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Culture News

Including Streaming Television News

Streaming Media wars heat up; Netflix, Stan, HayU, Sports Streamers - WWE Network, FITE TV, New Japan World, UFC Fight Pass, ESPN +, Paramount Network Global Wrestling Network et al

Movies Anywhere YouTube Movies & Shows

Hottest On TV Blog

News.com.au - TV and Radio

News.com.au - Streaming

News.com.au - Entertainment

The Sydney Morning Herald - TV and Radio

The Sydney Morning Herald - Culture

Show Buzz Daily - Television

Show Buzz Daily - Movies - Box Office

Teleivsion (Wikipedia)

Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz/Markets/Pop Culture

The Business Of Everything Edition! Part V

Sin City Sydney Australia, Wall Street, New York, and Beyond The Black Stump

Digital Bush Telegraph

Spread The Risk!

"Wall Street Shuffle" (10cc)

"Poker Face" (Lady Gaga)

"I've Got Friday On My Mind" (The Easybeats)

Road To WWE Night Of Champions and Road To UFC Freedom 250: This Weekend!

Past, Present And Future

June 2026

June 13

Markets

ASX 200 futuresup 39 points/ 0.4%: 8853

AUD -0.03% to US70.47¢

Bitcoin $63,488.81 -0.19%

Wall St:
Dow +0.7%
S&P +0.5%
Nasdaq +0.3%

VIX -1.76 to 17.68
Gold +0.2% to $US4219.33 an ounce
Brent oil -4% to $US86.75 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US101.50 a ton

10-year yield:

US 4.48%
Australia 4.81%

TKO Holdings
$203.36
-10.34 -4.84%

Alphabet Inc Class A
$359.68
+1.91 +0.53%

Paramount Skydance Corp
$10.47
-0.020 -0.19%

News Lead Up (Australia)

The Australian sharemarket lost ground on Thursday, after the US launched further attacks on Iran; the S&P/ASX 200 eased 0.2 per cent to close at 8,633.2 points, having reached an intra-day low of 8,555.3. Ora Banda Mining was down 6.4 per cent at $1.02, NextDC fell 4.2 per cent to $14.50 and Westpac shed 2.6 per cent to end the session at $34.50. However, Karoon Energy rose 4.6 per cent to $2.05 and CSL was up 4.2 per cent at $107.23. (RMS)

News Lead Up

SpaceX IPO Nears, Pushing Elon Musk Toward Trillionaire Status

SpaceX plans to price shares at $135 each on Thursday, valuing the company at $1.77 trillion and raising up to $75 billion in the largest IPO ever, with trading possibly starting Friday on Nasdaq under SPCX. Musk's 42% stake would be worth $740 billion to $866 billion, combined with his $300 billion-plus Tesla holdings pushing his net worth over $1 trillion according to Forbes and Bloomberg estimates. Prediction markets give 96% odds he'll be the first trillionaire by year-end, amid X users celebrating employee windfalls and free markets while others decry economic inequality, with jokes about Musk's riches flying alongside analyst cautions on risks. (Media Man Peg-On): To the Moon, Mars and Beyond. Real Life Iron Musk firing on all cylinders. Investors getting stars in their eyes?! Record Breaking Rocket Man!?

News

Storms Clear for UFC's Historic White House Event

A massive crowd braved thunderstorms Friday for the UFC Freedom 250 press conference, delayed twice by heavy rain before fighters like Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje hyped tomorrow's fights on the White House South Lawn. The seven-fight card on June 14 marks America's 250th independence anniversary and President Trump's 80th birthday— the first pro sporting event ever at the White House, streaming live on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET. Stunning double rainbows against fiery skies capped the night, as thousands chanted and prepared for the patriotic spectacle amid tight Secret Service security.

News

News Lead Up

(ICYMI)

Gold News

Gold: has it bottomed out at $4,300

Gold is trying to find a bottom, bracing for the US CPI release

China continues to buy gold for the 19th consecutive month

The US dollar retreated after Israel and Iran announced a ceasefire. Donald Trump urged them not to shoot at each other. Nevertheless, the adversaries reserve the right to resume hostilities, keeping tensions high in the Middle East, which supports the greenback as a safe-haven asset.

Investors are fixated on Donald Trump’s determination to strike a deal with Tehran at any cost and are using the positive news to buy EURUSD. However, according to BMO Capital Markets, headlines are noise, whilst regime change is the signal. Oil prices will not collapse following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and high US inflation is set to persist for some time. The new administration will force the Fed to raise rates and make the US dollar the favourite in the forex market. The firm recommends buying the greenback against the euro, the pound and the yen.

This reasoning holds. With low unemployment and a tight labour market, any acceleration in US economic growth will lead to higher wages. This will push consumer prices upwards and prompt the Fed to tighten monetary policy. The federal funds rate could be raised even now. Inflation has long exceeded the 2% target, and the labour market is at its strongest since 2024.

The prospect of the Fed moving towards monetary tightening, combined with rising oil prices due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, has pushed gold back to levels seen at the start of 2026. The precious metal has wiped out all its gains this year due to the strengthening US dollar and rising Treasury bond yields.

Even active buying by central banks is failing to help gold bulls. The People’s Bank of China increased its reserves by 320,000 ounces in May, having purchased gold continuously for 19 months. This is the longest such streak since 2015, when regular publication of these statistics began.

The next test for gold will be the May US inflation report. Consumer prices are expected to rise from 3.8% to 4.2%, and core CPI from 2.8% to 2.9%. Such trends will increase the likelihood of the Fed tightening monetary policy and put pressure on gold.

Summary: Gold is under pressure from a strong dollar and expectations of accelerating US inflation. Even Chinese buying is not helping: the increased likelihood of a Fed rate hike is heightening the risks of a decline. (FxPro)

News

Sports/Gaming

Kristen Foxen Wins Sixth WSOP Bracelet and $1.77 Million in High Roller

The Canadian pro topped Galen Hall heads-up in the $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed event at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, earning a career-high $1,773,083 and pushing her total live earnings over $20.7 million. Hall took second for $1,182,050, with Biao Ding third at $819,504; the final table included Joey Weissman, Ignacio Moron, and others. Foxen's six bracelets now match an elite group of 11 players—twice as many as any other woman—and peers like Patrick Leonard hail her as possibly the best No-Limit Hold'em player in WSOP history. (Media Man Peg-On): Sport, Gambling or both?!

