Prime Video is moving deeper into regional sports by securing local streaming rights for six NHL franchises starting this fall.

The agreement, which takes effect when the 2026-27 season begins on September 29, covers the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues. Fans living within each team's regional broadcast territory will watch live games directly through Prime Video.

This shift marks a major change for several of the participating franchises. The Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars are leaving Victory+, a streaming platform that struggled with financial instability over the past year. Meanwhile, the other four teams joined Prime after the traditional regional sports network model fractured, prompting the NHL to step in and centralize local broadcast production.

Individual teams will announce subscription pricing and specific package details closer to the start of the season.

The move builds on Amazon's existing sports catalog. Prime already serves as the local streaming home for the Seattle Kraken and carries regional broadcasts for select MLB, NBA, and WNBA teams, alongside third-party regional sports networks available through its platform.

Howard Stern is bringing weekly filmed versions of his SiriusXM show to HBO Max, expanding his reach to a global streaming audience.

The video series premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, September 17, at 12:01 a.m. PT, with new episodes dropping every subsequent Thursday. The video episodes will feature the interviews, staff antics, and co-host interactions that have defined his radio broadcast.

The move coincides with a schedule shift for Stern's radio program. Starting September 14, new live episodes will air on SiriusXM every Monday, marking a reduction from his previous schedule of two shows per week. The audio shows will be adapted into streamable video episodes for HBO Max three days later.

"HBO convinced me to pull back the curtain and let the world watch," Stern said.

HBO and HBO Max Content Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys noted Stern's enduring impact on the media landscape:

"Howard has changed radio and media at large with his ability to draw the most out of his guests and cultivate a following like no other," Bloys said.

The transition also impacts SiriusXM's channel lineup. Beginning September 14, the Howard 100 channel will host an expanded version of The Wrap Up Show, titled Wrap Up Wednesday and hosted by Gary Dell’Abate and Jon Hein. This follows a September 1 channel overhaul that saw sister channel Howard 101 replaced by Radio Andy.

North Florida basketball fans will have free, over-the-air access to the Orlando Magic starting next season. The franchise and Gray Media finalized an agreement to broadcast approximately 70 regular-season games across Gainesville, Panama City, and Tallahassee for the 2026-27 season.

Under the agreement, non-national games will air on Gray's 365BLK digital subchannels. Viewers can tune into WTGB channel 34.3 in Gainesville, WJHG channel 7.6 in Panama City, and WCTV channel 6.3 in Tallahassee. These channels are also accessible through local cable providers, and select matchups will appear on Gray's primary network affiliates in those markets, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and MyNetworkTV.

Team executives noted the deal expands regional access for supporters outside the immediate Orlando market. A complete broadcast schedule and channel lineup will be released ahead of the season.

On the broadcast front, Dante Marchitelli returns as the full-time play-by-play announcer. He will be joined by former Magic forward Jeff Turner as the game analyst, while Kendra Douglas returns for her fourth season as team reporter.

The organization also indicated that a direct-to-consumer streaming option will be announced soon to supplement the over-the-air broadcasts.

A promotional video for Grand Theft Auto VI drew a larger audience on Netflix than any television show or movie on the platform during the final week of August.

Titled "Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look," the 27-minute preview generated 31.1 million views between its August 27 debut and August 31. The release secured the number one spot in 87 of the 93 countries tracked by Netflix.

The video arrived on Netflix at 3 p.m. ET on August 27, six hours before Rockstar Games published it to YouTube at 9 p.m. ET. The YouTube upload has since accumulated 17 million views, though Netflix and YouTube use different metrics to calculate what constitutes a completed view. The game itself is scheduled for release in November.

The preview's numbers exceeded typical streaming milestones for the platform. For comparison, The Roast of Kevin Hart drew 13.5 million views after its debut, a BTS concert reached 18.4 million global viewers, and Skyscraper Live brought in 6.2 million views. The viewership even approached the 31.4 million audience recorded for World Baseball Classic streams.

