Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Timely - Halloween Flicks

Redbox asked...                                                                                                                          

 

What is your favorite scary movie? 

 

1.       The Shining

2.       A Quiet Place

3.       Halloween

4.       The Exorcist

5.       Nightmare on Elm Street

Source: A survey of 748 highly engaged Redbox Customers, 8/27 – 9/8.

 

What is your favorite family Halloween movie? 

1.       Hocus Pocus

2.       Beetlejuice

3.       It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

4.       The Nightmare Before Christmas

5.       Ghostbusters

Source: A survey of 936 highly engaged Redbox Customers, 8/27 – 9/8.

 

What is your favorite Halloween candy? (Halloween)

 

One-quarter responded that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were their favorite Halloween Candy, followed distantly by:  

 

1.       Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

2.       Snickers

3.       Candy Corn

4.       Peanut M&M’s

5.       Almond Joy

 

Source: A survey of 1095 highly engaged Redbox Customers, 9/3 – 9/15

 

What is your favorite Halloween tradition? 

 

Not surprisingly, going trick or treating and handing out candy are the favorite Halloween traditions, followed by:

 

1.       Going trick or treating

2.       Handing out candy

3.       Watching a scary movie

4.       Carving pumpkins

5.       Putting up Halloween decorations

 

Source: A survey of 1095 highly engaged Redbox Customers, 9/3 – 9/15

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

WarnerMedia Unveils HBO Max

Launching May 2020 With 10,000 Hours of Premium Content for $14.99/Month
 
Incredible Breadth of Content With More New Originals from Ridley Scott, Greg Berlanti, Mindy Kaling, Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae, Conan O’Brien, Looney Tunes,
Cartoon Network Studios and More
 
HBO Gives Series Order to HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, Co-Created By Ryan Condal and George RR. Martin; Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik to Partner as Showrunners 
 
Existing AT&T HBO Customers and HBO Now Direct-Billed Subscribers to get HBO Max at No Additional Cost 
 
Customers Who Subscribe to AT&T’s Premium Video, Mobile and Broadband Packages Will be Offered Bundles at Launch with HBO Max at No Additional Costs
 
Elevated, Highly Engaging Entertainment Experience with 
Personalized Features and Functionality

Burbank, CA – October 29, 2019 – WarnerMedia today unveiled significant new details about its HBO Max direct-to-consumer strategy on the company’s iconic Warner Bros. lot, revealing a comprehensive offering of programming options for every audience, product features and functionality, and its go-to-market plans.
 
“With this entire company coming together, we will have one of the most robust collections of premium streaming content that will appeal to all demographics in the household, and be able to achieve incredible scale and reach right out of the gate,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer. “We couldn’t achieve this without AT&T’s unprecedented and enthusiastic support. When you live in a world with ‘dragons’ — it feels very good to have one of your own in the game!”
 
Launching in May of 2020, WarnerMedia will be making HBO Max available to customers in the U.S. for $14.99 per month. The company is targeting 50 million domestic subscribers and 75 - 90 million premium subscribers by year-end in 2025 across the U.S., Latin America and Europe. At launch, AT&T will immediately offer HBO Max to the roughly 10 million HBO subscribers on AT&T distribution platforms, at no additional charge. HBO Now direct-billed users who subscribe directly through HBONow.com will also have access to Warner Media’s HBO Max product. AT&T customers on premium video, mobile and broadband services will be offered bundles with HBO Max included at no additional charge. We are in active discussions with our distributors and look forward to offering their customers seamless access to this great product.  
 
“We’ve positioned HBO Max in a way that makes sense for our Company, our distribution partners and our customers,” said Tony Goncalves, CEO of Otter Media. “We are creating a company-wide ‘membership-model’ that taps into AT&T’s 170 million direct-to-consumer relationships, 5,500 retail stores and 3.2 billion annual customer touchpoints to achieve scale and reach at launch.”
 