News

Danhausen Claims 7x WWE Grand Slam After Pinning Miz Seven Times

During WWE's Summer Tour stops in Strasbourg, Lisbon, Madrid, Bologna, and Rome from June 2-6, Danhausen racked up clean wins over Miz at non-televised events. He based his bold claim on Miz's real Grand Slam status, prompting fans to joke he's actually 14x and cheer him as the GOAT. While some critics want more TV time, supporters point to his merch success, sold-out crowds, and house show dominance. (Media Man Peg-On): News Hausen, Media Hausen. X News Grand Slam. Danhausen def AEW curse?!

News

Saudi Arabia step up push for direct flights to Australia

Australian cattle exporters have had to contend with limited access to air freight to countries in the Persian Gulf region since the Iran war began, as well as higher frieght costs. However, Saudia Cargo will shortly commence direct flights to Avalon Airport in Victoria and the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport in Queensland. Australia Saudi Business Council chairman Sam Jamsheedi says this will allow fresh meat from Australia to arrive in Saudi Arabia within 14 hours. He adds that negotiations have commenced for Riyadh Airlines to begin premium passenger flights on Australia-Middle East routes, in competition with established rivals Emirates and Qatar Airlines. (Media Man Peg On): Aussie beef may be the best in the world. Saudi knows quality. Take it to the bank! Aussie lamb takes a back seat?! Don't start us on Kangaroo!

News

(ICYMI)

(Aust)

News

Mining: Australia

Mining giants fuel surge in renewables financing

Construction of 2.6 gigawatts of solar energy projects has begun in Australia since the start of 2026. Data from consulting firm Rystad Energy shows that nearly 95 per cent of these projects feature a storage battery. Factors such as the falling cost of batteries has boosted investment in solar projects, while Rio Tinto and Fortescue have also ramped up spending on such projects to supply energy to their operations in Australia. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the 'green' energy rollout is putting downward pressure on electricity prices. (RMS) (Media Man Peg On): Developing situation!

Invest/gamble at own risk!

News

Bitcoin News

Bitcoin is losing the confidence of major holders

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has been rapidly shrinking since the start of the new week, falling by 5% to $2.38 trillion, its lowest level since early April. It appears that confidence in the prospects of cryptocurrency has fallen sharply following reports of a largely symbolic BTC sale from Strategy’s balance sheet, which may be followed by more active selling from other holders. We also cannot rule out an ‘Iranian connection’, as reports of seizures of Iranian cryptocurrency undermine the notion of anonymity and untraceability that has long underpinned the crypto market. The solid performance of supposedly anonymous coins fits neatly into this hypothesis. Thus, over the past 24 hours, the top performers have been NEAR Protocol (+14.8%), Internet Computer (+10.2%) and Zcash (+5%). The three worst performers are Stellar (-13.2%), Basic Attention Token (-10%) and Bitcoin (-4.3%).

Bitcoin is accelerating its decline, having fallen to $69K, even though it started the week just above $74K. As expected, the drop below the 50-day moving average a week ago followed more than a week of selling pressure at that level. Technically, the leading cryptocurrency faces relatively few obstacles on its way down to the $65-66K range, but further down, longer-term support may come into play, having halted the decline in February and March.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds fell by $1.671 billion last week, marking the largest outflow since January. Investments in Bitcoin fell by $1.438 billion (the largest outflow from BTC this year), in Ethereum by $257 million, in Solana by $1 million, and in Sui by $1 million. Investments in altcoins rose by $20 million in XRP, $11 million in Hyperliquid, and $8 million in Near.

Sentiment towards Bitcoin on social media has reached its most positive level since the start of the year, despite the crypto market’s decline in May, Santiment notes. In the past, such surges in optimism have often coincided with local highs in the asset’s price.

Strategy has sold Bitcoin for the first time since 2022. Last week, 32 BTC were sold for approximately $2.5 million at an average price of $77,135 per coin. The largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, which had previously promised never to sell the asset, will use the proceeds to pay dividends on preference shares.

As a result of the latest adjustment, Bitcoin’s mining difficulty rose by 1.72% to 138.96 T. The figure has returned to its April highs.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has renamed the cryptocurrency Toncoin (TON) to Gram (GRAM), describing the rebranding as a return to its roots. The blockchain will retain the name TON (The Open Network). No action is required from token holders.

Summary: Bitcoin accelerated its decline towards $69K amid a record outflow from crypto funds and Strategy’s first BTC sale since 2022, heightening fears among large holders. (FxPro)

(Media Man Peg-On): Invest/gamble at own risk!

News

Gaming/UFC

EA Sports UFC 6 Revives Open Weight Class Selection for Ranked Matches

EA Sports UFC 6 restores open weight class selection in Prospect ranked ladder placement matches, letting players choose divisions freely just weeks before the June 19 launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The feature, a hit in the first three games, was dropped in UFC 4 and 5 for rotating classes but returns alongside revamped fighter ratings and Flow State perks to mix up matchups. Streamers like Liam Healy hail it as a game-changer, though some note potential matchmaking issues in lighter divisions and lament the lack of PC support at launch. (Media Man Peg-On): The best of both worlds. Ground and pound and strike action. Take down your gaming store today, in a fun and friendly way. Road To The White House?!

News

Streaming/Netflix

Netflix Greenlights War Machine Sequel After Massive Hit

The sci-fi action film War Machine, directed by Patrick Hughes and starring Alan Ritchson, launched on Netflix March 6, 2026, and racked up 39.3 million views in three days.

News

(ICYMI)

News Flasback

(In Case You Missed It)

News

Heavy Industry News

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

News

Gold Movie

Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

News Flashback

Early 2026

January and March

Streaming Wars
The "Streaming Wars" refers to the intense competition among digital media platforms to dominate the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market by capturing and retaining global audiences.

As of early 2026, the landscape has shifted from a period of rapid expansion into a phase of major consolidation and a focus on profitability over subscriber volume.

The "Winner" and Current State (2026)

Netflix Dominance: Industry analysts increasingly cite Netflix as the victor. In January 2026, Netflix reported 18% year-over-year revenue growth and is currently pursuing a high-stakes $83 billion all-cash acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets (including HBO/Max).

The "Big 3": Despite fierce competition, the market is primarily dominated by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

YouTube's Rise: Some experts argue YouTube is the true winner of the broader attention economy, surpassing traditional streaming services in total viewership by pivoting back to user-generated content.

Key Strategies in 2026

Consolidation: Smaller or struggling services are being shuttered or merged. For example, Disney recently shut down Hulu as a standalone service.