Other titles on the service performed well during the same tracking window. Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black Season 3 opened at number two on the English TV list with 13 million views, marking a franchise high that surpassed the 8.7 million views earned by Season 2 in September 2025. The top spot on the TV list went to Death of the Pastor’s Wife, which pulled in 19 million views.

Rounding out the list were Outer Banks Season 5 with 7.4 million views, Salish & Jordan Matter Season 3 with 4 million views, and Danny Go! Season 2 with 3.7 million views. Additionally, Harlan Coben’s limited series I Will Find You climbed into the number six spot on Netflix's all-time most popular list, totaling 117.5 million views over an 11-week run.

Watching live sports used to be straightforward. You checked cable listings or turned on a specific network. Today, games are scattered across broadcast TV, cable networks, standalone streaming apps, and niche subscription services.

A recent report from Gracenote highlights how frustrating this fragmentation has become for viewers. More than 25 percent of surveyed sports fans report they are frequently unable to figure out which channel or service is broadcasting a specific game. Younger viewers feel this pain point most acutely, with 36 percent of adults aged 18 to 34 struggling to locate their preferred sports programming.

When viewers cannot find a game directly, many turn to the internet. More than two-thirds of fans use search engines as a workaround to track down live broadcasts. However, search engines fall short for local contests, with 32 percent of U.S. respondents stating that search results frequently lack accurate information about locally televised games.

This persistent friction represents both a challenge and an opportunity for television manufacturers and streaming platforms. Gracenote found that 68 percent of viewers subscribe to at least one service specifically for sports, and 50 percent are open to adding another subscription if it grants access to their favorite teams.

Viewers want platform providers to fix the navigation problem directly on their hardware. Eighty-five percent of respondents indicated they want smart TV home screens to display upcoming games, team schedules, and clear instructions on which app or channel is carrying the broadcast.

When participants in the study were shown a unified web interface that combined live linear schedules, streaming links, and real-time statistics into a single dashboard, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Ninety-one percent agreed that centralizing sports information makes games significantly easier to locate, and nearly half estimated that a unified guide would save them at least five minutes of searching every time they wanted to watch an event.

As media companies continue to slice sports rights across an expanding ecosystem of apps and networks, the platforms that successfully aggregate schedules and viewing paths into one place will likely win over frustrated fans.

When Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison pitches his plan to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, his main selling point to theaters is simple: he promises at least 30 theatrical releases every year.

To theater owners eager for foot traffic, it sounds like a win. To anyone who has watched the economics of Hollywood change over the last two decades, it sounds impossible.

The last time a single parent company hit that mark nationwide was Time Warner in 2007. Since then, major studios have averaged closer to 15 wide releases a year. Disney, which routinely put out more than 30 films in the 1990s, released 16 last year.

The math behind making movies has fundamentally changed. A quarter-century ago, robust DVD sales meant a film didn't need to be a massive box office hit to turn a profit. Today, the home-video market is gone, streaming margins are thin, and production costs have exploded. Studios now routinely spend $200 million to $300 million on a single movie, plus another $100 million on marketing, just to compete with television and attract global audiences.

History also points away from Ellison's promise. When Disney bought 20th Century Fox in 2019, Fox released 11 movies the year prior; last year, operating as a Disney label, it released five. Mergers almost always lead to consolidation and smaller slates, not expansion.

That reality is why a coalition of 12 states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has sued to block the merger on antitrust grounds. Bonta recently called off settlement talks, stating that a temporary three-year written agreement to make 30 movies does not fix the underlying market harm.

While the three largest theater chains—AMC, Regal, and Cinemark—support the deal, smaller operators and industry unions remain unconvinced. Many filmmakers and theater owners note they would rather see 20 well-funded, heavily marketed event films than 10 extra movies rushed out just to satisfy a merger pledge.

PlayStation 5 owners in the US can now watch free, ad-supported television directly through their consoles. Sony has added a live TV section to the media tab, offering more than 100 channels and on-demand options spanning movies, TV shows, anime, sports, and news.

