Strictly Business

Latest Episodes:

Daily Variety -- Cover Story: What’s Fueling the Box Office Rebound and How Can Hollywood Keep it Going? Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Brent Lang details the comprehensive report that he delivered with Rebecca Rubin on the summer box office rebound, and what Hollywood and exhibitors must do to keep it going.

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Daily Variety – How NBC’s ‘Must See TV’ Branding Campaign of the 1990s Changed America’s Viewing Habits Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, as part of Variety’s ongoing series celebrating NBC’s centennial, we revisit the history of NBC’s “Must See TV” branding campaign that came to define the network’s dominance in the 1990s. Jennifer Storms, NBCUniversal’s chief marketing officer for television and streaming, explains how that sturdy foundation helps them reach multiplatform viewers today.

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Daily Variety -- What’s Next for Paramount-Warner Bros. as State AGs Sue; Columbia University’s Eric Talley on Why the Case May Lead to Merger Concessions Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Variety’s Gene Maddaus explains the legal rationale behind the lawsuit filed July 13 by 12 state attorneys general to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. takeover. And Columbia University Law School professor Eric Talley breaks down the power the AGs have to wield and why they will use the pressure of litigation to demand concessions from Paramount.

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Daily Variety -- Box Office: ‘Moana’ is Disney Misstep; ‘Young Washington’ Director Jon Erwin on Making Indies Work at the Multiplexes Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin unpacks what went wrong with Disney’s “Moana” live-action remake. And Jon Erwin, the filmmaker behind “Young Washington,” explains how his Wonder Project banner is making indie theatrical films work as a business.

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Politics Puts a Spotlight on the Production Exodus From California and Other U.S. Filming Hubs Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

On today's episode, Luminate analyst Tyler Aquilina details his report, "Hollywood Exodus," on the production crisis in L.A. in a conversation with host Andrew Wallenstein.

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Daily Variety –- James Corden Reunites 'The Late Late Show' Team for Fox's 'After Hours' World Cup Show Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Three years after he signed off CBS’ “The Late Late Show,” James Corden is having the time of his life hosting the World Cup after show for Fox, “After Hours With James Corden.” The multihyphenate discusses the joy of indulging in his lifelong love of football and why the call from Fox Sports was the one hosting gig that he's been offered in recent years that he couldn't turn down.

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Daily Variety -- Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Fight in France Over Streaming Quotas and Theatrical Windowing Rules Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode,Variety’s Elsa Keslassy explains the battle that is brewing in France between Netflix and other streamers over the country’s programming quotas and its theatrical movie windowing rules.

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Daily Variety -- What’s Driving Microsoft’s Massive Overhaul of Xbox? Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Variety’s Jennifer Maas details Microsoft’s massive overhaul of its Xbox unit with 3,200 layoffs and a realignment of operations coming under newly appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma.

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Daily Variety – Box Office: ‘Minions and Monsters’ Delivers Tepid U.S. Debut in a Muted July 4th Weekend; Why Comcast’s Sky is Buying ITV Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down a muted July 4th holiday weekend at the box office with a tepid U.S. opening for Universal and Illumination’s “Minions and Monsters” but a solid turnout for indie Angel Studios’ “Young Washington.” And Variety's K.J. Yossman explains why Comcast's Sky has struck a deal to buy U.K. broadcaster ITV for $2.1 billion.

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Strictly Business From Cannes Lions: Leaders From NBCUniversal, IBM, State Farm, Autodesk and Coinbase on Consumer Trends, AI and Reaching Audiences Amid Fragmentation Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Top leaders from NBCUniversal, IBM, State Farm, Autodesk and Coinbase talk shop and compare notes on marketing, tech and consumer trends in conversations with Todd Spangler, Variety's business editor. Recorded June 22-25 in the Canva Creative Cabana space at the Cannes Lions international festival of creativity.

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