HBO Max will launch with 10,000 hours of curated premium content including the entire HBO service, bundled with new HBO Max Originals that expand the breadth of the offering targeted at young adults, kids and families.  HBO Max will pull from WarnerMedia’s deep library of fan favorites in its 100-year content collection, including library content from Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more. HBO Max will also offer a robust selection of third party acquired series and movie titles that will rival any other streaming offering in the marketplace.
 
New Max Originals announced today include:

  • The Fungies!, from Stephen Neary and Cartoon Network Studios, is a prehistoric comedy that explores Fungietown through the whimsical quests of Seth, a young student at Fungietown Elementary.
     
  • Tig N’ Seek from Myke Chilian and Cartoon Network Studios is about 8-year-old Tiggy and his gadget-building cat, Gweeseek, as they search for the lost items of Wee Gee City. With Tiggy’s cheerful attitude and Gweeseek’s exceptional inventing capabilities, the duo humorously navigate day-to-day dilemmas at the Department of Lost and Found.
     
  • Tooned Out, executive produced by Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump; Cast Away; Back to the Future), is a half-hour, hybrid live-action and animated comedyThings get a little cartoony for Mac when he starts seeing iconic cartoon characters in his life, but they’re not just there for laughs, they’re helping him get through a very rough patch in his life.
     
  • Looney Tunes Cartoons, an all-new series of 80 eleven-minute episodes and holiday-themed specials from Warner Bros. Animation starring the cherished classic Looney Tunes characters for today’s kids. Iconic characters will include Bugs BunnyDaffy DuckPorky PigElmer FuddTweetySylvesterGrannyYosemite SamFoghorn LeghornMarvin the MartianTasmanian DevilRoad Runner, Wile ECoyote and many more.
     
  • Jellystone, a new animated children’s comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation that will welcome viewers to the town of Jellystone, where their favorite Hanna-Barbera characters live, work, play, and stir up trouble together.
     
  • DC Super Hero High is a half-hour comedy series executive produced by Elizabeth Banks (Charlie’s Angels, Pitch Perfect, Shrill), which follows a group of students experiencing the fun and drama of adolescence at a boarding school for gifted kids. These teens are just trying to navigate the pressures of high school, but none of them realize that someday they will become legendary DC Super Heroes.
     
  • Rap Sh*t (working title) from Issa Rae (Insecure; A Black Lady Sketch Show) is a half-hour comedy series that follows a female rap group from outside of Miami trying to make it in the music industry.
     
  • College Girls (working title), the latest series from Mindy Kaling (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Late Night, The Mindy Project, The Office), is a 13-episode half-hour, single-camera comedy following three 18-year-old freshman roommates at Evermore College in Vermont who are equal parts lovable and infuriating.
     
  • Strange Adventuresa DC Super Hero anthology series executive produced by Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Titans, Doom Patrol), will feature characters from across the DC canon. This one-hour drama series will explore close-ended morality tales about the intersecting lives of mortals and superhumans.
     
  • Green Lantern inspired series from Berlanti Productions that will finally introduce characters from this iconic comic in Berlanti’s biggest series yet.
     
  • A Series of Stand Up Specials presented by Conan O’Brien will feature five new comedy specials. O’Brien will host two specials, featuring short sets from multiple up-and-coming comics while also curating one-hour sets from three comedians. In addition HBO Max has purchased the rights to a one-hour special from comedian James Veitch.
     
  • Raised by Wolvesan epic serialized sci-fi series executive produced and directed by Ridley Scott (The MartianBlade RunnerAlien: Covenant) centering on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet.
     
  • Bobbie Sue is a feature-length film starring Golden Globe® winner Gina Rodriquez (Jane the Virgin) following the story of a headstrong young lawyer who lands a career-making case with an upper crust law firm, only to realize she’s been hired for optics and not her expertise.
 
