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Build apps, workflows, and agents together | New in Copilot Studio, September 2026
Explore September 2026 Copilot Studio updates that bring apps, workflows, and AI agents together in one place to transform business processes.
Gears of War: E-Day Studio Boss Insists 'The Next Game Will Not Take Nearly as Long' to Make, Responds to Layoff Concern
The boss of Gears of War: E-Day developer The Coalition has responded to reports that staff at the studio are worried they will lose their jobs amid the ongoing cuts at Xbox, and promised the next Gears game won’t take as long to make.
You Can Get Up to $149 Off Every New Mac Mini During Prime Day
Prime Big Deal Days sales have hit Apple's brand new Mac mini and Mac Studio computers, and we're tracking up to $149 off every model of the M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini during this year's event. You'll also find $199 off the M5 Max Mac Studio below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Sources: Ape Escape revival in the works from Sonic Mania team
The studio behind Sonic Mania and Penny’s Big Breakaway will reportedly helm PlayStation’s Ape Escape revival…
Abundantia Entertainment To Turn AI Arm AiOn Into Standalone Studio
cription (150 character max) India's Abundantia Entertainment is moving to turn its AI creative arm Abundantia AiOn into a standalone production studio.
Will AI kill the Asian entertainment industry, or reinvent it?
Studios in China are turning to models from ByteDance and Kling to generate 100-minute short dramas for less than $3000.
Will AI kill the Asian entertainment industry, or reinvent it?
Studios in China are turning to models from ByteDance and Kling to generate 100-minute short dramas for less than $3000.
Skydance now runs two of Hollywood’s legacy film studios. A look at the new company, by the numbers
David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance has completed its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing two of Hollywood’s most storied legacy film studios under one mammoth media and entertainment conglomerate named Skydance. Now, Skydance must decide how to make the most out of a trove of entertainment assets, including the HBO Max and Paramount+ video streaming services, a film library that includes “Star Trek,” “Barbie,” “Top Gun,” “Harry Potter,” and “Superman,” and two major news organizations, CNN and CBS News. Here’s a look at the new company, by the numbers.
Eminem and Kid Rock Prioritize Friendship Over Politics on New Collab Track
The longtime friends have teamed up for a new track set to appear on Kid Rock's 13th studio album, 'Halfway to Jesus.'
U.S. share of studio TV spending fell from 94% to 64%, unions say
A study commissioned by Hollywood unions finds the U.S. share of major-studio TV spending fell from 94% to 64% as Congress weighs a film tax credit.
Forza Horizon 6's Community Is Fed Up With Playground Games, and the Studio Has Finally Responded
Forza Horizon 6 developer Playground Games has finally addressed its player community after months of constructive feedback about the game has been met with nothing but radio silence from the renowned British studio.
Apple's Entire Mac Lineup Gets Massive Discounts for Prime Day
Prime Big Deal Days is in full swing, and we've already begun tracking the best Apple discounts during Amazon's big fall event. This year, there are notable markdowns across Apple's Mac lineup, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and brand new Mac mini and Mac Studio. MacBook Air Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
PARAMOUNT COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, CREATING A NEW GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT LEADER, SKYDANCE
Skydance Corporation (f/k/a Paramount Skydance Corporation) (NYSE: SKYD) ("Paramount") today announced the completion of its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD) ("WBD"), creating a combined company, named "Skydance." The company brings together two major film studios, two global streaming services, a premier television portfolio including CBS, HBO, and Paramount's and WBD's cable networks, two of the industry's most recognized news networks, CBS News and CNN, and a portfoli
United Talent Agency signs Kansas City Chiefs’ Foolish Club Studios
United Talent Agency signs Kansas City Chiefs’ Foolish Club Studios | @EdEastonJr
The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL phones are $250 off
The Pro now costs less than the non-Pro did at launch.
Banijay Entertainment Introduces New US Gameshow Scrambled Up to Market
Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces it has acquired the global format rights and finished tape rights to Scrambled Up, an all-new studio-based word game from Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company; Keller/Noll, the prolific US format creators Cleve Keller and Dave Noll (Chopped, America Says, Flip Side); Crazy Legs Productions; and Playing Field […]
As Halo Moves to Activision, Halo Studios Writers Tease What Might Have Been
Following the launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved, Halo Studios has put out a blog post detailing plans for the future of Master Chief’s story. It’s an interesting look at where the series might have gone, prior to the recent announcement that Activision is now the shepherd of the Halo series.
Scripted Veteran Jason Simms Switches On Fusebox Entertainment
Former Fox and Sky Studios scripted exec Jason Simms has launched TV's latest drama house, Fusebox Entertainment.
Amazon MGM Names Daniel Matusov Head of Business Affairs for Animation
Amazon MGM Studios has moved TV biz affairs exec Dan Matusov onto Melissa Wolfe's Animation team as part of a restructure.
Carson Daly returning for huge “TRL” reunion special with surprises in store — and it’s not for MTV (exclusive)
EW has exclusively learned that Daly will return to reunite with major “TRL” personalities and music stars in the original Times Square studio.
