John Stankey Thanks WarnerMedia Staff in Heartfelt Farewell: ‘The Road Wasn’t Easy or Clear’

The Erskine Bridge has been blocked due to a crash involving an HGV and a car.

Officers are working on a "proportionate policing plan" to allow Rangers supporters to watch the Europa League final safely amid calls for fan zones to show the match in Glasgow.

Wu-Tang Clan‘s iconic 1997 album ‘Wu-Tang Forever’ is turning 25, with an anniversary collection to mark the occasion.Get On Down and Legacy Recordings are releasing special edition merch to celebrate the double-disc record’s quarter-century, including the album as a 4xLP with accompanying lyric booklet, a silver 7-inch single of ‘Triumph’ with ‘Heaterz’ on the B-side, and a reissue of the double album on cassette, which comes in a replica of the original slipcase. The merch is available for preorder now, and can be bought in a bundle or as separate items.The outfit have also released three digital EPs, ‘Reunited (The Remixes)’, ‘Triumph’ and ‘It’s Yourz’, landing on streaming services Spotify and Apple Music for the first time.

Naman Ramachandran A consortium led by Todd Boehly has struck a deal reportedly worth £4.25 billion ($5.24 billion) to acquire top English Premier League soccer club Chelsea FC, one of the highest price tags ever agreed for a sports club in history.Boehly owns holding company Eldridge, which owns MRC and Dick Clark Productions, producers of Hollywood’s popular Golden Globes Awards, and serves as interim CEO of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which operates the awards. He is also an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Sparks.The others in the consortium are Clearlake Capital, real estate magnate Jonathan Goldstein, Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter, CEO, Guggenhiem Partners, with whom he has stakes in the Dodgers and Lakers.

Pete Davidson has joked about Kanye West pulling a ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ – watch footage from his Netflix Is A Joke Festival set below.Davidson appeared at the festival last Friday (April 29) to premiere his new show, Pete Davidson And Best Friends, which was filmed for release on Netflix later in the year. To a sold-out crowd at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre, he opened the set by poking fun at the claims that West tried to spread rumours about Davidson – who is currently dating West’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian – having AIDS.“I had an AIDS scare this year,” he said before telling the audience that he got himself tested for the condition since West is a “genius”.

Wargasm have confirmed the release of their debut full-length project alongside news of their next single ‘D.R.I.L.D.O.’Punk duo Wargasm have announced that ‘Explicit: The Mixxxtape’ will be released later this summer.It’ll be preceded by new single ‘D.R.I.L.D.O.’, which drops this Friday (May 13). Pre-save it here.“Wargasm has signed to Slowplay & Republic Records in partnership with Island Records UK.

The One Show host Alex Jones took to her Instagram story yesterday to speak out about the “longest morning of her life” as she waited for her son to come out of his surgery. Alex, 45, is mum to sons Teddy, four, Kit, two and nine month old daughter Annie.The popular presenter was waiting for her son Kit to come back from his surgery when she took to her Instagram to share the long wait with her 337,000 followers.The BBC favourite shared a picture of her son’s empty hospital bed and wrote: “Waiting for my little Kit to come back from theatre after a very routine op but feels like the longest morning of my life!” Read More Related Articles Inside Alex Jones' son Teddy's adorable superhero themed birthday party Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter Alex gave birth to her third child, her first daughter with husband Charlie Thompson last August and shared their choice of classic name with the world as she appeared as a guest on The One Show in September.

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling keep their family firmly out of the spotlight but the mom-of-two made a heartbreaking reveal on Friday.During a rare interview on Today with Hoda and Jenna, the actress teared up as host, Hoda Kotb, wished Eva's mom, Eva Pere Suarez, a Happy Mother's Day.MORE: Eva Mendes delights fans with surprise pregnancy comment The Hitch star responded with an emotional message as she said: "She's not doing too well right now, so, means a lot to me," she said. "She's a survivor in every way, so thank you."WATCH: Eva Mendes' daughter takes photos of her famous mom Hoda embraced Eva and asked if she was ok during the unexpected moment. She did not elaborate on what is wrong with her mom, but continued the interview and spoke about her own children, Esmeralda Amada Gosling, seven, and Amada Lee Gosling, six.Talking about having children in her forties, she said: "Something really crazy happened.