New HBO original announced today:
  • House of the Dragon, a 10-episode, straight-to-series order “Game of Thrones” prequel. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the series, which is set 300 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” tells the story of House Targaryen. Co-created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal. Emmy award winning director Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal will partner as showrunners and will also serve as executive producers along with George R.R. Martin and Vince Gerardis. Sapochnik will direct the pilot and additional episodes of the series, which will be written by Condal.
 
Newly Acquired and Library Titles:
  • In addition to the new original titles mentioned above, HBO Max also announced today a number of classic and library titles that will be coming to the streamer in its first year of launch, including: South ParkRick & MortyThe O.C.Aqua Teen Hunger ForceRobot ChickenSpace Ghost Coast to CoastThe BachelorImpractical JokersThe CloserRizzolli and IslesMajor CrimesThe AlienistThe West WingUnited Shades of America with Kamau BellThis is Life with Lisa Ling, and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
     
  • In addition, a collection of classics from the libraries of Looney TunesMerrie Melodies and Hannah Barbara will be available at launch.
 
“We are attracting top talent to bring in a wide variety of original ideas, curating the rich library assets of this company, and acquiring the most compelling third-party programming available,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max, president, TNT, TBS and truTV.
 
DEPTH AND BREADTH OF PROGRAMMING
 
HBO Max, anchored by HBO and its iconic shows, movies, documentaries and specials, will build on HBO’s legacy and offer something for every demographic – from dramas, comedies, sci-fi, and anime to children’s, unscripted, films, documentaries, comedy specials, late-night shows, blockbuster movies and library content – ensuring that everyone in the household has thousands of hours of entertainment at their fingertips.
 
In addition to series, specials and docs, HBO Max will have 1,800 film titles at launch that will cover every genre, taste and fan interest, including HBO’s vast collection/library of new theatrical hits and beloved classics. Global blockbuster franchises from Warner Bros. including The MatrixThe Lord of the RingsThe HobbitGremlins and the Lego movies will be available in the first year, along with every DC film from the last decade including Aquaman and Joker, and every Batman and Superman movie from the last 40 years.
 
“We work with an unmatched roster of innovative artists and we couldn’t be happier to be bringing them to HBO Max next year and well into the future,” said Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of Warner Bros. “HBO Max will have the pick of the litter here at Warner Bros.”
 
For a complete list of titles coming to HBO Max please visit here.
 
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITY
 
Throughout the year after its initial launch, HBO Max will roll out a variety of new features and functionality not found on any other streaming platforms today, including:
  • Recommended By Humans – HBO Max will combine Human Powered Discovery and analytics in novel ways to make it much easier for viewers to quickly find the content they are passionate about.  Here, talent and influencers will make recommendations to our users about content they love, in the form of short, authentic videos to talk about how they’ve fallen in love with it and why.
  • Co-Viewing – Research shows that many viewers are aware of how viewing with others can throw off their recommendations. HBO Max is solving this co-viewing challenge by allowing viewers to create shared homepages that are completely separate from their personal homepages, but tailored to the group’s likes and needs. They can create shared watch lists and view with members of their household without impacting their personal profiles.
 
HBO Max will also offer standard direct-to-consumer features, such as:
  • Content Hubs – Content hubs feature clusters of content from recognizable brands that attract passionate audiences.
  • Personalized Profiles & Homepages 
  • Kids’ profiles and Parental PIN usage
  • Downloads for offline viewing

 
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
 
HBO Max’s leading quality and breadth of content will be fueled by AT&T’s continued investments and resources to ensure the offering is attractive to every household.
 
Within the first year of launch WarnerMedia plans to expand the service to include an AVOD option, offering consumers access to even more content, with more flexibility to manage the overall price value options on the platform.
 
The company also announced plans in the future to provide subscribers with unique live, interactive and special event programming as it continues to build out and differentiate HBO Max.
 
AT&T intends to expand HBO Max beyond the U.S., initially prioritizing Latin America and Europe where the company currently has ownership interest in or operates premium HBO networks, and has over-the-top services.
 