Carson Daly returning for ‘TRL’ reunion special — but it’s not on MTV (exclusive)
Carson Daly will return for a ‘TRL’ reunion special recorded at the MTV Times Square studio where ‘Total Request Live’ used to air. Major surprises are in store for the Roku special.
Legends Radio spotlights JB Berkow’s lifelong art passion
JB Berkow is the founder of Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts in Lake Worth Beach. LEGENDS RADIO / COURTESY PHOTO This week's Legends Radio Local Artist Spotlight shines on accomplished artist and passionate advocate for the arts, JB Berkow. For more than five decades, JB Berkow has dedicated her life not only to creating art but also to making sure art has a place to thrive. Her work has been exhibited throughout the country in galleries, museums, and universities, and is held in permanent collections, including the Vatican’s Contemporary Art Collection in Italy, Boston University, and Palm Beach International Airport. Her passion for supporting other artists began early. At age 26, Berkow founded Touchstone Gallery in Washington, D.C., which became a highly successful cooperative gallery. She later brought that same entrepreneurial spirit to South Florida, founding Frenchman’s Art Gallery and Studios in Juno Beach in 1995. She opened Rosetta Stone Fine Art Gallery in 2003. In 2015, JB took her commitment to arts education even further by founding the nonprofit Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts. The 15,000-square-foot facility in Lake Worth Beach is home to Florida’s largest publicly accessible glassblowing hot shop and offers instruction in glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, and glass casting. The center also provides free classes to approximately 1,000 underserved children and young adults with disabilities each year. Its “Fragments Reimagined” art therapy program for veterans with PTSD recently received a $100,000 Impact 100 grant. In addition to her work as an artist and advocate, Berkow has authored four books, including Shades of Love and What They Didn’t Teach You in Art School. For JB, art has always been about more than creating something beautiful. It’s about opening doors, inspiring others, and making creativity an important part of life.That is why JB Berkow is in this week’s Legends Radio Local Artist Spotlight.
Tony Gilroy on Leaving the Politics of 'Andor' Behind for His 9-Composer Music Drama 'Behemoth!'
NEW YORK (AP) — Long before Tony Gilroy wrote “The Bourne Identity," made “Michael Clayton” or created “Andor,” he wanted to be a musician. After playing guitar in a string of bands, Gilroy came to Los Angeles hoping to become a studio musician. A session with some real players quickly disabused him ...
Fox Creator Studios Hires Senior Executives
Bryan Thoensen and Kirsten McAuliffe join the media company as it seeks to push further into the creator economy.
Why I Don’t Think Ride Or Die Should Have Been Cancelled (And What Company Should Save It...)
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) So…I recently came across a Reddit thread, talking about films on streaming, wondering why there are no reliable sources out there for streaming ratings data. Sigh. Honestly, as annoyed as I am that so many still don’t realize that we have streaming ratings, I somewhat get it. Until now, there was such a long delay between when a show or film came to streaming and when we got its viewership data; I understand why people were confused. (But, as you know, this just changed.) Also, even back in the day, how many people knew how well films did on television? Luckily, as a reader, you’re in the know. Okay, on to this week’s issue. I want to take a look at Prime Video cancelling Ride or Die and whether I agree with that decision. Overall, we didn’t have any breakout hits (no TV shows landed over 20 million hours according to Nielsen) but we have a lot of steady performers on the streaming charts. Plus, we’ll look at where $50 million in missing box office dollars went. (Spoiler: straight-to-streaming.) All that, plus new episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Supergirl heads to streaming, a new YA show does well on Netflix, the viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show, what TV show hit-maker can’t make streaming hits, CD sales, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 7th to September 13th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Ride or Die Is a Hit…But It Got Cancelled? What The Data “Says” I hate the phrase “here’s what the data says”, even though sometimes I find myself using it. If data just told us everything, we data folks would be out of a job! Data is often messy, complicated and nuanced. When it comes to strategy, many of the best decisions can’t actually use “data”, since it’s vastly too complicated to model. Anyways, I’ve been singing the praises of Prime Video’s Ride Or Die this summer, a show that did very well for them. And yet…it got cancelled. Now, usually when a show gets cancelled, a bunch of websites say “a hit show got cancelled”... Here’s the thing, though: in this case, they’re right! The data “says” that this show was a hit. Specifically, out of 522 first seasons to make a week on the Nielsen charts since 2020, it’s the 75th biggest. On Amazon, Ride or Die is eighth out of 41 first seasons: That’s top 15th percentile all time, almost exactly, which is my definition of a “hit”! I mean, outside of Reacher, Amazon needed a hit this summer! (Admittedly, Off Campus did well for Amazon in the spring, but Ride or Die performed even better.) So what happened? Why did Amazon cancel one of their rare 2026 bright spots? Well, Deadline reported a reason—which I’ll get to—but I’d break it down into three relevant questions: What is a given streamer’s reasoning? Is that reasoning sound? Could the stated reason not be the real reason? According to Deadline, Amazon felt the show “over-indexed” in middle-aged women. (This was based on leaks from within Amazon.) The logic is this: Amazon already reaches this demographic because of unlimited two-day shipping bundled with Prime, so they don’t really need more shows like