Monetization Shifts: Platforms have moved away from "growth at all costs" to strategies like password-sharing crackdowns, ad-supported tiers, and price hikes.

Live Sports & Events: Services are increasingly bidding on live sports rights (e.g., Netflix hosting WWE's Raw starting in 2025) to differentiate their offerings.

Bundling: To combat "subscription fatigue," platforms are forming strategic partnerships with telecommunications companies and banks to offer bundled service hubs.

Consumer Impact

Price Hikes: Many consumers are canceling services due to rising costs; over 40% of Americans cited price as their primary reason for unsubscribing in late 2025.

Resurgence of Piracy: Fragmented content and high costs have led to a significant comeback for pirate sites, which some users now find more comprehensive than paid services.

"South Park: The Streaming Wars": The term was popularized in mainstream culture by a 2-part South Park special released on Paramount+ in 2022, which satirized the industry's aggressive competition.

News/Profile

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (HPPL) is a privately owned Australian mineral exploration and agriculture company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. As of 2026, it is recognized as one of the most successful private companies in Australian history.

Leadership and Ownership

Executive Chairwoman: Gina Rinehart AO, who has led the company since 1992.

CEO: Garry Korte.

Ownership: The company is owned by Gina Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

Major Mining Operations

The company has transitioned from a prospecting firm into a major global miner, with primary interests in the Pilbara region:

Roy Hill: A flagship mega-project and Australia’s largest single iron ore mine, producing 60–70 million tonnes annually.

Hope Downs: A 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto, comprising four open-pit mines with a capacity of approximately 47Mtpa.

Atlas Iron: Acquired in 2018, it operates the Mount Webber, Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek mines.

Hancock Iron Ore: A new entity formed in July 2025 to consolidate Roy Hill and Atlas Iron operations.

Diversification and Strategic Investments

Under Rinehart’s leadership, the company has expanded significantly into other sectors:

Agriculture: Hancock is Australia's second-largest beef producer, owning over 25 properties including the iconic S. Kidman & Co. It also owns 50% of Bannister Downs Dairy.

Critical Minerals: Major stakes in lithium (Liontown Resources, Azure Minerals, Vulcan Energy) and rare earths (Arafura Rare Earths, MP Materials, Lynas Rare Earths).

Energy: Significant interests in oil and gas through Warrego Energy and Senex Energy.

International Ventures: In January 2026, the company signed a gold exploration license agreement with Saudi Arabia's state-owned miner, Ma’aden.

Current Events (January 2026)

Australia Day Sponsorship: The company is the principal partner for the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Australia Day celebrations in Perth.

Helipad Proposal: In December 2025, the City of Perth refused the company's proposal to build a helipad at its West Perth headquarters.

Financial Performance: For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported a profit of AU$3.08 billion.

History

The company was founded on November 25, 1955, by Lang Hancock, who is credited with discovering the world's largest iron ore deposit in 1952. When Gina Rinehart took over following his death in 1992, the company was in a precarious financial state with significant debt.

News

Gold (1974)

Gold is a 1974 British action-thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, starring Roger Moore and Susannah York. Based on the 1970 novel Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith, the film is set in the South African goldfields and follows a conspiracy by a global syndicate to manipulate the price of gold by sabotaging a rich mine.

Plot: Rod Slater (Moore), a newly appointed general manager, is manipulated by his boss, Manfred Steyner (Bradford Dillman), into drilling through a protective barrier into a subterranean lake. This is intended to flood the mine, causing a global gold shortage and driving up prices for a greedy cabal.

Production Controversy: The film was controversially shot on location in South Africa during the apartheid era. This led to a "black ban" by British film unions, though some crew members defied it to work on the production.

James Bond Connection: Many crew members were veterans of the James Bond franchise, including director Peter Hunt (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), editor John Glen, and title designer Maurice Binder.

Accolades: The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Wherever Love Takes Me," composed by Elmer Bernstein and sung by Maureen McGovern.

Cast & Crew

Rod Slater: Roger Moore

Terry Steyner: Susannah York

Hurry Hirschfeld: Ray Milland

Manfred Steyner: Bradford Dillman

Farrell: John Gielgud

Director: Peter R. Hunt

Music: Elmer Bernstein

Availability in 2026

As of 2026, the film is available through several formats and platforms:

Streaming: Accessible on Prime Video, Tubi, and Roku devices.

Physical Media: High-definition restorations are available on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber and 88 Films

News

Pop Culture

"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)

"Gold" is a signature 1983 hit by the British New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, written by Gary Kemp.

Lyrics

Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here, I could have sworn These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh but I'm proud of you but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in

'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

Oh after the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime It's only two years ago

The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case Now he's in love with you he's in love with you

My love is like a high prison wall But you could leave me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

My love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Oh always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return Something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

Songwriter: Gary James Kemp

Spandau Ballet - Gold (HD Remastered)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc

Official video of Spandau Ballet performing 'Gold' from their 1983 third album 'True'.

Gary Kemp wrote both the music and lyrics; the song was produced by the partnership of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The music video was filmed on location in Carmona, Spain and directed by Brian Duffy. The video featured Sadie Frost as a gold-painted nymph, in one of her earlier roles. Some parts of the music video were also filmed in Leighton House, which was also used in the video for "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers.

Spandau Ballet are one of Britain’s great iconic bands having sold over 25 million records, scored numerous multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across the globe since their humble beginnings as a group of friends with dreams of stardom in the late 1970s. It wasn’t long before they became fully-fledged members of the iconic Blitz Club scene and established themselves as one of the super-groups of the 80s.

The band's classic line-up features brothers Gary and Martin Kemp on guitars, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble.

Spandau Ballet’s hits include Gold, True, To Cut A Long Story Short, Through The Barricades and many more.
News

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Business Of The Month' award

Sky News Australia wins Media Man 'Australian Media Outlet Of The Month' award

WWE wins 'Wrestling Promotion Of the Month' award; Runner-up: Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

Media Man

Movie Box Office (North America)

June 7, 2026

(In Case You Missed It)

1. Scary Movie - $55m

2. Masters of the Universe - $29.3m

3. Backrooms - $25.9m

4. Obsession - $25.6m

5. The Amazing Digital Circus - $11.6m

6. Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu - $10m

7. Michael - $7.7m

8. The Breadwinner - $3.4m

9. Pressure - $3m

10. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $2.8m

others ...

