WarnerMedia joins an armada of well-funded competitors looking to take on Netflix’s over-the-top dominance, but a crowded landscape may become a zero-sum game (or, gasp!, a cable bundle).
— Read on www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/streaming-arms-race-may-make-cable-look-like-a-deal-1152648

Viacom joins Twentieth Century Fox in accusing Netflix of inducing its employees to breach their fixed-term contracts.
— Read on variety.com/2018/tv/news/viacom-netflix-employee-poaching-suit-1202981609/

Plucky fuboTV Approaches 250K Paid Subscribers, Exceeds $100 Million in Annualized Revenues – VideoNuze

http://www.videonuze.com/article/plucky-fubotv-closes-in-on-250k-paid-subscribers-exceeds-100-million-in-annualized-revenues

Virtual MVPD FuboTV, which competes with the likes of Sling TV and DirecTV Now, said that it is approaching 250,000 total subscribers.
— Read on www.fiercevideo.com/video/virtual-mvpd-fubotv-has-nearly-250-000-subscribers

After the disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, entertainment-industry ties with the kingdom begin to fray.
— Read on www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/10/saudi-arabia-hollywood

“For the record, I have no financial interests in Saudi Arabia (or Russia, for that matter),” President Donald Trump tweeted this morning, adding “Any suggestion that I have is just more FAKE NEWS (of which there is plenty)!” This as the Saudi Consul General up and fled Istanbul before Turkey sent …
— Read on deadline.com/2018/10/donald-trump-tweets-fake-news-on-saudi-interests-as-reax-to-journalist-murder-questioned-1202483741/

TV executives delving into company’s your IP libraries in search of series to reboot, take note: Viewers are more interested in revivals of old shows than they are in remakes.
— Read on www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-reboots-may-be-losing-luster-viewers-poll-1152463

Endeavor to Exit $400 Million Saudi Arabia Investment Deal

Dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 and is presumed dead

https://www.thewrap.com/endeavor-exit-400-million-saudi-arabia-investment-deal/

“They’ll have a day or two of training,” he said.
— Read on www.recode.net/2018/10/15/17980544/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-space-travel-2019-tourists

The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh despite accusations of sexual assault has supercharged the midterm elections.
— Read on variety.com/2018/politics/features/hollywood-democrats-midterms-vote-politics-1202980729/

San Mateo, Calif.-based virtual reality startup Jaunt XR is laying off a significant portion of its staff as it shifts its focus to augmented reality, the company announced Monday.
— Read on variety.com/2018/digital/news/disney-backed-vr-startup-jaunt-lays-off-significant-portion-of-staff-refocuses-on-augmented-reality-1202980699/

“The Alec Baldwin Show” actually settled for a tie with Univision’s “Cronicas” in the key TV ratings demographic on Sunday
— Read on www.thewrap.com/alec-baldwin-show-bombs-premiere-charmed-ratings/

Does Trump have a ‘state-of-the-art Super TiVo’ or just regular DirecTV? – The Verge
— Read on www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/10/15/17979502/trump-super-tivo-directv-state-of-the-art

Asaii-gn of the Times: What Apple’s acquisition of Asaii means for the music business – Music Business Worldwide
— Read on www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/asaii-gn-of-the-times-what-the-apple-acquisition-of-asaii-means-for-the-music-business/

A rundown of Paul Simon’s long history with Lorne Michaels and his NBC late-night sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, fresh off Simon’s most recent appearance over the weekend.
— Read on www.vulture.com/2018/10/snl-paul-simon-lorne-michaels-history.html

Why Sears Could Never Last, and What Other Brands Can Learn From the Iconic Retailer’s Demise – Adweek
— Read on www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/why-sears-could-never-last-and-what-other-brands-can-learn-from-the-iconic-retailers-demise/

Saudi Arabia has been pumping its oil riches into a global portfolio of investments spanning technology giants and startups, American infrastructure, French hotels and steelmakers.
— Read on www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/investing/saudi-arabia-global-investments/index.html

The fallout from dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance may jeopardize what Wall Street saw as a Saudi fee bonanza, as CEOs of JPMorgan, Blackstone and BlackRock announced they’re pulling out of a high-profile investment conclave this month.
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/some-top-wall-street-executives-shun-saudi-conference-1539635658

“King Kong,” the musical based on the novel connected to the 1933 classic movie, grossed $832,524 through the week ending Sunday, the show’s producers say.
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/king-kong-holding-his-own-in-broadway-debut-1539647635

Mr. Miller, who has a stand-up special debuting next month, has become known for his right-leaning comedy. But now, he says, he’d like to “be just funny.”
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/after-years-on-the-right-dennis-miller-wants-to-find-comedys-middle-ground-1539611559

With new stars and improved ratings, the NFL enjoys a comeback season. Is a White House tweet looming?
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/the-nfl-is-back-nobody-tell-trump-1539620171

Khashoggi’s murder must be condemned. But Saudi Arabia still serves U.S. interests.
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/dont-ditch-riyadh-in-a-fit-of-righteousness-1539645239

Businesses that play music from consumer streaming services like Spotify are underpaying by as much as $2.65 billion, a new study estimates.
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/attention-shoppers-the-background-music-you-hear-may-not-be-licensed-1539608400

After pushes into sci-fi and rom-coms, the streaming titan is throwing its considerable weight behind a spate of auteur-driven dramas.
— Read on www.wired.com/story/netflix-drama-oscar-push/

In a statement, Gates said, “Personal Computing Would Not Have Existed Without Him”.
— Read on fortune.com/2018/10/16/bill-gates-paul-allen-death-microsoft/