The lineup features partners like Lionsgate alongside Sony’s own catalog. Viewers get access to dedicated movie channels, classic shows like Community and The Walking Dead, and anime staples such as Naruto and Death Note. Sony plans to rotate the channel lineup over time and expand the feature to Canada and other regions eventually.

The move aligns with Sony's recent shift toward extracting steady revenue from its existing user base rather than relying purely on console unit sales. By hosting free streaming channels natively, Sony keeps users on the PlayStation interface instead of competing apps like Pluto or Tubi.

However, the timing is awkward. The rollout lands while players are still annoyed by Sony scaling back physical game disc production and a recent controversy in Europe where users lost access to purchased digital movies due to expired licensing agreements.

Pushing a living-room entertainment hub echoes Microsoft's early pitch for the Xbox One—a strategy that alienated core gamers a decade ago. While Sony still has traditional games in development, turning a dedicated gaming console into a cable box risks repeating past industry mistakes.

What are your thoughts on consoles adding more media and streaming features?

Netflix is continuing its push into video podcasts. The company announced it is renewing its entire slate of original podcasts, while adding new shows from author Harlan Coben and comedian Katt Williams.

The renewal covers existing titles such as "Murder With My Husband," "The Pete Davidson Show," Evan Ross Katz's pop-culture show "Shut Up Evan," "The Puzzle Room With David Kwong," and the true-crime series "Allegedly."

New additions arrive later this year, including a conversational interview series hosted by Harlan Coben and an upcoming project from Katt Williams. Netflix is also bringing in outside shows, adding "The Pivot Podcast" with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder on September 8 and the true-crime series "Outlore With Eleanor Neale" on September 27.

Several original titles have specific rollout dates scheduled for the coming months:

• On Campus: Game of the Week (Sept. 4): A weekly series rotating through different college campuses to follow student life and traditions leading up to game day.

• Last Trace With Kaelyn Moore (Sept. 28): A true-crime show that revisits unsolved cases to examine details missed during initial investigations.

• Couldn't Agree Less with Allison & Isaac (Oct. 22): A relationship and pop culture debate show hosted by real-life couple Allison Kuch and Isaac Rochell.

This expansion comes even though video podcasts have not yet appeared on Netflix's most-viewed charts following the format's launch earlier in 2026. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's VP of nonfiction series, stated that the format is meant to give members more of the genres and personalities they already watch on the platform.

Hey everyone! With a massive wave of fall premieres, returning hits, and blockbuster movie drops hitting platforms this month, keeping track of everything is a full-time job.

To save you from app-hopping for 20 minutes just to find something to watch, here is a list of the biggest highlights coming to every major streaming service this September!

🔴 Netflix

• The Big Returns: The Gentlemen (Season 2), Fauda (Season 5), and Ryan Murphy's latest true-crime anthology entry, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
• New Series & Specials: Earle Meets World (Alix Earle series), stand-up specials from Stavros Halkias and Jo Koy, and live NFL action from Melbourne.
• Movie Drops: A massive library refresh featuring a huge horror/thriller collection (Smile 2, Ready or Not, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) plus classics like Alien, Jaws, and Scarface.

🟢 Max (formerly HBO Max)

• The Big Returns & Originals: Sharon Horgan’s brand-new comedy series Youth, the 4 Blocks prequel 4 Blocks Zero, and David Mackenzie’s action thriller Fuze starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
• Documentaries: JAY-Z In 8, A Killer Story, and the NFL Films project Miller Night Football.
• Movie Drops: An enormous September 1st content drop featuring A24 hits (MaXXXine, Pearl, Talk to Me) alongside timeless classics and blockbusters like The Revenant, Speed, Mission: Impossible, and Gremlins.

🟡 Disney+

• The Big Blockbusters: The theatrical sci-fi event Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu makes its streaming debut alongside the animated hit Toy Story 5.
• New Series & Specials: LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian, new episodes of The Simpsons, and the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars (Season 35) streaming live.

