Why Everyone's Talking M&A, Linda Yaccarino's Train Wreck Interview and How to Get a SAG-AFTRA Deal

Plus, layoffs and furloughs hit Hollywood's data and research firms [M&A]( [Why M&A Is on Everyone's Radar Right Now | PRO Insight]( By Peter Csathy ‘Twas nearly the holiday season, and all through Hollywood, many creatures are stirring — especially media and entertainment investment bankers who can’t sleep, as visions of year-end big ticket M&A dance in their heads. Specifically, will they (Disney) or won’t they sell? Bob Iger’s recent pronouncements that he will double theme park spending to about $60 billion in the next 10 years certainly runs counter to any notion that Apple would buy out the entire Magic Kingdom. But is it all just one giant head fake? Cunning CEOs frequently set the stage for a major fork in the road to tease out potential buyers to make their moves now, before those moves become much more expensive later on. Bob Iger certainly is that (cunning). And how about Fox and News Corp now that Rupert Murdoch stepped down? That media company with the hilariously ironic name (why quibble with “news” when you can simply give your audience “alternative facts”?) seems ripe for the picking. Elon Musk anyone? It’s the right constituency for the far out galaxy to which Musk has rocketed these days — and a natural one-two gut punch with X/Twitter, if you think about it. New putative CEO Linda Yaccarino would most certainly approve of that move, based on her performance at the recent annual Code Conference. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Linda Yaccarino Code Conference]( [Linda Yaccarino's Train Wreck Code Conference Interview Proves She Isn't Running X, Experts Say]( By Kelly Hartog After vicious social-media backlash, X CEO Linda Yaccarino’s interview at last week’s Code Conference has been branded a train wreck. The question now is how Yaccarino, Elon Musk and the X (formerly Twitter) brand will rebound from the debacle. Several crisis communications experts told TheWrap Yacarino lost some credibility as a result, but the biggest takeaway was that she’s clearly not in charge at X. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AMPTP SAG-AFTRA strike talks]( [What SAG-AFTRA and Studios Need to Resolve as Contract Talks Resume]( By Jeremy Fuster SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are set to return to the negotiating table Monday — just eight days after the WGA reached its own deal — with several issues that need to be resolved in order for Hollywood to resume production. Many actor-specific issues will be discussed in the negotiating room, but the biggest topics will be increased compensation to counter declining real wages — particularly when it comes to streaming — and ensuring that actors have control over whether their performances and likenesses are replicated by AI programs. [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Screen Engine NRG MarketCast layoffs]( [Layoffs, Furloughs Hit Hollywood Research Firms]( [Google Cloud Platform]( [Google Finds Itself at an AI Crossroads]( [liam mcintyre spartacus]( [Why Roman Empire Shows are Trending]( [The-Golden-Bachelor-Gerry-Turner]( [‘The Golden Bachelor’ Heats Up Hulu]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Wrap Pro logo] Discover why entertainment executives and professionals rely on the WrapPRO platform daily for exclusive coverage, analysis, deeper reporting, and access to VIP events & screenings throughout the year. [Subscribe Today]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( TheWrap | 2034 Armacost Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [LiveIntent Logo]( [AdChoices Logo](