Bad news for traditional TV providers: Advertisers will probably spend about $75.6 billion on national and local TV this year — down 5.1% from last year, MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson says today. That’s a drop from his previous projection for a 4.1% decline. TV has company. He sees all traditional media at $109.7 billion — down 7.2% vs his earlier forecast for -5.9%. The problem? They depend too much on ads from large retail, consumer products, and auto…...
- 8/24/2017
- Deadline TV
Marvel's The Punisher has some new company. Deadline reports Michael Nathanson (pictured, right) has joined the cast of the upcoming Netflix series.A spinoff of Marvel's Daredevil, the new series centers on Frank Castle (aka The Punisher), a vigilante who cleans up the streets of New York City. The cast includes Jon Bernthal, Ben Barnes, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Deborah Ann Woll, and Amber Rose Revah.Read More…...
- 10/26/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Netflix has finally, officially confirmed what we already suspected: The Punisher will hit the streaming service next year, making 2017 the first time Netflix will have three new Marvel seasons in a single year. And to celebrate that big news, they’ve also just dropped a bunch of casting announcements. Daniel Webber, Jason R. Moore, Paul Schulze, Jaime Ray Newman, and Michael Nathanson have […]
The post Marvel’s ‘The Punisher’ Coming to Netflix in 2017; Five More Cast Members Announced appeared first on /Film.
The post Marvel’s ‘The Punisher’ Coming to Netflix in 2017; Five More Cast Members Announced appeared first on /Film.
- 10/25/2016
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Viacom on Wednesday lost its interim CEO Thomas Dooley, slashed its dividend and made official something that long been suspected: that former CEO Philippe Dauman’s proposed sale of a minority stake in Paramount Pictures will not be happening. That’s a final victory for Viacom Chairman Emeritus Sumner Redstone, but analysts think Viacom’s other shareholders could be the big losers. “The divestment of Paramount was critical to value support,” Michael Nathanson at MoffettNathanson wrote in a Wednesday note, joining a string of analysts who have endorsed Dauman’s idea to monetize Paramount. Nathanson calculated that the decision not...
- 9/22/2016
- by Matt Pressberg
- The Wrap
Hell Or High Water is a modern action drama set in West Texas where the distinction between honest men and outlaws has blurred beyond recognition. Featuring a cast that includes Academy Award®-winner Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart,” “True Grit”), Chris Pine (“Star Trek,” “Into The Woods”), Ben Foster (“3:10 To Yuma,” “The Messenger”) and Gil Birmingham (“The Lone Ranger,” “Twilight”), Hell Or High Water is produced by Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn and executive produced by Gigi Pritzker, Bill Lischak, Michael Nathanson, Rachel Shane, John Penotti and Bruce Toll.
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land.
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land.
- 8/9/2016
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
As Hollywood conglomerates prepare for second-quarter earnings season, some on Wall Street are wondering if the latest results will lead to a strong investor reaction like last summer. Back then, sector stocks practically went into free-fall after Walt Disney disclosed subscriber losses at sports juggernaut Espn, unnerving investors about the impact of cord cutting. Players like Disney, Viacom and others in the TV business have had a tough time trying to assuage Wall Street fears ever since. "Last August’s sell-off in media stocks was unlike anything we have ever witnessed," said MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson in
read more...
read more...
- 7/25/2016
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Watch the brand new “Texas” trailer for CBS Films’ Hell Or High Water.
The film opens in select theaters on August 12th and nationwide on August 19th.
Hell Or High Water is fresh at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a bright green 82 on MetaCritic
Hell Or High Water is a modern action drama set in West Texas where the distinction between honest men and outlaws has blurred beyond recognition.
Featuring a cast that includes Academy Award-winner Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart,” “True Grit”), Chris Pine (“Star Trek,” “Into The Woods”), Ben Foster (“3:10 To Yuma,” “The Messenger”) and Gil Birmingham (“The Lone Ranger,” “Twilight”), Hell Or High Water is produced by Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn and executive produced by Gigi Pritzker, Bill Lischak, Michael Nathanson, Rachel Shane, John Penotti and Bruce Toll.
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living,...
The film opens in select theaters on August 12th and nationwide on August 19th.
Hell Or High Water is fresh at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a bright green 82 on MetaCritic
Hell Or High Water is a modern action drama set in West Texas where the distinction between honest men and outlaws has blurred beyond recognition.
Featuring a cast that includes Academy Award-winner Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart,” “True Grit”), Chris Pine (“Star Trek,” “Into The Woods”), Ben Foster (“3:10 To Yuma,” “The Messenger”) and Gil Birmingham (“The Lone Ranger,” “Twilight”), Hell Or High Water is produced by Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn and executive produced by Gigi Pritzker, Bill Lischak, Michael Nathanson, Rachel Shane, John Penotti and Bruce Toll.
A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living,...
- 6/30/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Just in time for its May 16 premiere at the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, the first trailer of "Hell or High Water" has been released. Directed by David Mackenzie and written by "Sicario" scribe Taylor Sheridan, the modern action drama follows two brothers Toby (Chris Pine), described as a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son, and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con, who team up to rob a bank to save their family's farm. Jeff Bridges plays an "almost retired" Texas ranger in pursuit of the crime doers. Gil Birmingham and Katy Mixon also co-star. Read More: First Look: Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges Face Off in New Images From Cannes Contender 'Hell or High Water' The film, previously known as "Comanchiera," is produced by Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn and executive produced by Gigi Pritzker,...
