The Town with Matthew Belloni

One year of Bob Iger 2.0: more aggressive cost-cutting measures, criticism of film and TV division, promising streaming subscriber gains. Can toys and video games become new superheroes? Increase in video game movies and Bob Iger's changing stance on selling networks.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director, discusses the end of the 118-day actors strike and the AI concerns during negotiations. They highlight the importance of finding creative solutions, address compensation negotiations and goals, and reflect on the challenges faced during the strike. The atmosphere and dynamics of meetings are explored, along with the hope for better dialogue in the future.

Kyle Buchanan, New York Times’ writer, discusses the disruptive impact of the actors strike on the awards season. They explore missed promotional activities, the importance of movie stars, challenges in event planning, and the unpredictable nature of this year's campaign. They also analyze the lackluster buzz for a new Marvel movie and speculate on potential frontrunners for the Oscars.

Discussing the survival of non-Netflix streaming services in a Netflix-dominated world, the podcast covers Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to license DC films to Netflix and the sustainability of sending A-list content to Netflix. The diversity of content and viewership on Netflix is explored, along with the future of streaming content, licensing strategies, and John Stewart's potential future in late night shows on streaming platforms.

Entrepreneur and former Bravo star Bethenny Frankel joins Matt to discuss the mistreatment of reality TV stars and the need for a union to protect their rights. They explore the challenges and exploitation faced by reality stars, the legality and ethics of reality TV contracts, the unregulated workplace of reality TV, and the potential for a class-action lawsuit. They also touch on Disney's acquisition of Hulu and its implications.

Are revivals a viable option for TV networks? The importance of pre-branded properties like 'Frasier', the art of pilot recastings, the possibility of a 'Friends' revival, the state of the binge model, and the relevance of TV scheduling. The podcast ends with a prediction on the World Series.

The podcast discusses the impact of labor strikes on the 2024 movie calendar, including the delays of blockbuster films like Disney's 'Snow White' remake and 'Mission: Impossible 8.' They explore the consequences for the movie industry and theater owners, such as AMC's potential bankruptcy. They also touch on topics like Taylor Swift saving AMC, Netflix releasing movies in theaters, and the need for unionization in reality TV talent.

Topics include fallout from a comedian's lost job opportunity, the impact of holiday shutdowns and solidarity between SAG and IATSI, interesting anecdotes and moments from negotiations, movie subscription passes and their impact on box offices, and potential consolidation in the entertainment industry.

Discussion on Marvel's decline and oversaturation, messy foray into television, visual effects issues, the return of original stars, and Kevin Feige's future

The podcast discusses Netflix's dominance in the streaming industry and its successful moves like cracking down on password sharing and licensing shows from other streamers. They also talk about the weak competition Netflix faces, as well as the CEO's comments on the actors strike and Netflix's challenges with advertising, gaming, and content.