Late-night TV shows go dark as writers strike for better pay
The first Hollywood strike in 15 years began Tuesday as the economic pressures of the streaming era prompted unionized TV and film writers to picket for better pay outside major studios, a work stoppage that is leading most late-night shows to air reruns.
NBCUniversal vows auditions for actors with disabilities
NBCUniversal said Friday that actors with disabilities will be included in auditions for all new productions, an agreement sought by the Ruderman Family Foundation, a disability rights advocate. (NBCUniversal via AP)LOS ANGELES โ Actors with disabilities will be included in auditions for each new film and television production at NBCUniversal, which becomes the second major media company to make such a commitment. As more people with disabilities are seen in roles, "it will have ramifications throughout society,โ Ruderman told The Associated Press. According to the most recent foundation report, only about 22% of characters with disabilities on network and streaming shows in 2018 were โauthentically portrayed by actors with disabilities.โ That's an improvement over 2016's finding that 5% of such TV roles went to actors with disabilities. Although the agreement with NBCUniversal doesn't establish hiring goals, Grubba said the value of getting a chance to audition shouldn't be undersold.
USGA transfers US media rights from Fox back to NBCUniversal
The USGA is transferring its U.S. media rights from Fox Sports to NBC, which returns the U.S. Open and U.S. Womens Open to NBC this year and for the final seven years of the Fox contract. Fox Sports also has contracts with the NFL, college football and Major League Baseball, which led Fox Sports to agree to NBCUniversal taking over the contract. Because of the shutdown, particularly the qualifying for USGA events, only four events are being played this year the U.S. Womens Amateur and U.S. Amateur in consecutive weeks in August, the U.S. Open in September and the U.S. Womens Open in Houston on Dec. 10-13. It also will have the FedEx Cup playoffs every other year when the new media rights deal with the PGA Tour begins, along with all majors on the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.
'30 Rock' cast reuniting to tout new NBC, cable schedules
The cast of the Emmy-winning, 2006-13 sitcom will be in character, including Jack McBrayers enthusiastic network page, the company said Tuesday. Were all happy to have this excuse to (remotely) work together again for NBC, series executive producers Fey and Robert Carlock said in a statement. Also Tuesday, NBC played catch-up by releasing its schedule for the fall TV season, which remains shadowed by COVID-19. Mayor, a Fey-Carlock sitcom starring Ted Danson and Holly Hunter, and Young Rock, inspired by Dwayne Johnsons life and produced by and starring the pro wrestler-turned-actor. NBC is saying goodbye to the series Sunnyside, starring Kal Penn; Bluff City Law with Jimmy Smits, and Indebted with Fran Drescher.
NBCUniversal unveils Peacock, its upcoming streaming service
FreeImages.com/Ernesto Ferreyra(CNN) - NBCUniversal announced Tuesday that its new streaming service will be called Peacock and that it will come with a colorful library of content. Peacock will be the exclusive streaming home for popular sitcoms like "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation." NBCUniversal did not disclose how much Peacock would cost, but did say that pricing will be announced closer to launch. Peacock joins a growing list of upcoming streaming services from big media companies looking to compete with Netflix. There's been a flurry of news in the streaming world over the past week.
AT&T to pull 'Friends' from Netflix for its streaming service
NEW YORK - AT&T is pulling "Friends" from Netflix to beef up its own upcoming streaming service. The wireless company, which owns the WarnerMedia entertainment business, said Tuesday that its service will be called HBO Max. As more companies unveil their own streaming services, they're trying to make them more appealing with exclusive shows and deep libraries and pulling some of their stuff from Netflix. Disney's upcoming service will be the exclusive streaming home for its big movies. "Friends" is the second-most watched show on Netflix, according to Nielsen.