Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on MONDAY April 24, 2023.

Where from Iger 2.0… to UFC-WWE… to Shellshock – Sunday evening is the officially the new Monday 🤦‍♂️.

Although I’m having trouble coming up with another Studio… or any major Hollywood company for that matter where an affair was the source of removal for their top 2 executives (much less in a 3-year period).

Plus you just know it’s a bad look when elements of Shell’s dismissal potentially mirror a 30 Rock plotline of all things 🤦‍♂️ (more in THE MEDIA BIZ section).

PLUS: A happy CINEMACON to those of you who celebrate. Richard & Elaine – enjoy noshing on all the new movie theater food options with Zaz, as well as all of the NBCU gossip that will be taking place.

BUT: While Jeff Shell would have been due over $25 Million if he was terminated without cause according to COMCAST’s last proxy statement… (of note: COMCAST does have a clawback clause in there – where legally applicable of course), it’s definitely payday everywhere else.

• NETFLIX:

  • Reed Hastings made $51 Million in 2022, an increase of $10 Million in stock compensation (Reed actually takes almost all of his compensation in stock).

  • Ted Sarandos took home $50 Million, an increase of $12 Million, again mostly in stock comp.

    • But as always, Ted prefers some walkin’ around cash… taking $20 Million of it in cash salary, same as last year.

  • Greg Peters got $28 Million, also taking a large amount in cash at $16 Million.

  • CFO Spencer Neumann got $17 Million total: $7 Million in cash, and $10 Million in stock.

• LIBERTY MEDIA:

  • CEO Greg Maffei made $22.4 Million in 2022, up $800k from 2021. The guy upstairs (John Malone, not God – but don’t tell him that) made $1.3 Million, but I’m confident he can still clear the staff payments at his Irish Castle.

• SIRIUSXM:

  • CEO Jennifer Wirtz cleared $7.3 Million in 2022, that’s down from over $32 Million in 2021 (difference mostly due to stock grants). That includes a base of $1.75 Million (or about $67k every 2 weeks before taxes and 401K), and a bonus of $4.1 Mil, down from $6.1 Mil in 2021.

• GOOGLE:

This piece from 60 Minutes last night on doctors & medical professionals from the US and elsewhere going to SYRIA to help the victims in a still-independently held corner of the country after the massive earthquakes there in February is definitely worth your time.

The efforts are backed by an organization called SAMS that spends $28 Million annually to help the Syrian people, $10 Million of which is from US foreign aid (any chance we could throw in some GOOG stock options?).

I found it to be a needed dose of inspiration, perspective, and true reminder of the will of the human spirit, so – just sharing for those who could use a dose as well.

• The latest on Shellshock at NBCU, as DISNEY drops layoffs news.

• UNI’s tale of 2 movies continues, with Super Mario setting more records… and Renfield bleeding more red ink.

• A24 does well in first Beau is Afraid expansion… although given the film’s pricetag – a long way to go, plus the entire Box Office roundup… as the CHINA market continues to move on from American films.

TO NOTE: The newsletter will be out a little later tomorrow due to morning earnings calls so you have the latest analysis.

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