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
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.
