English Entertainment
A Treat for All Music Lovers: The Revolutionary Reality Show American Idol, with its latest edition, makes its way to Star World on 16th March
MUMBAI: The singing reality show that started off almost two decades ago, in 2002, American Idol established itself as one of the most iconic shows just after its launch and went on to become one of the most sensational shows of all time. Known to provide a platform to some of the biggest pop idols of our generation, American Idol, with its next edition of Season 18, will be showcased in India on Star World, one of the leading English entertainment channels. Starting 16th March Monday – Friday at 9PM, get ready to experience a musical treat as the show premieres in India in sync with the US, airing 23rd March onwards.
American Idol, the show that revolutionized reality television all over the world, was the very first to bring the format of singing reality show on television and managed to inspire many countries to follow through with the concept. Certainly the most sought after launch-pad for aspiring singers, the show has recognized many talented artists and kick started the musical journeys of some of the biggest names today – Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Phillips Phillips, and many more. This time again, with its 18th edition, the show is all set to launch the talents into the world of Hollywood with the support of the very talented judges and host.
This season, marking the third season since the reboot in 2018, will have the terrific trio judges return – the award-winning singing diva Katy Perry, legendary Academy Award winner Lionel Richie, and one of the loved country music singer, Luke Bryan along with the host, comedian Bobby Bones who will continue to woo the audience with his charisma and charm. Executive producer of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest will also reprise his role as the show's host, a position he's held since the singing competition first debuted 18 years ago. This season will witness participants go through some challenging rounds with for only one to be crowned as the winner of American Idol 2020!
The singing reality show has enjoyed immense popularity worldwide, giving the world of music some of the biggest superstar voices and will continue to be the platform that makes dreams come true. Set to bring music enthusiasts from all corners of the world and winning hearts of millions of people with soulful renditions, this new season will be aired in India only on Star World starting 16th March, every Monday– Friday at 9PM with simultaneous airing as the US international release starting 23rd March!
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.