- 5/12/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Shares in Viacom slipped Monday after a key analyst told investors he could no longer recommend buying the stock. Michael Nathanson of firm MoffettNathanson said he’s given up on his belief that Viacom’s television ratings would improve while the cable ad market would strengthen. “Having seen that trade work many times over the past decade, we expected similar results this year,” he wrote in his note downgrading the stock to neutral from buy. “Clearly, the old Viacom playbook no longer works.” Also Read: Viacom Plan to Sell Paramount Stake Draws 3 Dozen Companies He also lowered his estimates for earnings from Viacom,...
- 4/4/2016
- by Joan E. Solsman
- The Wrap
This is a big week for DC Comics fanboys. For the first time, we get to see Batman and Superman together on the big screen in the live-action film. Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice is a movie that's been a long time in the making, and it comes well into Marvel's Cinematic Universe, which now has a whopping 12 films under its belt, including two Avengers movies. Considering how far behind they are in this game of shared universes, it makes sense that they'd opt for a different formula. Rather than using the tried-and-true Marvel formula of standalone film-standalone film-standalone film-standalone film-standalone-film-teamup, they've decided to go all in almost from the start, pitting Batman against Superman in their second film, and introducing most of the future Justice League superheroes.
It's an ambitious movie, to say the least, and WB has definitely paid a pretty penny to make it a reality.
It's an ambitious movie, to say the least, and WB has definitely paid a pretty penny to make it a reality.
- 3/22/2016
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
The impact that streaming giant Netflix has on TV viewership has been quantified in a recent study by analyst Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson.
In 2015, the overall TV viewing time amongst the U.S. population declined by 3% with the audience shift to Netflix reportedly accounting for half that decline. Netflix's domestic subscribers reportedly streamed 29 billion hours of video last year, which would represent 6% of total American Live+7 TV viewing reported by Nielsen.
Nathanson predicts Netflix's total streaming hours as a percentage of TV viewing will continue to rise to as high as 14% by 2020. As of the end of 2015, Netflix reportedly has 74.8 million streaming customers worldwide, including 44.7 million in the United States.
Source: Variety...
In 2015, the overall TV viewing time amongst the U.S. population declined by 3% with the audience shift to Netflix reportedly accounting for half that decline. Netflix's domestic subscribers reportedly streamed 29 billion hours of video last year, which would represent 6% of total American Live+7 TV viewing reported by Nielsen.
Nathanson predicts Netflix's total streaming hours as a percentage of TV viewing will continue to rise to as high as 14% by 2020. As of the end of 2015, Netflix reportedly has 74.8 million streaming customers worldwide, including 44.7 million in the United States.
Source: Variety...
- 3/6/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The TV ratings haven’t given traditional network executives and investors much reason to cheer lately. But they shouldn’t become too gloomy, a report out today from MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson suggests. Netflix accounted for about half of the 3% drop in their viewing hours last year — not including Web connected devices — the analyst says in his deep dive into data from Nielsen and other sources. And he believes the streaming video power’s period of…...
- 3/3/2016
- Deadline TV
Television viewership declined by 3 percent in 2015 -- and Netflix may be half the reason for that figure, according to a new study by media research firm MoffettNathanson.
“Currently, Netflix is a source of industry pain, but not necessarily a cause of industry death,” wrote the firm’s senior research analyst, Michael Nathanson, according to Variety. The report concluded that Netflix was responsible for 50 percent of the nation’s total decline in TV viewership.
Netflix subscribers in the U.S. streamed 29 billion hours of video last year -- representing 6 percent of the total 483 billion hours of television watched. Netflix’s piece of this pie could rise to 14 percent by 2020, according to MoffettNathanson.
Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.
“Currently, Netflix is a source of industry pain, but not necessarily a cause of industry death,” wrote the firm’s senior research analyst, Michael Nathanson, according to Variety. The report concluded that Netflix was responsible for 50 percent of the nation’s total decline in TV viewership.
Netflix subscribers in the U.S. streamed 29 billion hours of video last year -- representing 6 percent of the total 483 billion hours of television watched. Netflix’s piece of this pie could rise to 14 percent by 2020, according to MoffettNathanson.
Visit Tubefilter for more great stories.
- 3/3/2016
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
Netflix is the main culprit dragging viewing away from traditional TV, even if the streaming-video giant’s sting hasn’t been fatal for TV companies — yet– MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson said in a study Thursday. Hours spent watching traditional TV live or within the first week of airing dropped about 3 percent last year, and about half of that decline can be attributed to Netflix, Nathanson said, based on an analysis of Nielsen data. He said the number of hours Netflix streams in the Us equals about 6 percent of traditional TV viewing, up from 4 percent a year earlier, essentially making the streaming service bigger.
- 3/3/2016
- by Joan E. Solsman
- The Wrap
Analysts at MoffettNathanson have reduced their target price for Netflix by $13 per share, from $98 to $85. The firm still has the stock labeled “Neutral.” Netflix stock is down 22 percent year-to-date in 2016, which is the opposite of its prior-year positive trajectory. Media analysts Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson’s research suggests that 2015 maybe showed more stock momentum than the streaming giant actually earned — and the two believe a market course-correction is currently occurring. “The recent collapse in the share price suggests that the narrative has quickly shifted from invincibility to concern,” MoffettNathanson research wrote in a paper published Friday. When...