The Sheep Detectives
Passenger
Mortal Kombat II
I Love Boosters
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Project Hail Mary
Top Gun
In the Grey
Is God Is
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
Hokum
Deep Water
Animal Farm
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

May 31, 2026

1. Backrooms - $81.5m

2. Obsession - $26.4m

3. Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu - $25m

4. Michael - $11.7m

5. The Breadwinner - $7.5m

6. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $5.9m

7. Pressure - $5.8m

8. The Sheep Detectives - $4.6m

9. Passenger - $2.6m

10. Mortal Kombat II - $2m

others ...

I Love Boosters
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Project Hail Mary
Top Gun
In the Grey
Is God Is
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
Hokum
Deep Water
Animal Farm
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

May 24, 2026

1. Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu - $82m

2. Obsession - $22m

3. Michael - $20m

4. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $12.6m

5. The Sheep Detectives - $9m

6. Passenger - $8.7m

7. Mortal Kombat II - $6.2m

8. I Love Boosters - $3.7m

9. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $3.2m

10. Project Hail Mary - $2.7m

others ...

Top Gun
In the Grey
Is God Is
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft
Hokum
Deep Water
Animal Farm
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

May 17, 2026

1. Michael - $26.1m

2. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $18m

3. Obsession - $16.1m

4. Mortal Kombat II - $13.4m

5. The Sheep Detectives - $9.3m

6. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $4.5m

7. Project Hail Mary - $4m

8. Top Gun: - $3.1m

9. In the Grey - $3m

10. Is God Is - $2.2m

others ...

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - $7.5m
Hokum - $3.3m
Deep Water - $780,000
Animal Farm - $664,000
Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

May 10, 2026

1. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $43m

2. Mortal Kombat II - $40m

3. Michael - $36.5m

4. The Sheep Detectives $16m

5. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - $7.5m

6. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $6.6m

7. Project Hail Mary - $6.1m

8. Hokum - $3.3m

9. Deep Water - $780,000

10. Animal Farm - $664,000

others ...

Lee Cronin's The Mummy
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea
The Drama
Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

May 3, 2026

1. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - $77m

2. Michael - $54m

3. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $12.1m

4. Project Hail Mary - $8.6m

5. Hokum - $6.4m

6. Animal Farm - $3.4m

7. Lee Cronin's The Mummy - $2.2m

8. Deep Water - $2.15m

9. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea - $1m

10. The Drama -$908,000

others ...

Hoppers
You, Me & Tuscany
Over Your Dead Body
Mother Mary
American Youngboy
Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang

News

The Lead Up (For reference, research and historical)

April 26, 2026

1. Michael - $97m

2. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $21.2m

3. Project Hail Mary - $13.2m

4. Lee Cronin's The Mummy - $5.6m

5. The Drama -$2.6m

6. Hoppers - $1.9m

7. You, Me & Tuscany - $1.5m

8. Over Your Dead Body - $1.4m

9. Mother Mary - $1.3m

10. American Youngboy - $1.2m

others

Norman
BTS World Tour Arirang
Busboys
Bhooth Bangla
Faces of Death
Exit 8
A Great Awakening
Reminders of Him
They Will Kill You
Dhurandhar The Revenge
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Undertone

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

News

Movie Box Office (North America)

April 19, 2026

1. Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $35m

2. Project Hail Mary - $20.5m

3. Lee Cronin's The Mummy - $13.5m

4. The Drama -$4.8m

5. You, Me & Tuscany - $3.8m

6. Hoppers - $2.9m

7. Norman - $2.7m

8. BTS World Tour Arirang - $1.8m

9. Busboys - $1.7m

10. Bhooth Bangla - $950,000

others ...

Faces of Death
Exit 8
A Great Awakening
Reminders of Him
They Will Kill You
Dhurandhar The Revenge
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Undertone

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

April 12, 2026

1. Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $69m

2. Project Hail Mary - $25m

3. The Drama -$8.7m

4. You, Me & Tuscany - $8m

5. Hoppers - $4.1m

6. BTS World Tour Arirang - $2.4m

7. Faces of Death - $1.7m

8. Exit 8 - $1.4m

9. A Great Awakening - $1.3m

10. Reminders of Him - $1m

others

They Will Kill You
Dhurandhar The Revenge
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Undertone

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and historical purposes)

April 5, 2026

1. Super Mario Galaxy Movie - $131m

2. Project Hail Mary - $31m

3. The Drama -$14m

4. Hoppers - $5.8m

5. Reminders of Him $2.2m

6. A Great Awakening - $2.1m

7. They Will Kill You - $1.9m

8. Dhurandhar The Revenge - $1.82m

9. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come - $1.82m

10. Undertone - $1.1m

others ...

Scream 7
GOAT
Forbidden Fruits

News

The Lead Up

(For educational, reference and historical purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

March 29, 2026

1. Project Hail Mary - $55m

2. Hoppers - $12.2m

3. They Will Kill You - $5m

4. Dhurandhar The Revenge - $4.75m

5. Reminders of Him - $4,7m

6. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come - $4m

7. Scream 7 - $2.6m

8. GOAT - $2.2m

9. Undertone - $1.7m

10. Forbidden Fruits - $1.2m

others ...

Wuthering Heights

Avatar: Fire and Ash

News Lead Up (For reference, historical and educational purposes)

March 22, 2026

1. Project Hail Mary - $80.6m

2. Hoppers - $18.m

3. Dhurandhar The Revenge - $9.6m

4. Ready or Not: Here I Come - $9.1m

5. Reminders of Him - $8m

6. Scream 7 - $4.3m

7. GOAT - $3.5m

8. Undertone - $3m

9. Wuthering Heights - $475,000

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash - $280,000

others ...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

Crime 101

The Bride!

Kiki's Delivery Service

News

The Lead Up (For reference, historical and educational purposes)

March 15, 2026

1. Hoppers - $28.5m

2. Reminders of Him - $18.3m

3. Undertone - $9.3m

4. Scream 7 - $8.4m

5. GOAT - $4.7m

6. The Bride! - $2.1m

7. Kiki's Delivery Service - $1.668m

8. Wuthering Heights - $1.665m

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze - $1.5m

10. Crime 101 - $1.1m

others ...

