Pleasants exits Disney. Stelter to CNN. Can Revolt be a revolution?
After the coffee. Before finding a better agent.
The Skinny: Today is 11/12/13. Just throwing that out there for you to have something to chew on. And if you are reading this at 9:10 well consider your mind officially blown! Today’s roundup includes a shakeup at Disney Interactive and a look at Revolt, the new music channel started by Sean Combs.
Daily Dose: On Tuesday morning, CNN said it hired New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter, which confirmed my story from Monday night that it was near a deal to land him. Stelter will cover the industry for CNN and host its Sunday show “Reliable Sources.” Stelter has been with the New York Times covering TV news and entertainment since 2007. At CNN, he’ll fill the void left when previous “Reliable Sources” host Howard Kurtz bolted the network for a similar show at Fox News.
PHOTOS: Highest-paid media executives of 2012
Not playing games. John Pleasants, a co-president of Walt Disney Interactive, is exiting the company. The move ends a forced partnership between Pleasants and Jimmy Pitaro, who now becomes sole president of the unit, which oversees Disney’s video game unit. Pleasants joined Disney in 2010 after the company acquired the social media gaming company Playdom Inc. Pleasants has been described as “hard-charging,” which sometimes is code for bull in a china shop and doesn’t play well with others. Pleasants indicated it was not his choice to leave. Coverage from the Los Angeles Times and New York Times.
Take it to the bank. While African Americans still sometimes struggle for visibility in prime time programming, daytime TV is another story. The Los Angeles Times notes that when it comes to talk shows, “black is the new black.” “Always follow the money,” said J. Fred MacDonald, a media historian who has studied the portrayal of African Americans in television. “There is a rich pot of money for these syndicators who are coming to the realization that the African American audience can make them successful.”
No jail time, please. Bryan Zuriff, a former executive producer of the Showtime hit “Ray Donovan,” is pleading for no jail time for his role in an online gambling ring that was busted last spring. Among those going to bat for him with the judge is director Peter Berg and “Ray Donovan” creator Ann Biderman, according to Variety.
Saying goodbye. Hollywood royalty came out to say goodbye to A.C. Lyles, the legendary movie executive who spent more than 80 years on the Paramount lot. The Hollywood Reporter on the who’s who that attended Lyles’ remembrance.
Vice’s vice. Vice Media, the avant-garde news organization, seems to love stories about itself as much as it loves doing stories about youth culture, global politics and revolution. The Wall Street Journal says Vice is bulking up by hiring new reporters and has plans to launch a 24/7 digital news channel. Here’s my story on Vice’s media efforts from last spring.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: A look at whether Sean Combs’ new cable network Revolt can lead a music video revolution.
Follow me on Twitter. I’m always on duty. @JBFlint.
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