Hollywood
The Daytime Emmy Awards return; Michael Levitt to produce broadcast
MUMBAI: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) and Pop, a newly rebranded television network seen in more than 80 million homes (formerly TV Guide Network), announced that the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be nationally broadcast live on 26 April on Pop. In addition, the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards gala will take place on 24 April at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles.
Televised from the legendary Warner Bros. Studios lot on Stage 16 – the location of countless iconic Hollywood films such as Casablanca, Jurassic Park and Ghostbusters – the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards show will be executive produced by Michael Levitt, one of the industry’s most acclaimed producers of live events and awards shows.
“Our new partnership with the Pop network is an ideal platform to present our signature gala. With the Warner Bros Studios as our venue, where so many great films and television shows have been made, coupled together with Michael Levitt, our executive producer, who created the TV Land Awards, and has produced numerous live event specials including The Producers Guild Awards, The Billboard Music Awards, and E! Live from the Red Carpet shows for the Golden Globes and Oscars, this promises to be a very special telecast of the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” said NATAS president Bob Mauro.
“As a network that celebrates talent, we are thrilled to bring the Daytime Emmy Awards back to television for the fans. Daytime audiences are some of the most amazing and passionate in all of television, and we are proud to honor the greatest works and achievements of daytime. Adding premium live events to our schedule is just another exciting way we are building Pop. We’re going to have a lot of fun with this,” said Pop president Brad Schwartz.
“As a fan of daytime television, I couldn’t be more honored to be producing this landmark special. The daytime community consistently generates quality programming and has so much to be proud of. I’m thrilled to be able to produce this ceremony that will celebrate the best of daytime in a memorable, fun and reverential way,” said Levitt.
The Daytime Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all fields of daytime television production and are presented to individuals and programs broadcast during the 2014 calendar year. The Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards gala honors the crafts behind the many shows that grace the Daytime genre.
The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is a presentation of NATAS in cooperation with the Television Academy. The show will be produced by Michael Levitt of Michael Levitt Productions with Gary Tellalian and Mike Rothman also serving as executive producers.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
