Golden Globe nominations out! Weinsteins and Warner Bros. tussle.
After the coffee. Before second-guessing the Golden Globe nominations.
The Skinny: I’m playing beat the clock today as I try to get this done in time to watch the FCC get grilled on Capitol Hill. Oh the exciting life I lead. Today’s Fix includes a look at the Golden Globe nominations and the fight between the Weinstein brothers and Warner Bros. Also, a look at ABC’s disappointing fall season.
Daily Dose: Broadcasters and pay-TV distributors continue to squabble over distribution fees. With that in mind, the National Assn. of Broadcasters has taken out an ad in the influential Capitol Hill magazine National Journal trying to make the case that the money that TV stations get goes to local news and public affairs coverage. There are fears that some lawmakers want to rethink the so-called retransmission consent rules that broadcasters count on as a key revenue stream.
Time to get the tux out. Golden Globe nominations were unveiled Thursday morning and “12 Years a Slave†and “American Hustle†dominated the movie categories. In television, “Modern Family†and “Breaking Bad†were recognized as were Netflix newcomers “House of Cards†and “Orange is the New Black†and Fox’s “Brooklyn 99.†Early thoughts on the nominations from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, USA Today, Hollywood Reporter, Variety.
FULL COVERAGE: Golden Globe nominations 2014
Let Judge Judy decide! Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Miramax, the production company they founded and have since sold, are suing Warner Bros. for a piece of the upcoming “Hobbit†movie. Years ago, Warner Bros.’ New Line unit acquired the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien books from Miramax. Now the Weinsteins and Miramax say they are due to get a cut of the profits from future “Hobbit†movies. Warner Bros. disagrees saying the sale was a one-time payout only for the first “Hobbit†movie, not any sequels. It also called that deal “one of the great blunders in movie history†on the part of the Weinsteins. Details on the Weinstein’s latest legal battle from the Wall Street Journal.
No Scripps written yet (see what I did there?). Talk of Discovery Communications making a run at Scripps Networks may be a tad premature. While the topic came up at a Discovery board meeting, according to Variety, there don’t appear to be any plans on the table for an offer. It’s like that scene in “Annie Hall,†where the guy at the Hollywood party says, “right now it’s only a notion, but I think I can get money to make it into a concept ... and later turn it into an idea.†The latest from Deadline Hollywood.
Forgetting their ABCs. While the media often obsess over NBC’s ratings (which are up), ABC has as many if not more headaches. Many of its veteran shows are showing their age and new programs such as “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.†have not delivered the numbers the network was anticipating. The Hollywood Reporter looks at the woes at ABC.
Making gains. The TV news wars are heating up. While “NBC Nightly News†continues to own first place, “CBS Evening News†beat ABC’s “World News Tonight†twice last week. It was the first time since Katie Couric’s debut on CBS that the network topped ABC. Variety looks at the numbers.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Kenneth Turan on “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.†ABC Family has hired a new president.
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