The Town with Matthew Belloni

Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg media reporter who covers streaming and sports rights, joins to unpack Netflix's recent price hikes and the push toward ad-supported tiers. They dive into Netflix's foray into eventized sports with MLB Opening Day and who might buy big baseball rights in 2028. They also react to HBO's new Harry Potter trailer and place it in the wave of millennial nostalgia.

Adam Schiff, U.S. senator from California and longtime industry policymaker, discusses a federal film and TV tax incentive to bring production back to LA. He explores why productions left, how a 15% baseline credit with add-ons could work, and the politics of winning bipartisan support. Conversation also covers studio consolidation, local permitting failures, and stakes for Los Angeles’ economy.

Alex Heath, tech reporter and author of the Sources newsletter, breaks down OpenAI's sudden shutdown of video app Sora and why priorities shifted from consumer video to enterprise and coding. He discusses Hollywood’s reaction, Disney’s options after the pullout, and how Epic Games’ layoffs could reshape Disney’s gaming investments. A separate segment covers fallout from a major reality TV scandal and its business consequences.

Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg reporter who tracks the film business and box office trends. They unpack Project Hail Mary’s surprise $140M weekend. They debate whether filmmakers or franchises are safer bets. They re-rank the biggest movie stars under 50, weighing Gosling’s breakout weekend against Chalamet’s consistency and sizing up contenders like Michael B. Jordan, Zendaya, ScarJo and Ryan Reynolds.

Paul Feig, director and writer behind Bridesmaids, Spy and The Housemaid, talks commercial filmmaking with a focus on audience-tested storytelling. He explains his heavy use of test screenings, designing films to provoke strong theater reactions, mixing genres for broad appeal, marketing stunts that spark word-of-mouth, and centering female perspectives on set.

Alex Sherman, CNBC sports and media reporter who covers sports rights deals, breaks down why the NFL reopened its TV contracts and how networks may pay billions more. He explains shifting package values, streaming parity with broadcast, and what that means for other leagues jockeying for rights. Short, sharp takes on league leverage, new package ideas, and who stands to lose budget-wise.

Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg business journalist covering Hollywood and studio strategy. He recalls attending the Oscars in person and the ceremony vibe. They unpack winners and losers tied to box office hits. They dig into Universal’s move to guarantee longer theatrical exclusives and what that signals for studios, theaters, and streaming windows.

Amelia Dimoldenberg, YouTuber and creator of Chicken Shop Date turned Academy Awards red carpet correspondent, previews how she prepares to interview A-list stars. She explains the show’s move to YouTube in 2029 and the business behind turning viral clips into sustainable projects. They discuss adapting Chicken Shop Date into a rom-com and ideas to make the Oscars feel fresher and more musical.

Mark Guiducci, Vanity Fair's global editorial director who oversees editorial strategy and major events, explains why he is cutting the famed Oscar party’s guest list in half. He discusses slimming down a bloated event, curating a new invite approach, stricter press and phone rules, and moving the gala to LACMA. Short, strategic changes aimed at reviving the party’s energy and relevance.

Michael Lasker, Mosaic talent manager and Oscars insider with deep awards-season access, breaks down Oscar week narratives. He discusses Timothée Chalamet’s momentum loss and why young phenoms sometimes wait for a win. He weighs the late surge for Sinners against One Battle’s commanding lead. He also flags surprise contenders and how campaigning and new voting rules could matter.