It’s sort of mind-blowing to consider that Oscar-caliber filmmakers Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) and Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”) teamed up to co-write a live-action “Barbie” movie for Warner Bros. with Gerwig directing.

David Zaslav hasn’t wasted time in making significant changes at WarnerBros Discovery and many on this side of the Atlantic are now wondering what happens in the international ranks, where the combined studios have thousands of staff.

closed on Friday.Zaslav’s travel agenda will take him to WarnerMedia’s global headquarters in New York on Monday, Warner Bros. offices in Atlanta on Tuesday, WarnerMedia/HBO offices in Culver City on Wednesday, and concluding with a town hall at WarnerMedia offices on the iconic Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, according to the individual.

In one of the most head-scratching reporting changes under the new Warner Bros. Discovery leadership, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network has moved from the Discovery to the Warner Bros. side of the company under HBO and HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys. Upon closer examination, the move, which could lead to a Magnolia-branded hub on HBO Max and the Gaines’ dipping their toe in scripted programming, is not that shocking. It just took the couple two mergers and three relationships to get there.

according to CNN.Discovery stakeholders had approved the deal in mid-March.The merger will place AT&T’s Warner Bros., CNN, Turner and Discovery’s stable of nonfiction networks squarely under one roof — as well as two currently competing streaming services, Discovery+ and HBO Max, possibly giving the combined entity a fighting chance of moving into competition with Netflix and Disney+ among the leading streaming services.The deal also combines WarnerMedia’s U.S. sports rights like the NBA, MLB and March Madness with Discovery international sports giant Eurosport.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterDiscovery completed its $43 billion acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T on Friday to form new company Warner Bros. Discovery.WarnerMedia owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, Warner Bros., DC Films, New Line Cinema, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Turner Sports and Rooster Teeth, among other brands, and is part owner of the CW Network along with Paramount.Discovery is the parent of Discovery Plus, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, Science Channel and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).Here is the new leadership structure for Warner Bros.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAs Discovery closes its deal for WarnerMedia, John Stankey, the AT&T chief who oversaw the telecom company’s abandoned foray into the media world, bid farewell to his soon-to-be former colleagues. Stankey led AT&T’s acquisition of DirecTV and Time Warner in 2015 and 2018, before replacing Randall Stephenson as CEO role of AT&T in July 2020.“My respect and appreciation for those I have worked closely with is enduring, and I will miss continuing to learn and problem solve with you,” Stankey wrote.

AT&T CEO John Stankey, who decided last spring to spin off WarnerMedia into a $43 billion merged entity with Discovery, has sent a bouquet to WarnerMedia staff as the deal gets set to close.

Angelique Jackson Elizabeth Marvel (Hulu’s “The Dropout,” “News of the World”) has joined the star-studded cast of Blitz Bazawule’s adaptation of “The Color Purple”.The forthcoming Warner Bros. musical movie is an adaptation of Alice Walker’s iconic American novel, as well as the Oscar-nominated 1985 film and Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that it inspired.Production is currently underway for the project in Georgia, where the story is set.

AT&T summoned the big players from the worlds of media and advertising to a beachside resort in Santa Barbara. The company had finally closed its $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner, after a protracted fight with the Department of Justice, and wanted to celebrate — and to mark its place at the center of the media ecosystem.The three-day AT&T Relevance Conference, at the lavish Ritz-Carlton Bacara, featured appearances by Derek Jeter and Issa Rae, as well as AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson.

For decades, WarnerMedia and Discovery had largely co-existed independently. They have lived in separate universes with virtually no business interactions, as unscripted television is their main area of overlap. The Discovery networks work primarily with independent producers and not studios like Warner Bros TV, which has only produced one reality show for a Discovery net via its Shed subsidiary

EXCLUSIVE: We hear that Officer Exchange, a big action comedy project, just sold to Amazon Studios. Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad star John Cena is starring in a script by Ben Zazove and Evan Turner. The project is currently in development.

