English Entertainment
Sony BBC Earth premieres ‘Changing Planet’
Mumbai: Sony BBC Earth, one of India’s most loved factual entertainment channels is all set to premiere ‘Changing Planet’. The show takes viewers on a pictorial tour of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems and the escalating environmental threats encircling them. The two-part series captures six bellwether territories bringing to the fore remarkable changes that have unfolded over the past two years through visual storytelling.
Produced by BBC Studios natural history unit, ‘Changing Planet’ is a seven-year natural history project that has six presenters visit six of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems to meet the people fighting to restore the Earth’s delicate balance. It delves into stories that reverberate across continents, revealing the interconnectedness of our global environment. Each episode serves as a powerful reminder that the issues faced in one corner of the world have far-reaching implications elsewhere. The show aims to portray how innovative solutions implemented in diverse regions can address environmental challenges, transcending borders and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
The first season takes viewers to the regions of Maldives, Iceland, Cambodia, Brazil, California, and Kenya. From the portrayal of the warming seas and the acidification of oceans in the Maldives leading to coral bleaching to the effects of global warming in Iceland causing temperatures to soar in the Arctic resulting in a meltdown, the series will unveil many more facts about these regions. It also covers the massive pressure on natural resources faced by Cambodia, with ever-expanding cities and devastating overexploitation of the natural world.
The second season revisits these territories exploring the ecological issues threatening the planet In Cambodia, episode two follows an expedition to reintroduce the critically endangered Siamese crocodile into the Cardamom Mountains which play a crucial role in restoring the Tonle Sap Lake ecosystem. Climate change in Maldives is posing a dire threat to the world’s coral causing leading coral scientists to shift their focus from academic research to practical measures like coral farming. A visit to the Zackenberg Research Station in Northeast Greenland offered critical insights into the extent of Arctic warming and its global effects.
‘Changing Planet’ promises to kindle viewers’ curiosity, awakening their sense of wonder and igniting a passion for preserving our planet’s natural treasures. Audiences must be prepared to be enthralled as the series unravels the mysteries of the world’s most critical ecosystems and the pressing need for global conservation efforts.
Sony Pictures Networks India’s Sony AATH chief marketing officer & business head – english cluster Tushar Shah:
“Changing Planet promises to captivate audiences with its compelling stories of resilience, adaptation, and conservation efforts across the globe. The concept of the series is unique as it examines select locations and highlights the changes observed by the team in those regions. We hope that our viewers find these stories insightful and inspirational.”
Changing Planet II executive producer Rosemary Edwards (This will be shared by Global team)
“Changing Planet has never been more relevant. There is a need to address the challenges of our warming seas, shrinking habitats, and melting arctic regions and the best way to reach the masses is by making them see the change. Through this show, we celebrate the inspiring work undertaken by champions of the natural world.”
Tune in to Sony BBC Earth on 31 July 2023, to watch ‘Changing Planet’ at 12:00 PM and 09:00 PM, Monday to Thursday!
English Entertainment
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approve Paramount deal
Investors wave through a $111 billion megamerger but deliver a stinging, if toothless, rebuke over half-a-billion-dollar goodbye packages
NEW YORK: The shareholders said yes to the deal. They said no to the cheque. At a virtual special meeting on Thursday that lasted barely ten minutes, Warner Bros. Discovery investors voted overwhelmingly to approve Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion acquisition of the company — and then turned around and voted against the lavish exit pay packages lined up for chief executive David Zaslav and his fellow outgoing executives.
Not that it will make much difference. The compensation vote is purely advisory and non-binding. The Warner Bros. Discovery board can, and almost certainly will, pay out as planned.
But the symbolism stings. It is the second consecutive year that WBD shareholders have voted against the executive compensation packages, and this time they had good reason. Zaslav’s exit deal is, by any measure, extraordinary. Under the terms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, he is set to receive $34.2 million in cash severance, $517.2 million in equity in the combined company, and $44,195 in continued health coverage — a total of at least $550 million. On top of that, Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to reimburse Zaslav up to $335 million for taxes assessed by the Internal Revenue Service on his accelerated stock vesting, though the company says that figure will decline depending on when the deal closes. As of March 11, Zaslav also held $115.85 million in vested WBD stock awards — and last month sold a further $114 million worth of WBD shares.
Shareholder advisory firm ISS recommended voting against the compensation measure, citing “problematic” tax reimbursements to Zaslav and the full vesting of his stock awards.
Zaslav will be bound by a two-year non-competition covenant and a two-year non-solicitation of customers and employees after the deal closes.
His lieutenants are not walking away empty-handed either. J.B. Perrette, chief executive and president of global streaming and games, is in line for $142 million, comprising $18.2 million in cash severance and $123.9 million in equity. Bruce Campbell, chief revenue and strategy officer, will receive an estimated $121.5 million, including $18.8 million in severance and $102.7 million in equity. Chief financial officer Gunnar Wiedenfels is set for $120 million, made up of $6.6 million in cash severance and $113.1 million in equity. Gerhard Zeiler, president of international, will get $82.6 million, including $11.9 million in severance and $70.7 million in equity.
The deal itself, clinched in February after Netflix declined to raise its bid for Warner Bros., still needs regulatory clearance from the Justice Department and European authorities. Several state attorneys general are also weighing legal action to block it.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, was unsparing. “The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger isn’t a done deal,” she said after the shareholder vote. “State attorneys general across the country are stepping up to stop this antitrust disaster. We need to keep up this fight.”
If it does go through, the combined entity would be a formidable beast, bringing together Paramount Skydance’s stable — CBS, CBS News, Paramount Pictures, Paramount+, BET, MTV and Nickelodeon — with WBD’s portfolio of HBO, Max, Warner Bros. film and TV studios, DC, CNN, TBS, TNT, HGTV and Discovery+. Paramount has said it expects $6 billion in cost savings from the merger, which is Wall Street shorthand for mass layoffs on a significant scale.
The ten-minute meeting was presided over by chairman Samuel Di Piazza Jr., with Zaslav, Campbell, Wiedenfels and chief communications officer Robert Gibbs in virtual attendance. Di Piazza was bullish. “We appreciate the support and confidence our stockholders have placed in us to unlock the full value of our world-class entertainment portfolio,” he said. “With Paramount, we look forward to creating an exceptional combined company that will expand consumer choice and benefit the global creative talent community.”
Zaslav echoed the sentiment. “Over the past four years, our teams have transformed Warner Bros. Discovery and returned the company to industry leadership,” he said. “Today’s stockholder approval is another key milestone toward completing this historic transaction that will deliver exceptional value to our stockholders.”
Paramount Skydance struck a similar note. “Shareholder approval marks another important milestone towards completing our acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery,” it said in a statement, adding that it looked forward to “closing the transaction in the coming months.”
The shareholders have spoken on the merger. On the pay, they were ignored before the vote was even counted.