- 2/5/2016
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Veteran executive departs production company after nine years
The co-president of OddLot Entertainment has stepped down after nine years in the role to pursue the proverbial “new opportunities”, Screendaily has learned.
While further details remained thin on the ground, a spokesperson for OddLot issued the following statement:
“After nine years as co-president of OddLot Entertainment, Bill Lischak is transitioning to a consulting position with the company and will continue oversight on a few projects currently in the works.”
Lischak was appointed co-president alongside Michael Nathanson in November 2012 and reported to founding principal and CEO Gigi Pritzker. Prior to OddLot he served as president of First Look Media.
OddLot’s credits include Drive, Rosewater, Rabbit Hole, Ender’s Game, The Spirit and Mortdecai. The last title stems from the co-financing and distribution partnership with Lionsgate.
OddLot is a partner with Bold Films and Sierra Pictures in the international sales venture Sierra/Affinity.
The co-president of OddLot Entertainment has stepped down after nine years in the role to pursue the proverbial “new opportunities”, Screendaily has learned.
While further details remained thin on the ground, a spokesperson for OddLot issued the following statement:
“After nine years as co-president of OddLot Entertainment, Bill Lischak is transitioning to a consulting position with the company and will continue oversight on a few projects currently in the works.”
Lischak was appointed co-president alongside Michael Nathanson in November 2012 and reported to founding principal and CEO Gigi Pritzker. Prior to OddLot he served as president of First Look Media.
OddLot’s credits include Drive, Rosewater, Rabbit Hole, Ender’s Game, The Spirit and Mortdecai. The last title stems from the co-financing and distribution partnership with Lionsgate.
OddLot is a partner with Bold Films and Sierra Pictures in the international sales venture Sierra/Affinity.
- 1/7/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Due to a screening error we missed our recap of last week’s episode “There Are Rules.” But in brief, three major incidents transpired with one a deep tragedy. At the behest of his father, Dr. Bertram “Bertie” Chickering, Jr. (Michael Angarano) lost his mother. After trying to use radiation treatment therapy, Bertie attempted risky surgery to remove his mother's cancerous tumor, and she died in the middle of the operation. His boss, the conservative Dr. Levi Zinberg (Michael Nathanson) was outraged and Bertie resigned before he could be fired. Dr. John Thackery (Clive Owen) continued his obsession with trying to cure addiction, this time exploring hypnosis, but also seemingly taking on the weight of the world in hoping to cure and better everyone. While attending a circus sideshow, he discovered a pair of female conjoined twins, and with the help of Tom Cleary (Chris Sullivan), kidnapped them away from their “guardian” Mr.
- 11/30/2015
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
The ripple effects in media from New York State’s crackdown on fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel might be bigger than many industry watchers imagined, according to two reports out today. Analyses by MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson and Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger show that ad outlays by the fantasy sports firms noticeably lifted TV network financial results in Q3. If DraftKings and FanDuel are forced to the sidelines by New York’s charge that…...
- 11/18/2015
- Deadline TV
Paramount Pictures hasn’t exactly been the strongest leg for struggling parent company Viacom, and 2015’s fiscal fourth quarter was no exception to the movie studio’s continued revenue decline. One of the main topics of discussion on the Q4 conference call between media analysts and Viacom executives was how to handle the slipping subsidiary, which provides both big and small-screen entertainment. Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson asked Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman why his company hasn’t just consolidated Paramount with another studio, considering what the analyst called the continuation of its “disappointing” downward trend. Also Read: Viacom Misses Q4 Revenue Forecast With 20 P ercent.
- 11/12/2015
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
The numbers have been too worrisome for too long to consider them a short term fluke. If the TV ad sales business hasn’t peaked, it probably soon will, according to a growing number of Wall Street analysts — including Cowen & Co’s Doug Creutz and MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson, who both just cut their 2015 TV ad sales estimates. They reject the view that media companies’ slowing domestic ad growth numbers in Q3 and Q4 mostly reflected temporary quirks in…...
- 3/5/2015
- Deadline TV
The executive arrives as evp of business and legal affairs, OddLot Entertainment co-presidents Bill Lischak and Michael Nathanson announced on December 8.
Monroe has held key positions in business and legal affairs at Focus Features/FilmDistrict, Overture/Relativity and The Walt Disney Motion Picture Group.
He began his career as an associate at Latham & Watkins and spent two years in the entertainment department at Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger.
“With a stellar reputation, Kevin has just the right experience for us,” said OddLot CEO Gigi Pritzker. “We are looking forward to Kevin being a very important part of our senior management team.”
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to be working with such a dynamic team of industry leaders who have proven their commitment to quality and innovation,” said Monroe.
“I look forward to our creating wonderful and meaningful film, television and other content together.”
OddLot’s Jon Stewart directorial debut Rosewater is in release through Open Road...
Monroe has held key positions in business and legal affairs at Focus Features/FilmDistrict, Overture/Relativity and The Walt Disney Motion Picture Group.
He began his career as an associate at Latham & Watkins and spent two years in the entertainment department at Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger.
