Variety

Pantheon Media Group has sealed a partnership with TH Studios, an embedded digital production and social strategy team that has worked on projects including “Love Island USA” and “Dancing with the Stars.” “Off-platform is equally as vital as what you watch on screen,” says Simon Thomas, who joined Pantheon earlier this year as the company’s head of creative. “I’ve been lucky enough to see what TH Studios can do up close with ‘Love Island USA’ and other hit shows, through social and app play-along and bespoke content creation for talent and special guests. Partnering with TH Studios allows us to reach out and build fandoms from day one — building show universes that live in the zeitgeist that fans want to be in.” “Pantheon is thinking beyond broadcast, and that’s what drives modern-day watercooler conversation,” said TH Studios chief content officer Jill Johnson in a statement. “They’re building for the long game. We’re excited to join them early, architecting the fan journey, the platform-first narrative and the engagement infrastructure that turns viewers into a community.” https://lnkd.in/guNCYMjf

The Warner Bros. Discovery board says "the terms of the Netflix merger are superior," formally rejecting Paramount Skydance's unsolicited $30-per share takeover bid. For Paramount's hostile offer to advance, it would need approval from both WBD's board and shareholders — unless it can secure at least 90% of outstanding WBD shares. https://lnkd.in/gPjiY5zD

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board has formally said “no thanks” to the $108 billion takeover bid from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and unanimously reiterated its support for the Netflix deal. https://lnkd.in/evVqcCrW

NVIDIA's Jamie Allan and Zefr's Jon Morra join Variety's Entertainment Summit at CES on January 7. In this session, discover how Zefr leverages NVIDIA’s technology to fuel large-scale content intelligence, analyze social platforms in real time, spot emerging trends, and give brands meaningful insight into the environments surrounding their ads. Open to all CES registrants. See the full agenda: Variety.com/CES

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, has backed out of Paramount’s Warner Bros. Discovery bid: His investment firm said in a statement: "With two strong competitors vying to secure the future of this unique American asset, Affinity has decided no longer to pursue the opportunity. We continue to believe there is a strong strategic rationale for Paramount’s offer." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gH2aR6b8

“F1: The Movie” producer Jerry Bruckheimer recalls how Hans Zimmer created the iconic score for the movie soundtrack. See the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gz_dNRHz

LISTEN: On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, we go back in time to December 16, 1905, to celebrate Variety’s 120th birthday. Showbiz historians David Monod and Peter Rader explain what the entertainment marketplace was like at the time Variety was born. https://lnkd.in/g7T9-MWK

President Donald Trump rebukes the idea that he's friends with Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, claiming that CBS' 60 Minutes has treated him "far worse" since they acquired Paramount: “If they are friends, I’d hate to see my enemies!” https://lnkd.in/e6_YBGpp

"Sinners" and ‘Wicked: For Good’ lead the 2026 Oscar shortlists with eight mentions each. See the full list here: https://lnkd.in/ep3NYag6

LISTEN: On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, Variety’s Marc Malkin helps put Rob Reiner’s legacy and impact in Hollywood into perspective. And Rebecca Rubin breaks down a ho-hum weekend at box office as “Zootopia 2” reclaims the No. 1 spot, “Hamnet” impresses and “Ella McKay” stumbles. https://lnkd.in/g5JgBmgp