AT&T intends to invest significantly in HBO Max, with an incremental investment of $1.5 to $2 billion in the partial year of 2020 and continued investment in following years.  That investment includes spending for new content, foregone licensing revenue of our content, operating expense for the technology platform, and marketing.
 
“To build, launch and grow the best streaming platform available requires a major investment and total support,” said John Stankey, AT&T Chief Operating Officer and CEO of WarnerMedia. “We’re making that commitment and putting the strength of our entire company behind this.”
 
The replay of today’s webcast will be available at WarnerMediaday.com. More information is available at HBOMax.com.
 
For all HBO Max press releases, videos and photo assets please visit here.
 
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
 
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
 
This news release may contain certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations between the non-GAAP financial measures and the GAAP financial measures are available on the company’s website at https://investors.att.com.

Ridley Scott’s Raised by Wolves Coming to HBO Max Sci-fi Project Marks Scott’s Series Directorial Debut

Ridley Scott’s Raised by Wolves
Coming to HBO Max

Sci-fi Project Marks Scott’s Series Directorial Debut 

Los Angeles, October 29, 2019– Announced today at the HBO Max WarnerMedia DayRaised by Wolvesa serialized sci-fi series from master storyteller and filmmaker Ridley Scott (The MartianBlade RunnerAlien: Covenant) will premiere on the direct-to-consumer offering.
 
The epic serialized sci-fi series is executive produced and directed by Ridley Scott (The MartianBlade RunnerAlien: Covenant). Acclaimed writer Aaron Guzikowski, the visionary behind the highly lauded film Prisoners, created the 10-episode series and serves as showrunner and writer for the project, which recently wrapped production in Cape Town, South Africa. The series centers on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task.  
 
“As we strive to set a high creative bar for HBO Max, there’s no better person to set that bar than Ridley Scott as he delivers his first season of yet another incredible vision realized," said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president TBS, TNT, and truTV.
 
“The breathtaking worlds, compelling characters and intricate storylines that Ridley, Aaron and team have created for this project are mesmerizing,” added Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max.
 
The cast includes Travis Fimmel (Vikings), Amanda Collin (A Conspiracy of FaithA Horrible Woman), Abubakar Salim (Fortitude, Jamestown), Winta McGrath (Aloft, Red Dog: True Blue), Niamh Algar (The Virtues, Calm With Horses), Matias Varela (Narcos, Point Break), Felix Jamieson(Game of Thrones, The Ghost), Ethan Hazzard (The Long Song, Damned), Jordan Loughran (The Infiltrator, Emerald City), Aasiya Shah (Call the Midwife, Unforgotten) and Ivy Wong (Star Wars: Rogue One, Maleficent 2). 
 
The series is produced by Scott's Scott Free Productions, with Scott, Guzikowski, David W. Zucker (The Man in the High Castle), Jordan Sheehan (The Terror), Adam Kolbrenner (Prisoners) and Mark Huffam (The Martian) serving as executive producers. 

Conan O’Brien and Team Coco Bringing a Series of Stand-up Specials to HBO Max

Conan O’Brien and Team Coco Bringing a Series of
Stand-up Specials to HBO Max


Five All-New Comedy Specials to Exclusively Premiere on the Streamer

Los Angeles - October 29, 2019 – Announced today from the stage at the HBO Max WarnerMedia DayConan O’Brien and Team Coco will be bringing five all-new stand-up specials to the direct-to-consumer platform launching in spring 2020. As part of O’Brien’s joint venture with WarnerMedia announced last year, the specials will launch exclusively on HBO Max and will feature talent handpicked by O’Brien.

O’Brien will host two specials that feature short sets from multiple up-and-coming comics while also curating one-hour-long sets from three comedians. In addition to those five specials, HBO Max has purchased the rights to a one-hour special from comedian James Veitch, also produced by Team Coco.

“Partnering with our very own king of comedy for these specials was a no-brainer as we build up premium content for HBO Max” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president TBS, TNT, and truTV. “Delivering laughs and discovering comedic talent is what Team Coco is all about.”

