Thomas K. Arnold, Author at Media Play News https://www.mediaplaynews.com/author/tkmpneditor/ Bringing Entertainment Home Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:55:57 +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 Thomas K. Arnold, Author at Media Play News https://www.mediaplaynews.com/author/tkmpneditor/ 32 32 Fast Forward Awards 2026: Chris McGurk — Master of Reinvention https://www.mediaplaynews.com/fast-forward-awards-2026-chris-mcgurk-master-of-reinvention/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/fast-forward-awards-2026-chris-mcgurk-master-of-reinvention/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:34 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333473 Chris McGurk arrives right on time for an  interview at his reserved table at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s iconic Polo Lounge. It’s been his preferred meeting space for years, dating back to when he and his family used to live a few houses down Crescent Drive on the other side of Sunset Boulevard in the … Continue reading "Fast Forward Awards 2026: Chris McGurk — Master of Reinvention"

The post Fast Forward Awards 2026: Chris McGurk — Master of Reinvention appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/fast-forward-awards-2026-chris-mcgurk-master-of-reinvention/feed/ 0 Reinventing a Studio https://www.mediaplaynews.com/reinventing-a-studio/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/reinventing-a-studio/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:11 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333605 Hollywood loves reinvention stories, but few executives have executed one as thoroughly — or as pragmatically — as Chris McGurk. Having spent decades running legacy studios including Universal Pictures, MGM and Overture Films, McGurk now finds himself on the other side of the equation: building a modern entertainment company, with technology not as an accessory, … Continue reading "Reinventing a Studio"

The post Reinventing a Studio appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/reinventing-a-studio/feed/ 0 Sights From DEG’s EnTechFest 2026 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/deg-entechfest-2026-photos/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/deg-entechfest-2026-photos/#respond Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:09:35 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=333200 DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group held its fifth annual EnTech Fest at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles Feb. 25. The one-day event featured keynotes by Cineverse CEO Chris McGurk, Netflix ad chief Amy Reinhard, and Kartel CEO Kevin Reilly; exhibits, panel discussions, case studies and fireside chats; and the DEG’s signature annual reception. … Continue reading "Sights From DEG’s EnTechFest 2026"

The post Sights From DEG’s EnTechFest 2026 appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/deg-entechfest-2026-photos/feed/ 0 Future of Digital Entertainment to Take Center Stage as EnTech Fest 2026 Opens Today https://www.mediaplaynews.com/future-of-digital-entertainment-to-take-center-stage-as-entech-fest-2026-opens-today/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/future-of-digital-entertainment-to-take-center-stage-as-entech-fest-2026-opens-today/#respond Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:10:26 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=332987 Entech Fest 2026, one of the premier events on the digital entertainment industry’s annual calendar, takes place today (Feb. 25) at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Produced by DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, the event is expected to draw hundreds of entertainment and technology executives for discussions on the trends and issues shaping … Continue reading "Future of Digital Entertainment to Take Center Stage as EnTech Fest 2026 Opens Today"

The post Future of Digital Entertainment to Take Center Stage as EnTech Fest 2026 Opens Today appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/future-of-digital-entertainment-to-take-center-stage-as-entech-fest-2026-opens-today/feed/ 0 StreamTV Show 2026 Announces Agenda, First Round of Speakers for June 16-19 Denver Show https://www.mediaplaynews.com/streamtv-show-2026-announces-agenda-first-round-of-speakers-for-june-16-19-denver-show/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/streamtv-show-2026-announces-agenda-first-round-of-speakers-for-june-16-19-denver-show/#respond Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:08:53 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=332152 DENVER — Organizers of the StreamTV Show have unveiled the agenda and first round of speakers for the 2026 show, which will take place June 16-19 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort. The show, produced by Questex, brings together senior executives across streaming platforms, studios, FAST operators, advertisers, OEMs, OS leaders and technology innovators. In accordance … Continue reading "StreamTV Show 2026 Announces Agenda, First Round of Speakers for June 16-19 Denver Show"

The post StreamTV Show 2026 Announces Agenda, First Round of Speakers for June 16-19 Denver Show appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/streamtv-show-2026-announces-agenda-first-round-of-speakers-for-june-16-19-denver-show/feed/ 0 Disney Launches ‘Vertical Shorts’ Initiative With Two Episodes of ‘Locker Diaries’ Anthology Series https://www.mediaplaynews.com/disney-launches-vertical-shorts-initiative-with-two-episodes-of-locker-diaries-anthology-series/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/disney-launches-vertical-shorts-initiative-with-two-episodes-of-locker-diaries-anthology-series/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:23:30 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=331780 The Walt Disney Co. is launching its initiative to produce and stream short-form video serials with the anthology series “Locker Diaries,” featuring characters from popular Disney Channel franchises, including “Zombies,” “Descendants” and “Phineas and Ferb.” The first two episodes of “Locker Diaries: Zombies” are now available on Disney+, YouTube,  Instagram and TikTok, with additional episodes rolling … Continue reading "Disney Launches ‘Vertical Shorts’ Initiative With Two Episodes of ‘Locker Diaries’ Anthology Series"