Judge Steve Harvey is getting a second season at ABC as the network also renews Bachelor In Paradise.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterChip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network will move under HBO’s purview upon the completion of Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia, which will result in the launch of Warner Bros. Discovery Monday, Variety has learned exclusively.Allison Page, president of Magnolia, which is a joint venture between the Gaineses and Discovery, Inc., will report directly to HBO and HBO Max chief Casey Bloys.

EXCLUSIVE, UPDATED WITH MORE DETAILS: Less than 24 hours after CEO Jason Kilar, HBO Max boss Andy Forssell and Studio chief Ann Sarnoff were pink slipped from the about to disappear WarnerMedia, more executives were shown the door today.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterDiscovery is cleaning house among the top ranks at WarnerMedia ahead of the close of the two companies’ merger, which is expected to occur Friday, with six more executives shown the door Wednesday, Variety has learned.According to a WarnerMedia spokesperson, the newly cut WarnerMedia players include: Jennifer Biry – Chief Financial Officer, Jim Cummings – EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer; Tony Goncalves – EVP, Chief Revenue Officer; Christy Haubegger – EVP, Communications and Chief Inclusion Officer;  Jim Meza – EVP, General Counsel, WarnerMedia; and Richard Tom – Chief Technology Officer.Notably remaining with the soon-to-be-combined company, which will be renamed Warner Bros. Discovery and run by current Discovery CEO David Zaslav, is Gerhard Zeiler, president of WarnerMedia International, a source close to the internal leadership changes confirmed to Variety.

HBO Max executive vice president and general manager Andy Forssell is leaving WarnerMedia ahead of the close of the company’s merger with Discovery, which is now set to close as early as Friday, Variety has learned.News that Forssell is out the door comes just as sources confirmed WarnerMedia studios and networks group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff was informed on Tuesday by leadership that her position would be eliminated, and follows WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar’s resignation this morning.As Variety reported earlier Tuesday, though insiders previously said the transaction between Discovery and WarnerMedia’s current owner AT&T would be formally completed on April 11, leading to the creation of new company Warner Bros. Discovery, two sources with knowledge of the situation say the merger is now expected to potentially be finalized by the close of business Friday.

Ann Sarnoff, who has held a senior film and TV studio role at WarnerMedia for nearly three years, is departing the company ahead of its merger with Discovery.

WarnerMedia studios and networks group chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff is exiting her post, sources tell Variety.Sarnoff was informed by leadership on Tuesday that her position would be eliminated, one insider said. The ground is shifting rapidly for executives and other divisions at the media giant as it nears completion of its merger with Discovery.“I want to thank Ann for all of her leadership during a transformational period for the company and our industry. She has been a passionate and committed steward of the world’s most formidable creative engine and has led with integrity, focus and hard work in bringing WarnerMedia’s businesses, brands and workforce closer together,” said David Zaslav, the incoming CEO of the merged Warner Bros.

Ann Sarnoff, chairman and CEO at WarnerMedia’s studios and networks, is also exiting her post, individuals with knowledge told TheWrap. Sarnoff will be departing her current role effective at the closing of the proposed combination of Discovery, Inc.

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who is stepping down this week before the company’s merger with Discovery closes, takes pride in being “first over the wall” with a day-and-date streaming movie strategy.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterThe Discovery-WarnerMedia merger could close as early as Friday, Variety has learned exclusively.Previously, insiders said the transaction between Discovery and WarnerMedia’s current owner AT&T would be formally completed on April 11. On Tuesday, amid WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar formally announcing his exit timed to the rapidly approaching close of the formation of Warner Bros.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAs Discovery and WarnerMedia leaders go full throttle on final merger preparation for the anticipated April 8 closing date, the industry is eager to learn how Warner Bros., HBO and the former Turner cable networks will exist alongside Discovery’s large portfolio of global channels and content operations.The formal tying-of-the-knot can’t come soon enough for executives, staff, creatives and talent at both companies, who also are still largely in the dark about potential structural changes, management shifts and strategic pivots.On Tuesday morning, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar announced that he would be stepping down ahead of the merger. Besides that, there’s a rudimentary “initial wordmark” logo for Warner Bros.

Jason Kilar, the former Hulu and Amazon exec who has led WarnerMedia as CEO since May 2020, has formalized plans to exit the company on the eve of its merger with Discovery.