Global Phenomenon Rick and Morty Dimension Hops to HBO Max

LOS ANGELES — October 29, 2019 — Announced today at the HBO MaxWarnerMedia Day, the direct-to-consumer offering has secured streaming rights to Adult Swim’s Emmy award-winning animated series Rick and Morty in the United States.

Deemed what a “modern day hit” looks like, Rick and Morty was the #1 comedy across all of television in 2017 with young adults and has become a multi-platform sensation not just on television, but across digital, gaming, livestreaming, retail, and fan experiences.The series recently received an unprecedented 70 episode order. Rick and Morty’s highly anticipated fourth season premieres on Adult Swim and in several countries on Sunday, November 10th.

Winner of 2018’s Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Animated Program, Rick and Morty is a true global phenomenon. Rick and Morty has aired on every continent and is a consumer products success, twice named the License of the Year by the industry trade group LIMA International.

 “Rick and Morty exploded onto the scene in 2013 and quickly drew a legion of rabid followers from both critics and young fans,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president TBS, TNT, truTV. “The jokes come fast and frenetically in a smart comedy concoction we are so happy to deliver on HBO Max.”

Rick and Morty follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Rick Sanchez is living with his daughter Beth’s family and constantly bringing her, his son-in-law Jerry, granddaughter Summer, and grandson Morty into intergalactic escapades.

All three seasons of Rick and Morty that have aired to date will be available to viewers on the service when HBO Max launches in the US in May 2020. Future seasons of Rick and Morty will continue to premiere on Adult Swim before streaming on HBO Max.

Rick and Morty stars Justin Roiland (Adventure Time), Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live), and Spencer Grammer (Greek). The series is co-created by Dan Harmon (Community) and Roiland, who also serve as executive producers. 

Greg Berlanti Announces New DC Projects for HBO Max— Strange Adventures and a Green Lantern Inspired Series

Greg Berlanti Announces New DC Projects for HBO Max—
Strange Adventures and a Green Lantern Inspired Series 

LOS ANGELES — October 29, 2019 — Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Titans, Doom Patrol) announced today at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day two new projects in the works exclusively for the new streaming platform—Strange Adventures and a Green Lantern inspired series. 

“Both of these original DC properties we’ll be creating for HBO Max will be unlike anything seen on television,” said Berlanti. “An anthology series of cautionary tales set in a world where superpowers exist, and, in what promises to be our biggest DC show ever made, we will be going to space with a Green Lantern television series, but I can’t reveal any more about that just yet.”

Strange Adventures, a DC Super Hero anthology series executive produced by Berlanti, will feature characters from across the DC canon. This one-hour drama series will explore close-ended morality tales about the intersecting lives of mortals and superhumans. Strange Adventures is based on the characters from DC and is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Berlanti, Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Titans, Doom Patrol), and showrunner/writer John Stephens(Gotham, Gossip Girl) serve as executive producers. Charlie Huston (Powers, Gotham) is a co-executive producer, Brigitte Hales (Once Upon a Time) is a producer, and Selwyn Seyfu Hinds(Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child, The Twilight Zone) is a consulting producer.

The Green Lantern inspired series, based on the characters from the iconic DCcomic, will come from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.  
 

HBO Max Announces Three New Projects from Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae and Mindy Kaling During WarnerMedia Day

HBO Max Announces Three New Projects from 
Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae and Mindy Kaling
During WarnerMedia Day

Los Angeles - October 29, 2019 – Announced today on the stage at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day are three new projects in the works at the forthcoming streamer: DC Super Hero High from Elizabeth BanksRap Sh*t (working title) from Issa Rae and College Girls (working title) from Mindy Kaling

“Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae and Mindy Kaling are three of the most gifted women in our industry, and are now bringing their impressive, original projects to HBO Max,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max

“These three incredible talents embody the distinct and diverse voices that will give flight to the quality HBO Max brand promise across all audiences” added Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president TBS, TNT, and truTV.