“With a stellar reputation, Kevin has just the right experience for us,” said OddLot CEO Gigi Pritzker. “We are looking forward to Kevin being a very important part of our senior management team.”
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to be working with such a dynamic team of industry leaders who have proven their commitment to quality and innovation,” said Monroe.
“I look forward to our creating wonderful and meaningful film, television and other content together.”
OddLot’s Jon Stewart directorial debut Rosewater is in release through Open Road...
- 12/8/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Faye Walker has joined Cinedigm as svp of customer acquisitions. Separately, OddLot has announced two promotions in its development team.
Walker (pictured) most recently served at Fearnet where she oversaw marketing and customer acquisition for the network, including rebranding the channel and overhauling its digital and social media strategies.
She will be responsible for driving customer adoption and usage of Cinedigm’s Ott digital networks with immediate focus on the early 2015 Comic Con-branded Con TV launch.
“We’re excited to have a consummate pro like Faye join our high-caliber executive team as we continue to build the next generation of digital networks,” said evp of digital networks Erick Opeka.
OddLot Entertainment co-president Michael Nathanson and evp of production Rachel Shane announced that Stacy Keppler has been promoted to vice-president of development and Melissa Rucker has been promoted to creative executive. Both will report to Shane.
Walker (pictured) most recently served at Fearnet where she oversaw marketing and customer acquisition for the network, including rebranding the channel and overhauling its digital and social media strategies.
She will be responsible for driving customer adoption and usage of Cinedigm’s Ott digital networks with immediate focus on the early 2015 Comic Con-branded Con TV launch.
“We’re excited to have a consummate pro like Faye join our high-caliber executive team as we continue to build the next generation of digital networks,” said evp of digital networks Erick Opeka.
OddLot Entertainment co-president Michael Nathanson and evp of production Rachel Shane announced that Stacy Keppler has been promoted to vice-president of development and Melissa Rucker has been promoted to creative executive. Both will report to Shane.
- 10/16/2014
- ScreenDaily
MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson on Wednesday downgraded his stock rating on AMC Networks from "buy" to "neutral," citing higher content costs in the company's latest earnings report. He cut his price target on the cable networks operator by $5 to $67. The company, led by CEO Josh Sapan and home of The Walking Dead, Mad Men and Breaking Bad home AMC, saw its stock drop after its first-quarter earnings report. Photos: Miptv - The Hottest New Fiction Shows "Despite our best attempts to analyze their cost drivers, we are concerned that the first quarter's $43 million increase in national
read more...
read more...
- 6/4/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Chicago-born Pritzker is a member of one of America’s richest families, who have lived in Chicago since 1881. Born in 1962, she is the granddaughter of A.N. Pritzker. Her late father, Jay Pritzker, was co-founder of the Hyatt hotel chain and a prominent philanthropist. Billionaire: Jean (Gigi) Pritzker Net Worth: $2.1 billion (CelebrityNetWorth) Source Of Wealth: Hotels, investments Hollywood Connections: CEO of OddLot Entertainment. Pritzker recently partnered with veteran Hollywood producer Robert Simonds and China’s Hony Capital to form “a next generation film studio” that will spend more than $1 billion over five years to finance, produce and self-distribute eight to 10 “star-driven” theatrical films each year for global markets. (Deadline) Pritzker began her Hollywood career by joining with a friend, Deborah Del Prete, to found OddLot. When it began, the production label had only about a dozen employees who operated from warehouse-style space near Sony Pictures studio in Culver City.
- 5/26/2014
- by Robert W. Welkos
- Hollywoodnews.com
OddLot Entertainment's Co-Presidents Michael Nathanson and Bill Lischak announced today that Gillian Robespierre, whose debut feature, Obvious Child , hits theaters June 6, will helm a currently untitled divorce comedy. She will also write alongside Elisabeth Holm. Details are few as to the specific plot of the new comedy, but it is said to be set in New York City and centers on three women. OddLot.s Gigi Pritzker is set to produce with Holm.
- 4/29/2014
- Comingsoon.net
It’s definitely a set-back for those who fantasized about such a service based on what we know from the wide-ranging program carriage agreement the companies announced last night. Many industry watchers thought that someone might be able to compete with cable and satellite by charging a lower price for a package of Internet-delivered pay TV channels that didn’t include sports — the leading contributor to rising programming costs. The Dish-Disney deal is the first to publicly address the terms of a potential online, or over-the-top (Ott), service that Dish has been mulling (similar to what Sony and Verizon appear to be planning). And while Disney wouldn’t require the satellite company to offer all of its channels, it would insist on ABC, Espn, ESPN2, ABC Family, and Disney Channel. That represents “the worst of all worlds,” MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson says. A service that includes Espn, but not regional sports channels,...
- 3/4/2014
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Financial Editor
- Deadline TV
Looks like CEO Josh Sapan‘s comments to analysts addressed whatever concerns investors had about AMC Networks’ mixed Q4 earnings report this morning. The company’s stock price opened slightly down but quickly, and steadily, appreciated throughout the morning: It closed +6% at $73.75 after touching $74.22, passing the previous all-time high, on November 6, of $73.39. AMC Networks‘ Q4 report startled some company watchers with its $52M charge for losses tied to the cancellation of Low Winter Sun and The Killing. The charge “was obviously worse than what we modeled and could include more than just these two shows,” MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson says. There was also some concern that it might indicate problems that could affect AMC’s upcoming series Turn and Halt & Catch Fire. Sapan wouldn’t give analysts specific metrics for assessing the performances of these shows and, in November, the Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul. While “they’re all well-done shows,...
- 2/27/2014
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Financial Editor
- Deadline TV
MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson says they will, calling for AMC Networks and Scripps Networks to join bigger partners — and Viacom and CBS to reunite. By his calculations, if Comcast and Time Warner merge, then TWC’s programming costs could drop by 15% — a cut of $500M a year from its outlays for broadcast and pay TV channels. That could be seen as good for consumers if Comcast can cast the change as a brake on rising monthly rates. But programmers would have to revise their financial plans which count on steady annual price increases. Broadcasters in particular likely would “howl in protest…while simultaneously attempting to further consolidate on their own (a headache the FCC doesn’t need),” says Craig Moffett, a colleague at the firm that bears the analysts’ names. Nathanson says broadcasters who might be hit hardest by Comcast’s growing clout are ABC stations, Nexstar, Media General,...
- 2/13/2014
- by ERIK PEDERSEN
- Deadline TV
After setting all-time highs in 2013, the stocks of many entertainment industry giants have trended lower early in the new year. MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson on Tuesday predicted that Hollywood stocks will remain under pressure over the near-term, citing weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter cable TV trends that some industry CEOs mentioned at a December conference. "For the first time in recent memory, some media executives, blaming softer scatter [ad market trends] and weak ratings trends, publicly talked down fourth-quarter advertising expectations," Nathanson wrote in a report. "While these comments were made back at an investor
read more...
read more...
- 1/14/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Talk about a Discovery-Scripps Networks deal appears to be premature. Discovery execs are engaged in what-if conversations about the idea of bidding for the owner of Hgtv and Food Network. But the company hasn’t prepared an offer, and doesn’t have bankers working on one, as it focuses on opportunities to expand its clout overseas, I’m told. Are Discovery execs intrigued by Scripps? Sure — its lifestyle programming could complement Discovery’s. And everyone’s weighing M&A at a time when interest rates are so low. So never say never. But there’s been no fundamental change recently. That may disappoint investors who became excited by Variety‘s report that Discovery’s considering a play for Scripps. Its shares rose 7.6% today to $81 — after touching an all time high of $85.73. Analysts had mixed reactions to the deal talk. Citigroup’s Jason Bazinet downgraded Scripps to “sell,” saying that Discovery...
- 12/11/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Financial Editor
- Deadline TV
"The pay TV industry has reported its worst 12-month stretch ever," say Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson.
The cord cutting debate seems likely to continue after publicly traded pay TV companies finished reporting their third-quarter financials Tuesday with the latest earnings report from Dish Network.
"The dust has now settled on third-quarter results, and the pay TV industry has reported its worst 12-month stretch ever," MoffettNathanson founders and analysts Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson wrote in a report on Tuesday.
The number of pay TV subscribers in the U.S. fell by 113,000, leaving them down 0.2 percent year-over-year and "matching last quarter’s rate of contraction," they said. Cable companies once again saw the biggest losses – 687,000, including a loss of 306,000 pay TV users at Time Warner Cable amid a carriage dispute with CBS Corp.
However, the analysts pointed out that the pace of cord cutting eased in the latest period amid weaker housing trends.
The cord cutting debate seems likely to continue after publicly traded pay TV companies finished reporting their third-quarter financials Tuesday with the latest earnings report from Dish Network.
"The dust has now settled on third-quarter results, and the pay TV industry has reported its worst 12-month stretch ever," MoffettNathanson founders and analysts Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson wrote in a report on Tuesday.
The number of pay TV subscribers in the U.S. fell by 113,000, leaving them down 0.2 percent year-over-year and "matching last quarter’s rate of contraction," they said. Cable companies once again saw the biggest losses – 687,000, including a loss of 306,000 pay TV users at Time Warner Cable amid a carriage dispute with CBS Corp.
However, the analysts pointed out that the pace of cord cutting eased in the latest period amid weaker housing trends.
- 11/12/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Most Wall Street analysts, eager to sell stocks, pull their punches when faced with questions that might lead to uncomfortable conclusions. But Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger and MoffettNathanson Research’s Michael Nathanson have proven their fearlessness over the years — which is why I was so pleased to see both out this morning with thoughtful reports that reach different conclusions about a key question: How much longer can the go-go period for media stocks last? Shares have been on a tear for the last three years largely because moguls stopped using cash to build empires choosing instead to slim down (as News Corp/Fox did, and Time Warner is doing, by unloading their publishing units and CBS is doing with its billboard ad business) and returning cash to shareholders. Stock buybacks in particular “have been enormous,” Nathanson says, with Viacom cutting the number of outstanding shares by 21% followed by Time...
- 10/14/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Financial Editor
- Deadline TV
Lionsgate and OddLot Entertainment have formed a multiyear co-financing and distribution partnership kicking off with the Johnny Depp action comedy Mortdecai.
The partners will collaborate on product sourced by either party and the slate already includes sports tale Draft Day starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary and Frank Langella, set to open in 2014.
