Strictly Business

Episodet

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  Will Paramount Bail on the Golden State? Dodger Great Orel Hershiser on Broadcasting, Baseball and Faith 12.08.2026 19min

  On today's episode, Variety's Todd Spangler analyzes the latest moves in Paramount Skydance's quest to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. And Dodger great Orel Hershiser talks baseball, broadcasting, business and faith as he prepares to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Aug. 13 for his work as a sportscaster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Summer Box Office Will Surpass the $4 Billion Benchmark 10.08.2026 13min

  On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Fear, Loathing and Endless Potential: AI4 Conference Takes Stock of Transformative Technologies 06.08.2026 13min

  On today’s episode, Variety’s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety – It’s Tick-Tock Time for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger as Judge Sets March Trial Date 05.08.2026 15min

  On today’s episode,Variety's Todd Spangler offers an update on where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. “I think he feels like he’s been misunderstood,” Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- National Comedy Center's Journey Gunderson on Preserving Humor as History 04.08.2026 17min

  On today’s episode, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y. – Lucille Ball’s hometown -- explains why it’s important to have an institution devoted to the study of comedy. Jamestown will be abuzz with laughs as the center hosts the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 7-9 headlined by Jerry Seinfeld, Bert Kreischer and Seth Meyers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety – It’s a Brand New Day for the Box Office Thanks to ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘The Odyssey’ 03.08.2026 15min

  On today’s episode, Variety’s box office expert Rebecca Rubin breaks down an astounding weekend at global turnstiles with the debut of Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and weekend three of Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- California Film Commissioner Colleen Bell Talks State Tax Incentive Battles, Hollywood’s Future and More 24.07.2026 12min

  On today’s episode, Colleen Bell, director of the California State Film Commission, discusses her wins in her role as the Golden State’s film chief and the hurdles that remain to restore a high volume of TV and film lensing activity in Hollywood's backyard. Bell says the past few years have been a “seminal moment” for the entertainment industry in California. “People want to shoot their projects here. Public policy needs to evolve to meet the moment,” she says.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Madison Wells Balances Art, Commerce and Audience Demands to Back Movies, TV Shows, Live Events 24.07.2026 16min

  On today’s episode, Madison Wells chief Gigi Pritzker and newly appointed president and chief content officer Dan Steinman discuss how the well-positioned indie navigates the ups and downs of a transforming marketplace. “We have to be smarter,” Pritzker says. “Even inexpensive movies are expensive,” says Steinman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Cover Story: Travis Scott Ascends to Culture Moguldom Through Music, Movies, Retail, Business and More 23.07.2026 18min

  On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Angelique Jackson details the time she spent with multihyphenate superstar Travis Scott, who comes off a record-setting music tour with a high-profile role in the movie of the moment, Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Reba McEntire Revels in 50 Years of Making Music and Season 3 of NBC’s ‘Happy’s Place’ 22.07.2026 12min

  On today's episode, country music superstar Reba McEntire discusses celebrating her golden anniversary in music with a series of EP releases that pair a newly recorded song with several vintage tunes. McEntire also weighs in on how she’s navigated a turbulent TV marketplace to get her NBC comedy “Happy’s Place” to a third season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- 'Scary Movie' Gets a Second Wind in PVOD With Extended Director's Cut 21.07.2026 10min

  On today’s episode, “Scary Movie” director Michael Tiddes explains how he came to be trusted with the revival of Shawn and Marlon Wayans’ beloved horror comedy franchise. And Tiddes details the extras in the extended director's cut that bowed today on PVOD platforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety – Box Office: Christopher Nolan Gets Moviegoers Out in Force for the Trojan Horse 20.07.2026 12min

  On today’s episode, in our box office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the spectacular $264 million worldwide opening for Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey.” It couldn’t have come at a better time for Imax, the large-format exhibitor that delivered more than 50% of the opening weekend receipts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Jon Miller on Media Merger Mayhem: ‘Globalization is Winning’ 17.07.2026 19min

  On today’s episode, Jon Miller, CEO of Integrated Media, offers perspective on what it’s like to be part of a mega-bucks merger that represents an enormous bet on the future. He examines the flurry of deals that are pending, and how the varied motives of the biggest players in media are driving the sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Cover Story: What’s Fueling the Box Office Rebound and How Can Hollywood Keep it Going? 16.07.2026 14min

  On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Brent Lang details the comprehensive report that he delivered with Rebecca Rubin on the summer box office rebound, and what Hollywood and exhibitors must do to keep it going.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety – How NBC’s ‘Must See TV’ Branding Campaign of the 1990s Changed America’s Viewing Habits 15.07.2026 16min

  On today’s episode, as part of Variety’s ongoing series celebrating NBC’s centennial, we revisit the history of NBC’s “Must See TV” branding campaign that came to define the network’s dominance in the 1990s. Jennifer Storms, NBCUniversal’s chief marketing officer for television and streaming, explains how that sturdy foundation helps them reach multiplatform viewers today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- What’s Next for Paramount-Warner Bros. as State AGs Sue; Columbia University’s Eric Talley on Why the Case May Lead to Merger Concessions 14.07.2026 18min

  On today’s episode, Variety’s Gene Maddaus explains the legal rationale behind the lawsuit filed July 13 by 12 state attorneys general to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. takeover. And Columbia University Law School professor Eric Talley breaks down the power the AGs have to wield and why they will use the pressure of litigation to demand concessions from Paramount.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Box Office: ‘Moana’ is Disney Misstep; ‘Young Washington’ Director Jon Erwin on Making Indies Work at the Multiplexes 13.07.2026 19min

  On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin unpacks what went wrong with Disney’s “Moana” live-action remake. And Jon Erwin, the filmmaker behind “Young Washington,” explains how his Wonder Project banner is making indie theatrical films work as a business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Politics Puts a Spotlight on the Production Exodus From California and Other U.S. Filming Hubs 10.07.2026 21min

  On today's episode, Luminate analyst Tyler Aquilina details his report, "Hollywood Exodus," on the production crisis in L.A. in a conversation with host Andrew Wallenstein.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety –- James Corden Reunites 'The Late Late Show' Team for Fox's 'After Hours' World Cup Show 09.07.2026 21min

  Three years after he signed off CBS’ “The Late Late Show,” James Corden is having the time of his life hosting the World Cup after show for Fox, “After Hours With James Corden.” The multihyphenate discusses the joy of indulging in his lifelong love of football and why the call from Fox Sports was the one hosting gig that he's been offered in recent years that he couldn't turn down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Daily Variety -- Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Fight in France Over Streaming Quotas and Theatrical Windowing Rules 08.07.2026 14min

  On today’s episode,Variety’s Elsa Keslassy explains the battle that is brewing in France between Netflix and other streamers over the country’s programming quotas and its theatrical movie windowing rules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.