Latest news with #YellowstoneSeason5
New York Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Ugly battle between CBS and affiliates adds another wrinkle to Paramount deal
The obstacles impeding Paramount's $8 billion sale to Skydance keep piling up, and much of it involves CBS, the so-called Tiffany Network, and whether it has shed its rep for disseminating honest news. Another major hurdle getting a lot less attention but could loom just as important is a nasty battle between CBS, Paramount's news and entertainment subsidiary, and around 70 affiliates, the local broadcast stations that are independently owned, largely in Middle America, aka Trump Country, The Post has learned. They are crying foul to the administration because CBS wants to jack up prices to carry its programming and they say the price hikes are making it difficult for them to survive. Their plight could give the President Trump-appointed broadcast regulators at the Federal Communications Commission yet another reason to nix the Skydance deal given the administration's desire to protect local broadcast news. Advertisement Unless, of course, CBS backs off, something it has so far been loath to do given the pressures on its bottom line, sources said. Shari Redstone attends the Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 premiere at Museum of Modern Art on November 07, 2024 in New York City. FilmMagic Most Americans don't appreciate the complex business dealings that go into watching a football game or a sitcom on their local affiliate. Here's a 30,000-foot explanation. Cable companies pay local broadcasters like Sinclair, Nexstar, Gray Media and Cox Media for their signal so they can run their lines into the homes of millions of Americans. Advertisement Yes, it's a shrinking number of viewers and a demo that skews older but it's still substantial. There's money to be made reaching this audience in terms of fees and advertising. That's why local broadcasters become 'affiliates' of major news networks and pay for their programming. The entire arrangement is under stress, however. Cord cutting has pulled viewers away from network programming and cable fees are under pressure because there are fewer viewers. Ad rates are falling. Networks are moving programming to their streaming services, most of which aren't profitable. Take it or leave it The affiliates say they are caught in the crossfire, particularly when it comes to CBS as the network is seeking to squeeze every last dime out of a dying business model. CBS, they say, is negotiating dozens of contracts and — according to people repping some of the affiliates in the scuffle — demanding much higher fees on a take-it-or-leave it basis. The fees are said to be so draconian that the affiliate business model is in existential danger at some point and maybe soon, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Advertisement A Paramount spokesman had no comment but people at the company directed me to a recent earnings call where its co-CEO, George Cheeks, addressed the affiliate issue and the cost pressures on the company. 'We're investing heavily in must-have live sports and the most watched prime-time entertainment schedule. Now if this dynamic were to change, it would be difficult for us to continue to foot that bill. And in that case, the affiliates and local viewers, they would be harmed.' Here's where things could get interesting, and force CBS to back down. Just as CBS is moving forward with these price hikes, Shari Redstone, the media heiress who controls Paramount and its CBS subsidiary wants to sell the company to independent studio Skydance. The sale is significant for her. She and her family will walk away with $2 billion if the deal is approved by the FCC. It's a modicum of the wealth left to her by her late father, Sumner Redstone, who built Paramount into a colossus before its value was decimated with the rest of traditional broadcast. But it's more than enough to live on. Fairness issues Advertisement That's only if the Trump FCC approves the deal, which it's delaying as it investigates fairness issues at CBS News. As I have written, Redstone is so desperate to get the deal approved that she is willing to settle a separate $20 billion lawsuit with Trump himself, who sued CBS's '60 Minutes' for the same reason the FCC is holding up the deal. Both involve claims that '60 Minutes' doctored an interview with Trump's 2024 opponent Kamala Harris to make the Democrat sound more presidential during the height of the campaign. Charlie Gasparino has his finger on the pulse of where business, politics and finance meet Sign up to receive On The Money by Charlie Gasparino in your inbox every Thursday. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Yeah, it's a real mess. And it could get messier because the Trumpers actually like local broadcasters as opposed to the 'fake news' big guys. They believe local news is largely devoid of left-wing agitprop found at the networks, and it's still an important source of information for small-town America. That's why they want the affiliate model to survive since Middle America is ground zero of the MAGA base, and much of it watches stuff the old-fashioned way, on television supplied by the affiliates. FCC Chair Brendan Carr, Trump's point man on this, has his hands full regulating a changing media landscape and ensuring that broadcasters play by the rules, which under the law demands news-fairness guidelines for the privilege of using public airwaves as opposed to cable. He has also made clear his support for local broadcasters, or in his words: 'We don't want local broadcasters to ultimately go the way of newspapers, and when you look at the current dynamic, I'm not sure it's entirely healthy . . . We want local broadcasters to feel empowered to actually serve the interests of their local communities and not simply become a pass-through for nationwide content coming principally from Hollywood and New York.' Looks like Shari has another reason to worry about the Skydance deal.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's Happening! Beth and Rip's 'Yellowstone' Spinoff Gets Title and Premiere Date