Send Help
Can Only Imagine 2
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Demon Slayer

News

The Lead Up

News Flashback

(For Reference, Historical and Educational Purposes)

March 8, 2026

1. Hoppers - $46m

2. Scream 7 - $7.3m

3. The Bride! - $7.3m

4. GOAT - $7.3m

5. Wuthering Heights - $3.8m

6. Crime 101 - $2.1m

7. Send Help - $1.6m

8. I Can Only Imagine 2 - $1.5m

9. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert - $1.5m

10. Demon Slayer - $1.3m

others

Solo Mio
Zootopia 2
Avatar: Fire and Ash

The Lead Up

News Flashback

(For Reference, Historical and Educational Purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

February 22, 2026

1. GOAT - $17m

2. Wuthering Heights - $14.2m

3. I Can Only Imagine 2 - $8m

4. Crime 101 - $5.8m

5. Send Help - $4.5m

6. How to Make a Killing - $3.6m

7. Elvis Presley in Concert - $3.3m

8. Solo Mio - $2.6m

9. Zootopia 2 - $2.3m

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash - $1.8m

others ...

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
Iron Lung
Dracula

News

The Lead Up (for historical, reference and educational purposes)

February 15, 2026

1. Wuthering Heights - $34.8m

2. GOAT - $26m

3. Crime 101 - $15.1m

4. Send Help - $9m

5. Solo Mio - $6.8m

6. Zootopia 2 - $3.8m

7. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die - $3.6m

8. Avatar: Fire and Ash - $3.33m

9. Iron Lung - $3.3m

10. Dracula - $3

others ...

The Strangers: Chapter 3
Shelter
Melania
Mercy

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News

The Lead Up (For historical, educational and reference purposes)

Movie Box Office (North America)

February 8, 2026

1. Send Help - $10m

2. Solo Mio - $7.2m

3. Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience - $5.6m

4. Dracula - $4.5m

5. Zootopia 2 - $4m

6. Avatar: Fire and Ash - $3.5m

7. The Strangers: Chapter 3 - $3.5m

8. Shelter - $2.4m

9. Melania - $2.38m

10. Mercy - $2m

others ...

Iron Lung
The Housemaid
Marty Supreme
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

News

The Lead Up (for historical, reference and educational purposes)

February 1, 2026

1. Send Help - $20m

2. Iron Lung - $18m

3.Melania $8m approx
(MGM)

4. Zootopia 2 - $5.8m

5. Shelter - $5.5m

6. Avatar: Fire & Ash - $5.5m

7. Mercy - $4.7m

8. The Housemaid - $3.5m

9. Marty Supreme - $2.9m

10. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - $1.6m

Media Man: *more numbers and details within 24 hours. Not 100 percent accurate at time of publication. Confirming stats with bean counters and those in the know! Let's go Melania and Let's go Sydney Sweeney! Beats critics to punch! Well done ladies.

News Flashback

January 2026

(In Case You Missed It)

(For historical, data and reference purposes)

Jan 25

1. Mercy - $11.1m

2. Avatar: Fire and Ash: $7m
20th Century Studios/Lightstorm Entertainment

3. Zootopia 2 - $5.7m

4. The Housemaid -$4.2m
Lionsgate

5. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - $3.6m
Sony Pictures

6. Marty Supreme - $3.5m

7. Return to Silent Hill - $3.3m

8. Hamnet - $2m

9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings - $2m

10. Primate - $1.6m

others

Greenland 2
Anaconda
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

News

The Lead Up

Last Week

Jan 18

1. Avatar: Fire and Ash: $13.3m
20th Century Studios/Lightstorm Entertainment

2. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - $13m
Sony Pictures

3. Zootopia 2 - $8.8m

4. The Housemaid - $8.5m
Lionstate

5. Marty Supreme - $5.5m

6. Primate - $5m

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - $3.5m

8. Greenland 2 - $3.4m

9. Anaconda - $3.2m

10. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants - $2.3m

Media Man: *We have been getting a range of numbers from various (unnamed sources) for the past 12 hours. As far as we know the above numbers are correct (but we haven't seen the real books)!!!

News

The Week Before

Movie Box Office (North America)

January 2026

Jan 11

1. Avatar: Fire and Ash - $21.3m

2. Primate - $11.3m

3. The Housemaid - $11.2m

4. Zootopia 2 - $10.1m

5. Greenland 2 - 8.5m

6. Marty Supreme - $7.6m

7. Anaconda - $5.1m

8. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants - $3.8m

9. David - $3.1m

10. Song Sung Blue - $3m

others ...

Wicked: For Good

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

Media Man Int

X News

June 2026

George Miller Pitches Final Mad Max Film After Warner Bros. Passes

Warner Bros. turned down Miller's pitch for a new Mad Max movie and potential TV spinoff, citing the recent box-office shortfall of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which earned $174 million worldwide against a $168 million budget despite strong reviews. Now, Amazon MGM Studios, Universal Pictures, and Sony Pictures are interested in picking up the rights, possibly for a prequel called Mad Max: The Wasteland centered on Max Rockatansky's early wanderings. Fans are buzzing with excitement, pleading for one more high-octane adventure from the director who redefined action with Fury Road's practical stunts and Oscar wins. (Mefia Man Peg-On): The legend of Mad Max and Dr George Miller will live on forever!

News

Papa Johns Recreates Pizza Planet for Toy Story 5 Hype

Papa Johns turned a West Hollywood storefront into the retro-futuristic pizzeria from the 1995 Toy Story, open for one day on Friday with themed pizzas like Space Ranger Roni and photo booths stocked with Toy Story 5 merchandise. Timed tickets sold out quickly, but walk-ins kept crowds coming to see the yellow delivery truck and neon Mission Control projections. This is one of four global pop-ups in London, Seoul, and Madrid, building excitement for Toy Story 5, where Woody, Buzz, and Jessie tackle kids' love for tech toys, directed by Andrew Stanton and hitting theaters June 19.

News

24 Years Since Live-Action Scooby-Doo Hit Theaters

The live-action Scooby-Doo, directed by Raja Gosnell and written by James Gunn, starred Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, and Linda Cardellini as Velma. They reunite on Spooky Island to solve a haunted resort mystery with possessions and demons, grossing over $275 million despite mixed reviews and a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score. Matthew Lillard's manic Shaggy stole the show, turning the film into a cult favorite that fans still quote and rewatch for its Y2K vibes and self-aware laughs.

News

The Batman Part II Begins Filming with First Clapperboard Shot

Production on The Batman: Part II started after years of delays from strikes and script work, with Robert Pattinson returning as Batman alongside Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright, and newcomers like Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan. The sequel builds on the 2022 film's $770 million success and noir style in Matt Reeves' standalone Gotham vision, separate from the main DCU, and arrives in theaters October 1, 2027. Rehearsals kicked off in London, and early excitement from the cast and crew has fans eager for more details on the grounded story penned with Mattson Tomlin.

News

Fans Celebrate 13th Anniversary of Man of Steel

Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' hit theaters on June 14, 2013, rebooting Superman's origin story with Cavill as Clark Kent facing General Zod's invasion, alongside Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Russell Crowe as Jor-El. The movie grossed $670 million worldwide, wowed audiences with Hans Zimmer's score and groundbreaking action, though critics gave mixed reviews for its grim tone. Today, fans highlight Cavill's intensity, emotional moments like young Clark hearing his mother's voice, and its lasting cult status in the Snyderverse, even outgrossing James Gunn's 2025 Superman.

News

IGN Ranks The Mandalorian and Grogu Near Bottom of Live-Action Star Wars Films

IGN's new ranking tops with The Empire Strikes Back, followed by A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, down to The Mandalorian and Grogu at number 10—above only Attack of the Clones and The Rise of Skywalker. Critics gave mixed reviews at 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, calling it mediocre with a thin plot despite strong visuals and Pedro Pascal's charm, while audiences loved it at 88%, the highest for Disney-era Star Wars. The film earned $300 million worldwide against a $165 million budget after a soft $81 million domestic opening, splitting fans who praised the fun action and father-son bond between Mando and Grogu. (Media Man Peg-On): Opinion by IGN. Not forcing the issue. The Star Wars Universe can decide.

News

X-Men'97

The future of X-Men '97 is just getting started. Brad Winderbaum teases two more seasons of Marvel Animation's #XMen97 at Tribeca Festival alongside executive producers Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, and Larry Houston. (Credit: Marvel). (Media Man Peg-On): Marvel vs DC/Warner Bros! We choose both. Can we say a tie?! Pop Culture Dream Match: Stan Lee vs Mr Warner! Fantasy Booking in alive in the Superhero Universe via the Media Man Group.

News

Pro Wrestling

Killer Kross Submits Matt Riddle to Retain MLW World Heavyweight Title

Killer Kross, with Scarlett Bordeaux at his side, defended his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Matt Riddle in the main event of Fusion from Chicago's Cicero Stadium on Saturday night. The violent clash ended with Kross' 'jacket' submission, mirroring their first encounter where he also made Riddle tap. Earlier, Kushida retained the World Middleweight Title over Alan Angels, and Josh Bishop delivered chaos in a Chicago Street Fight against Matt Justice. With Alex Hammerstone lurking for a title shot, Kross' reign strengthens amid rising rivalries. (Media Man Peg-On): This is Pro Wrestling and This Is Cinema! The Killer vs The Riddler, in the Squared Circus. Kross Club!

News

Media Man

The Late Mail

‘Disclosure Day’ Beams Up $6.5M in Previews

Full report and updated numbers within 24 hours

Media Man

Streaming, PPVs, live event ticket sales; A Pandora's box for promoters and fans

WWE sports entertainment vs Impact Wrestling vs New Japan Pro Wrestling vs Independent promotions

UFC vs WWE vs Bellator MMA vs Pancrase vs Independent promotions

Welcome to Fight Club; What's the first rule about Fight Club?

Promoters, sports and entertainment media duke it out for the winners purse

References

IMDB

Box Office Mojo

The Hollywood Reporter

Variety

News.com.au - Entertainment

The Sydney Morning Herald - Culture

Advertise, Promote and Publicize your brand or business here

The Weeknd defends ‘douchebag’ character’s sex scene in The Idol following backlash

June 2023

The Weekend has defended his character on the highly risqué series The Idol after a graphic sex scene caused controversy.

The Weekend defended his “despicable” character on the highly controversial HBO series The Idol after a graphic sex scene left viewers horrified.

“There’s nothing sexy about it,” the singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, told GQ magazine on Tuesday of the scene involving his character, a shady club mogul named Tedros.

“However you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to: this guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.”

The scene in question features Tedros in an uncomfortably hot and heavy moment with struggling pop star Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp on the show, which airs locally on Binge.

At one point Tesfaye’s character told the pop icon to “f***in’ stretch that tiny little p***y” while she put her fingers inside her mouth.

The Blinding Lights singer contended that the sex scene is portrayed in such a “gluttonous” way because Tedros, a mysterious club owner, “can’t believe he’s there”.

“You look at him, and this is a score – Jocelyn might be the biggest score he’s ever had. It’s very obvious,” he elaborated. “He’s overindulging, he walks into this house looking around like, ‘Goddamn, am I way over my head? This can be the biggest job I’ve ever done.’”

While Tesfaye, 33, defended the sex scene’s graphic moments, the singer-turned-actor did agree that his character “comes off like such a loser”.

“He’s despicable, a psychopath – why sugar-coat it?” the Starboy singer stated. “There’s nothing really mysterious or hypnotising about him. And we did that on purpose with his look, his outfits, his hair – the guy’s a douchebag.”

Sunday evening, viewers immediately took to Twitter to slam Tesfaye after the lewd scene aired.

A user wrote that they had “lost respect” for Tesfaye after watching the episode.

As Page Six previously reported in March, the TV drama was slammed by alleged cast and crew members as a “rape fantasy” prior to its release.

“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show – and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” one crew member told Rolling Stone.

Another told the magazine, “It was like, ‘What is this? What am I reading here?’ It was like sexual torture porn.”

However, HBO stood by Levinson’s creative direction in a statement provided to Page Six.

“The creators and producers of ‘The Idol’ have been working hard to create one of HBO’s most exciting and provocative original programs,” the network said.

“The initial approach on the show and production of the early episodes, unfortunately, did not meet HBO standards so we chose to make a change.

“Throughout the process, the creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative, and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew. We look forward to sharing The Idol with audiences soon.”

Depp, 24, has also kept a positive demeanour amid backlash from viewers for showing too much “breast” and “a**”.

“I love Abel so much,” she said during a post-premiere show breakdown. “He was able to melt into this role in a way that is really difficult for anybody to do.”

News

How ‘Succession’ rich is different from ‘Dallas’ rich

31st May 2023

In 1980, American wealth inequality was still near its postwar lows. Today, the very rich are very, very, very richer.

On November 21, 1980, more than 83 million people – over three-quarters of the entire American TV viewership – watched “Who Done It?“, the episode of Dallas that revealed who shot the love-to-hate-him oil magnate J.R. Ewing. The mystery, which CBS milked for eight solid months, was a consuming obsession, a Texas-sized example of the power of 20th-century TV to focus the world on one thing.

