Erik Gruenwedel, Author at Media Play News https://www.mediaplaynews.com/author/egruenwedel/ Bringing Entertainment Home Mon, 02 Mar 2026 23:30:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cropped-mpn-favicon-32x32.gif Erik Gruenwedel, Author at Media Play News https://www.mediaplaynews.com/author/egruenwedel/ 32 32 Paramount Boss David Ellison Says His Favorite HBO Show is ‘Game of Thrones’ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-boss-david-ellison-says-his-favorite-hbo-show-is-game-of-thrones/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-boss-david-ellison-says-his-favorite-hbo-show-is-game-of-thrones/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:49:35 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333762 The recently concluded $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery auction could be viewed by some as having elements of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” without the bloodshed, sex or fire-breathing dragons. Media reports have suggested that the combined Paramount-WBD is now the newly united “Kingdom” attempting to defend its territory against the tech “invaders,” such as Apple, … Continue reading "Paramount Boss David Ellison Says His Favorite HBO Show is ‘Game of Thrones’"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-boss-david-ellison-says-his-favorite-hbo-show-is-game-of-thrones/feed/ 0 Paramount Says $6 Billion in Expected Cost Synergies Acquiring WBD Will Not Include Layoffs or Content Production Reduction https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-says-6-billion-in-expected-cost-synergies-acquiring-wbd-will-not-include-layoffs-or-content-production-reduction/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-says-6-billion-in-expected-cost-synergies-acquiring-wbd-will-not-include-layoffs-or-content-production-reduction/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:44:39 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333752 Following the $110.9 billion enterprise value acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance is facing $79 billion in net debt upon closing of the massive media transaction. To help cut that debt, Paramount is eyeing upwards of $6 billion in cost synergies over the first three years of the merger — cost cutting that will … Continue reading "Paramount Says $6 Billion in Expected Cost Synergies Acquiring WBD Will Not Include Layoffs or Content Production Reduction"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-says-6-billion-in-expected-cost-synergies-acquiring-wbd-will-not-include-layoffs-or-content-production-reduction/feed/ 0 Netflix to Stream Harry Styles Concert From Manchester, England on March 8 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-to-stream-harry-styles-concert-from-manchester-england-on-march-8/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-to-stream-harry-styles-concert-from-manchester-england-on-march-8/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:30:04 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333733 British singer, songwriter, actor Harry Styles is set to perform on Netflix on March 8 — Styles’ first live concert to appear on any streaming platform. Styles is performing his fourth studio album — Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally — on March 6 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Netflix is streaming the concert … Continue reading "Netflix to Stream Harry Styles Concert From Manchester, England on March 8"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-to-stream-harry-styles-concert-from-manchester-england-on-march-8/feed/ 0 Netflix’s Ted Sarandos: We Were Dealing With ‘Unusual, Irrational’ Competitor in WBD Sweepstakes https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflixs-ted-sarandos-we-were-dealing-with-unusual-irrational-competitor-in-wbd-sweepstakes/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflixs-ted-sarandos-we-were-dealing-with-unusual-irrational-competitor-in-wbd-sweepstakes/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:36:22 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333713 On the heels of Netflix declining to match Paramount Skydance’s $31-per-share all-cash ($110.9 billion equity value) bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos says the decision to walk away was not a difficult one. “We definitely wanted this asset; We didn’t need it,” Sarandos told Bloomberg News in an interview. Paramount is now … Continue reading "Netflix’s Ted Sarandos: We Were Dealing With ‘Unusual, Irrational’ Competitor in WBD Sweepstakes"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflixs-ted-sarandos-we-were-dealing-with-unusual-irrational-competitor-in-wbd-sweepstakes/feed/ 0 CEO David Ellison: Paramount+, HBO Max Combining Into One Streaming Platform With HBO Brand to Remain Separate https://www.mediaplaynews.com/ceo-david-ellison-paramount-plus-hbo-max-combining-into-one-streaming-platform-with-hbo-brand-to-remain-separate/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/ceo-david-ellison-paramount-plus-hbo-max-combining-into-one-streaming-platform-with-hbo-brand-to-remain-separate/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:10:34 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333697 Paramount Skydance plans to combine the Paramount+ and HBO Max subscription streaming services into one platform upon closing of Paramount’s $76.9 billion ($110.9 billion enterprise value) merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Speaking on a special March 2 investor call, Paramount CEO David Ellison said he planned