Though Yellowstone is officially over, Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler's story sure isn't! That's right, Yellowstone fans—your favorite fiery couple is saddling up for a brand-new adventure. Beth and Rip are stepping out of the Dutton Ranch chaos and into the spotlight with their very own spinoff series. Rumors of a spinoff show starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser have circulated for months amongst fans and cast members alike, though nothing has been set in stone. That is, until Bloomberg recently confirmed details of the new show. Cole previously teased the Yellowstone spinoff, revealing that the idea has been in the works for quite some time. "I know that there's some stuff on the horizon when it comes to [Taylor Sheridan's] ideas for Kelly Reilly and myself and some of the other cast," he said in an interview with Country Living last April. But, now it's official. Keep reading for everything you need to know. Paramount Network If you thought Beth and Rip's love story was wild before, just wait until you see what's in store. This spinoff promises to deliver all the drama, romance, and rugged action you've come to love. First and foremost, Yellowstone showrunner Taylor Sheridan is back! According to the Bloomberg report, the neo-Western mastermind has been working quietly with Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy to bring the highly anticipated sequel to life—the first of its kind in the Yellowstone universe. The most exciting news of all? The show, tentatively titled Dutton Ranch, will star original Yellowstone favorites Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser—and is set to premiere on the Paramount Network this fall, with streaming available on Paramount+. So, not only does The Dutton family legacy live on, but it's happening sooner than originally thought. Paramount Network It's still unclear exactly how Dutton Ranch will continue the storylines from the original series, but the offshoot is expected to follow the present-day timeline of the original show. At the end of Yellowstone Season 5, Beth and Rip decided to start fresh on a smaller ranch near Dillon, Montana, after Kayce (Luke Grimes) helped them secure the family ranch by selling it to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). This new show will likely feature familiar faces from the original cast, too. Additionally, a show about the Yellowstone character Kayce Dutton is coming in 2026. This on top of The Madison, a spinoff starring Michelle Pfeiffer, and 1944, another prequel. So settle in, because these are rides you won't want to miss! You Might Also Like
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Yellowstone' Season 5: Part 2 begins streaming on Peacock soon — here's what to know about the final chapter of the Taylor Sheridan series
Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone came to an end late last year, after the fifth and final season was divided into two parts. The first four seasons and Season 5: Part 1 have been available to stream on Peacock for quite some time now, but Yellowstone Season 5: Part 2 is finally joining its predecessors on the platform this Sunday. Are you ready to find out what happens to the Duttons at the end of Yellowstone? Here's how to watch every episode of the wildly popular Western series. Plus, need a refresher on the Yellowstone timeline before finishing up the final season? We've got you covered. Here's how, and in what order, to watch Yellowstone and all its spinoffs. How to watch 1923 Season 2 Shows to watch if you like 'Yellowstone' Seasons 1–4 and the first half of Yellowstone Season 5 are currently available to stream in their entirety on Peacock. Yellowstone Season 5B premieres on the platform Mar. 16, 2025. While the hit show Yellowstone may have come out first, the Dutton family tree goes back much further than the Paramount show's premiere. The series has two prequel stories out now, 1883 and 1923, with a third prequel, 1944, confirmed. There are also reportedly several more Yellowstone sequels in the works, including The Madison (formerly titled 2024) and 6666 (currently on hold). With the second season of 1923 coming out this weekend, here's a quick refresher on where (and in what order) to watch Yellowstone and its subsequent spinoffs. Starring Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, this Yellowstone prequel series follows members of the Dutton family as they travel west across the Great Plains towards Montana. All eight episodes of this limited series are currently streaming on Paramount+. Watch on Paramount+ In 1923, a new generation of Duttons struggled to maintain control of their ranch amidst the early stages of the Great Depression and under the pressure of Prohibition. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren star in this Yellowstone prequel. Season 1 is now streaming on Paramount+, and the series has already been renewed for Season 2. Watch on Paramount+ Yellowstone follows the modern-day Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, as they deal with family drama, land disputes and tension with the neighboring Indian Reservation. Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley and Kelly Reilly star in the western drama. Yellowstone seasons 1–5 (the first half) are currently available to stream on Peacock. Yellowstone Season 5B hits the platform on Mar. 16, 2025. Watch on Peacock On top of 1883, 1923 and 1944 there are also modern spinoffs The Madison, 6666 and a Matthew McConaughey-led spinoff in the works, as well as another limited series featuring Dutton ancestors from the 1960s set to be released in the future.
