Deal Memo

Trade intelligence for the entertainment business. Tuesdays & Fridays.

Latest Episode

Deal Memo — May 1, 2026

May 1, 2026 · 21:57

Archive

April 24, 2026 · 18:51

Deal Memo — April 24, 2026

  • Ellison Hosts Trump — Merger as Political Access Play
  • Bob Iger Rejoins Thrive Capital — The Post-Disney Pivot
  • RTL Seals Sky Deutschland — Europe Runs the U.S. Consolidation Playbook
April 21, 2026 · 7:50

Deal Memo — April 21, 2026

  • Sean Baker's Twenty-Two Million Dollar 'Indie' Deal
  • Disney Outsources Japanese Production to The Seven
  • Netflix's European Action Play with 'Play Dead'
April 17, 2026 · 10:12

Deal Memo — April 17, 2026

  • Duffer Brothers Signal Creator Confidence Shift in Paramount Legacy Video
  • Ellison Commits Paramount to 45-Day Theatrical Window at CinemaCon
  • Sarandos Reframes Netflix's Failed Warner Bros Bid as M&A Training
April 14, 2026 · 7:08

Deal Memo — April 14, 2026

  • NewsNation Partners With Nexstar For California Gubernatorial Debate
  • Hollywood A-Listers Sign Letter Opposing Paramount-WBD Merger
  • Neon Sets Christmas Day Release For Chloe Domont's 'A Place In Hell'
April 10, 2026 · 10:38

Deal Memo — April 10, 2026

  • Mexico's New Production Incentive: Financing Tool or Band-Aid?
  • Paramount Refinances Bridge Facility Ahead of WBD Merger
  • Netflix Buys Chris Bremner Spec 'Ram' — Are Specs Back?
  • MK2 Boards Rwandan Cannes Film — Prestige Distribution as Business Model
April 9, 2026 · 11:04

One Battle, Two Takes

  • The Art Argument: Is This What $150M Looks Like?
  • The Politics Fight: What Message Did Anyone Actually See?
  • The Business Reality: What Do the Numbers Actually Say?
  • The Bigger Question: Who Gets to Decide What Movies Mean?
April 7, 2026 · 9:52

Deal Memo — April 7, 2026

  • The Iron Lung Illusion: Creator-Driven Theatrical Success Story or System Mirage?
  • Gulf Sovereign Wealth Funds Lock Down Paramount-WBD Deal Financing
  • Bill Ackman's Sixty-Four Billion Dollar Universal Music Gambit
  • Emerald Fennell Circling Basic Instinct Reboot
April 3, 2026 · 8:39

Deal Memo — April 3, 2026

  • FilmHedge Launches Two Hundred Million Dollar Film Fund
  • Meryl Streep: Devil Wears Prada Had to 'Scrabble for Budget' Due to Chick Flick Label
  • IATSE Strikes Jonathan Majors Daily Wire Production Over Labor Issues
March 31, 2026 · 8:04

Deal Memo — March 31, 2026

  • Nexstar-Tegna Merger Blocked: When Local TV Can't Consolidate
  • UK Production Financing Tightens: Allegro's Survival Mode Raise
March 24, 2026 · 8:51

Deal Memo — March 24, 2026

  • Row K's Executive Exodus Signals Mid-Tier Distribution Collapse
  • Statham's Beekeeper 2 German Sale Reveals Studios' Defensive International Strategy
  • Democratic Senators Target Paramount-WBD Deal Over Foreign Investment
March 20, 2026 · 7:37

Deal Memo — March 20, 2026

  • Ellison's Lobbying Letter Reveals Paramount-WBD Deal Isn't Done
  • Swiss Distribution Merger Shows How Consolidation Actually Works
  • Quiver Bets on Comfort Food Theatrical with 'A Love Like This'
March 13, 2026 · 8:23

Deal Memo — March 13, 2026

  • Universal Cuts Theatrical Window to 45 Days
  • Megan Ellison's Annapurna 2.0 Launches International TV Division
  • Angel Studios Acquires 'Salt & Honey' with Amy Redford Directing
March 13, 2026 · 13:37

Oscars Preview - What To Watch

  • The Real Best Picture Race: Art vs. Business Models
  • Horror's Prestige Moment and Genre Barriers Breaking Down
  • The Wicked Snub and Franchise Fatigue Reality Check
  • International Cinema's Academy Breakthrough Moment
March 10, 2026 · 10:39

Deal Memo — March 10, 2026

  • Phil Rosenthal Takes 'Somebody Feed Phil' to YouTube, Partners with Banijay
  • Mike Flanagan Signs Exclusive Multi-Year Deal with Amazon MGM Studios
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger and Christopher McQuarrie Set New 'Conan' Film at 20th Century Studios
March 8, 2026 · 12:51

Deal Memo — March 8, 2026

  • Banijay-All3Media: Eight Billion Dollar Bet on Global Production Dominance
  • WGA Drops Contract Demands Three Weeks Before AMPTP Showdown
  • State AGs Take Last Shot at Killing Paramount-Warner Bros Deal
February 16, 2026 · 9:14

Deal Memo — February 16, 2026

  • Constantin's Oliver Berben Bets on 'Triple-A' Indie Filmmakers
  • Disney Hits $1B Worldwide — But Is This Recovery or Disney Exceptionalism?
  • Warner Bros Discovery May Finally Engage With Paramount's Takeover Bid
February 13, 2026 · 8:23

Deal Memo — February 13, 2026

  • Netflix's Product Division Cuts Clash With Major IP Spending
  • Sony's 'Lord of the Flies' Global Sales Blitz Reveals Market Dynamics
  • Valentine's Weekend Box Office Test: 'Wuthering Heights' Aims for $70M Global Opening