In a win-win for the American football and artist Jay-Z (or a lose-lose depending on your point of view), the National Football League is working with one of its biggest critics. Jay-Z has historically been very supportive of the NFL players who have used their visibility to bring attention to issues like police brutality. He also made clear that he wouldn’t perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Now he’s signed a deal with the NFL to consult on the Halftime Show, NFL music in general and assist with other efforts to make the NFL and its entertainment more inclusive.
Many wondered why Jay-Z would enter into such an agreement when it seemed he had so much to lose and little to gain, especially when it appears as if the NFL is co-opting him. Perhaps the rumors that the rap and entertainment mogul wishes to to buy a significant stake in an NFL team are actually true.
Meanwhile in China, streaming giants such as Netflix, YouTube and eventually Disney+ were granted permission to launch their platforms in the country. That is so long as these companies play by some strict government rules. But what exactly that means, both in regards to mandated propaganda content and censorship remains to be seen.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including CBS and Viacom get remarried, why Hong Kong protesters want to boycott the live action adaptation of “Mulan” and sales at bookstores decline this year.

‘Good Boys’ Gives Universal Its Third Straight Weekend #1
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=4538&p=.htm
‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Pulls Ahead of ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Overseas
https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-beats-hobbs-shaw-international-box-office-1203305555/
Annapurna Bailed Out By Megan Ellison’s Dad
https://deadline.com/2019/08/annapurna-megan-ellison-larry-ellison-last-and-final-offer-bankers-1202668129/
Beijing to Open Streaming Market to Foreign Firms that Obey Content Rules
http://chinafilminsider.com/beijing-to-open-streaming-market-to-foreign-firms-that-obey-content-rules/
Disney Unveils International Roll-Out Of Disney+ Streaming Service
https://deadline.com/2019/08/disney-international-launches-1202671080/
CBS And Viacom Finally Re-Tie The Knot
https://deadline.com/2019/08/cbs-and-viacom-finally-re-tie-the-knot-merging-after-13-years-as-separate-companies-1202665588/
IMDb Alters Policy on Publication of Birth Names
https://variety.com/2019/film/actors/imdb-alters-policy-publication-birth-names-1203300451/
Bookstore Sales Dropped 5.1% in First Half of 2019
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/80934-books...