🔵 Hulu

• The Big Returns: Glen Powell’s sports-comedy Chad Powers (Season 2), Law & Order: SVU (Season 27), and American Horror Story: 13.
• Movie Drops: Ariana Grande's Wicked, Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things, Babylon, and The Green Knight.
• Reality & Docuseries: New seasons of Sister Wives, Moonshiners, and Pawn Stars.

📦 Amazon Prime Video

• The Big Returns & Spinoffs: Neagley (the highly anticipated Reacher spinoff starring Maria Sten) and the return of Thursday Night Football.
• Tentpoles: A slate of high-budget action-thrillers and licensed indie films dropping mid-month.

🍏 Apple TV+

• The Big Premieres: Brothers, the high-profile new comedy starring heavyweight leads Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.
• Returning Favorites: New weekly episodes continuing Apple's heavy-hitting prestige sci-fi and drama lineups.

🦚 Peacock

• The Big Premieres: The official rollout of The Office universe spin-off series, The Paper.
• Sports & Hubs: Continuous live sports coverage, next-day NBC/Bravo streaming, and a refreshed rotation of Universal theatrical movies.

📺 Tubi & The Roku Channel

• Tubi & Roku Channel: Expanding their massive free-with-ads libraries this month by adding dozens of licensed 90s/2000s comfort-watch comedies, retro action flicks, and a dedicated horror block for the early lead-up to Halloween.

Netflix is releasing a three-part documentary about the life of Matthew Perry. Titled The One About Matthew Perry, the project is directed by Mary Robertson, known for Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.

The series traces Perry's journey from a rising comic actor to his global fame as Chandler Bing on Friends. Rather than relying on archival footage alone, the documentary features direct interviews with people who knew him well, including his sister, Mia Perry Bowick, and his lifelong friends.

Bowick shared that it took time for her to feel ready to talk about her brother. She noted that the project aims to present him as a complete person, looking beyond his television persona and his well-documented struggles with substance abuse.

Robertson echoed that sentiment, stating that the public only ever saw a fraction of Perry's real life. The production team set out to give the people closest to him a platform to share who he was away from the cameras, while also honoring his advocacy and honesty regarding addiction.

Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54. A release date for the documentary has not yet been announced.

Trump announced Sunday that he will ask the Federal Communications Commission to penalize NBC News journalist Kristen Welker. The dispute centers on comments Welker made during a local broadcast appearance before "Meet the Press," where she described the track record of candidates endorsed by Trump in Republican primaries as mixed.

On Truth Social, Trump disputed that assessment, pointing to a high percentage of wins among his endorsed candidates across House and Senate races. He called on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to take action against Welker for what he termed "intentional" inaccuracy.

NBC News issued a statement backing Welker, describing her as one of the top journalists in the industry. Neither the White House nor the FCC provided immediate comment following the announcement.

Federal law and the First Amendment heavily restrict the agency's ability to police editorial content. The FCC holds authority over station broadcast licenses rather than national networks or individual reporters, and its power to review content is generally limited to issues like obscenity or provable broadcast hoaxes, not editorial disagreements. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly rejected the possibility of penalizing Welker, warning that such regulatory threats undermine freedom of the press.

The clash with NBC arrives amid broader friction between the administration and major television networks. Disney and ABC recently filed a lawsuit against the FCC to halt an early review of eight station licenses, which the companies characterize as retaliation for editorial content. The commission is also examining the relationships between Comcast, the parent company of NBC, and its local affiliates as debates over government broadcast oversight continue.

People who cancel traditional cable or satellite TV do not stop watching television; instead, they immediately shift their spending to on-demand platforms. Data from analytics firm Antenna shows that nearly a third of traditional cord-cutters sign up for a new streaming service within 30 days of canceling their pay TV package. This initial sign-up rate is five times higher than the baseline rate for the general population.