On Sunday (Monday AEST), HBO’s Succession answered the question of who inherits the media empire of the late tyrant Logan Roy in front of a viewership of – well, a lot less than 83 million. (The show’s final season premiere had 2.3 million same-day viewers in the US; delayed viewing on streaming brings the total average audience to more than 8 million.)

Airing its finale to a much more dispersed audience is a fitting end to the saga of a family that got rich off the modern media market, whose final episodes are set against the backdrop of a country that is coming apart.

But numbers aside, Succession is in many ways the premium-cable, late-capitalist heir to Dallas, a prime-time saga that uses delicious dialogue and sibling rivalries to explore the particular nature of wealth in its time. It’s Dallas after 40-plus years of wealth concentration and media fragmentation.

The “Who Shot J.R.?” sensation was, in retrospect, the high-water mark of mass media’s reach. In 1980, three US networks still controlled the entire TV audience, which they soon had to share with cable. It was also a cultural turning point: prime time was becoming fascinated with the rich just as the Reagan revolution was beginning.

Succession is very different to Dallas in the details. There are no twangy accents, assassination attempts, cliffhangers or season-long dreams. Its plot turns are simply, devastatingly inevitable: the show sets up conditions, gives its characters motivations and lets them act in their interests. (Yellowstone is a closer heir to Dallas in both cowboy hats and murder plots.)

And if the Succession audience is smaller, the money is, pointedly, bigger. Rewatched in 2023, the idea of luxury in Dallas looks quaint, almost dowdy. The aesthetic is Texan country club; the Ewing homestead, the size of a decent suburban McMansion, is a toolshed next to the Manhattan eyries, Hamptons manors and Italian villas that the Roys flitter among.

Some of this is a matter of modern premium-cable budgets versus the grind of old-school network-TV production, of course. But it also reflects the changed, distorting nature of modern riches. In 1980, American wealth inequality was still near its postwar lows. Since then, the wealth of the top 0.01 per cent has grown at a rate roughly five times as much as that of the population overall. Today, the very rich are very, very, very richer.

Decadent pleasure

The holdings of Waystar Royco – Hollywood studios, cruise lines, newspapers, amusement parks, a king-making right-wing news channel – make Ewing Oil look like a franchise service station. We know only vaguely how Logan Roy built his empire, but it was enabled partly by the media-consolidation and antitrust deregulation, beginning in the Dallas/Reagan era, that allowed his real-life analogues such as Rupert Murdoch to make their own piles.

Meanwhile, the smaller TV audiences of the cable and streaming age have allowed Succession to thrive as a more specific and more niche entertainment. A series in the three-network era had to appeal to tens of millions of people just to stay on the air – Dallas needed to serve a crowd-pleasing spread. Succession can afford to be a rarefied, decadent pleasure, like an ortolan, the deep-fried songbird, eaten whole, that was featured in a memorable Season 1 meal.

Dallas, like its followers from Dynasty through Empire, was in the populist soap-opera tradition of letting the audience delight in the woes of rich people. Its characters were like us – jealous, envious, heartbroken – just with more money and less happiness.

Succession has its crowd-pleasing and universal elements too. Logan was an irresistible brute, able to pack a Shakespeare soliloquy’s worth of emotion into a two-word curse. The Roy children – Kendall, Roman, Shiv and their half brother, Connor – have developed a survivors’ bond and survivalist cutthroat instincts; one arm joins the group hug, the other holds a dagger. At root, the series’ family themes are talk-show simple: hurt people hurt people.

But its voice, as set by the creator, Jesse Armstrong, is arch and referential; its details demand a range of knowledge or at least the willingness to Google.

Like Mad Men before it, Succession is a drama that also happens to be the funniest thing on TV any given week. (Its earliest episodes tilted the other way, with the rhythms of a comedy disguised as a premium-TV drama.)

But its showmanship is informed by a caustic clarity about the toxic business culture Logan Roy built.

I once wrote that Succession viewers “can enjoy it knowing that we have no stake, except for the tiny fact that people like the Roys run the world”. This final season has emphasised that that is a very big “except”.

No consequences

Succession has long hinted at the Roys’ willingness to play footsie with dark political forces for ratings and influence. Waystar’s right-wing news network, ATN, leaves a popular commentator on the air despite his Nazi sympathies. The family backs a far-right presidential candidate, Jeryd Mencken, who voices openness to the ideas of Adolf Hitler and Francisco Franco. (Mencken fittingly shares a surname with the American writer who said: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.”)

Part of the fantasy of past rich-family sagas was that none of the drama affected you, even by implication. When Ewings did each other dirty in the oil business, you were never asked to imagine yourself, somewhere offscreen, seeing your petrol prices go up.

Succession, on the other hand, argues that the problems of today’s hyper-rich inevitably become ours because they have so much influence and so little sense of responsibility. (Its main exception is the Pierce family, the owners of a rival media empire, whose blue-blood noblesse oblige comes across as patronising and ineffectual.) We are swamped in the wake of their yachts and chopped up by the propeller blades, even if the billionaires, sitting on the top deck, scarcely feel a bump.

And while the damaged characters are fascinating, even pitiable, there’s no one among the Roys or their enablers worth rooting for. As with Game of Thrones, if you think the important thing is who finally ends up in the big chair, you’re missing the point.

Throughout the series, the constant has been that however the Roys might suffer, emotionally or on the corporate org chart, they never faced true material consequences. They might be more calculated than F. Scott Fitzgerald’s careless Tom and Daisy Buchanan, but they still smashed up things and creatures and retreated into their money.

Sports Betting and Branding Opportunity

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Creative: Human Statue Bodyart

Opportunities, threats and unknowns, by Greg Tingle

Vince McMahon vs Hulk Hogan. WWE WrestleMania 18. King of sports entertainment promoters vs king of professional wrestling.

by Greg Tingle

The world of sports (should say Business of Sports), is an extension of the entertainment and business world, for the most past these days.

Just ask the promoters and management of giants such as the WWE, UFC, AFL, NRL, NBL, Cricket Australia and you get the idea.

Sports betting wasn't invented just for the fun of it. It's designed to make money for the companies and brands associated, hence Australian sports promoters are hoping to retain an element of sports betting in their overall business models, ideally 'live in play', if they can swing it.

Merchandising and sports broadcasting rights are of course a major part of the equation. In recent years the internet platforms have changed the game for sports promoters and presented more opportunities and threats.

The cool kids and their parents are running around with smartphones, hence the whole world can be citizen broadcasters and journalists. The exclusive and precious media elements is all but gone.

