English Entertainment
HistoryTV18 investigates the world’s most inexplicable mysteries on ‘The UnXplained with William Shatner’
MUMBAI :Have you heard of birds that predict disasters days before they take place, or sinister cults that manipulate hundreds of people to willingly take their own lives? Can science explain why some areas just seem strangely evil, and is there any truth behind ancient stories of unearthly creatures like vampires and werewolves? Why does rain sometimes fall from the sky like blood, and how do some rocks and stones inspire people to worship them?
HistoryTV18’s latest premiere, ‘The UnXplained with William Shatner’, premiering on the 5th of October at 6 PM, explores these and other equally fascinating questions that have stumped humankind for centuries. The series is presented by award-winning actor and science fiction icon, William Shatner, and features compelling contributions from scientists, historians, and witnesses seeking to shed light on how the seemingly impossible can occur. With hour-long thematic episodes airing every Monday and Tuesday evening at 6, it is an exploration of the most fascinating, strange, and inexplicable mysteries in the world.
The series delves into strange happenings involving curious weather phenomena, bizarre cults, “evil” locations, and dire prophecies, among others. However, instead of merely giving definitive solutions, experts and historians share their opinions, and present various well-researched theories, allowing viewers to discern the answers. The narrative stays rooted in reality, making no fantastical claims, while acknowledging that there is still much remaining for humans to discover.
One of the episodes on ‘The UnXplained with William Shatner’, premiering on the 5th of October at 6 PM, tries to get into the minds of people who have been masters of manipulation. Exploring the intoxicating charisma of cult leaders, the episode investigates what makes thousands of followers give up power to them. Along with using archival footage and photographs of famous human sacrifices and indoctrination, the show even takes viewers to the actual sites where these mysterious events took place decades ago. Another episode tries to unravel the mysteries of how, and why, certain incredible structures, like the Great Pyramid at Giza and the intricate spiral staircase at the Loretto Chapel, remain standing without any central support. While we like to think of ourselves as the peak of evolution, the show also poses the pertinent question, what if we are wrong. An episode also examines the extraordinary powers that allow a dog to detect cancer faster than doctors with sophisticated equipment, and a horse that can read a person’s mind. Some of the other fascinating stories featured in one or the other episode of the series include a priceless gemstone with a deadly curse, a sacred chunk of sandstone that has caused wars, ancient rituals like voodoo and exorcism, and remarkable tales of human survival.
After having explored the depths of space as Captain Kirk in the legendary science fiction series, Star Trek, William Shatner is now captaining the search for answers to these real-world mysteries. As presenter and executive producer of ‘The UnXplained with William Shatner’, premiering on the 5th of October at 6 PM on HistoryTV18, he too is thrilled about being part of this fascinating series.
Watch ‘The UnXplained with William Shatner’ from the 5th of October, every Monday and Tuesday evenings at 6 PM, only on HistoryTV18 and HistoryTV18 HD
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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.