DC Super Hero High is a half-hour comedy series executive produced by Elizabeth Banks (Charlie’s Angels, Pitch Perfect, Shrill), which follows a group of students experiencing the fun and drama of adolescence at a boarding school for gifted kids. These teens are just trying to navigate the pressures of high school, but none of them realize that someday they will become legendary DC Super Heroes. DC Super Hero High is produced by Brownstone Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television, based on the characters from DC. Brownstone’s Banks and Max Handelman (ShrillPitch Perfect) are executive producers, along with writer Scott Weinger (Fuller House), John D. Beck (Disjointed, Fuller House) and Ron Hart (Disjointed, According to Jim). Brownstone’s Dannah Shinder (Shrill) will serve as co-executive producer. 

Rap Sh*t (working title) from Issa Rae(Insecure, A Black Lady Sketch Show) is a half-hour comedy series that follows a female rap group from outside of Miami trying to make it in the music industry. The series will be executive produced by Rae and Montrel McKay for Issa RaeProductions, as well as Jonathan Berry(Insecure) and Dave Becky (Master of None, Russian Dolls) for 3 Arts Entertainment, with Rae also writing the pilot. 

College Girls (working title), the latest series from Mindy Kaling (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Late Night, The Mindy Project, The Office), is a 13-episode half-hour, single-camera comedy following three 18-year-old freshman roommates at Evermore College in Vermont. A bundle of contradictions and hormones, these sexually active college girls are equal parts lovable and infuriating. The straight to series order stems from Kaling’s exclusive overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group announced earlier this year to develop, write, and produce new television projects. The series will be produced by Kaling International in association with Warner Bros. Television, with Kaling and 3 Arts Entertainment’s Howard Klein serving as executive producers. Kaling will also serve as writer and showrunner on the series.

HBO Max Unveils New and Reimagined Classic Kids & Family Series from the WarnerMedia Portfolio

Upper Images: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation 
Lower Images: Courtesy of Cartoon Network Studios 
HBO Max Unveils New and Reimagined Classic Kids & Family Series from the WarnerMedia Portfolio

All-New Looney Tunes Cartoonsand Jellystone Animated Series
From Warner Bros. Animation 

New Series The Fungies! and Tig N’ Seek
From Cartoon Network Studios 

New Live-Action and Animation Hybrid Comedy Tooned Out
From Academy Award® Winner Robert Zemeckis 

Plus Classic Cartoons from the Looney TunesMerrie Melodiesand Hanna-Barbera Libraries to be Offered on the Service
 

LOS ANGELES — October 29, 2019 — Announced today from the stage at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day is a new collection of kids and family programming from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios coming to HBO Max.  All-new Looney Tunes Cartoons and a new Jellystone series featuring the beloved Hanna-Barbera characters have been picked up from Warner Bros. Animation. New animated series The Fungies! and Tig N’ Seekfrom Cartoon Network Studios have also been greenlit. Tooned Out, a hybrid live-action and animated comedy from Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis is also in development. In addition, a collection of classics from the libraries of Looney TunesMerrie Melodies and Hanna-Barbera have been secured for HBO Max.

“As we build and expand our kids and family programming slate, we’re re-introducing some of the most cherished and iconic characters and creating new animated friends to fall in love with,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president, TBS, TNT and truTV. “These new series from the talented teams at Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios are sure to become instant classics.”

New programming announced at today’s Investor Day event includes:

  • Looney Tunes Cartoons, an all-new series from Warner Bros. Animation starring the cherished Looney Tunes characters. Looney Tunes Cartoons echoes the high production value and process of the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts with a cartoonist-driven approach to storytelling. Marquee Looney Tunes characters will be featured in their classic pairings in simple, gag-driven and visually vibrant stories. The new series will include 80 eleven-minute episodes, each comprised of animated shorts that vary in length and include adapted storylines for today’s audience. Fans can also look forward to holiday-themed specials. Looney Tunes Cartoons is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and features a talented group of voice cast members including Eric BauzaJeff Bergman and Bob BergenPete Browngardt (Uncle Grandpaand Sam Register serve as executive producers.
     
