A special Paramount-themed episode as Skydance Media completes its $8 billion takeover after a yearlong battle to acquire the storied studio. Hollywood historian Jeanine Basinger, Variety chief film critics Peter Debruge and Owen Gleiberman and MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman join host Cynthia Littleton to examine the pioneering film factory’s past, present and future.

A special Paramount-themed episode as Skydance Media completes its $8 billion takeover after a yearlong battle to acquire the storied studio. Hollywood historian Jeanine Basinger, Variety chief film critics Peter Debruge and Owen Gleiberman and MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman join host Cynthia Littleton to examine the pioneering film factory&rsquo;s past, present and future.

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

Strictly Business

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment on Variety's weekly interview series.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment on Variety's weekly interview series.

Variety's Strictly Business

Daily Variety – A Deep Look at Paramount Pictures: What’s Next for the House that Adolph Zukor Built and David Ellison Just Bought

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3be36618-4dc7-41c8-bca1-b332007c3544/transcript

Robert Schildhouse, CEO of direct-to-consumer for BBC Studios, details the growing popularity of streamer BritBox and its loyal U.S. subscribers. "We have to earn our way into the living room like every streaming service does," Schildhouse says.

Robert Schildhouse, CEO of direct-to-consumer for BBC Studios, details <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/britbox-podcast-on-the-box-1236668728/">the growing popularity of streamer BritBox and its loyal U.S. subscribers</a>. "We have to earn our way into the living room like every streaming service does," Schildhouse says.

How Streamer BritBox Shapes U.K. TV Strategy Through Success With American Audiences

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/35d56abc-384a-4bbc-87ac-b42100043865/transcript

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Brent Lang breaks down the numbers and a second-weekend sigh of relief at Amazon MGM Studios as “Project Hail Mary” hangs in at No. 1. And Michael Schneider speaks to daytime TV soap mogul Bradley Bell, the writer-producer who has launched a subscription app for diehard fans of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

On today&rsquo;s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety&rsquo;s Brent Lang breaks down the numbers and a second-weekend sigh of relief <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/project-hail-mary-global-box-office-shatters-expectations-1236696281/">at Amazon MGM Studios as &ldquo;Project Hail Mary&rdquo; hangs in at No. 1.</a> And Michael Schneider speaks to daytime TV soap mogul Bradley Bell, the writer-producer who has launched <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/the-bold-and-the-beautiful-streaming-app-bbtv-1236696432/">a subscription app for diehard fans of CBS&rsquo; &ldquo;The Bold and the Beautiful.&rdquo;</a>

Daily Variety – Box Office: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Holds on Tight to No. 1; Why ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ is Launching a Streaming App

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c57114da-47df-45ee-95cc-b41d01697fec/transcript

On today’s episode, “Strictly Business” speaks with “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” executive producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson about the Ryan Murphy-FX drama that examines how a fairy-tale romance collided with the fearsome power of fame. The partners in the Color Force film and TV banner also assess the health of the film and TV sales marketplace, and the pair are frank about why they support the Producers United campaign.

On today&rsquo;s episode, &ldquo;Strictly Business&rdquo; speaks with <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/features/love-story-fx-jfk-jr-carolyn-bessette-sex-politics-1236648235/">&ldquo;Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette&rdquo;</a> executive producers <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/love-story-jfk-jr-brad-simpson-nina-jacobson-fx-ryan-murphy-1236701175/">Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson</a> about the Ryan Murphy-FX drama that examines how <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/love-story-finale-jfk-jr-carolyn-plane-crash-deaths-1236701278/">a fairy-tale romance collided with the fearsome power of fame</a>.&nbsp;The partners in the Color Force film and TV banner also assess the health of the film and TV sales marketplace, and the pair are frank about why they <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/features/movie-producers-united-hollywood-1236584944/">support the Producers United campaign.</a>

'Love Story' Producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson on the Fateful Final Episode, Working With Ryan Murphy and FX and Why They Support Producers United

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c7649e9b-363f-4252-bfef-b41a012057a7/transcript

Daily Variety – A Deep Look at Paramount Pictures: What’s Next for the House that Adolph Zukor Built and David Ellison Just Bought

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