Not even three years after AT&T spent $85 billion to purchase Time Warner and form WarnerMedia, the telecom giant is calling it quits, agreeing to merge the content side of its business with Discovery. The deal would create a new media company positioned well to compete in the streaming market and a management team that is well versed in the entertainment business. The original acquisition of Time Warner always seemed questionable for AT&T, and ultimately left Warner Bros. in a bit of a mess.
Meanwhile, some music streaming services are adding hi-def audio to their offerings and, perhaps more importantly, not increasing the cost to subscribers. Since most new music can be found on all the streaming platforms, will high quality audio become a differentiator that attracts new customers or causes them to switch providers?
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Ellen DeGeneres is leaving her daytime television show, Disney’s new theatrical release strategy and this year’s entrants into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Angelina Jolie’s ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ DOA as ‘Spiral’ Claims No. 1
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/those-who-wish-me-dead-box-office-spiral-1234974067/
‘Wrath Of Man’ Drives To $56M Global
https://deadline.com/2021/05/wrath-of-man-spiral-peter-rabbit-2-the-runaway-f9-china-global-international-box-office-1234757835/
‘Cliff Walkers’ Holds Off ‘Wrath of Man’ at China Box Office
https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/cliff-walkers-wrath-of-man-china-box-office-1234974515/
Eastern Promise: How Russia’s Screen Sectors Are Recovering In The Face Of The Pandemic
https://deadline.com/2021/05/eastern-promise-how-russia-screen-sectors-recovering-in-face-pandemic-1234751699/
Media & Entertainment CEO Salaries Flourished In Pandemic 2020 As Industry Cratered
https://deadline.com/2021/05/2020-media-ceo-salary-pay-richest-executives-1234752049/
Apple Music Announces Hi-Fi Streaming at No Additional Cost
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9573517/apple-music-high-fidelity-lossless-streaming-price/
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Reveals Class of 2021
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9571011/rock-roll-hall-of-fame-class-of-2021/
Ellen DeGeneres Is Ending Her Show After Years of Dancing and ‘Be Kind’
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/business/media/ellen-degeneres-quit-talk-show.html
‘Annie Live’ to Air on NBC This Holiday Season; Bob Greenblatt and Neil Meron Producing