this. Now, it’s my job to ask if that’s a good reason, and I’ll be honest, in this case, I don’t think it is. Sure, this show may “over-index” in middle-aged women—I’ll just assume that’s the case here—but I think folks often oversell how important over-indexing actually is. When a show is a “hit”, it isn’t a bit bigger than its rivals; it’s usually multiples bigger. For example, Elle only made the charts for two weeks at 8.3 million hours each. So Ride or Die was 80% bigger in its first two weeks, and likely had a much stronger hold, with its terrific 13 million hours in week three. Ride or Die was nearly three times bigger than Sterling Point through three weeks too. And that means that _Elle, Sterling Point a_nd other Amazon YA shows need to not just over-index a little with younger women (assuming that’s who Amazon prefers over middle-aged women), but massively over-index. Otherwise, more people in that demo (and a bunch more besides) likely watched Ride or Die. (I’ll try to explore this concept more in a future article.) And don’t get me started on how Ride or Die did compared to a certain (very, very popular, possibly the world’s most popular) YouTuber’s reality show…which didn’t make the charts after its first week and likely cost much, much more than Ride or Die. All to say, Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video can tell reporters that this show didn’t reach the right audience, but that excuse feels weak to me. So this leads to the third question: could other reasons have come into play? Yes! Renewal or cancellation decisions rarely (I’m tempted to say “never”) boil down to one variable. At its simplest, it’s two things: budget versus viewership. But often factors like critical acclaim, ownership and, yes, personal opinion come into play. In this case, Amazon has a new executive running things, and this show isn’t owned by Amazon-MGM Studios (unlike Elle). And yes, it may not have indexed with the right target viewers, too. Likely all of those factors came into play.1 My guess is ownership ended up mattering most. Amazon doesn’t own Ride or Die. It’s actually produced by another major studio. Fortunately/allegedly, this show is being shopped around. I can think of one brand new CEO who should consider it for one of his two major streamers…especially if he wants to rebuild goodwill in Hollywood. His name is on this list of exec producers of Ride or Die… If David Ellison needs some goodwill—and he does—rescue this female-led show tomorrow and grab some good headlines for a day. The data justifies it. Quick Notes on TV We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives latest season did on Hulu, post-controversy... Whether Supergirl soared on HBO Max... Why the box office is losing money due to the streamers... The viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show... Updates on The Gentlemen, Lanterns, Outer Banks, King of the Hill and more... What former hit-maker has three streaming flops in a row... Whether The Mandalorian and Grogu popped in week two... All the flops, bombs and misses... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Oh man, we’re almost caught up! We just have two more issues, then the streaming Ratings Report will be coming out just two weeks after a TV show premieres! Next issue, I’ll be looking at the first two weeks of the NFL Thursday night games on streaming, a huge new spinoff, Reacher’s Neagly on Prime Video, and the latest edition of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, the return of Slow Horses on Apple and MobLand (quietly one of their biggest shows) on Paramount+, and Dancing with the Stars on both ABC and Disney+. Plus I’ll take a look at animation for adults in 2026. The week after, a ton of movies are coming to streaming: Toy Story 5 on Disney+, Backrooms on HBO Max, Jackass: Best and Last on Paramount+ and The Breadwinner on Netflix, plus a Unabomber film on Netflix and a romcom on Prime Video. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey have a show on Apple, along with a game show inspired by Willy Wonka that everyone seems to hate. Long term, some crazy (but hopefully crazy like a fox) IP news. FX ordered a new Sons of Anarchy show from Charlie Hunnam, but it’s not about the biker gang. No, it features the show’s cast playing themselves in a new “meta-thriller”. Huh. And a lot of the cast is coming back. Next, Ryan Gosling is producing a Flintstones movie about a “grown-up Bamm-Bamm Rubble”. Also, huh. This one is in “early development” so we’ll see what happens. Both projects are based on IP, but also seem to have crazy takes on the IP, which I like.
Banijay Entertainment Unites US Operations With Banijay America Following All3Media Merger
Ben Samek will serve as the CEO of this division, which will now house Turnkey Studio Services
Banijay Entertainment Unites US Operations With Banijay America Following All3Media Merger
Ben Samek will serve as the CEO of this division, which will now house Turnkey Studio Services
Mary McNamara: As David Ellison names his new empire Skydance, the message is clear: He owns Hollywood
LOS ANGELES — What a surprise. David Ellison has decided to name the Frankenstudio media company created by the merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery simply Skydance. And
Behind the Seams | Wildwood
Go behind the scenes at LAIKA Studios for an up-close look at the extraordinary costumes of ‘Wildwood,’ the studio’s most intricately designed stop-motion film yet. Nearly 20 years after ‘Coraline,’ LAIKA’s artists and designers reveal how every tiny stitch, button and layer of fabric is handcrafted and engineered to help bring its puppets to life, combining costume design, fabrication and animation at an astonishing scale.
Ninja Theory developers announce they are facing redundancy, as the studio starts laying off staff following widespread Xbox cuts
Ninja Theory staff on LinkedIn have shared either farewell messages or sombre posts on the ongoing redundancy process happening at Ninja Theory.
Senua At Risk Of Cancellation As Ninja Theory Employees Announce They've Left The Studio
"It’s incredibly sad knowing that we won’t get to finish..."
