{"id":873931,"date":"2026-06-17T16:54:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T16:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/873931\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T16:54:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T16:54:19","slug":"%e2%98%80%ef%b8%8f-nbcu-merges-tv-groups-trims-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/873931\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2600\ufe0f NBCU Merges TV Groups, Trims Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mornin! <strong>This is Sean McNulty (<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/theseanmcnulty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like<\/strong><\/a> or email me at <a href=\"https:\/\/theankler.com\/nbcu-merges-tv-groups-netflix-world-cup-bounce\/mailto:seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a><strong>)<\/strong>, and here\u2019s the Hollywood + Media news to know on <strong>Wednesday, June 17, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DZqqA0rEZcs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Mike Myers simply said \u201cYes\u201d<\/strong><\/a> when asked on <strong>Trevor Noah\u2019s<\/strong> World Cup show this week if we\u2019ll see an Austin Powers 4.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No other details there about WB\/NLC potentially testing whether this property is more millennial early-2000s . . . or Gen X \u201990s in theatrical moviegoer appeal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add in the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Swiz1XyfhcI\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">new Shrek 5 teaser trailer<\/a><\/strong> yesterday, and his new Dr. Evil VERIZON ad campaign airing in the World Cup this week (does Dr. Evil somehow look \u201cyounger\u201d now, or just me?), and . . . things are coming up Myers! #20YearNostalgiaCycle<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NICE:<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/music\/film-tv-music-news\/cbs-licensing-deal-stephen-colbert-peanuts-late-show-1236623378\/\"><strong>CBS is indeed paying for the Peanuts music use<\/strong><\/a> that <strong>Colbert<\/strong> put in his finale last month, with LEE MENDELSOHN FILM PRODUCTIONS donating the money to the WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>OH: Your latest microdrama player entrant?<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/cmo-today\/procter-gamble-scripted-dramas-are-coming-to-a-supermarket-near-you-875cb366\"><strong>PROCTOR &amp; GAMBLE!<\/strong><\/a> The WSJ dives into how 1950s TV tactics are back in the digital age. Enjoy Rico Tacos on your next trip to an ALBERTSONS (they have those in Cannes, right?).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BTW:<\/strong> No more MEDIALINK Beach at Cannes next week \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adweek.com\/agencies\/utas-first-beach-space-is-built-for-cannes-fastest-growing-power-players-creators\"><strong>meet UTA Beach<\/strong><\/a>! Be sure to apply extra sunscreen as they take 10% of the SPF out of it. \ud83e\udd41<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GOOD NEWS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-06-16\/apple-plans-camera-airpods-iphone-foldable-2-20th-anniversary-iphone-in-2027\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">APPLE AIRPODS will soon be watching everything we all do<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 APPLE will be introducing cameras to the \u201cheadphones\u201d by late 2027, according to Bloomberg.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t worry, they\u2019re not for picture taking \u2014 rather, they\u2019re just there so SIRI can watch everything you\u2019re doing. Oh ok, carry on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AND:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/business\/business-news\/sphere-oz-rocky-horror-picture-show-movie-vegas-1236623394\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be the next pic<\/strong><\/a> to take over The Sphere in Vegas, sometime next year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>YEAH:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/frontofficesports.com\/fifa-world-cup-ticket-giveaways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">A report in Semafor that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/06\/16\/2026\/netflix-wades-into-the-ma-game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>NETFLIX was interested in LIONSGATE<\/strong><\/a> popped LGF stock 14% yesterday, but turned out to be . . . <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewrap.com\/industry-news\/business\/netflix-lionsgate-acquisition-not-interested\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>not accurate<\/strong><\/a>, according to the company, with LGF stock -5% after hours.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Essentially, the WBD bid has now put NETFLIX in pretty much any entertainment business deal \/ \u201cfor sale\u201d conversations that come up in the marketplace \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/06\/16\/2026\/netflix-wades-into-the-ma-game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>a NETFLIX interest in ROKU<\/strong><\/a> was also cited by Semafor, with NETFLIX clarifying it never made a bid.<\/li>\n<li>If I were an investment banker \u2014 I\u2019d be giving them a call too, but keep some perspective on what is likely \u201cSure, we\u2019ll take a look\u201d . . . and what actually turns into a real negotiation.