  • Jellystone, a new, animated children’s comedy series from Warner Bros. Animationwelcomes you to the town of Jellystone – a charming place where your favorite Hanna-Barbera characters live, work and play together…but, at the same time, can’t help but stir up trouble for one another. The animated series will include classic characters such as Yogi BearBoo-Boo, Augie DoggieDoggie DaddyRuffYakky DoodleShag RuggJabberjawEl KabongTop CatCaptain CavemanCindy BearMildew WolfPixie and Dixie and Mr. JinksPeter PotamusSnagglepuss, Magilla Gorilla and more. The series is executive produced by C.H. Greenblatt(Chowder) and Sam Register.
     
  • The Fungies!, a prehistoric comedy from Stephen Neary (Clarence) and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, explores Fungietown through the whimsical quests of Seth, a young student at Fungietown Elementary. Seth loves science and sharing his exciting discoveries with all his Fungie friends. But in his search for the ultimate scientific adventure, Seth often stirs up trouble for Fungietown’s colorful inhabitants leading to hilarious and heartwarming surprises. 
     
  • Tig N’ Seek is about 8-year-old Tiggy and his gadget-building cat, Gweeseek, as they search for the lost items of Wee Gee City. With Tiggy’s cheerful attitude and Gweeseek’s exceptional inventing capabilities, the duo humorously navigate day-to-day dilemmas at the Department of Lost and Found. Created by Myke Chilian (Uncle Grandpa) the lighthearted mystery-filled show is produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
     
  • Tooned Out, from Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis(Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Cast Away, Back to the Future) and executive producer/writer Jared Stern (The LEGO™ Batman Movie, upcoming Green Eggs and Ham), is a half-hour, hybrid live-action and animated comedyThings get a little cartoony for Mac when he starts seeing iconic cartoon characters, but they’re not just there for laughs, they’re helping him get through a very rough patch in his life. Tooned Out comes from A Stern Talking To Productions and Compari Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Television. A Stern Talking To’s Stern and Compari’s Zemeckis, Jack Rapke (Cast Away, What Lies Beneath, Manifest) and Jackie Levine (Manifest, Project Blue Book, What/If) are executive producers. Winsor Yuan is overseeing the project for A Stern Talking To.
     
  • In addition to the new series mentioned above classic, the Academy Award–winning classic library of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated shorts that originally aired between 1930–1969 during the golden age of animation will be available on the streamer at launch. Iconic characters include Bugs BunnyDaffy DuckPorky PigElmer FuddTweetySylvesterGrannyYosemite SamFoghorn LeghornMarvin the MartianPepé Le PewSpeedy GonzalesTasmanian DevilRoad Runner, Wile ECoyote and many more. In total, the library includes more than 250 classic episodes. Fan-favorite Hanna-Barbera properties will also be available including the full catalog of The Flintstones and The Jetsonsas well as Josie and the PussycatsPopeyeScooby and Scrappy Doo and Yogi Bear.
“We are stewards for some of the greatest animated characters of all time” said Sam RegisterPresident, Warner Bros. Animation. “And for every new series with these characters, our starting point is to always focus on what made these characters so beloved in the first place.  With Looney Tunes Cartoons and Jellystone, our artists have captured the timeless charm of these characters to create cartoons we know that kids and parents will love watching together.”

“Our artist and creator-driven approach to content has always been at the heart of what we do best,” said Rob Sorcher, Chief Content Officer, Cartoon Network Studios.  “It has been a natural evolution to expand our studio lens and bring a wider array of animation talent to this exciting new platform.”

