Brian Steinberg
Variety
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Brian:
ESPN Is Sent on New Trajectory at Disney
After committing billions over the past few years to snare valuable sports rights, Disney might play a more careful game when it comes to ESPN. → Read More
Variety Sports & Entertainment Breakfast: James Pitaro
VIP+ Video: ESPN’s James Pitaro discusses why the sports cable network remains a valuable property. → Read More
Paramount Global Targets Ad Sales Staff For Layoffs
Paramount Global is winnowing down its ad-sales staff after the unit was recently restructured by its new leader. The job losses are said to number fewer than 100, according to a person familiar with the matter, and come after John Halley, named president of Paramount Global’s ad-sales efforts in September, realigned much of his staff […] → Read More
How Bad Would a Recession Be for Hollywood?
To borrow a phrase from poet Carl Sandburg, a sustained economic slowdown appears to be creeping into the U.S. on little cat feet. Everyone from Jeff Bezos to Gwyneth Paltrow is talking about the likelihood of a deepening recession, with the Amazon founder advising Twitter followers on Oct. 19 to batten down the hatches and […] → Read More
Trevor Noah to Exit ‘Daily Show’ After Seven Years
Popular on Variety Trevor Noah is nearing his last laugh on “The Daily Show.” The comedian, who came out of near anonymity to take over the program from Jon Stewart in 2015, plans to exit the flagship Comedy Central series after a seven-year tenure that saw him transform it for a new generation of viewers […] → Read More
The Shocking Disney Shakeup: Why Exactly Was Peter Rice Ousted?
In an industry where many executives are quick to tout their own accomplishments, Peter Rice was known for turning down opportunities to take a public victory lap. The soft-spoken British executive, who was ousted on Wednesday from the top TV job at Disney, has a reputation for quietly cultivating relationships with producers and directors such […] → Read More
The Best, Worst and Weirdest Moments of Upfronts Week 2022
After a long week of in-person schmoozing and spinning, Variety assesses the best, worst and weirdest moments of this year's upfronts. → Read More
White House Correspondents Association Hopes Annual Dinner Spurs More Than Laughs
Organizers behind the White House Correspondents’ Dinner are leaning into the event’s showbiz trappings after a two-year pandemic break. This year’s gala, produced by veteran Hollywood awards show producer Bob Bain and slated to be aired on C-SPAN, has a celebrity host in comedian Trevor Noah, an opening skit by James Corden, and a greater […] → Read More
Inside the ManningCast: How ESPN and Two Football Brothers Are Transforming Sports TV
Popular on Variety ESPN executives have been trying since 2018 to convince Peyton Manning to join the in-studio broadcast team for their flagship “Monday Night Football.” Now they may be happier that he turned down those overtures. That’s because the retired NFL quarterback has gained traction with an alternate “Monday Night Football” telecast for ESPN2 […] → Read More
Discovery Mulls Different Upfront Concepts as WarnerMedia Merger Looms
Popular on Variety Like other big media companies, Discovery is getting ready to put out a big “upfront” presentation in mid May, part of an annual bid by TV giants to win ad dollars from Madison Avenue. Unlike many of its rivals, however, Discovery isn’t entirely certain what it will have to discuss. Executives at […] → Read More
'Today' Show Makeover: Morning Hit Set to Compete In Streaming Era
Camera operators, co-anchors and onlookers surround Savannah Guthrie whenever she appears on a broadcast of NBC’s “Today.” For a new streaming offering, however, sometimes she must fly solo. Guthrie is hunkered down in her dressing room two flights of stairs above Studio 1A, the longtime home of the venerable morning show, fidgeting with a ring […] → Read More
‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast in High Demand for Commercials After Years of Making Fake Ads
Some of the most-watched sketches featuring cast members of “Saturday Night Live” aren’t taking place on NBC’s venerable late-night show. Several of “SNL’s” popular players have in recent months st… → Read More
How Rachel Maddow, Robin Roberts and Other TV Anchors Are Pivoting to Compete in the Streaming Wars
WME is seizing TV's streaming wars to find new venues and opportunities for TV news anchors like Rachel Maddow, Robin Roberts and more. → Read More
Tune in Whenever You Want: How TV Marketing Has Changed in the On-Demand Era
This is the fourth installment of a five-part series examining the transformation of television as the industry prepares to celebrate the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19. Each fall, as part of a long-held ritual, TV networks release dozens of new programs — and dozens of gimmicks, promotions, and marketing schemes to call attention to […] → Read More
WarnerMedia and Discovery Mega-Deal Leaves Rival Studios Scrambling to Get Bigger
Bankers are already starting to salivate over what other megadeals could be in the offing following this week’s surprise pair-up of WarnerMedia and Discovery. AT&T’s desperation to drop a company that it spent $85.4 billion and a year and half in legal fights to acquire raises the immediate question of what else might be possible […] → Read More
Nielsen, TV Networks in Showdown Over Counting Viewers Amid Pandemic (EXCLUSIVE)
Sometimes, the simple act of counting can result in something much more complex. Nielsen and the TV networks whose audiences it measures typically work hand in hand to tell the world about how many people watch some of the nation’s most-watched comedies and dramas. But this week, at least, they’re close to bearing arms against […] → Read More
Top CBS Local Station Executives Exit Amid Probe of Racism Allegations
Two CBS veterans, Peter Dunn and David Friend, are leaving their top roles at CBS’ local-stations division as an investigation continues into allegations they were abusive to women and employees of color. “Peter Dunn, President of the CBS Television Stations, and David Friend, Senior Vice President of News for the Stations group, will not return […] → Read More
CNN’s Jim Acosta Leaves White House Scrum for Weekend News Battle
Jim Acosta’s mother recently sent him a text about his first stint as a weekend anchor for CNN. She loved his expression, perhaps with good reason. “I think my mother hasn’t seen my smile on TV in four years,” he says. Wearing a grim visage might have come naturally. Acosta spent the past few years […] → Read More
Disney Continues Pursuit of New ABC News Chief
Disney’s search for a new leader for ABC News continues weeks after the company unexpectedly disclosed the former president, James Goldston, would leave the post. Goldston’s last day came at the end of March and the company has yet to hone in on a candidate to replace him, according to four people familiar with parts […] → Read More
Morgan Radford Joins Live-Streaming NBC News Now as Anchor
Morgan Radford will join Aaron Gilchrist as a co-anchor at live-streaming outlet NBC News Now, the latest example of NBC News adding resources to its streaming-video operations. Radford and Gilchrist will co-anchor the service between noon to 2 p.m. Her first appearance as co-anchor on the outlet came on Monday. Radford will continue her duties […] → Read More