, should do for its next move in media and entertainment. The big TV companies, such as ViacomCBS and Discovery, were bleeding viewers as people cut the cord to cable television and streaming powerhouses like Netflix grew ever bigger.... Two years ago, Joe Baratta couldn’t figure out what Blackstone, the private equity giant he...

Will Smith. Photo by AP

Blackstone-backed Media Company Takes Stake in Will Smith’s Westbrook

By Jessica Toonkel · Jan. 4, 2022 12:06 PM PST

Will Smith. Photo by AP

Blackstone-backed Media Company Takes Stake in Will Smith’s Westbrook

By Jessica Toonkel · Jan. 4, 2022 12:06 PM PST

The Blackstone-backed media company led by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs is acquiring a minority stake in Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s entertainment company, Westbrook, according to people familiar with the situation. This is the latest in a string of deals for the two media veterans, who have been building out... The Blackstone-backed media company led by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs is...

Yosuke Matsuda, president of Square Enix. Photo: AP

ar/vr entertainment

A Japanese Gaming Giant’s Metaverse Play; Intel’s Cold Feet on AR

By Mathew Olson · Jan. 3, 2022 11:00 AM PST

Square Enix, the Japanese gaming publisher behind the long-running and beloved Final Fantasy series, is the latest entertainment company to publicly embrace the concept of the metaverse. And it’s not unreasonable to think that Square Enix could emerge as a metaverse leader if it makes a serious effort.Yosuke Matsuda, Square Enix’s president,... Square Enix, the Japanese gaming publisher behind the long-running and beloved Final Fantasy...

A screen from a smart television powered by Roku. Photo by Bloomberg

Predictions 2022

Why Roku Will Buy a Movie and TV Studio

By Jessica Toonkel · Dec. 8, 2021 11:56 AM PST

Roku is best known as the maker of a hockey-puck–size device that attaches to television sets and lets people stream shows from Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services. But Roku now makes most of its money selling advertising. And to broaden that part of its business, it has been taking baby steps into the world of making its own... Roku is best known as the maker of a hockey-puck–size device that attaches to television...

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