Apple's Newest Macs Just Got Their Biggest Price Cuts Yet on Amazon
Prime Big Deal Days sales are already starting, and have now hit Apple's brand new Mac mini and Mac Studio computers. You can get up to $199 off these 2026 devices with Amazon's latest savings. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Hellblade studio Ninja Theory has started laying off staff, following Xbox’s announcement that it faces closure
Two separate agreements with the studio “fell through”…
'Sing With Me,' 'Golden Elevators' Lead Talpa Studios' Mipcom Slate
John de Mol’s Talpa Studios is heading to Mipcom with a slate of new entertainment formats, led by 'Sing With Me' and 'The Golden Elevators.'
Naeem Khan Propels His Artistic Vision Into Project Healthy Minds World Mental Health Day Gala
The gala, hosted by Carson Daly, takes place Oct. 8 at Spring Studios
Local business plans Halloween event at Buckhannon’s Jawbone Park
Majestic Mountains Studio is planning a Halloween event at Jawbone Park in Buckhannon on Oct. 31 from noon to 5:30 p.m. The free event will feature vendors, games, crafts and costume contests.
Forma brings a community pottery studio to Napa
Step inside Forma, a new pottery studio at 100 Coombs St. in Napa.
Alan Alda opens up about Parkinson’s diagnosis: ‘I don’t want to wish it away’
Alan Alda says the first Parkinson’s symptom that he experienced ‘was not that well-known’ at the time, adding that he had ‘no twitch, no tremor’ and ‘no problems with [his] voice.’
On cusp of merger, ‘Digger bombs for Warner Bros., ‘Verity’ takes No. 1 at box office
On the cusp of the studio’s merger with Paramount, Warner Bros.
On cusp of merger, 'Digger bombs for Warner Bros., 'Verity' takes No. 1 at box office
On the cusp of the studio’s merger with Paramount, Warner Bros | 830 WCCO
On cusp of merger, 'Digger bombs for Warner Bros., 'Verity' takes No. 1 at box office
On the cusp of the studio’s merger with Paramount, Warner Bros | NewsRadio 1080 KRLD
On cusp of merger, 'Digger bombs for Warner Bros., 'Verity' takes No. 1 at box office
On the cusp of the studio’s merger with Paramount, Warner Bros.
PlatinumGames boss hints he wants to expand Bayonetta as Stellar Blade director calls the series "indispensable"
PlatinumGames president Atsushi Inaba says he "strongly wants" to expand Bayonetta, three years after series creator Hideki Kamiya left the studio.
Where’s Blade? Fans wonder why Marvel Studios cutbacks seem to be landing on Black heroes
Mahershala Ali has said he’s moved on from the “Blade” reboot, making it another MCU project that’s fallen by the wayside. Black fans are asking whether Black characters are being purposely neglected and sidelined.
Culver City protesters demand Sony, Amazon, other studios defend democracy
LOS ANGELES — On a sweltering Saturday, around 100 people gathered in Culver City for a rally and march to deliver a message to several major media companies: Help us
Baubles & Brews brings women-owned businesses together in Pottsville
Candles, pottery, books, and skincare filled tables at Arrow Studio & Events on Saturday as 23 small businesses came together for Baubles & Brews, a fall market centered on women entrepreneurs and the community they have built. For…
Soulection celebrates 15 years with upcoming L.A. show
Soulection, the radio show, independent label and global music collective is celebrating its 15th anniversary on Saturday at Reframe Studios Outdoors.
4 new businesses coming to East Brunswick’s Legacy Place
A pet groomer has opened at East Brunswick’s Legacy Place, while a yoga studio, IV therapy business and Mediterranean bakery are coming soon.
"We felt that fans were getting a bit desensitised to the violence" Gears of War: E-Day devs made a "big investment" in gore, and weirdly, it works
"Brutality is a pillar of this game," says studio art director Aryan Hanbeck at The Coalition.
David Ellison's Skydance is a pretty name. What it stands for isn't
By naming the product of two mergers Skydance, David Ellison relegates two of Hollywood's founding studios to a sub-brand stew and attempts to erase a bunch of controversial hires.
3 new business openings worth knowing about in downtown and North Raleigh
A yoga studio, a 35-year-old coffee shop expanding near its Hillsborough Street home, and a round hotel reborn after a $36 million makeover.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dev Hopes GTA 6 Will Encourage Studios to Charge More for Their Games
Warhorse co-founder Martin Klima wants GTA 6 to “blaze a trail” for higher game prices.
Commentary: Can Letterboxd stay Letterboxd under studio ownership?
Letterboxd, once a niche social network for cinephiles to review, recommend and discover films, is now the subject of a potential nine-figure acquisition. As reported by the New York Times
New Black Cat Theater Cafe brings live entertainment to Tulsa’s Studio Row
The new Studio Row venue will feature family matinees, live theater, magic shows, comedy and other entertainment alongside a full cafe and bar.
Texans brass see content studio as promising natural offshoot of club business
The Houston Texans have launched Hustle Town Studio, which they hope offers new revenue upside by branching out of a football focus into cultural works.
'Bleed The Night': Fox Entertainment Studios Buys Vampire Spec
'Bleed the Night,' a vampire spec by Keith & Zoe Cooper, is being developed at Fox Entertainment Studios.
