Hollywood
Paramount Pictures to stream ‘Interstellar’ on UltraFlix streaming network
MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures and NanoTech Entertainment have inked a licensing agreement that will bring the award-winning movie Interstellar to UltraFlix, NanoTech’s streaming network. Under the agreement, the film will be available on UltraFlix from 31 March.
Named as one of the Top Films of 2014 by The American Film Institute, Rolling Stone, Esquire, the New York Post and more, director Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, John Lithgow and Michael Caine. A breathtaking filmmaking achievement, Interstellar follows an ex-pilot-turned-farmer who must leave his family and a foundering Earth behind to lead an expedition traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.
In addition to Interstellar, UltraFlix now offers subscribers the largest selection of crystal-clear content, reinforcing its lead as the source for the world’s biggest and most diverse library of VOD entertainment. To appeal to a broad audience, offerings range from sci-fi, action/thriller, comedy, drama and family movies to extreme sports videos, concerts, TV shows, and special events. UltraFlix also offers over 100 hours of free content.
To enhance the viewing experience, UltraFlix uses a variety of proprietary technologies with video compression, adaptive streaming and intelligent bandwidth management. These technologies enable UltraFlix to stream visually lossless video with uninterrupted viewing at under 8Mbps, making it available to most North American and European internet subscribers today.
“We are delighted to bring one of the best and most critically-acclaimed films of 2014 to our UltraFlix subscribers,” said NanoTech executive vice president of sales & marketing Aaron Taylor.
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.