to allow the HBO brand, currently run by CEO … Continue reading "CEO David Ellison: Paramount+, HBO Max Combining Into One Streaming Platform With HBO Brand to Remain Separate"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/ceo-david-ellison-paramount-plus-hbo-max-combining-into-one-streaming-platform-with-hbo-brand-to-remain-separate/feed/ 0 Paramount’s ‘Scream 7’ Hits Highest Decibel With $97.2 Million Global Box Office Debut https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramounts-scream-7-global-box-office-debut/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramounts-scream-7-global-box-office-debut/#respond Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:14:13 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333616 Paramount Pictures’ seventh installment in the 30-year-old “Scream” horror franchise didn’t disappoint, generating a $97.2 million global box debut through March 1. Scream 7, featuring returning cast members Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette, bowed at No. 1 across North American screens with $64.1 in estimated ticket sales. The opening marks the franchise’s largest … Continue reading "Paramount’s ‘Scream 7’ Hits Highest Decibel With $97.2 Million Global Box Office Debut"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramounts-scream-7-global-box-office-debut/feed/ 0 Netflix Stock Rebounds as Streamer Walks Away From WBD Deal $2.8 Billion Richer https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-stock-rebounds-as-streamer-walks-away-from-wbd-deal/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-stock-rebounds-as-streamer-walks-away-from-wbd-deal/#respond Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:08:56 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333433 Netflix shares soared almost 10% after the streamer dropped its $82.7 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and studio assets, alleviating investor concerns and boosting the service’s market confidence. The stock is still down 7% from the streamer’s $100.3-per-share price on Dec. 5, 2025, when WBD announced it had accepted a deal with Netflix. … Continue reading "Netflix Stock Rebounds as Streamer Walks Away From WBD Deal $2.8 Billion Richer"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-stock-rebounds-as-streamer-walks-away-from-wbd-deal/feed/ 0 Paramount Eyeing Outsized ‘Scream 7’ Theatrical Weekend Debut Following Record $7.8 Million Thursday Screening Revenue https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-eyeing-outsized-scream-7-theatrical-weekend-debut/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-eyeing-outsized-scream-7-theatrical-weekend-debut/#respond Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:39:55 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333409 Paramount Pictures has high hopes for its first major theatrical release of 2026: the seventh edition of the venerable “Scream” horror franchise, again starring Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell. The movie is projected to debut with $51 million in North American ticket sales the weekend ending March 1  according to estimates from BoxOfficeReport.com. The movie … Continue reading "Paramount Eyeing Outsized ‘Scream 7’ Theatrical Weekend Debut Following Record $7.8 Million Thursday Screening Revenue"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-eyeing-outsized-scream-7-theatrical-weekend-debut/feed/ 0 Nielsen: Trump’s State of the Union Drew 32.6 Million TV Viewers, Down More Than 10% From Last Year https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-trumps-state-of-the-union-broadcast-down-more-than-10-percent-from-last-year/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-trumps-state-of-the-union-broadcast-down-more-than-10-percent-from-last-year/#respond Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:23:56 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333402 An estimated 32.6 million people across 23.2 million homes watched President Donald Trump deliver the 2026 State of the Union address on Feb. 24, according to new Nielsen data. The tally is down almost 11% from Trump’s March 4, 2025, State of the Union address, which generated 36.6 million viewers. Both totals pale in comparison … Continue reading "Nielsen: Trump’s State of the Union Drew 32.6 Million TV Viewers, Down More Than 10% From Last Year"

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]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-trumps-state-of-the-union-broadcast-down-more-than-10-percent-from-last-year/feed/ 0 Nielsen: Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ Returned Atop Weekly U.S. Household TVs Through Feb. 1 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-netflixs-bridgerton-returned-atop-weekly-us-household-tvs-through-feb-1/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-netflixs-bridgerton-returned-atop-weekly-us-household-tvs-through-feb-1/#respond Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:24:05 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333295 Six streaming titles exceeded the billion-minute mark across U.S. household televisions during the week ended Feb. 1 — the most in a single week since the July 13, 2025, according to new Nielsen data. The new season of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” racked up 3.03 billion viewing minutes to rank No. 1 overall. Netflix released the first … Continue reading "Nielsen: Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ Returned Atop Weekly U.S. Household TVs Through Feb. 1"

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