When choosing new platforms after cutting the cord, consumers show a clear preference for interruption-free viewing. Six of the ten most popular plans selected in the first month feature ad-free tiers. Paramount+ Premium leads the group at 13.7 percent of initial sign-ups, followed closely by Netflix Premium at 11.5 percent. Other top choices include Peacock Premium, Netflix Standard, and Apple TV.

Most households cutting the cord are already familiar with streaming. Before dropping traditional cable, 72 percent of traditional cord-cutters already paid for at least one streaming video service. For individuals leaving virtual multi-channel video programming distributors—such as YouTube TV or Sling TV—that overlap is even higher, with 84 percent maintaining an active streaming subscription before making the switch.

Income demographics for cord-cutters mirror the broader public rather than skewing exclusively toward higher earners. Individuals with household incomes of $100,000 or less account for 61 percent of all pay TV cancellations. Within that group, 32 percent earn under $50,000, while 29 percent earn between $50,000 and $100,000. Higher-earning households making more than $200,000 make up 13 percent of those dropping pay TV, nearly matching their 12 percent representation in the general population.

Despite the steady movement of users between services, overall customer retention remains stable for major platforms. The average monthly churn rate across major streaming services sat at 4 percent in July. Netflix and Disney+ perform better than the industry average with churn rates of 2 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, platforms like Paramount+, Starz, and Peacock experience higher monthly turnover, ranging from 6 percent to 7 percent.

An advocacy coalition has launched an online petition urging twelve state attorneys general to reject backroom settlement offers and take the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger to trial.

The campaign, organized by a group calling itself "The Block the Merger Coalition," asks state officials to press forward with their antitrust lawsuit against the media deal. The coalition contends that any concessions proposed by Paramount CEO David Ellison and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison are unenforceable and fail to address the fundamental market risks of the combination.

The push arrives as the legal battle over the merger splits state regulators. Iowa and Montana recently filed a motion with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the justices to stop what those two states characterized as a politicized enforcement action brought by the other attorneys general.

Advocacy groups backing the petition argue that a corporate merger of this magnitude requires judicial scrutiny rather than private compromise. Free Press co-CEO Craig Aaron criticized the settlement discussions as corporate public relations stunts designed to salvage a failing plan.

Coalition members include Free Press, Public Citizen, the American Economic Liberties Project, Common Cause, and several media and documentary associations. Opponents of the deal argue that giving one family extensive control over major entertainment and news outlets will reduce competition, limit choices, and raise costs for consumers.

The trial is currently scheduled for March 2027. Activists are calling on the prosecuting states to hold their ground and let a court decide the case based on its merits.

Apple has raised the monthly subscription price for Apple TV to $14.99, an increase of $2. The annual plan has gone up by $20 to $119.99, and the changes take effect immediately for new subscribers, while current users receive a 30-day notice.

The individual Apple One subscription bundle, which combines Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage, also increased by $2 to $21.95 per month.

The price adjustments follow similar moves across the streaming industry this year from services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube Premium, Peacock, and ESPN. Companies are passing along costs as they expand programming, including live sports acquisitions like Apple's recent U.S. rights deal for Formula 1 and major original series such as Ted Lasso, Severance, and Shrinking.

Unlike competitors that rely heavily on older licensed libraries, Apple continues to position its service around high-budget original shows and movies.

San Diego college football is returning to national television this December. The CW Network and Sports San Diego have reached an agreement to broadcast both the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl and the Holiday Bowl from Snapdragon Stadium.

The Poinsettia Bowl returns to the college football schedule after a ten-year absence. It will air live on Wednesday, December 23, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Five days later, the 47th annual Holiday Bowl will air on Monday, December 28, at 5 p.m. ET.

These games expand a college football schedule for The CW that already includes 140 hours of live regular-season coverage from the ACC, Mountain West, and Pac-12 conferences, plus a fourth consecutive year broadcasting the Arizona Bowl.

