The Media Play News Podcast

In this final episode, we revisit the Hollywood writers and actors strike and Netflix makes another foray into game streaming by bringing two games to PCs and TVs

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Articles:

Corporate Fence Straddling on Hollywood Strike is Entertaining

Netflix Expanding Video Game Access to Televisions, PCs, and Macs

Adam Conover Explains the SAG-AFTRA & WGA Strikes, Writing Residuals & Why He's not Scared of AI

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

SAG-AFTRA announces a simultaneous strike with the writers of Hollywood and Disney is disrupting itself with theatrical releases tripped up by Disney+.

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Articles:

Actors Set to Join Writers in Strike Against Studios, Streamers

Disney's Harsh New Reality: Costly Film Flops, Creative Struggles and a Shrinking Global Box Office

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

We’re back with a new episode, this time covering how successful Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing has been since launch. Disney+ has removed about 30 titles from its service since last month, and Apple has debuted a state of the art AR headset for…$3,500. Should you buy one to watch movies at home? Probably not! But we’ll talk about details anyway.

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Articles:

Report: Netflix Posts Big Gain in Sign-Ups Post Password-Sharing Crackdown

'Avatar 2' Due on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, 'Avatar' on 4K UHD for First Time June 20

Disney Sets Star Wars Film, Delays Marvel, Avatar Sequel Release Dates

Disney will remove over 50 shows from Disney Plus and Hulu this month

Apple Unveils Vision Pro Spatial Computer Device, Supporting Disney+, Apple TV+, Movies, 3D and Other Entertainment Content

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

The writer’s strike brings Hollywood production to a standstill, Mario and Avatar come to streaming, and Xbox’s gaming console is on the ropes. All that and more on this month’s episode!

Twitter: @podcastmpn

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Writers Guilds Authorize Strike Following Unsuccessful Contract Negotiations With Streamers

The entire Super Mario Bros. movie keeps getting posted to Twitter

Microsoft Concedes Video Game Console War, Focusing on Subscription Gaming

Cinema is dead – and Guardians of the Galaxy 3's final scene proves it

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

We welcome Erik back to the podcast for his second appearance! Erik quickly covers the Warner Bros 100th anniversary sales happening on Vudu including some recent releases like Renfield and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves before diving into the meat of the interview: CinemaCon 2023. He saw pre-screenings of some upcoming high-profile movies like The Flash and Joyride as well as teaser presentations about movies like Dune: Part 2. Last up is an interview he had with Joaquin Phoenix about his surreal horror/comedy movie Beau is Afraid.

Follow Erik on Twitter @ErikDavis!

We dig in deep on this one. Jeff has been collecting physical media since 2012 and hosts the podcast and Youtube channel Films at Home where he reviews movies, interviews special features producers, and discusses the trends of the industry. This could have easily been a 3 hour episode, there's so much ground we covered.

Films at Home - Youtube

Films at Home - Spotify

Jeff Rauseo on Bloody Disgusting

We’re back! We’ve switched to a monthly release schedule for now, which means there’s a lot to catch up on. Mario movie review and where to expect it on streaming, the Max service orders a full 10-year Harry Potter series, and an interview with Jeff Rauseo from the podcast Films at Home.

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Articles:

'Super Mario Bros. Movie' Sets 2nd Weekend Animation Box Office Record Enroute to $678 Million Global Tally

JustWatch: 'John Wick' Movies Continue to Resonate Among Streamers

Newly Rebranded 'Max' Streamer Orders First-Ever Harry Potter TV Series

Films at Home - Youtube

Films at Home - Spotify

Jeff Rauseo on Bloody Disgusting

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Shazam 2 debuted under expectations in theaters, but we take the contrarian opinion that this doesn’t mean anything negative for superhero movies. Netflix is going to double its game content library in the next year, and as we scroll through their games some of them are actually solid titles. Last, Rocky III gets a steelbook release and we talk about favorite specialty sets of ours.

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'Shazam! 2' Posts Muted 'Fury' at Weekend Box Office Debut

Netflix Upping Video Game Presence With More Than 100 New Titles Planned

Merchandising: Best Buy Releases 'Rocky III' Steelbook

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

We break down some Oscars winners and recall back to older Oscars wins to debate whether they hold up or not. The Silo debuts soon on Apple TV+, and John Wick is getting a trilogy box set as a promotional lead-up to its fourth film’s debut. This franchise needs to wind down!

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Articles:

Voting Is Open for the 2023 Home Entertainment Media Play Awards

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Dominates Oscars With 7 Wins, Including Best Picture

Apple TV+ Set to Launch New Dystopian Series 'Silo' on May 5

Silo — Official Teaser | Apple TV+

Merchandising: Walmart Offers ‘John Wick’ Trilogy With Playing Cards

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

It’s a 20-foot deep dive into animation this week: surprise hit Puss in Boots: The Last Wish hits Peacock soon and we talk about what its artistic style spells for the future of animated features. Meanwhile Crunchyroll has partnered with Sony to add itself as a one-click button to one of Sony’s smart TV lines. What this says about the tastes of the average viewer is pretty profound.

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Articles:

Universal's 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' Heads to Peacock on March 10

2023 Sony Bravia TV Line-Up to Include Crunchyroll Button on Remotes

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Mandalorian and Succession return to streaming, each with their own flavors of roasting. South Park is in the middle of a legal dustup and It gets a prequel show greenlit. Also: Party Down is back???