<\/li>\n<li>At least IMAX may remain outside even the most creative imaginations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AH:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/sports\/soccer\/world-cup-ad-breaks-hydration-fifa-5d302605\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>FOX is making $200k per ad in the World Cup hydration breaks<\/strong><\/a>, scaling up to as much as $750k for USA games. The breaks sometimes have 5 ads, so that\u2019s at least $1M per break, or over $3M for USA games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>OH:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theinformation.com\/articles\/openai-burned-3-7-billion-first-three-months-2026\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">OPENAI spent over 50% of the cash it generated in Q1<\/a><\/strong>, with spending at $3.7B and revenue at $5.7B, according to The Information. Both financial metrics 3x\u2019d from a year ago . . . but it doesn\u2019t seem like much has changed in the ratio.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wheresyoured.at\/exclusive-openai-financials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>OPENAI also had a net loss of $38.5B in 2025<\/strong><\/a> on $13B of revenue (hence why AI companies like OPENAI and ANTHROPIC always report \u201cannual run rate\u201d revenue numbers and not . . . actual numbers), according to internal audit documents obtained by journalist <strong>Ed Zitron, <\/strong>and verified by the FT. What is this, the streaming business in 2019?<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Operating Loss was lower<\/strong>, at about $21B\u00a0(there were significant additional costs involved in converting from non-profit to for-profit).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>But the marketing spend was $5.7B last year. R&amp;D was $19B of costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GRANTED:<\/strong> This is 3rd party data on global music streaming subscriptions from a firm called MIDIA, but here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/the-music-industry-is-closing-in-on-a-billion-global-subscribers-with-spotify-out-in-front\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>how paid music subs looked globally at the end of 2025<\/strong><\/a>, which hit a 921M global total. The Top 5:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SPOTIFY: 31.4% (it reported 290M global paid subs to close 2025, so that seems directionally accurate for this chart\u2019s data)<\/li>\n<li>TENCENT (China): 13.8%<\/li>\n<li>APPLE MUSIC: 12.6%<\/li>\n<li>YOUTUBE MUSIC: 12.4% (and the largest share gainer YoY)<\/li>\n<li>AMAZON MUSIC: 8.5%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IT\u2019S THE ECONOMY, STUPID:<\/strong> Couple of stats to note this week.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/06\/16\/homebuilding-permits-construction-may\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/8f7ab974-2663-4315-866c-1d046172192b_1200.jpeg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:483px;height:auto\"\/><\/a>Via Axios<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll also help the housing inventory issue in America (btw the biggest drop was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/construction\/nrc\/pdf\/newresconst.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>in multifamily housing construction<\/strong><\/a>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>The current average U.S. mortgage interest rate is about 6.55%, <\/strong>and a lotta eyes on the new Fed chief as he leads his first Board of Governors meeting of his tenure this week.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GOLF CLAP:<\/strong> To the UNI marketing group for this, uh, well \u2014 activation seems like too small of a word . . . but no words are really necessary for a <strong>Minions &amp; Monsters<\/strong> promo like this on Sunset.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/%24s_%21IbU7%21%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe24d3f45-2d86-40a5-91cd-9df6b0a4a1ca_3876x2560.jpeg?quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/e24d3f45-2d86-40a5-91cd-9df6b0a4a1ca_3876.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a>Thanks to Richard Rushfield for sending this one my way.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"image-link image2 is-viewable-img\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/%24s_%21W-ur%21%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F05b2fb51-1747-4a68-abb7-c677fc3025c3_480x270.gif?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/05b2fb51-1747-4a68-abb7-c677fc3025c3_480x.gif\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"\/><\/a>Via Giphy<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/06\/ucp-uis-studio-merger-beatrice-springborn-layoffs-nbcuiversal-1236956996\/\"><strong>NBCU combines TV units, layoffs ensue<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><strong>Don\u2019t stop here<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Unlock the full story \u2014 and the no-spin reporting Hollywood trusts<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":873932,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[30],"tags":[171,16629,4659,173,67,132,68,355319,21490],"class_list":["post-873931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-nbcuniversal","tag-netflix","tag-tv","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us","tag-weekly-netflix-chart","tag-world-cup"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116766499536176446","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873931","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=873931"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873931\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/873932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=873931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=873931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=873931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}