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
Starting today, the Apple TV streaming service is offering a new selection of "bonus" movies in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and some other countries. While competitors like Netflix offer an extensive catalog of movies from various studios, Apple TV primarily offers its own original films produced by Apple.
ESPN announces 2026-27 Inside the NBA presented by Eli Lilly regular season schedule
ESPN today announced its 2026-27 regular season schedule for Inside the NBA presented by Eli Lilly. Produced by TNT Sports from its Atlanta studios, the
AGC Studios Launches Digital Division Focused On Creator-Led IP
AGC Studios is launching AGC Digital, a dedicated division focused on creator-led content. The studio said the division will partner with digital creators to turn their ideas, content, and audiences i...
Jason Jones, Co-Creator of Halo and Destiny and Co-Founder of Bungie, Announces New Studio
Jason Jones, one of the co-founders of Bungie and a co-creator of Halo and Destiny, has announced his new studio, Stone Kite, which will work on projects across various entertainment mediums. The studio's first release is One Zero One, a limited-series comic book based on a manuscript written by Jones.
Start TODAY’s October Challenge: Routine Revamp, Healthy Meals
October is the perfect time to revamp your routines, so fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour stops by Studio 1A to break down some easy Start TODAY workouts, which can be accessed for free on the app this month. TODAY nutrition and health expert Joy Bauer also shares some simple meals, including a French toast grilled cheese, cottage cheese fettuccine alfredo, pumpkin peanut butter, and more!
Nerial shuts down after 13 years
Reigns series and Card Shark developer Nerial will shut down after 13 years of operation, the studio announced.
Stone Kite Is A New Studio From Halo, Destiny Creator Jason Jones And Author Margaret Stohl, And Its First Project Is About Rogue AI Robots
Stohl is perhaps best known for writing the Beautiful Creatures series of books. - Game Informer
Inside Larry Ellison's Wide Web of Power, Money and Politics, As Oracle's Data Centers Claim Force Majeure
The $200 billion software titan has suctioned himself to many hubs of influence—from data centers to TikTok to Hollywood studios to the Oval Office itself. Tom Dotan dives deep into Ellison’s kingdom, starting on the island enclave of Lanai.
Center on Science and Technology being evaluated due to budget constraints
Princeton is reviewing the Center on Science and Technology as part of broader budget reductions, though its courses and StudioLab operations will continue through the current academic year.
New Guide, 'How Do I Get ChatGPT To Recommend My Business?', Strategy Revealed
Authority Acquisition's new guide explains how ChatGPT recommends businesses based on discoverable published content, not paid placement, and ou...
Upworthy Launching Entertainment Studio Led By Sarah Yourgrau
One of the dominant digital platforms of the early social media era has hired Sarah Yourgrau to help it develop positive, uplifting stories to new platforms.
Looking at the Ugly Side of the Paramount-Skydance Merger...And How I’d Fix It
A Message from Our Sponsor Certified Fresh with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, FX’s Adults is an ensemble comedy series about a group of twenty-somethings in New York leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship and family. Don’t sleep on “The Sitcom of the Moment” - Awards Buzz All Episodes now streaming on Hulu on Disney+. Watch The Teaser Trailer... (Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industr(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Before we dive in, I wanted to congratulate Broadcast Now for being the first to report that Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast has been cancelled. (I saw this in a write-up by Kasey Moore of Whats-On-Netflix.) More importantly, I wanted to note that, as of yesterday, none of the other trades had reported the news yet. I have half a guess that eventually one of them will report this. Anyways, it’s time to take a break from my deluge of streaming ratings reports to continue my analysis of the Paramount Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery (PSWbD) saga. As I noted last week, a lot of times when folks use the (sometimes cliched) “the good, the bad and the ugly” framing for an article, “the ugly” section is just more bad. Or very, very bad. In this case, yeah, I do think it’s ugly. In more than one way. Unfortunately, we’re only going to have time to tackle one of those ways today: the ugly pile of debt to finance this deal. (In a future article, I may cover the entire process for how it went down, which was very, very ugly.) Last issue, I explained why I liked this deal in a vacuum. Unfortunately, “vacuums” don’t exist outside of space. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - The Ugliness of the Paramount/Warner Bros. Merger More than one person sent me a note speculating that the big problem with Paramount Skydance buying Warner Bros. Discovery is the “Warner Bros.” portion of the deal. In fact, that’s a take I read a lot about Warner Bros., ever since they caught Netflix’s, and then Paramount-Skydance’s, eye. In short, multiple companies (Time, AOL, AT&T, Discovery) have bought and then regretted buying Warner Bros. Since it’s nearing Halloween, you could almost say it’s like the folks think WB is cursed! It’s a haunted studio—like the town of Derry in movie studio form—and whoever takes possession of it will fall into misery! Yet...I just don’t like that story, because it doesn’t explain the “why” behind why those deals fell through. Especially when Warner Bros. has continued to succeed as a TV and film studio in the intervening two decades. Lord of the Rings? Harry Potter? Game of Thrones? Everything HBO? Considering it never fully owned a broadcast TV channel, this media company has done pretty well. So what went wrong? Well, in recent years, companies bought Warner Bros. instead of the other, smarter option. Explaining POCD (And Applying It to Mergers & Acquisitions) As I explained last issue, one of my favorite frameworks is the POCD tool for evaluating venture capital investments: People Opportunity Context Deal The bar to invest as a VC is high. (Or I might say “was” since cheap interest rates made life easier last decade.) You review a thousand prospectuses, get pitched by a hundred, and invest in the ten best, with the hopes that one of those ten would pay for the rest. That means every element of a deal needed to pay off: you needed the right people running the companies, who could capitalize on the right opportunity, in the context of an industry that was ripe for disruption. If you could then not overpay, you could make some money in a smart deal. The analogy isn’t perfect here, but close enough. For a merger or acquisition to work, you need the combined company (which is the opportunity) to make more than the price you need to pay (which is the deal). Note: the people and context still matter, but with M&A, it’s a little more straightforward: does the opportunity exceed the cost? And usually with Warner Bros., it hasn’t. If you want to find out the single biggest mistake made by the Warner Bros. suitors over the last few years (and my simple fix) become a paid subscriber. I’ll also touch on who I think Paramount-Skydance could (shockingly) consider buying next, TBD, and more. Sign up here.
Ubisoft Adopts Massive Entertainment as Name of Studio Group Led by Christoph Hartmann
Games company Ubisoft has landed on a name for what it has been calling “Creative House 2,” led by general manager Christoph Hartmann, the former head of Amazon Games who recently joined the team. The group is being named Massive Entertainment, adopting the name of Ubisoft’s Sweden-based studio that has been part of the company …
Grasshopper Manufacture Leaves NetEase Games to Operate as Independent Studio
Suda51's studio, maker of No More Heroes and Killer7, has split from NetEase Games to work as an independent developer again.
Readsboro Glassworks will open its studio to the public
READSBORO — The public is invited to visit Readsboro Glassworks during the Vermont Crafts Council’s Fall Open Studio Weekend, Oct. 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Story Circle Event Set For Oct. 3 In St. Johnsbury
ST. JOHNSBURY — 560 Railroad Community Artist and Vermont Studio Center alum Lori Lee will facilitate a story circle event titled Community Stories: Stories the Town Keeps, on Sunday, October
Pocket Entertainment: Interview With Co-Founder And CEO Rohan Nayak About AI-Powered Storytelling And The Single-Person Studio
Pocket Entertainment is building an entertainment ecosystem that connects storytelling, creation, production, distribution, localization, and audience engagement. The company operates Pocket FM, its flagship serialized audio drama platform, and has expanded into short-form visual entertainment through Pocket Saga while developing AI tools such as Sherpa that helps creators develop ideas and build characters, worlds, story arcs and episodes. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Pocket Entertainment Co-Founder and CEO Rohan Nayak to learn more about the company’s origins, its evolution beyond audio entertainment, and how AI could enable individual creators to build global entertainment franchises.
Deborah Sathe to lead new drama indie, CliffEdge Entertainment
BBC Studios is launching a new scripted production label, CliffEdge Entertainment.
Halo’s former creative director urges Activision to hire laid off Bungie, Halo Studios devs
Frank O’Connor shares advice to Activision for how the Halo series could go forward…
Xbox’s Millennial C.E.O., Asha Sharma, Isn’t Playing Around
“I think the industry will require disruption,” said Asha Sharma, who has overseen layoffs and divested studios since inheriting Microsoft’s flailing video game division.
Star Fox version 1.2.0 update now available
Publisher Nintendo and developer Velan Studios have released the version 1.2.0 update for Star Fox, which adds new stages to Battle Mode, split-screen support for up to four players on a single Swi…
Paramount streaming chief Cindy Holland exits studio
The announcement comes as Paramount waits for a judge's approval of its $111-billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.
United Airlines Debuts Polaris Studio Business Class For Global Premium Travelers
United’s new Polaris Studio adds larger suites, privacy doors, 27-inch 4K screens, upgraded dining and wine. Here’s how the experience compares.
Halo's Former Franchise Creative Director Sees 3 Possible Paths for Activision's Halo
Frank O'Connor, Halo's Franchise Creative Director for nearly 20 years at 343 Industries/Halo Studios, has weighed in on Halo's future at Activision, suggesting three viable paths forward for Xbox's former biggest franchise.
Block pushes a two-way governor’s race, but Guckian says he’s not leaving
Early voting in Rhode Island starts Oct. 20
Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera Get New Features
Apple today updated Apple Creator Studio and Final Cut Camera for iOS to add new features. Final Cut Camera, Apple's professional iPhone filming app, now supports the variable aperture feature on the iPhone 18 Pro. Users can tweak aperture and select between aperture priority and shutter priority modes, plus there's support for Cinematic mode effects for video.
V10 Entertainment Gears Up For MIPCOM By Tieing With Former Paramount, Amazon MGM Studios & Vision Plus Execs
EXCLUSIVES: Distributors are really getting into the pre-MIPCOM swing. L.A.’s V10 Entertainment is gearing up for the TV content confab by adding a trio of veteran sellers to its ranks. Michelle Payne...
