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Universal+ African Launch Date Revealed
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European Union backs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for WTO role
The European Union has endorsed former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation, Bloomberg reported. The business news outlet cited anonymous officials familiar with the matter that all the 27 EU member countries agreed on Monday in Brussels to support Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala. Bloomberg also reported that the United States has decided to back Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s trade minister, for the role. The position has been fiercely contested amongst candidates of different countries since Roberto Azevedo resigned in August. Last month, Okonjo-Iweala and Myung-hee were selected as the last two candidates in the contest. The EU’s endorsement is seen as a significant boost for Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy, with the final winner expected...
AMC Theaters and Universal Shorten Theatrical Window to 17 Days Under Landmark New Deal
The United States’ inability to effectively combat the coronavirus pandemic is already forcing lasting changes in the entertainment industry. The latest stems out of a new deal between AMC Theaters and Universal Pictures, which will see the theatrical exclusivity for newly released movies reduced to just 17 days. As The Hollywood Reporter reports, the deal only applies to AMC’s US locations, but covers releases from both Universal and Focus Features. After a 17-day period that must include three separate weekends, the studios will have the option to make their movies available as video on demand rentals. While details are largely being kept undisclosed, it appears AMC will receive a revenue share from the VOD streaming. This marks a huge about-face for AMC, which had frequently threat...
Netflix adds another 10 million subscribers
Getty Images Netflix is still growing as people continue to shelter in place around the country, but the company is now seeing the slowed subscriber growth executives predicted would arrive three months ago. On top of announcing that longtime chief content officer Ted Sarandos would join CEO Reed Hastings as co-CEO, the company made a few impressive announcements. Netflix added 10.2 million subscribers in its second quarter, beating the company’s own estimates that it made in its first quarter, which suggested it could add around 7.5 million. Netflix noted that it added 26 million paid new subscribers in the first two quarters of 2020 alone; in 2019, the company added 28 million subscribers in total. The company’s revenue grew 25 percent year over year, but missed its revenue goals for the...
30 Rock Blackface Episodes Pulled at Tina Fey’s Request
30 Rock is about to get slimmer. As Variety reports, creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock alongside NBCUniversal have requested that multiple episodes featuring characters in blackface be removed from streaming networks and syndication. “As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing makeup are best taken out of circulation,” Fey explained in a statement obtained by Variety. “I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images. I apologize for pain they have caused. Going forward, no comedy-loving kid needs to stumble on these tropes and be stung by their ugliness. I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request.” As Vulture notes, Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) appe...