The smart operators are standing out from the pack and evolving with the times. WWE's Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H will survive. So will the UFC's Dana White, but a sustainable business model in these volatile times is not guaranteed. Ever hear of Enron (The Smartest Guys In The Room) or PSINet? Some companies were supposed to be too big to fail, but somehow found a way.

Currently Facebook is experiencing a PR disaster, and its a lot more involved the under perming for a few campaigns.

WWE Mixed Match Challenge has enjoyed a couple of runs via Facebook, which is quite entertaining. Fortunately for the WWE the series is available on a number of platforms including WWE.com, WWE YouTube and the WWE Network. Risk management and cross promotion has proved to be a smart strategy for the sports entertainment giant, and other smart operators should be looking to do the same. You need to reach your sports and entertainment loving audience, no matter where they are.

Sports or The Business Of Sport?

We know the WWE is sports entertainment, and for the most part, match winners are pre determined.

For a number of years some traditional pure sports such as Cricket and Tennis have had their pedigree and pureness questioned and comprised, witness the explosion of sports business and mega sports and media rights. There's so much money involved that some things are happening to sport that shouldn't be.

Let's not even get started on FIFA or the Olympic Games should we? There's books on it, because many things have occurred which move sport into the sports business spectrum.

What does sport need to do to survive?

Live crowd attendance, ticket sales, media and sponsorship rights, and to stay relevant for a start.

To be continued...

Mayweather Promotions official website

Floyd 'Money' Mayweather made plenty for himself and his fellow promoters over the decades

Show Boxing (Showtime) official website

FOX Sports Australia

FOX Sports Australia does (or did) have a business arrangement with CrownBet. CrownBet is now EasyBet. The sports betting industry continues to evolve and is set for more mergers, acquisitions and general shake ups

John Cena and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Both are making the transition to movies and entertainment and stepping away from in-ring performances. For most wrestlers 10 to 15 years is the most time they can expect to perform in sports entertainment

Former UFC champion and living legend of MMA, Ken Shamrock. Shamrock has made the transition into public speaking and Podcasting with business manager Des W. Woodruff. See The World's Most Dangerous Podcast. Many American and Canadian wrestlers, martial artists, sports announcers and such have their own podcasts.

WWE superstar Roman Reigns with a TAPOUT promotion. TAPOUT and WWE came to business terms. MMA giant, the UFC, came to terms with Rebook, with a mixed reaction from fighters. Conor McGregor is known to make his own deals, as is WWF - UFC cross over talent Brock Lesnar, who is managed by his long time advocate Paul Heyman.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman (WrestleMania 31). Lesnar is teasing a switch to UFC after WrestleMania 34 in April 2018. Paul Heyman is the top brass at Heyman Hustle and Looking 4 Larry agency

'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey made made a so far impressive transition into the sports entertainment world via pro wrestling giant, the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). She draws ticket sales, positive media, WWE Network subscribers and excitement. With Rousey you never know what might happen. Ronda Rousey official website. Ronda Rousey - WWE.com profile Got to love her ring entrance 'Bad Reputation' by Joan Jett.

UFC Gym Sydney: BRAVE campaign

UFC New York. New York, USA, has long been a favourite of MMA, boxing and pro wrestling promoters. Ever heard of Madison Square Garden?

Non UFC MMA promotions such as Bellator have had some challenges to attract a bigger audience. Many MMA fighters prefer to work for Bellator, stating that the pay days are more fair. Bellator MMA has also been looking to conquer the Google and Facebook online ranking for MMA which are largely saturated by the UFC.

Madison Square Garden. New York

The WWE enjoyed another Australia tour in October 2018. They are aiming to draw approx 60,000 to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Oh, G'day Beau Ryan at The Footy Show?

WWE's agreement with Nine's 9GO! has been renewed. 9GO! carries a one hour version of WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown. This has helped popularize WWE and pro wrestling in Australia

The pro wrestling industry in Australia is a touch business. Independent promotions such as the AWF continue to have their work cut out for them. Small to medium crowds, no television time and budgets don't allow booking of major venues. Good on them for having a go and sticking with it.

New Japan Pro Wrestling. Home of some of the world's greatest professional wrestlers. They had a mixed experience in Australia with what called be called average crowd attendance. The right media, public relations and communication channels are paramount to success. WWE - New Japan cross over star Chris Jericho helped boost crowed numbers and New Japan Pro Wrestling subscriber numbers considerably. Jericho added 15 to 25,000 extra bums on seats in Japan and at least an extra 15,000 New Japan streaming (New Japan World) buys by all accounts.

Sports in Australia have experimented in making their sport more exciting with entertainment and creative tie ins following the U.S. Cricket Australia 'Best Dressed'. Golden bodypainted models by Human Statue Bodyart

The Human Statue Bodyart 'Best Dressed' models and creating costuming was seen by the Australian sports loving public. Cricket Australia is currently looking to move on from a current scandle involving manipulation of the cricket ball et al

Melbourne Cricket Ground

AFL. Adelaide Oval. Photography and project management on site by Greg Tingle. Creative by Human Statue Bodyart

TMZ and TMZ Sports are getting the lions share of WWE exclusives, which is by design. It's a true win - win by all accounts

Pro wrestling legends such as Terry Funk and Harley Race are a dying breed.

Dusty Rhodes vs Harley Race pre WWE or even before the internet was an idea

AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania on 8 April 2018 should be an instant classic

For the longest time pro boxing great Muhammad Ali knew it was the business of sport. He knew how to talk it up and sell tickets. Pictured with wrestler - martial artist Muhammad Ali. Circa 1976. Japan

Andre The Giant vs Hulk Hogan. WWF WrestleMania 3. Stay tuned for the highly anticipated documentary on the life and times of Andre courtesy of a HBO and WWE collaboration

Arnold Sports Festival Australia Arnold Sports Festival

The Arnold Sports Festival has continued to development and become much more than just a bodybuilding comp. This typifies the business of sports, especially in sports nutrition and supplements. Let's not get into a current sports documentary, but we all remember the classic 'Pumping Iron'.

The Nine Entertainment Co. has enjoyed a stellar run in broadcasting Australian cricket. Is it time for them to move on, or does it make good business sense for them to continue to support the game? (GO! is currently enjoying solid success broadcasting the WWE's RAW and SmackDown programs (Thursday and Friday)

The late, great, Kerry Packer, was instrumental in turning cricket into the business of sport. Enter World Series Cricket circa 1977, which took the television time away from Jim Barnett's World Championship Wrestling. WCW had a good run, but allegedly was run into the ground and Nine needed a new money maker.