V10 Entertainment Adds Ex-Paramount & Amazon MGM Studios Execs To Team
V10 Entertainment has added a trio of veteran sellers with histories at the likes of Paramount and Amazon MGM Studios to its ranks.
Amazon Discounting New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Alongside Early Prime Day Deals on Monitors
Amazon has brought back a few discounts on Apple's brand new Mac mini and Mac Studio, with up to $50 off select models. These deals are returning alongside early Prime Big Deal Days discounts on Samsung monitors that make nice pairings with a new Mac. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Monster Hunter Outlanders launches October 29
Free-to-play open-world survival game Monster Hunter Outlanders will launch for iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play on October 29, TiMi Studio Group and Capcom announced. In mainland Chin…
Nothing’s New Headphone (1) Pro Are Made for the Studio
With three drivers in each ear and tuning from Metropolis Studios, Nothing wants its new $399 cans to shine in the studio while also making your commute more musical.
Nothing’s new flagship Headphone 1 Pro put you in the studio
Nothing’s new flagship headphones surprised me.
Naughty Dog Will 'Fully Reveal' Intergalactic in 2027, but No Release Window Yet
Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann concluded this year's "The Last of Us Day" by giving updates on the developer's current projects, teasing two new The Last of Us projects that "will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II" without confirming whether or not either one of them is a game, as well as saying that its next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Project, will be "fully reveal[ed]" next year.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet to be fully revealed in 2027
Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Naughty Dog will lift the veil on science-fiction adventure game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in 2027, Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druc…
Two new The Last of Us projects in “very early stages” at Naughty Dog
Two new projects set in the world of The Last of Us are in the “very early stages” at Naughty Dog, studio head Neil Druckmann said in a note marking the end of The Last of Us Day 2026.
The McGraw sisters bring double the trouble
The cast and crew celebrate the film’s Los Angeles premiere at the Warner Bros. Studios lot
12 New Things to Expect From Apple This October
October will be an especially busy month for Apple this year, with the company set to release the iPhone Duo, both iOS 27.1 and iOS 27.2, and a new Mac Studio configuration with 512GB of RAM. In addition, up to six more Apple products may be unveiled next month, such as new iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K models. Below, we have outlined 12 new things to expect from Apple this October. Confirmed iPhone Duo: The foldable iPhone Duo launches on Friday, October 23.
In brief: '9 to 5' headed back to theaters and more
Pour yourself a cup of ambition and head out to your local movie theater. 9 to 5 is headed back to movie theaters for a special, weeklong run starting on Oct. 9. This will be a newly restored version of the classic satirical workplace comedy starring the late Dolly Parton. Additionally, Disney is set to donate net proceeds from each ticket purchased for the rerelease in the U.S. to the Dollywood Foundation in support of its flagship program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Disney is the parent company of ABC News ...Off Campus star Ella Bright has found her next gig. The actress confirmed she will star opposite Mason Thames in the movie Narcs in a post shared to her Instagram Story. This marks Bright's first major studio feature role. The upcoming coming-of-age comedy will be made for Sony Pictures. While the movie's plot is being kept under wraps, it will serve as the directorial debut of John Phillips, the writer of No Hard Feelings, Good Boys and Dirty Grandpa ... TNCMS.AdManager.render({region: 'fixed-big-ad-top-asset', slot: 1, fold: "above"}); Did you miss Evil Dead Burn in theaters? Not to worry. The film is set to make its global streaming debut on HBO Max on Oct. 2. Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and Maude Davey star in the film that was directed by Sébastien Vaniček ...Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Thank you for reading kmaland.comAt KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.
God of War Laufey pre-orders open September 29, editions detailed
Physical and digital pre-orders for God of War Laufey will begin on September 29 at 10:00 a.m. local time, publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Santa Monica Studio announced.
Do politics belong in sports?
Transgender athletes, ESPN studio shows and sports ads have prompted heated political discussions.
VMI Worldwide Partners With Empire Studios, Rascal Entertainment & Green 13 On Survival Thriller ‘Snow Predator’
EXCLUSIVE: Empire Studios, Rascal Entertainment, Green 13 Films and VMI Worldwide have partnered on Snow Predator, a survival thriller directed by Coz Greenop. The film has been written by Charley McD...
