The Town with Matthew Belloni

The podcast discusses the recent end of the Writers Guild strike and the potential outcomes of the new three-year contract. They highlight the achievement of a minimum staffing requirement for writers and delve into the use of AI in scriptwriting. The impact of social media on the strike and executive perception is also explored. Additionally, they discuss Amazon's decision to add advertising to their Prime video service.

Journalist Michael Wolff, author of 'The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty,' joins Matt to discuss the Murdoch family, post-Murdoch Fox News, Murdoch's distaste for Trump, similarities between 2020 and 2024 elections, and the future of the media empire.

Casey Wasserman, Chairman and CEO of Wasserman, discusses his transition from sports to Hollywood, the future of management in the entertainment industry, ongoing strikes' impact, and his vision for the LA2028 Olympics.

Lucas Shaw from Bloomberg joins Matt to discuss the long-term impact of the strike in the entertainment industry. They touch on topics such as peak TV, late-night talk shows, Bob Iger, Drew Barrymore, streaming content, and overall deals. Matt ends with a prediction about 'Yellowstone' re-airing on CBS.

Matt is joined by CNBC’s Alex Sherman to discuss Disney’s dysfunction, Bob Iger's inability to find a successor, why he came back to Disney, and whether Iger is the right person to run Disney right now. They also explore the firing of Bob Chapek, the departure of a senior executive, and lessons learned from succession planning. Plus, a prediction about this weekend's box office.

Mark Shapiro, President of Endeavor and now TKO, discusses the UFC-WWE merger, upcoming rights deals, and how people will watch in the future. He also talks about the recent CAA sale, WME's performance during the strike, and predicts the return of Drew Barrymore's talk show.

The Town with Matthew Belloni invites Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg journalist, to discuss the recent transformation of talent representation and the sale of CAA's majority stake to French billionaire François-Henri Pinault. They explore the rising value of talent agencies, potential public offerings, consolidation in the industry, challenges faced by talent management firms, and the impact of larger agencies on representation and opportunities. They also touch on the dynamics of talent agencies and the Disney-Charter deal's influence on cable networks.

Cameron Bailey, the CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), joins Matt to discuss the effect of strikes on film festivals, TIFF's success in Oscar predictions, handling a festival without stars, and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO's bonus prediction.

The podcast discusses the ongoing dispute between Charter and Disney, and how it could impact the cable model. They also explore Taylor Swift's decision to release her concert film independently, the economics behind it, and the potential influence on other artists. The hosts touch on television providers, streaming services, and the future of cable network companies. Lastly, they talk about early Oscar contenders, including 'Poor Things' starring Emma Stone, and celebrities' promotional tactics during awards season.

Matt is joined by box office analyst Jeff Bock to look back on a bizarre summer at the box office and hand out awards for the highs and lows of the 2023 summer movie season. They discuss underperforming franchise blockbusters, unexpected hits, and the potential success of upcoming films like Aquaman 2. They also analyze the disappointing box office performance of Transformers Rise of the Beast and speculate on the potential success of 'Equalizer 3'.