Strictly Business

Strictly Business

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Episodes

October 3, 2025 24 mins

On today’s episode, hear highlights from Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit including a lively session with digital native creatives Nicole Byer, Erin Foster, Sara Foster, Matt Rogers, Jake Shane and Benito Skinner, moderated by Variety’s Marc Malkin. Plus, highlights from a session with John Stamos and Zeam CEO Jack Perry detailing their build-out plans for the live streaming platform.

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On today’s episode, Variety’s Daniel D’Addario goes inside the mind of a man who is playing a serial killer, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” star Charlie Hunnam, for our Cover Story segment. And host Cynthia Littleton dives into the Variety archives to revisit a front page from October 1956 full of headlines that resonate today.

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On today’s episode, Variety’s Jennifer Maas explains the $55 billion buyout deal that will see Electronic Arts be taken over by three private equity firms. And music reporter Thania Garcia discusses Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show gig and why it’s such a significant decision for the Puerto Rican superstar.

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On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the opening weekend for “One Battle After Another” at the box office. And veteran international correspondent John Hopewell reports from San Sebastián in Spain where the annual film festival drew Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence and more.

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On today’s episode, hear from top industry executives on the latest shifts in streaming and linear strategies, the rise of YouTube and savvy IP management. The full opening session from the Variety Entertainment & Technology Summit features Starz’s Alison Hoffman, NBCUniversal’s Lisa Katz, Amazon MGM Studios’ Laura Lancaster, Warner Bros. TV Group’s Brett Paul, Sony Pictures TV’s Katherine Po...

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On today's episode, Variety's senior media reporter Gene Maddaus about his investigative report on Los Angeles Film School. The private business is facing allegations of massive student loan fraud. Variety’s gaming chief Jennifer Maas has the scoop on mobile gaming company Scopely.

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On today's episode, Variety TV chief Michael Schneider speaks to showrunner Sterlin Harjo, whose new series "The Lowdown" bows today on FX. Clayton Davis, Variety's chief awards editor, discusses the surprise news that Christopher Nolan has taken on a side gig as president of the Directors Guild of America.

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On today’s episode, Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman explains why the new Paul Thomas Anderson drama “One Battle After Another” is a movie for our times. And music chief Jem Aswad reflects on the legacy of Sylvia Rhone as the music industry veteran announces her retirement.

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On today’s episode, Variety box office chief Rebecca Rubin explains the weak starts for “Him” and “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” and why Taylor Swift is a friend to exhibition. Brian Steinberg, Variety’s senior TV editor, breaks down the five-way brawl among Jimmy Kimmel, Disney, the FCC, Nexstar and Sinclair.

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The CMO of content ratings firm details how VideoAmp leverages first-party data to measure audiences across platforms. She explans how it has partnered with multiple media giants — including the NFL — to provide what it says is a more accurate picture of cross-platform viewership.

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Variety co-Editor in Chief Ramin Setoodeh tells all in our Cover Story segment about his sit down with Julia Roberts and the cast of Luca Gaudagnino’s provocative new film “After the Hunt.” And chief music critic Chris Willman revisits a moment in time that defines an era: Lilith Fair.

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In today's episode, former Paramount Global majority owner Shari Redstone details her new investment in Israeli production banner Sipur. Variety business editor Todd Spangler and TV news editor Joe Otterson break down the latest on Redstone’s old shop as Paramount prepares a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

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The leader of the production company behind "Simone Biles Rising," "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma" and many more sports-related series details the company's business strategy and how it has navigated the content marketplace as an independent. Sankaran also discusses the company's new partnership with tennis star Coco Gauff and her IROC media venture.

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In today's episode, Fifth Season co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor talk "Severance" and what its Emmy noms haul means for the business. And TV editor Michael Schneider has a big idea for the new Emmy Awards TV contract.

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In today’s episode, Variety TV editor Michael Schneider details his sit-down with Kathy Bates, the “Matlock” star who graces the cover of Variety’s annual pre-Emmy Awards issue. And Emily Longeretta details the movers, shakers and influential creatives who made Variety’s annual TV Producers Impact Report.

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In today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler and Gene Maddaus discuss the latest legal moves for AI heavyweights Anthropic and Midjourney in their copyright infringement battles. And Variety’s Ethan Shanfeld describes comedy’s annual “mad dash” as “Saturday Night Live” finalizes its Season 51 cast.

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In today’s episode, Variety’s box office chief Rebecca Rubin breaks down the impressive numbers from “The Conjuring: Last Rites” and how it extends Warner Bros.’ box office streak to record territory. And Michael Schneider and Jazz Tangcay weigh in from backstage at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, where Giancarlo Esposito and Shawn Hatosy spoke from the heart about the state of showbiz.

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Eric Sandler, chief strategy officer for Pushkin Industries, details the business vision for the premium audio studio that was founded in 2018 by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg. It’s home to great series such as Gladwell’s "Revisionist History" and “Against the Rules,” hosted by author Michael Lewis. Sandler details the company’s creator-first strategy of nurturing shows and talent.

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In today’s episode, Eric Sandler, chief strategy officer for Pushkin Industries, details the audio studio’s fall slate, which includes a look back at “The Big Short” with Michael Lewis and Pushkin co-founder Malcolm Gladwell taking on an infamous Alabama murder case on “Revisionist History.” Also, Jem Aswad, Variety’s executive editor of music, details his recent sit-down with the inimitabl...

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In today’s episode, Daniel D’Addario, Variety’s chief correspondent, details for our Cover Story segment how Channing Tatum and director Derek Cianfrance revisited a true-crime tale for our times in “Roofman.” And international editor Elsa Keslassy breaks down the important buzz for the biz coming out of the Venice Film Festival.

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