Hollywood
Oscars likely to be postponed
MUMBAI: Will Oscars be postponed due to the Covid2019 pandemic? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, considered the apex body of the Hollywood film industry, may postpone the 93rd edition of Oscars, according to entertainment website Variety.
As of now, the ABC telecast is set for 28 February, 2021. But it can be delayed further in view of the Covid2019 pandemic.
Though there have not been any “definitive plans’ yet on this as of now, a change in date is likely, reports Variety, quoting multiple sources.
Another source, however, revealed to the website that the date as of now remains unchanged.
The usual rules have it that films should be released for seven days in theatres in Los Angeles county to qualify for Oscars. However, in the changed scenario where theatres remain shuttered due to the pandemic, digitally released films will also be qualified for Oscars.
It is too early to know how the 2021 Oscar telecast could change in the wake of the Covid2019 pandemic, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin told Variety.
“It’s impossible to know what the landscape will be. We know we want to celebrate film but we do not know exactly what form it will take. I think everyone is sympathetic to the filmmakers’ plight and we’re here to support our members and the film community. It makes sense when we don’t really know what’s to come in terms of the availability of theatrical exhibition. We need to make allowances for this year only and during this time when theatres are not open so great film work can be seen and celebrated,” Rubin said.
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Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