OddLot produced and spearheaded the partnership with Lionsgate and Digital Domain on the upcoming sci-fi adventure Ender’s Game (pictured) that arrives on November 1.
OddLot and Lionsgate previously collaborated on The Spirit in 2008.
Mortdecai is set to begin production this autumn and also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany and Olivia Munn.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group general manager Sean Kisker, evp of business and legal affairs and deputy general counsel David Friedman and svp of business and legal affairs Jean Chi negotiated the deal with OddLot co-presidents Bill Lischak and Michael Nathanson, evp of business and legal affairs Aaron Michiel, svp of finance...
The partners will collaborate on product sourced by either party and the slate already includes sports tale Draft Day starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary and Frank Langella, set to open in 2014.
OddLot produced and spearheaded the partnership with Lionsgate and Digital Domain on the upcoming sci-fi adventure Ender’s Game (pictured) that arrives on November 1.
OddLot and Lionsgate previously collaborated on The Spirit in 2008.
Mortdecai is set to begin production this autumn and also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany and Olivia Munn.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group general manager Sean Kisker, evp of business and legal affairs and deputy general counsel David Friedman and svp of business and legal affairs Jean Chi negotiated the deal with OddLot co-presidents Bill Lischak and Michael Nathanson, evp of business and legal affairs Aaron Michiel, svp of finance...
- 9/19/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The new arrival joins as evp of production and reports to OddLot co-presidents Michael Nathanson and Bill Lischak.
Shane most recently served in the same capacity at Red Wagon Entertainment, the company she joined as a creative executive in 2000.
Her Red Wagon credits include the forthcoming young adult adaptation Divergent, on which she serves as executive producer.
Prior to Red Wagon Shane worked as a story editor and creative assistant at Tall Trees Productions. Before that, she worked for Imagine Entertainment and Televisa, among others.
OddLot’s credits include the forthcoming action film Ender’s Game, as well as current Us release and Sundance hit The Way, Way Back [pictured].
The company is producing Ivan Reitman’s Draft Day starring Kevin Costner, which Summit will release through Lionsgate, and Jon Stewart’s upcoming directorial debut Rosewater.
Shane most recently served in the same capacity at Red Wagon Entertainment, the company she joined as a creative executive in 2000.
Her Red Wagon credits include the forthcoming young adult adaptation Divergent, on which she serves as executive producer.
Prior to Red Wagon Shane worked as a story editor and creative assistant at Tall Trees Productions. Before that, she worked for Imagine Entertainment and Televisa, among others.
OddLot’s credits include the forthcoming action film Ender’s Game, as well as current Us release and Sundance hit The Way, Way Back [pictured].
The company is producing Ivan Reitman’s Draft Day starring Kevin Costner, which Summit will release through Lionsgate, and Jon Stewart’s upcoming directorial debut Rosewater.
- 8/5/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
At a time when the big studios are more fearful than ever of making mistakes, it's the production companies funded by outside investors who are in a position to take chances, from Jeff Skoll's Participant Media ("Lincoln"), Thomas Tull's Legendary Entertainment, now moving from Warner Bros. to Universal ("Pacific Rim"), Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures ("Zero Dark Thirty," "The Master," "American Hustle") to Gigi Pritzker's OddLot Entertainment, which backed Fox Searchlight's summer hit "The Way, Way Back" and Lionsgate/Summit's upcoming $110-million sci-fi thriller "Ender's Game" (November 1).Chicago-based Hyatt Hotel heiress Pritzker, 50, has hired some experienced talent to run her company--Sony and MGM veteran Michael Nathanson, who wanted to invest in "Ender's Game" and ended up working at OddLot instead, and First Look Studios' Bill Lischak. In a move that signals an increase in production and development, OddLot is now adding Red Wagon creative executive Rachel Shane to.
- 8/5/2013
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
“We’re getting the band back together again,” former Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson says of his decision to team up with Craig Moffett, his former colleague for eight years at Bernstein Research. With the move, Moffett’s new boutique research firm will be renamed MoffettNathanson LLC. It reunites two of the Street’s most provocative thinkers — Moffett specializes in telecom and pay TV distribution companies while Nathanson focuses on content producers and advertising. Nathanson twice won top honors among U.S. media analysts in Institutional Investor Magazine’s annual All-America Research Team poll. “One plus one is three,” Moffett says. “Michael is the most insightful media analyst around. But what’s most exciting is that he makes my work better, and vice versa.” Nathanson’s the brother-in-law of CNN chief Jeff Zucker — but that didn’t stop him at Nomura from giving Time Warner a “neutral” rating.
- 7/1/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Linda McDonough is transitioning from her role as OddLot evp of production and development into that of full-time producer and has signed a producing deal with the company.
McDonough, who worked for 10 years at the company, will continue as a producer on OddLot’s upcoming Ender’s Game, set to open through Summit on Nov 1 in the Us, and several other projects in the works.
“After working with Linda for over a decade I am so happy for her that she is following her passion,” said OddLot owner Gigi Pritzker. “She has fantastic taste in material and a unique talent for working with filmmakers which has had a major impact on our company. I expect great things from her as a producer.”
“Linda has been very valuable for OddLot, having done many great things in helping to build a solid foundation for our feature film activities and for that we will always be grateful,” added OddLot...