See the brilliance: Dunn artist creates and sells glass artwork that shines brightly
Cindy Akers-Gilford creates stained glass, fused glass, mosaics, handmade glass jewelry, pendants, suncatchers and other original glass artwork in her studio in Dunn, N.C. Photos provided by Cimply Broken.Self-made Artist and Founder of Cimply Broken, Cindy Akers-Gilford is helping people “see the brilliance” in all things with her glass artwork. Akers-Gilford started her business right after she retired from 20+ years as a civilian contractor at Fort Bragg. The official opening date for Cimply Broken was Nov. 8, 2021.“It’s been quite the adventure ever since. Not only did I have to learn how to manage a small business, but I’ve never taken a class in stained glass or anything I currently do,” shared Akers-Gilford. Her work includes stained glass, fused glass, mosaics, handmade glass jewelry, pendants, suncatchers and other original glass artwork.“I chose glass art just by happenstance. I saw a video on YouTube with a gentleman using plates and resin to make beautiful windows. I used that idea and created a simple picture frame-sized piece for myself. It was beautiful. I put it up in my window and pretty much forgot about it for a few days. Well, one beautiful sunny morning I went up to my studio, and the sun was rising and the light was shining beautifully through that piece. It was absolutely stunning. I thought that it was the perfect reflection of how God’s light shines through each of us. It was broken glass, so it changed ever so slightly as the sun continued to rise in the sky. I thought it poignant – like each of us – we all shine bright and differently in God’s glorious light, and we are all simply broken as well. We are all made beautiful in his light,” explained Akers-Gilford.The name of the business was inspired by the artist’s name and her faith-driven mission. “Simply became ‘Cimply’ as a play on my name and ‘simply’… and ‘Broken’ because we are all Cimply Broken – but each of us is beautiful,” added Akers-Gilford.Akers-Gilford sells her glass art at the Dunn Farmers Market when the weather is bearable, but mostly from her website at www.cimplybroken.com. “I enjoy getting lost in the creative process. I work out of my home, and I often compare my studio to Walmart returns after Christmas time. It’s hectic, busy and there are always at least 10 things being created simultaneously- it is fun!” shared Akers-Gilford. Her goal for the business is to continue to watch customers as they spot a piece of work from a distance and walk up to it in awe. “That is my biggest joy! I don’t speak to them until they speak – that is their moment to ‘See The Brilliance,’ which is my moniker,” shared Akers-Gilford. She also shared she would love to someday become part of an artist collective in Dunn.
Art that serves others: How a Harnett County muralist is making a lasting mark in her community
Van Goat Studios, which has been operating since 2019, has allowed Johnson to express herself and reflect the spirit of local communities through murals. Photo provided by Elyse Johnson.Elyse Johnson of Van Goat Studios in Dunn wants to spread her artistry and make a lasting mark in her community. Van Goat, which has been operating since 2019, has allowed Johnson to express herself through murals and decorating electrical boxes in the urban landscapes of North Carolina. On top of traditional mural painting, Johnson offers what she calls “portable murals,” an option tailor-made for structure owners who do not want to commit to a design for their wall.“A contractor builds a framed piece of wood, and then they can frame the ‘mural’ onto the wood, whether it’s into their building, whether it’s interior or exterior,” Johnson said. The beginnings of Johnson’s journey into establishing Van Goat Studios reflect the teachings she wants artists to take away today: everything is a learning opportunity. When she started Van Goat, she shared it was a joint venture with a business partner. “I mainly did that because I didn’t feel like I was ready to go and do this on my own,” Johnson said. Her business partner eventually dropped out of the project, deciding she wanted to pursue other forms of art. That is when Johnson was thrust into growing her business on her own during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I had built up my confidence enough to go out and reach new heights,” she said. “And I was probably one of the few that benefited from COVID.”The moment presented a silver lining for Johnson. One of her first projects was a Farmers Day mural for the town of Coats. “When COVID-19 hit, Coats was not able to hold their annual festival, so they had a little bit of savings. They decided they wanted to do something for their community without getting anyone sick,” Johnson said.From there, word of mouth spread. Now, Johnson has an organic way of approaching projects. “Like a lot of muralists, if I feel inspired by a building, I will just go up and talk to that building owner and tell them a mural is something they should consider,” Johnson said. But above all, Johnson says she wants art to be accessible to everyone. Johnson said she is trying to stick to projects that benefit “the little guys.” “I’m not trying to go for a project in downtown Raleigh to get the eight-foot-tall building,” Johnson said. “I’m not trying to go to those major cities and get those huge buildings for two reasons: one, I don’t want to go that high; two, my passion really lies with the small guys.” But due to financial constraints and the material reality of art commerce, that requires open communication, she added. “I don’t want to just snowball you with this huge price, and then you just shut me down because it wasn’t what you were thinking,” Johnson said. “At the same time, I am an advocate for the arts, so I’m not going to give you a $10,000 mural when you’re only going to pay $5,000.” There is a healthy balance in explaining the artistic process and working with clients and the surrounding community, Johnson said.“Your municipality invested this, and this is why they invested this, and this is how it’s going to help and improve your community,” she noted. “Same thing when I’m talking to a small business. You asked for me to come at you with this that is outside your budget. How do we make this still your same exact goal, but within your budget lines?” Johnson also provides lessons to aspiring artists. She does so with a mission: how do you master the balance between being a great artist and a competent business owner? “We still do art lessons, but I’m also going to give you business scenarios,” she noted.One of the scenarios she has come up with for her students is a T-shirt competition. “The kids have to think about ‘okay, I can’t just draw whatever I want on a T-shirt. I need to think about what colors Miss Elyse likes. What does Miss Elyse’s logo look like? What would Miss Elyse like?’” Johnson said. “So the design needs to be around that kind of concept.” As Johnson looks toward the future of Van Goat Studios, she is thinking of time, longevity and succession. Johnson is a new mom, which she said has shaped how she sees the future of the studio.“I still want my name and my business out there continuing, so that when my daughter is of age and she can be more independent, then I can be out there doing more and more,” Johnson said. “I would love to get a student to pass this on to, or an intern. I would love for this business to be passed on to the next generation and let them go.”