Control Issues: How Media Moguls Keep a Tight Grip on Their Empires

March 25, 2015
Control Issues: How Media Moguls Keep a Tight Grip on Their Empires
By Cynthia Littleton The parlor-room drama surrounding the fates of Viacom and CBS Corp. has only reinforced how thoroughly Sumner Redstone has exerted control over his media empire for decades. And Rupert Murdoch’s succession plans at 21st Century Fox and News Corp. has all the intrigue of royal-court maneuvering among heirs to the throne held by an iron-willed king. Full Story on Variety.com→
Bookings and Signings: Gersh, Innovative Artists Place Below-the-Line Clients By Peter Caranicas In the latest round of below-the-line client bookings, Gersh has placed two “Boardwalk Empire” vets, costume designer John Dunn and production designer Bill Groom, on HBO’s untitled rock-’n’-roll-themed series. Gersh has also booked producers Sean Ryerson (“Covert Affairs,” pictured, right) on ABC’s untitled Jenna Bans-penned pilot, Brad Van Arragon (“Copper”) on NBC pilot “Unveiled,” and Jean Higgins (“Lost”) on NBC pilot “Game of Silence”; and ... Full Story→	Television Academy Spars Over Membership of Music Supervisors By Jon Burlingame Should music supervisors be allowed to join the TV Academy? It’s a controversial topic within the Hollywood music community, and a new move to admit them – without consulting the membership – is meeting with strong resistance from many composers, including several former governors. Full Story→	Will California's Sweeter Tax Credit Program Lure Productions to Stay in the State? By Dave McNary As most California-based producers already know, the state’s film and TV tax credit program has gotten sweeter. The size of its subsidies has more than tripled (to $330 million annually), and extends to types of projects that were formerly ineligible. Some key dates are looming. On April 1, 2015, the final lottery for independent projects will take place, ending the chancy system that many filmmakers disliked due to its uncertainty. From May 11-1... Full Story→
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