McDonough, who worked for 10 years at the company, will continue as a producer on OddLot’s upcoming Ender’s Game, set to open through Summit on Nov 1 in the Us, and several other projects in the works.
“After working with Linda for over a decade I am so happy for her that she is following her passion,” said OddLot owner Gigi Pritzker. “She has fantastic taste in material and a unique talent for working with filmmakers which has had a major impact on our company. I expect great things from her as a producer.”
“Linda has been very valuable for OddLot, having done many great things in helping to build a solid foundation for our feature film activities and for that we will always be grateful,” added OddLot...
- 6/19/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Linda McDonough is transitioning from her role as OddLot evp of production and development into that of full-time producer and has signed a producing deal with the company.
McDonough, who worked for 10 years at the company, will continue as a producer on OddLot’s upcoming Ender’s Game, set to open through Summit on Nov 1 in the Us, and several other projects in the works.
“After working with Linda for over a decade I am so happy for her that she is following her passion,” said OddLot owner Gigi Pritzker. “She has fantastic taste in material and a unique talent for working with filmmakers which has had a major impact on our company. I expect great things from her as a producer.”
“Linda has been very valuable for OddLot, having done many great things in helping to build a solid foundation for our feature film activities and for that we will always be grateful,” added OddLot...
McDonough, who worked for 10 years at the company, will continue as a producer on OddLot’s upcoming Ender’s Game, set to open through Summit on Nov 1 in the Us, and several other projects in the works.
“After working with Linda for over a decade I am so happy for her that she is following her passion,” said OddLot owner Gigi Pritzker. “She has fantastic taste in material and a unique talent for working with filmmakers which has had a major impact on our company. I expect great things from her as a producer.”
“Linda has been very valuable for OddLot, having done many great things in helping to build a solid foundation for our feature film activities and for that we will always be grateful,” added OddLot...
- 6/19/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Here’s more proof that Wall Street has freed Viacom from the penalty box following last year’s steep ratings declines at Nickelodeon and MTV. The stock’s up 2.5% in late morning trading — and touched a record $65.25 — after Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson and Rbc Capital Markets’ David Bank said that trends are improving for the entertainment giant. Nickelodeon’s ratings rose 1% in Q1 and with new shows including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles establishing themselves “we expect that the ratings momentum at Nick should continue,” Nathanson says. That could pay off if, as the analyst expects, studios boost spending to promote new movies later this year. If that happens and Nick’s ratings continue to improve then it “can likely take back some [advertising] market share from Cartoon Network,” he says. Bank’s upbeat case for Viacom goes beyond Nickelodeon. He says that ratings momentum “accelerated in roughly half of...
- 4/8/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
A Wall Street analyst Monday raised his price targets on Cinemark Holdings and Regal Entertainment Group, predicting that this year’s second quarter could see domestic box-office revenue rise 5 percent over the same frame last year when The Avengers and The Hunger Games were massive hits. During the second quarter this year, the top-grossing films are projected to be Oblivion, Iron Man 3, The Great Gatsby, Star Trek Into Darkness, Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III, Man of Steel, Monsters University and World War Z, wrote Michael Nathanson of Nomura Equity Research. Nomura raised his target
read more...
read more...
- 3/25/2013
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The analysis today from Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson could dampen the mood at TV networks as we head into the big upfront ad sales season. The most startling discovery: total ad revenues didn’t grow at all in 2012 at the Big Media companies he tracks. Declines at Viacom and News Corp outweighed gains at Discovery and Scripps Networks while sales were “essentially flat” at CBS, Disney, and Time Warner. “Given the surge in media stocks, the aggregate 0% growth was somewhat surprising,” Nathanson says. Factoring out political and Olympics-related ads in 2012, he sees ad sales at the companies growing 3.6% in 2013. But the analyst is “cautious” about his forecast. The pickup in the U.S. economy has been “weak” and the ongoing budget stalemates portend “an uncertain economic future.” Meanwhile Internet-based media are taking market share, and driving ad rates down. “In effect, online advertising — specifically online display advertising — is...
- 3/11/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Wall Street’s divided on the question this morning, with Time Warner shares up just 1.3% following the announcement last night that it will convert the publishing unit into a separate company by year end. Make no mistake: Investors like the news, which will enable them to just bet on Time Warner’s thriving TV and movie businesses. Jettisoning the declining magazines is “the final leg of a multi-year divestiture story that should leave [Time Warner] with an improved asset mix and growth profile,” Barclays Equity Research’s Anthony Diclemente says. But some say that the announcement is a bit of a yawn because CEO Jeff Bewkes waited too long. “In this case, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,” Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson says, channeling his inner Kris Kristofferson. “Today’s spin could have happened 5 or 10 years ago” and won’t make a difference now because “Time...
- 3/7/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson does a nice job this morning of laying out the likely business arrangements for News Corp’s still unannounced but widely expected plan to convert its Speed channel into a national network to be called Fox Sports 1, with Fuel to be rebranded as Fox Sports 2. Rupert Murdoch is betting on “what the company believes will be increasing value of live sports over the next couple of decades,” Nathanson says. Advertisers spent a record $13.3B on broadcast and cable sports last year, confident that viewers would watch them live — instead of recording the shows to zip past the commercials. News Corp’s sports initiatives also seem to make sense according to Nathanson’s calculations of pay TV fees: Speed and Fuel together collect about $300M a year. Under what the analyst calls his “blue sky scenario,” the company could see nearly $1.5B in additional revenue...
- 1/24/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
The company’s stock is up about 10.3% this morning, to $41.86 — an all time high — as the smart money bets that CBS will repurchase shares after it carries out the complicated plan announced last night to restructure its billboard ad sales operation. But some wonder whether CEO Les Moonves will use the proceeds to hunt for acquisitions. An independent cable network or TV studio would “boost the company’s ability to create more owned content,” Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson observes. Moonves has said he’d be interested in Sony Pictures, although Sony insists it’s not for sale. Other possible targets include Hallmark, TV Guide Network, and AMC Networks, says Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger. What about Starz, which Liberty Media just spun off into an independent company? While there’s “plausible industrial logic” for CBS to go after the premium cable service, Juenger notes that “CBS flatly denies any interest.
- 1/17/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Former MGM Exec Michael Nathanson and Bill Lischak to Serve as Co-Presidents at OddLot Entertainment
OddLot Entertainment has promoted Bill Lischak and Michael Nathanson to co-presidents of the company, OddLot announced on Wednesday. The duo will report to OddLot's founding principal and CEO Gigi Pritzker. They will oversee the filmed entertainment company's day-to-day operations and the ongoing implementation of its business plan. Prior to joining OddLot as co-president, Nathanson, left, served as a consultant to the company and has been involved in mapping out the company's updated business plan. OddLot's Linda McDonough, Evp of production and development, will continue to lead the production team which includes working on...
- 11/14/2012
- by Liza Foreman
- The Wrap
Analysts have stopped telling clients to wait for more data before they worry about the lousy early ratings for the major networks’ primetime shows. Although “it is probably too early to panic, there are several areas of concern,” Nomura Securities’ Michael Nathanson says this morning. That’s a shift from a few weeks ago when he called the initial ratings figures “disappointing” but possibly the result of quirks in this year’s schedules. The new conventional wisdom is that the major broadcast networks have a serious problem as the latest so-called C3 ratings (those who watch a show’s commercials live and as much as three days after they air) show ABC -15% this season vs the same period last year with CBS -23% and Fox -28% — but NBC +12%. Rbc Capital Markets’ David Bank said last week that “our best ‘experts’ tell us that it’s realistic to expect ratings...
- 10/23/2012
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Season-to-date prime time ratings are down 11% vs last year for the Big Four networks in live-plus-same-day results for their target audience of 18-to-49 year olds. And investors want to know: Is this a blip, or a symptom of a deeper problem — possibly viewer defection to online videos? Two reports out this morning acknowledge the problem but urge investors to wait for more information before panicking about the prospects for the Big Media companies that own the major networks. While it may be cold comfort for moguls, the main problem seems to be something they can address: lousy programs. “Most of the freshman shows have been a disappointment,” says Barclays Equity Research’s Anthony Diclemente. “Without top quality new programs to augment the success of past hits, we believe aggregate network ratings have suffered.” Still, several factors may have exaggerated the problem. There are the vagaries of the schedule: For example...
- 10/11/2012
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson underscored his concern about the upcoming earnings reports by cutting his Q3 estimates across the board this morning. He dropped CBS by 5.2% (to 60 cents in Q3 earnings per share), News Corp by 4.6% (to 40 cents), Disney by 4.5% (to 69 cents), Discovery by 3.2% (to 63 cents) Scripps Networks by 2.7% (to 77 cents), Viacom by 1.3% (to $1.16) and Time Warner by 1% (to 81 cents). Nathanson notes that “we did not get much of an update” from media execs when they were asked at recent investor conferences about the state of the ad market. The analyst projects that the companies collectively will show a 1.1% drop in ad sales in Q3, due in part to disruptions from the Olympics and later-than-expected purchases by political campaigns. While everyone expects sales to improve, Nathanson says that “recent trends don’t give much hope for 4Q upside ad surprises.” He’s also concerned about trends in broadcast...
- 10/2/2012
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
There’s a little hyperbole in Nomura Securities analyst Michael Nathanson’s observation that the Q2 Big Media earnings season that wrapped up last week was “one of the most unusual periods [for the industry] in recent memory.” But he’s basically on target. Most companies had something worrisome to report — including softer than expected Q2 revenues, and likely weakness in the Q3 ad market. Even so, media stocks are up, in some cases substantially: Over the last 30 days the Dow Jones Media Index is +7.8% while the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 is +4.6%. CBS is the stand out, +14.7%. “Strangely enough, the market didn’t seem to care that much about the specifics,” says Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger. “In general, media stocks are all in favor, each with its own story.” What accounts for the euphoria? The most common explanation is that Big Media looks like a safe haven in a weak economy, especially...
- 8/16/2012
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
We could have made the same statement several times so far in 2012 as the entertainment company’s shares have appreciated 34.6%. But today’s 1.4% increase, to $50.49, stands out because it comes the day after the company reported earnings that beat the Street’s forecasts. That led several analysts to raise their price targets including Janney Capital Markets’ Tony Wible (to $56 from $49), Lazard Capital Markets’ Barton Crockett ($56 from $53), Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson ($55 from $51), and Bernstein Research’s Todd Juenger ($57 from $55).
- 8/8/2012
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.