The Business

It’s that time of year again and we are serving up a heaping plate of 2024 Megabanter! The Paramount–Skydance merger finally lands, streamers and legacy studios duke it out for sports rights, Bob Iger makes his moves while the Disney board ramps up its succession race, and linear television continues to decline — what’s the story of the year? Banter buddies Lucas Shaw and Matt Belloni join Kim Masters to figure it out.

Rupert Murdoch wants to update his family trust in favor of his son Lachlan, who runs the Fox News empire. What’s behind Nevada commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr.’s decision to block the move? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni investigate.  Plus, Masters talks to documentarian Nic Stacey about his Netflix film, Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy. The London-based filmmaker tells us how he managed to pull together an impressive roster of whistleblowers from top companies such as Amazon, Adidas, and Apple. He also says that working with Netflix’s U.K. team was a breeze, despite the documentary’s focus on tech giants. Stacey also explains why he chose to use an AI narrator named “Sasha” to guide viewers through the film.

Gail Slater is Donald Trump’s pick to head the Justice Department's antitrust division. As she gears up to oversee cases against major tech companies like Google and Apple, how will the veteran antitrust lawyer view future mergers in Hollywood? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni dive in.  Plus, Masters speaks to journalist Jacob Soboroff and documentarian Errol Morris about their film Separated, a sobering look at the Trump Administration’s 2017 child separation policy. They have a lot to say about those who were complicit in tearing thousands of children away from their families. Plus, Soboroff weighs in on Comcast’s refusal to release the film before the election.

In a captivating discussion, Evan Bogart, Grammy-winning songwriter and founder of Seeker Music, shares his insights on the evolving music industry. Known for discovering Eminem, Bogart reveals how independent artists are thriving amid major label consolidations. He emphasizes the positive changes in artist discovery and the influence of streaming on music consumption. The conversation also touches on the transformation of music promotion strategies, highlighting a shift towards community-driven engagement. It's a refreshing take on an industry in flux.

Comcast is set to spin off a slew of cable channels including E!, SYFY, MSNBC, and CNBC. What’s behind the move? Plus, the big announcement also brings with it the news of a long anticipated promotion for NBCUniversal executive Donna Langley. What does she have in store for the company in her new role?  Kim Masters and Matt Belloni dive into the latest at Comcast.  Plus, NPR’s Jeff Lunden speaks to playwright Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz about the long-anticipated film adaptation of their hit stage show Wicked. Among other pressing topics, they’re sharing what drove the decision to split the story into two movies.

Disney’s streaming numbers soar as announced in the company’s earnings report earlier this week, but questions remain in the ongoing search for a new CEO. Also, what’s next for the company’s Film and Parks divisions? Matt Belloni and Kim Masters break down Disney’s Q4 earnings report. Plus, Masters speaks to Edward Berger about his latest film Conclave. The German director tells us how studying filmmaking at NYU in the 90s led him to an internship at the indie production company Good Machine. He also sings the praises of Netflix, which he reveals was the only financier daring enough to pay for his grim German-language war film All Quiet on the Western Front. The film went on to receive four Academy Awards, including Best International feature film.

Brian Jordan Alvarez and Stephanie Koenig made the jump from YouTube to Hulu's 'English Teacher.' Introducing a KCRW original podcast we think you'll enjoy, The Sam Sanders Show. Watch the full episode on YouTube or follow the show here. 

Warner Bros. unceremoniously released Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2 in less than 50 theaters nationwide, but the mid-budget film has exceeded expectations. After a strong limited opening, the film will see a modest expansion and a light awards push from Warner’s. What prompted the studio to bury what could potentially be the last film from the 94 year old director? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni investigate.  Plus, Eric Deggans talks to Lauren LeFranc about creating the HBO mini series, The Penguin. The writer discusses the challenges of adapting a well known comic book villain into a complex, three dimensional character and she shares why her perspective as a woman writing a show about a middle-aged crime boss makes for interesting storytelling. And of course, she talks about the joys of working with Colin Farrell, who is both the star of the show and an involved executive producer.

As Greta Gerwig prepares to dive into production on her adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia, the director is attempting to persuade Netflix to release her film on thousands of IMAX screens worldwide. Will the streamer bite? Also, Gavin Newsom proposes an increase in tax credits for California productions. What hurdles does the California governor face? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni talk us through it.  Plus, Eric Deggans talks to comedian Roy Wood Jr. about hosting the American version of the long-running British current events quiz show, Have I Got News For You. Wood also addresses the ongoing paradigm shift in late night comedy — telling us why he thinks old-school ratings matter, but social virality and streaming numbers matter more.

Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw dive into the impressive Q3 earnings posted by Netflix… And whether the streamer can fine tune its film strategy to achieve even further world domination.  Plus, Kim Masters speaks to Chris Sanders, the writer and director of The Wild Robot. The veteran animation director acknowledges the good and not so good impact of CG animation, talks about his experience of working at Disney during the studio’s famed Renaissance period, and explains why he left the studio to work at Dreamworks after John Lasseter took over Disney Animation in 2006. Plus, Sanders discusses his very special relationship with Stitch, of Lilo and Stitch.