The Town with Matthew Belloni

Latest Episodes:

The Companies Most Likely to Be Sold or Acquired in 2023 Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Axios senior media reporter and CNN media analyst Sara Fischer to discuss the current state of the deal market for entertainment companies and who she is watching for possible acquisitions or sales. Sara predicts what could happen to digital media companies like Vice, Disney’s acquisition possibilities, potential buyers for the WWE, Lionsgate spinning off Starz, YouTube’s valuable IP, NBCU, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount’s likelihood of consolidation, and the state of the struggling podcast industry.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...', click this link: puck.news/thetown

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Sara Fischer

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Soap Opera Fight Over Paramount and CBS Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams of The New York Times to discuss their new book, ‘Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy.’ They discuss the inside machinations that put Sumner Redstone’s daughter, Shari, on top at Paramount, how she took on Les Moonves, and how the Redstone empire fell behind Netflix and the other digital-focused entertainment companies.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...', click this link: puck.news/thetown

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Will Bob Iger Sell Hulu or ESPN? Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Bob Iger’s first earnings report as new CEO of Disney, including a first look at his strategy to turn the company around. They talk about his decision to split the company into three silos (entertainment, parks, and ESPN) and his openness to off-loading Hulu. They predict whether or not Disney will sell Hulu and ESPN and, if so, to whom.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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How to Write a Hit Rom-Com Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by writer director Aline Brosh McKenna, writer of hits like ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘27 Dresses,’ to talk about why the comedy/rom-com genre is in a weird place right now, why movies of this genre are not in theaters anymore, whether a rom-com can still break new movie stars, the state of the business for writers in Hollywood, and her new Netflix movie ‘Your Place or Mine’ with Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Aline Brosh McKenna

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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True Crime Is Murdering Documentaries Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by New York Magazine features writer Reeves Wiedeman to discuss his latest piece, about the complicated state of documentaries right now. Reeves talks about how the true crime genre and the celebrity-produced documentary space have dominated the market for buyers, leaving little room for more traditional works of art and journalism to poke through. They discuss the ease with which these glorified reality TV or public-relations exercises can be made, why streamers continue to spend more and more on acquiring these projects, and whether or not this bubble will burst.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Reeves Wiedeman

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Death and “Rebirth” of Showtime Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the latest casualty of the streaming wars, Showtime, which was effectively killed last week when its owner, Paramount Global, rebranded the network to Paramount+ with Showtime. The network is drastically changing its linear strategy and has announced a slate of 'Yellowstone'-like spin-off shows of its biggest Showtime hits, like 'Billions' and 'Dexter.' Matt and Lucas dissect if this is a smart business move, if this is actually a sign of a new beginning for Showtime, and who might be next on the streaming-wars chopping block.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing.'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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DC Is Going Big, but Can It Catch Marvel? Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit to discuss DC’s latest press event revealing what the future of the DC universe will look like. They discuss James Gunn’s bold new vision, how this changes the trajectory for DC and Warner Bros. Discovery, James Gunn’s trashing of the previous DC regime, the biggest winners and losers of the announcement, and whether or not DC can catch Marvel.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Borys Kit

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Future of Live Events and Late Night TV With Grammys EP Ben Winston Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Ben Winston, executive producer of the 2023 Grammy Awards, to talk about why the Grammys are the most difficult awards show to produce, the messy transition from cable to streaming for live events, the end of 'The Late Late Show with James Corden,' and if it’s possible for a nightly late-night talk show to succeed on streaming.

Click here for a 20% discount to Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter 'What I’m Hearing.'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ben Winston

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Peacock’s Promising Start to 2023 Might Not Be a Fluke Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss NBC’s typically struggling streaming service, Peacock, and its strong start to 2023. With shows like 'Yellowstone' and movies like ‘Nope,’ Peacock saw a 40 percent increase in subscribers in Q4 of 2022. Matt and Lucas discuss why Peacock may be long for the streaming world, what Comcast should do with its stake in Hulu, and how long Peacock can lose money before pulling the plug.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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How an Indie Film Becomes an Oscar Winner Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

Live from Sundance, Matt is joined by Michael Barker, the copresident and cofounder of Sony Pictures Classics, to discuss Sony’s ability to discover Oscar-level movies at film festivals and whether the business of making money off of small movies is doomed to extinction. Michael details how Sony Classics has pivoted to survive, his pitch to filmmakers these days, and how to take a Sundance film all the way to the Oscars.

Click here for 20% off Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter ‘What I’m Hearing’.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Michael Barker

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices