The Ankler Podcast

The discussion reveals skepticism about Trump's plans to bring movie production back to the U.S., examining the impact of tariffs on Hollywood. The group critiques California Governor Newsom's proposals, highlighting the industry's financial struggles amid a shifting landscape. They explore the rising influence of digital platforms over traditional media, and how entertainment giants like Disney navigate these challenges. The hosts emphasize the uncertain future of filmmaking in the U.S. as global competition intensifies.

Overalls, first-look pacts and original films are making a comeback — on paper, at least. Deal volume is up, but value is down. And that original film revival? It’s starting to come from outside the studios. Ashley Cullins joins Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey to unpack her two-part series on current deal trends, from Sinners’ mid-budget model to the studio execs evangelizing for self-releasing on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Lee, COO and CFO of Webtoon Entertainment, and David Madden, Global Head of Entertainment for Wattpad Webtoon Studios, dive into how Webtoon is reshaping digital storytelling and expanding in the U.S. They discuss the platform’s unique revenue model and powerful creator support, enabling creators to earn up to $1 million annually. The conversation highlights successful adaptations like Netflix's "Heartstopper" and Tubi's "Sidelined: The QB and Me," illustrating how data-driven insights are enriching content selection and empowering global fandoms.

The discussion dives into the chaotic job market in Hollywood, where TV writers are hustling for scarce positions. A look at the challenges new creatives face highlights the industry's bias toward experienced candidates. The conversation also explores the burgeoning creator economy, where traditional skills are transferring to exciting new roles in digital media. Amidst the industry's quirks, there's optimism for innovation and storytelling diversity, along with fun insights from a festive talk show event.

In this engaging discussion, Hollywood writer and producer David Goyer, renowned for his work on classics like 'Blade' and 'The Dark Knight' Trilogy, dives into the revolutionary fusion of AI and storytelling. Joined by Erik Barmack, he reveals how his latest project, 'Emergence,' and the Incention platform are changing narrative landscapes. They explore the ethical implications of AI in content creation, the potential for democratizing storytelling, and the necessity for a streamlined creative process in traditional Hollywood.

The Ankler gets real about what’s happening in nonscripted TV, a diverse and thriving industry that includes documentaries, talent/competition/game shows and of course, reality TV. Boardwalk Pictures founder Andrew Fried, Pantheon CEO and Velvet Hammer co-founder Jen O’Connell, Propagate founder Howard Owens and Wheelhouse president of entertainment Courtney White join Series Business writer Elaine Low to dissect the challenges and bright spots of the market on stage at NAB Show in Vegas. These top players — responsible for shepherding projects as varied as FX's "Welcome to Wrexham," Netflix's "Untold," A&E's upcoming "Duck Dynasty" reboot and the digital-first "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" — reveal their strategies for finding new audiences as cable's reach dwindles, their secrets to great storytelling, and their tactics (including AI) to compete in a disrupted landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, Netflix is huge, but apparently it’s not huge enough for co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, whose recent earnings call revealed a road map for total market domination. Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey break down its plan to capture the 80 percent share of TV consumption not already happening on Netflix or YouTube (think creators and podcasts to eating the rest of cable’s programming). Plus: What to make of the Gen Z antics driving A Minecraft Movie, and Sean quizzes the crew on Netflix’s 2025 original movies.For more entertainment news, subscribe to The Ankler or apply to The Ladder, a members-only hub for early career entertainment professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from Las Vegas! Exec editor Alison Brower headed into the ring with WWE president Nick Khan, and chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque for The Ankler’s Business of Entertainment program at NAB Show, where the sports execs revealed why Netflix was strategically the right home for RAW, its flagship weekly showcase; how Triple H’s writers create distinctive and memorable characters and stories across shows (and platforms); what draws talent from the late Betty White (“a badass”) to Bad Bunny into the ring; and the physical and mental trials in auditions that reveal who can be a megastar. As Triple H puts it, “You cannot teach charisma.” Khan and Levesque also preview WrestleMania 41, going down April 19-20 in Vegas. “It’s our Super Bowl,” says Khan. But minutes after it’s over, “a writer’s assistant will walk in and put Monday Night RAW in front of me,” Levesque adds. “We are the story that never ends.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from the stage at NAB Show in Vegas, Elaine Low talks with ‘Fire Country’ co-creators Joan Rater and Tony Phelan as well as CBS executives Bryan Seabury and Yelena Chak about the new boom in TV procedurals on broadcast and streaming. Hear about the inner workings of CBS Studios’ development process, what it takes to expand a storytelling universe and Rater's gentle but firm method of raising the creative bar. Says Phelan, who's her husband as well as her co-EP, "Joan is notorious in the writers room for saying things like, 'It's just not awesome.'" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Storytelling remains fundamental to entertainment. But who tells those stories and how is shifting. A new era of influence revealed itself at The Ankler’s just-wrapped Business of Entertainment program, in partnership with NAB Show in Vegas. Execs, creators and stars behind WWE (Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque), Tribeca Festival and Sphere (Jane Rosenthal), Universal Music Publishing Group (Jody Gerson), Webtoon (David J. Lee and David Madden) and AI startup Incention (David S. Goyer), among others, took the stage to reveal an optimistic view of opportunity outside the traditional studio system. Elaine Low, Natalie Jarvey and Janice Min break it all down. Plus: How Trump’s tariffs plague Hollywood.For more entertainment news, subscribe to The Ankler or apply to The Ladder, a members-only hub for early career entertainment professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices