Variety: ‘Fixer Upper’ and Other Magnolia Network Shows Coming to HBO Max in September

Story from Variety:

Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network lineup, including all five seasons of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” will begin streaming on HBO Max in September, Variety has learned exclusively.

New York Post: ‘Batgirl’ cast ‘humiliated’ — Warner Bros. didn’t tell them their movie was dead

Story from New York Post:

Warner Bros. didn’t even have the courtesy to give the “Batgirl” cast and creative team a bat signal that their movie was being locked away in Arkham.

Deadline: Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ Gets Fall 2024 Release Date

Story from Deadline:

In the wake of Warner Bros Discovery axing Batgirl for HBO Max, it has put forward a silver lining for DC: Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is getting a October 4, 2024, release date.

Variety: CNN Mulls Changes to Anchor Lineup as News Chiefs Take Big Swings

Story from Variety:

The CNN image for the past few years has been embodied by passionate on-air personalities like Don Lemon or Brianna Keilar. These days, it might best be symbolized by beat reporters like Jamie Gangel or Kaitlan Collins.

Variety: Why Warner Bros. Killed ‘Batgirl’: Inside the Decision Not to Release the DC Movie

Story from Variety:

The death of “Batgirl” on Tuesday sent immediate shockwaves through Hollywood. The film — with a $75 million budget that grew to $90 million due to COVID-related overages — had finished shooting months ago and was in test screenings as directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (“Bad Boys for Life,” “Ms. Marvel”) worked through the post-production process. Star Leslie Grace (“In the Heights”) had given multiple interviews expressing her enthusiasm for landing the title role and working with co-stars Michael Keaton (as Batman), J.K. Simmons (as her character’s father, Commissioner Gordon) and Brendan Fraser (as the villain, Firefly).

Variety: HBO Max Quietly Removed Six Warner Bros. Streaming-Exclusive Movies

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery has been quietly culling content from HBO Max — including several Warner Bros. movies that were exclusively streaming on the service — in what appears to be an effort to cut costs.

Variety: With HBO Max and Discovery+ Expected to Merge, Streamers Debate Scale vs. Brand Identity

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery is about to find out whether bigger and broader really is better when it comes to streaming.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery U.K. Sets Leadership Team Under Antonio Ruiz

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery U.K. has set its leadership team under general manager Antonio Ruiz.

GB News HD to move on Virgin Media UK next week

Virgin Media UK will move GB News HD from Virgin Channel 626 to Virgin Channel 604 on August 11th.

New York Post: CNN’s profits seen dipping below $1B for first time since 2016

Story from New York Post:

CNN’s profits are poised to drop below the $1 billion mark for the first time since 2016 as its new boss scrambles for new ways to generate revenue, according to a report.

New York Post: ‘Irredeemable’ ‘Batgirl’ movie gets ‘shelved’ by Warner Bros. despite $70M price tag

Story from New York Post:

Holy millions down the drain, Batman!

Deadline; Analysis: Could License Fee Strife In France & The UK Spell The Beginning Of The End For Europe’s $36B Public Broadcasting Sector?

Story from Deadline:

The funding model that has been the bedrock of Europe’s €35.5B ($36.3B) public broadcasting sector for decades is under threat, and the industry is gravely concerned.

Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Orders 149 Hours of New Unscripted Shows for U.K.

Story from Variety:

Warner Bros. Discovery U.K. has commissioned 149 hours of new and returning lifestyle shows in the U.K.

Disney+ launches on TV360 boxes

Disney+ has today launch on Virgin Media's TV360 boxes.

Channel 4 Takeover - Yorkshire Post: What would the privatisation of Channel 4 mean for levelling up - Henri Murison

Story from Yorkshire Post:

Not even her most fervent supporter would claim that all Margaret Thatcher’s ideas were popular in Yorkshire, but if there was one we can all agree has been good for the county – and for the North as a whole – it must be Channel 4.

Deadline: ‘Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin’ EP Michael Grassi Renews Overall Deal with Warner Bros. Television

Story from Deadline:

Michael Grassi is staying in business with Warner Bros. Television.

Variety: Channel 4’s Kelly Webb-Lamb Sets Up Mothership Productions

Story from Variety:

Former Channel 4 deputy director of programs and head of popular factual Kelly Webb-Lamb has set up a new production company.

Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Faces First Post-Honeymoon Earnings As Layoffs, Streaming Decisions Loom

Story from Deadline:

Warner Bros. Discovery is heading into a very important week.

BT Sport axe ESPN Channel in UK

BT Sport has rebranded a following today:

ISP News: Virgin Media O2 UK Update Improves TV 360 User Interface

Story from ISP News:

Broadband ISP Virgin Media O2 has, over the past couple of weeks, begun to issue a new firmware update (v4.41) for their Virgin TV 360 service (platform), which introduces a number of cosmetic “improvements” to the Horizon software based User Interface (UI) and also some functional changes.