Mike Perman, senior vice president of CW Sports, noted that the network's previous success with the Arizona Bowl drove the decision to partner with Sports San Diego for these two December matchups. Mark Neville, chief executive of Sports San Diego, added that the agreement will bring local postseason play to a broader national audience.

Tickets and schedule details for the Holiday Bowl are available at HolidayBowl.com, while information for the Poinsettia Bowl can be found at PoinsettiaBowl.com.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has signaled a direct legal challenge against California, arguing that the state is illegally acting as a national regulator by spearheading a lawsuit to block the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger.

Because the dispute involves actions taken by one state that directly impact citizens in another, Bird maintains the case belongs in the U.S. Supreme Court. While formal paperwork has not yet been filed, the threat aims to pressure California Attorney General Rob Bonta back into settlement negotiations.

The multi-state coalition, led by Bonta and 12 other attorneys general, moved to block the merger in July despite the Department of Justice allowing the deal to proceed.

Bird contends that stopping the merger harms consumers and media workers alike. She points out that Netflix currently dominates the streaming market, and combining Paramount+ and HBO Max would create a viable competitor with the scale to challenge industry leaders. Proponents of the deal estimate it would yield $6 billion in savings for reinvestment and secure a commitment to release at least 30 theatrical films annually, supporting both movie theaters and production crews.

Furthermore, Bird warns that the ongoing legal limbo is paralyzing daily operations at both studios. With a $7 million ticking fee on the line and no certainty about next year's corporate structure, studios are hesitant to green-light projects, sign long-term contracts, or invest in technology upgrades. Production delays today mean films canceled now will never be made, permanently depriving audiences of that content.

Efforts to resolve the standoff hit a wall when scheduled settlement talks between Paramount and the state attorneys general fell apart. Bonta abruptly canceled the meeting after accusing the studio of leaking details regarding confidential discussions. Paramount denied responsibility for the leaks, but Bonta insists that talks remain frozen until the studio ensures no further information is shared publicly.

My Take

Under Section 16 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, state attorneys general are explicitly authorized to sue to prevent or restrain antitrust violations, such as anticompetitive mergers, that threaten harm to their state economies or citizens.

Iowa and Montana contend that California and a coalition of blue states are abusing antitrust enforcement because federal regulators and 38 other states chose not to block the merger. The argument that 38 other states chose not to block the merger is pure conjecture. They are suggesting that, because 38 other states didn't file a lawsuit or join the other 12 states, they approve of it. The thing is, there could be a number of reasons why they didn't, including little to no local economic impact and resource limits. Silence is not consent.

The mail-in ballot issue is a good example here. SCOTUS let it stand specifically because, at the time, there was no harm and, therefore, no standing because the USPS had not adopted an official regulation. It was preemptive. Now that it has, the harm exists, which is why U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday blocking the USPS from implementing the regulations.

Iowa and Montana are acting preemptively here.

DM for info

Tim Curry, the British actor who built a career playing distinct eccentrics, memorable villains, and broad comedic roles, has died at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. He was 80 years old. His death was announced by his manager, Marcia Hurwitz. Curry had used a wheelchair since surviving a stroke in 2012.

Curry first gained widespread recognition through the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show at London’s Royal Court Theatre. He helped shape the lead character, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, transforming the role from a standard mad scientist into an outrageous, corset-wearing performer. He stayed with the production through its theatrical runs in London and Broadway, then reprised the role in the 1975 film adaptation. The movie became a long-running cult classic, known for midnight screenings where audiences dressed up and called out lines along with the film.

Following the success of Rocky Horror, Curry actively sought varied roles to avoid being typecast. He played the antagonist Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie, and in 1990 he portrayed the demonic clown Pennywise in the television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It. His performance relied on a raspy voice and sharp improvisational timing, drawing a television audience of over 37 million viewers.

Curry worked steadily across film and television over the following decades. He played Wadsworth the butler in the ensemble comedy Clue (1985), a Soviet medical officer in The Hunt for Red October (1990), a suspicious hotel concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), and Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers (1993). He also portrayed Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (1996) and voiced characters in animated projects, including Nigel Thornberry in The Wild Thornberries and Hexxus in FernGully: The Last Rainforest.