HBO Max Lands Exclusive Streaming Rights to South Park from South Park Digital Studios, A Joint Venture Between Viacom and South Park Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone

HBO Max Lands Exclusive Streaming Rights to South Park from South Park Digital Studios, A Joint Venture Between Viacom and South Park Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone

All 23 Seasons of Parker and Stone’s Animated Satire Will be Available in June 2020 on HBO Max with Three New Seasons to Follow 
Image Courtesy of Comedy Central

LOS ANGELES, CA – October 29, 2019 –  HBO Max, the upcoming streaming platform from WarnerMedia set to launch May of 2020, has secured exclusive streaming rights in the U.S. to Comedy Central’s South Park, announced today by Kevin Reilly from the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day stage. The multi-year licensing deal was completed with South Park Digital Studios, a joint venture between Viacom and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. All 23 seasons of Parker and Stone’s award-winning animated satire will become available exclusively on the streamer in June 2020 followed by three brand new seasons, which will debut on HBO Max 24 hours after each episode premieres on Comedy Central.

South Park is unequivocally among the best—setting the satirical gold standard, with a consistent finger on the comedy pulse,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president, TBS, TNT, and truTV. “Audiences have connected with Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny – either alive or dead – for over 20 years, and we look forward to connecting these characters to new audiences on HBO Max.”

For the last six years, South Park has been the number one primetime cable comedy among young adults, garnering 44 million viewers on cable last year alone. Since premiering in 1997, South Park has consistently driven the cultural conversation and maintained its relevance with of-the-moment storylines. In its illustrious history, South Park has earned 19 Emmy Award® nominations, 5 Emmy® wins and a Peabody Award. 

South Park will anchor HBO Max’s young adult animation offering that will also include a vast selection of Adult Swim series such as cultural phenomenon The BoondocksRobot Chicken and more; Crunchyroll’s anime programming; and exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Studio Ghibli, Japan’s Oscar-winning animation house. South Park also joins HBO Max’s slate of generation-defining comedy acquisitions including FriendsThe Big Bang Theory and the British version of The Office, among others.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Action-Comedy Classic


Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Action-Comedy Classic
REMASTERED
All Three Movies on Digital in 4K Ultra HD with HDR
for the First Time December 17, 2019

3-Movie Collection Arrives on Blu-ray January 14, 2020 with Brand New Bonus Features on Beverly Hills Cop, Including Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes!
The heat is on in the action-packed comedies BEVERLY HILLS COPBEVERLY HILLS COP II, and BEVERLY HILLS COP III, newly remastered and arriving on Digital in 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range December 17, 2019 and in a 3-Movie Blu-ray Collection January 14, 2020.

Starring the incomparable Eddie Murphy, the three wildly entertaining BEVERLY HILLS COPfilms earned a combined $735M+ worldwide, as well as two Academy Award nominations* and a Grammy Award for the first film’s Original Score.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the action-comedy classic BEVERLY HILLS COP follows the one-and-only Axel Foley, a street-smart cop from Detroit.  Tracking down his best friend's killer in Beverly Hills, Axel smashes through the local barriers in a hilarious, high-speed pursuit of justice. 

The BEVERLY HILLS COP Blu-ray boasts new special features, including:
·         Two never-before-seen deleted scenes
·         Four new behind-the-scenes featurettes incorporating vintage 1984 interviews
·         An isolated audio track of the original score by Harold Faltermeyer
·         “BHC Mixtape ‘84”, which allows viewers to go directly to the scenes featuring the hit songs “The Heat Is On,” “Neutron Dance,” “New Attitude,” “Stir It Up,” “Do You Really,” and “Nasty Girl.”  

The Blu-ray also includes the following previously released special features:
·         Commentary by director Martin Brest
·         Beverly Hills Cop—The Phenomenon Begins
·         A Glimpse Inside the Casting Process
·         The Music of Beverly Hills Cop
·         Location Map
·         Theatrical Trailer


In BEVERLY HILLS COP II Eddie Murphy returns as Axel goes deep undercover to investigate a gang of international munitions smugglers and in BEVERLY HILLS COP III Axel investigates a counterfeit money ring, run out of a theme park in Los Angeles.