The post Disney Launches ‘Vertical Shorts’ Initiative With Two Episodes of ‘Locker Diaries’ Anthology Series appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/disney-launches-vertical-shorts-initiative-with-two-episodes-of-locker-diaries-anthology-series/feed/ 0 NATPE Global and Realscreen Summit 2026 Underline Convergence, Creators and New Content Economics https://www.mediaplaynews.com/natpe-global-and-realscreen-summit-2026-underline-convergence-creators-and-new-content-economics/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/natpe-global-and-realscreen-summit-2026-underline-convergence-creators-and-new-content-economics/#respond Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:12:23 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=330738 MIAMI — The 2026 edition of NATPE Global, co-located with the Realscreen Summit in Miami the first week in February, made clear that old boundaries are dissolving — between creators and legacy media, between traditional distribution and digital innovation. Delegates from across the production and distribution ecosystem upped the intensity of conversation from deal talk … Continue reading "NATPE Global and Realscreen Summit 2026 Underline Convergence, Creators and New Content Economics"

The post NATPE Global and Realscreen Summit 2026 Underline Convergence, Creators and New Content Economics appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/natpe-global-and-realscreen-summit-2026-underline-convergence-creators-and-new-content-economics/feed/ 0 Converging Platforms, Rise of Creators Will Influence the Future of Content, NATPE Global Panelists Say https://www.mediaplaynews.com/converging-platforms-rise-of-creators-will-influence-the-future-of-content-natpe-global-panelists-say/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/converging-platforms-rise-of-creators-will-influence-the-future-of-content-natpe-global-panelists-say/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:03:05 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=330511 MIAMI — Convergence will play a key role in the evolution of content over the coming years, according to panelists at the Feb. 3 NATPE Global session on the future of content. Creators, brands and social platforms are converging with studios, streamers, and broadcasters to change the way content is financed, produced, packaged and distributed. … Continue reading "Converging Platforms, Rise of Creators Will Influence the Future of Content, NATPE Global Panelists Say"

The post Converging Platforms, Rise of Creators Will Influence the Future of Content, NATPE Global Panelists Say appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/converging-platforms-rise-of-creators-will-influence-the-future-of-content-natpe-global-panelists-say/feed/ 0 Albert Cheng, Jon Erwin Talk AI Use at Amazon MGM Studios: Faster, Cheaper, Better https://www.mediaplaynews.com/albert-cheng-jon-erwin-talk-ai-use-at-amazon-mgm-studios-faster-cheaper-better/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/albert-cheng-jon-erwin-talk-ai-use-at-amazon-mgm-studios-faster-cheaper-better/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:51:47 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=330355 MIAMI — Amazon MGM Studios, which produces original movies and shows for the Prime Video streaming service, is continually looking at new ways to harness AI in the production cycle. The reason is twofold: to enhance the filmmaking process, and to save money — in the hopes of being able to greenlight more movies and … Continue reading "Albert Cheng, Jon Erwin Talk AI Use at Amazon MGM Studios: Faster, Cheaper, Better"

The post Albert Cheng, Jon Erwin Talk AI Use at Amazon MGM Studios: Faster, Cheaper, Better appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/albert-cheng-jon-erwin-talk-ai-use-at-amazon-mgm-studios-faster-cheaper-better/feed/ 0 Dhar Mann: Creator Content, Traditional Media Can and Should Work Together https://www.mediaplaynews.com/dhar-mann-creator-content-traditional-media-can-and-should-work-together/ https://www.mediaplaynews.com/dhar-mann-creator-content-traditional-media-can-and-should-work-together/#respond Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:09:29 +0000 https://www.mediaplaynews.com/?p=330236 MIAMI — Creator content — of the sort popularized on YouTube, TikTok and other social media channels — and traditional media aren’t diametrically opposed to each other, as some might think. Rather, they can be complementary and open new doors to each other, providing creators with new distribution opportunities and media companies with new content … Continue reading "Dhar Mann: Creator Content, Traditional Media Can and Should Work Together"

The post Dhar Mann: Creator Content, Traditional Media Can and Should Work Together appeared first on Media Play News.

]]> https://www.mediaplaynews.com/dhar-mann-creator-content-traditional-media-can-and-should-work-together/feed/ 0