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Articles:

Whip Media: ‘True Lies’ Top New Show, ‘Shadow and Bone’ Top Returning Show, ‘John Wick 4’ Top Movie Anticipated in March

Warner Bros. Discovery Files 'South Park' Content Licensing Lawsuit Against Paramount

HBO Max Orders Series Prequel to Stephen King-Based 'It' Films

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

It’s a short one this week: we review the latest MCU release Ant-Man 3, and Avatar 2 crosses Titanic to become the third highest grossing movie of all time. Netflix removes its random button “Surprise Me” to no one’s surprise, and a glut of new shows drop on the service including a dating show featuring contestants from multiple past Netflix dating shows.

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Articles:

'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Delivers Franchise Record $104 Million North American Box Office Debut

Netflix Quietly Drops 'Surprise Me' Content Recommendation Feature

New Season of ‘You’ Again Topped Netflix Weekly Streaming Through Feb. 19

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Disney poised to lose control of Hulu by the end of the year, Peacock announces a livestreaming feature coming to the “Bel Air” premiere, and checking in on the box office!

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CNBC: Disney CEO Bob Iger Open to Selling Hulu Stake

Peacock Bowing 'Watch With' Feature Enabling Streamers to Interact With Content Talent in Real Time

Warner's 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' Tops Sluggish Super Bowl Weekend Box Office With $8.2 Million

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Children of the Mist, a documentary about loneliness, childhood, and the tradition of bridal kidnapping with the Hmong group in northern Vietnam. First time director Diem takes the viewer on a journey into a village over multiple years following the young girl Di as she grows up and loses her childhood innocence. Children of the Mist made the 95th Academy Awards shortlist for Best Documentary, won the First Appearance Award - Special Mention at the Amsterdam International Film Festival, and many other awards and nominations.

We lead off with an in-depth dissection of the latest announcement coming from DC Studios and their massive slate of TV shows and movies coming over the next few years. We have an exclusive interview with director Ha Le Diem about her documentary Children of the Mist, shortlisted for the Academy Awards for Best Documentary. And Netflix retraces its plan to crack down on password sharing following online backlash.

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Chapter 1 - Gods and Monsters | DC Studios | DC

Analyst: 62% of Netflix Password-Sharing Users Would Drop Service by Erik Gruenwedel

Netflix Quietly Backtracks on New Password Sharing Rules by Erik Gruenwedel

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

This is the full audio from our interview with Fandango's Erik Davis. Listen to hear about his predictions for some Oscar nominees' chances to win and which are available to rent or purchase from Vudu.

Find Erik on Twitter @ErikDavis

https://www.fandango.com/movies/bloggers/erik-davis-424850

https://www.vudu.com/

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Modern Chillout

Music by penguinmusic from Pixabay

We're covering the most anticipated movies and shows coming in February, including Cocaine Bear, angling for most-memeable movie of the year. Erik Davis from Fandango joins the show to talk about several Oscar nominated movies on Vudu, listen to hear what his predictions for the winners this year will be. Find Erik on Twitter @ErikDavis

Twitter: @podcastmpn

https://www.fandango.com/movies/bloggers/erik-davis-424850

https://www.vudu.com/

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Whip Media: ‘Not Dead Yet’ Top New Show, ‘Carnival Row’ Top Returning Show, ‘Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Top Movie Anticipated in February by Stephanie Prange

NBCUniversal's Peacock Streaming Service Ended 2022 With 20 Million Paid Subs, $2.5 Billion Loss by Erik Gruenwedel

ReThink: Global SVOD Subscriptions to Reach 1.9 Billion by 2028 by Erik Gruenwedel

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Charlie recaps his thoughts on the first two episodes of The Last of Us and how fresh it feels from the bland sameness of the "netflix look" that so many shows seem to have these days. And lots of news coming out of Netflix with one of its co-CEOs stepping down to an executive chairman position, the planned rollout of paid password sharing, and 34 (!!!) south Korean shows slated to release this year alone.

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Articles:

Why Does Everything On Netflix Look Like That? by Gita Jackson

HBO Max Post-Apocalyptic Series 'The Last of Us' Sees Record Episodic Viewership Growth by Erik Gruenwedel

Reed Hastings Steps Down as Co-CEO as Netflix Tops Q4 Subscriber Growth Estimate by Erik Gruenwedel

Netflix Rolling Out Shared Password Option This Quarter by Erik Gruenwedel

Netflix Saw DVD Rental Revenue Plummet 50% in 2022 by Erik Gruenwedel

Study: 'Squid Game 2' Most-Coveted New Series in 2023 by Erik Gruenwedel

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

The critics choice awards brings a slew of stuff we missed from 2022. Turns out, there's a lot of TV to watch these days! Also, Amazon brings back Epix now rebranded as MGM+ and Avatar 2 remains as the #1 theatrical offering in spite of the multiple new releases. 

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Critics Choice Awards 2023 Winners List by EJ Panaligan & William Earl

Amazon Formally Relaunches Epix as MGM+ by Erik Gruenwedel

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Netflix cancellations have gone too far! It was OK when ‘1899’ was taken out, but ‘Inside Job’? Unforgivable. We go into a deep dive on where Netflix’s future lies with subscriber trust now that people’s expectations are that shows will be ended early rather than letting their stories conclude. Meanwhile, an exec from Warner Bros. Discovery asserts that streaming services should cost more, and VR comes to CES.

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Articles

Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Says SVOD Pricing Too Low as Media Giant Readies Combined HBO Max/Discovery+ Streaming Platform by Erik Gruenwedel

CES 2023 Ends With Higher-Than-Expected Attendance of 115,000 by Thomas K. Arnold

Jazzy Abstract Beat

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay