All posts tagged: Sirius XM Radio

Mark Ruffalo says Hollywood stars ‘afraid’ to oppose Paramount-Warner Bros deal

Mark Ruffalo says Hollywood stars ‘afraid’ to oppose Paramount-Warner Bros deal

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Emmy-winning actor Mark Ruffalo has claimed that Hollywood figures are “afraid” to oppose the proposed merger of studios Paramount and Warner Brothers. In April, shareholders at media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery approved a $81bn merger with competitor Paramount – which would result in the latter company owning HBO Max, the Harry Potter franchise and news outlet CNN. The deal has been criticised by industry professionals and politicians, who fear cost-cutting measures being brought in and Trump-friendly editorial changes at CNN as a result. Mark Ruffalo, who has been an outspoken critic of the merger, has spoken out against the deal in a new opinion piece – revealing that fellow actors are too scared to sign an open letter protesting against the merger. Kristen Stewart, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ben Stiller and Joaquin Phoenix are among the stars who’ve signed the “Block the Merger” …

American Idol’s new voting system is causing mass confusion

American Idol’s new voting system is causing mass confusion

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter American Idol has introduced a new way for viewers to vote for their favorite contestants — but the system has caused extreme misunderstanding and frustration among fans. The long-running singing competition series, currently airing its 24th season, recently added “social voting,” allowing fans to cast votes by commenting the name of their preferred contestant under that evening’s pinned voting post on the official American Idol accounts across Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Social voting replaced the dedicated American Idol voting app, which was discontinued ahead of the new season. Viewers can still vote via text and online at the American Idol website, though social voting appears to be the preferred method, as it is often the first option presented to fans. To participate in social voting, viewers are asked to “leave a comment below [the pinned voting post] that includes the properly …

SiriusXM, iHeartMedia In Talks To Combine

SiriusXM, iHeartMedia In Talks To Combine

Published by Daniella Wilson

iHeartMedia and SiriusXM are in early talks about combining the two companies, according to sources familiar with the matter, who say that music industry titan Irving Azoff and Apollo Global Management are involved to try and help facilitate a deal. iHeartMedia is the largest radio station owner in the U.S., with more than 860 stations in 160 markets, while SiriusXM is the largest satellite radio service, boasting talents deals with the likes of Andy Cohen, Alex Cooper and most famously Howard Stern. In recent years, both companies have leaned into podcasts as a growth engine amid a decline in radio listenership. iHeartMedia filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and has since been working to mount a turnaround, with shares up 10 percent year to date. Representatives for SiriusXM declined to comment, and reps for Apollo didn’t respond to request for comment. A representative for iHeartMedia said that “we don’t comment on rumors or speculation.” Apollo is a major private equity player in the media landscape. In 2024, the company made a bid for Paramount, which was …