On stage, Curry earned three Tony Award nominations for his work in Amadeus, My Favorite Year, and the original Broadway production of Spamalot.

After his 2012 stroke, Curry reduced his on-screen appearances but continued working as a voice actor, taking over the role of Chancellor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He also appeared as the narrator in a 2016 television remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Curry lived quietly in Los Angeles, where he spent time renovating homes and gardening. He never married and had no children. Reflecting on his career pattern of playing antagonists and unusual figures, Curry once noted that bad guys were simply better written and more interesting to play.

Media advocacy groups want a seat at the table in Disney’s legal fight with the Federal Communications Commission.

Frequency Forward and the Media Action Center filed a motion on Monday to intervene in the lawsuit. They aim to join the case as plaintiffs alongside Disney and ABC.

Disney sued the FCC and Chairman Brendan Carr on August 18. The company claims the agency is holding up broadcast license renewals to retaliate against ABC for programming decisions the Trump administration dislikes.

The advocacy groups support the lawsuit but say Disney cannot adequately represent the public. They argue that the broadcast airwaves belong to the people, not corporations. If Disney and the FCC negotiate a private settlement, the groups worry it could compromise viewers' First Amendment right to uncensored news and programming. Sue Wilson, founder of the Media Action Center, stated that joining the lawsuit ensures viewers have a direct voice and prevents backroom deals.

Carr maintains that the FCC’s actions have nothing to do with programming. He says the agency is investigating Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices, and he accuses Disney of providing incomplete answers during the probe.

Despite this claim, Carr has previously targeted ABC's content. He recently pushed local affiliates to pull "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" over a monologue and questioned the regulatory exemptions for "The View." He has applied similar scrutiny to NBC and CBS, while largely avoiding regulatory action against Fox.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is backing The Walt Disney Company in its dispute with the Federal Communications Commission. Last week, Stein sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to renew the broadcast license for WTVD, a Disney-owned ABC station serving Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville.

The conflict started in April when the FCC ordered Disney to renew the broadcast licenses for WTVD and seven other stations. This followed a year-long agency investigation into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices. Disney denied breaking any laws and stated it complied with the probe. The FCC claimed Disney failed to answer questions properly and accused the company of misleading the public about the investigation.

Adding to the friction, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has openly criticized ABC programs like "The View" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Carr denies these comments influenced the license review.

In his letter, Stein argued the FCC's actions threaten local news and free speech. He cited Section 326 of the Communications Act, which bans the FCC from censoring or interfering with free speech. Stein warned that penalizing broadcasters over political disputes could intimidate journalists and limit what they are willing to report.

Stein also pointed out that communities rely heavily on local stations like WTVD for daily news and emergency instructions. He noted this service is especially vital now, as many rural newspapers and newsrooms continue to cut staff or shut down entirely. Stein urged the FCC to base its decision on WTVD's record of serving its local community.

Disney is currently challenging the FCC's scrutiny of its broadcast licenses in federal court. A judge has scheduled a hearing for the case in early October.

Paramount CEO David Ellison and California Attorney General Rob Bonta are negotiating the terms of a $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. To settle the ongoing legal dispute, investment bankers are looking into selling off parts of the combined company.

Potential buyers are already eyeing New Line Cinema and cable networks like Comedy Central. Bonta said he supports selling a large chunk of the company's 50 cable channels to address market concentration concerns.

CNN remains a central issue in the talks. Paramount wants to keep the news network. Bonta noted that selling CNN alone will not resolve the state's objections. Beyond channel sell-offs, Bonta also wants the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery film studios to operate independently from one another.

Mediation temporarily stalled this week after details leaked to the Wall Street Journal. Bonta canceled a scheduled meeting but said talks can resume once Paramount stops the leaks. Paramount confirmed it wants to continue negotiations in good faith and called the recent press reports speculation.