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Teen competitors will, from Sunday to Tuesday in Geneva, Ohio, participate in a three-day athletic event. Each state will send one boy and one girl aged 14–17; two winners will share a $250,000 prize. ESPN will broadcast all moments via app and network coverage, with a prime-time ABC special planned.
Marvel Studios is moving forward with a standalone X‑Men film under Jake Schreier, following the integration of X‑Men characters into the MCU. Kit Connor is tipped for Cyclops and Samara Weaving for Emma Frost as casting discussions accelerate ahead of a D23 reveal. The project aims for a younger, ensemble-led approach, avoiding heavy time-travel tropes.
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter in a transaction valuing the franchise at about $12.5 billion. The sale has been announced this week, requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors and is subject to due diligence and Kushners divestment of a Miami Heat stake.
Former ABC News producer Samira Said has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Los Angeles, alleging harassment by CBS chief correspondent Joel Gutman and accusing ABC News of firing Said after a medical leave. The suit names Disney, ABC News and Gutman as defendants. Gutman is now a CBS News lead contributor and has recently been in the spotlight for ratings boosts and other public incidents.
U.S. states have filed suit to block Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, asserting it would control about one-third of major movie titles and cable programming. The case has prompted talks of structural remedies, though theaters and other stakeholders seek protections before any approval. A trial is set for March, with ongoing talks in the background.
Parents and teachers have shared practical steps to help children handle school transitions. Specialists and families say scheduling playdates, connecting children with older students, mapping routes and encouraging early involvement in clubs or sports reduce anxiety and build friendships before the term begins.
Fall 2: Deadpoint continues the cliff-edge survival premise of the 2022 thriller Fall, relocating to a Thai mountain with two young leads facing new hazards after a rockslide. While the tension remains effective in spots, the sequel leans on a familiar formula and melodramatic twists, delivering thrills that sometimes feel outweighing the logic.
The Buss siblings are contesting the sale of the Lakers while Joey and Jesse Buss have secured a minority stake in the San Diego Padres. Jeanie Buss argues the sale is void, citing fiduciary concerns. The ownership shift unfolds as the Padres deal brackets a broader family-dynasty moment in Southern California sports.
Buss siblings vote to sell Lakers stake; Jeanie Buss seeks court order to block the sale and preserve her governance role. The dispute centers on a 17.8% family stake valued at about $12.5 billion, with legal fights looming over fiduciary duties and 2017 court orders.
Josh Kushner has issued his first public statement on the collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, saying he still supports its aims but would not have invested had he known how the process would unfold. UEFA has filed US court papers seeking document production and depositions from Kushner and Thrive as it prepares possible criminal mismanagement claims against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
President Donald Trump has said NBCMeet the Press host Kristen Welker will be reported to the Federal Communications Commission for what he called a "purposeful inaccuracy" after she said his endorsements have had "mixed results" this primary season. He named FCC chair Brendan Carr and urged the commission to act; broadcasters and rights groups are litigating alleged FCC pressure.
The Looney Tunes film has opened in cinemas after Warner Bros. canceled a 2023 release to claim a tax write-off. Independent reports the film earned $15.5 million over its first weekend, while Rotten Tomatoes shows a 95% Fresh rating. Ars Technica notes a positive reception despite Warner Bros.’ past decision, and The Independent highlights a debate around the studio’s handling of the project.
A federal judge has ruled in Lizzo’s favor on a key point in a 2023 harassment case, dismissing the plaintiff’s claim of disability under the ADA and moving the case closer to a possible trial. Separate suits involving dancers remain unresolved, while other lawsuits against the singer’s team proceed in stateside courts.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens on Sept. 22 in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. George Lucas and Mellody Hobson have funded the project, which centers on narrative art across media—from Pop to Rockwell and Frida Kahlo to Star Wars. Officials say Star Wars materials occupy about 7% of the galleries, with the rest dedicated to a broader collection. The museum’s design is spaceship-inspired, and the project has faced delays and costly reviews.
Jimmy Kimmel has said he will post his interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico to YouTube rather than air it on ABC, saying the FCC under President Donald Trump has threatened his show and ABC affiliates. ABC and Disney have sued the FCC over early licence reviews and new guidance on equal-time rules; other late-night hosts have moved candidate interviews online.
CBS News has begun a leadership overhaul at 60 Minutes, with Bari Weiss implementing a new editorial direction after a year of internal turmoil. Early reporting shows staffing changes and questions about how the program will adapt to a changing newsroom.
New ownership has outlined aggressive plans to lift the Lakers’ value to $30 billion within a decade, backed by higher ticketing, media rights and international growth. The sale from the Buss family to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger has triggered a valuation surge and renewed speculation about the franchise’s long-term health.
Disney has raised monthly prices for ad-free Disney+ and Hulu by about 13% and increased several bundle and ad-supported tiers. The company has positioned the moves as part of streaming profitability efforts after revenue growth; some ad-supported bundles remain unchanged while Hulu + Live rose significantly.
Twelve state attorneys general have reached a settlement with Paramount Skydance that has cleared the way for its merger with Warner Bros. The deal has required independent editorial boards for CNN and CBS, a commitment to release at least 30 theatrical films a year and a $30m penalty if that output target is missed. Critics and media advocates have condemned the concessions.
Chapek describes his Disney exit as a deliberate undermining by his predecessor Bob Iger, and recounts the board’s role, Iger’s return to the helm, and the ensuing financial and strategic strains on Disney through the pandemic and after.
Disney has launched another round of staff reductions, with hundreds of layoffs concentrated in human resources and technology amid CEO Josh D’Amaro’s push to consolidate divisions and reduce costs. The move follows earlier rounds and underscores a broader strategy to streamline operations and invest in growth. The company is also reorganizing its TV and entertainment units to align with a streaming-driven strategy.
Netflix has announced significant leadership changes and a major round of layoffs as it grapples with slowing engagement and fierce competition. The company has replaced Bela Bajaria with Peter Rice and is restructuring its film unit, while still pursuing a streaming-first strategy and exploring limited theatrical windows for certain titles.
Netflix has appointed Peter Rice to replace Bela Bajaria as Chief Content Officer, as the company seeks to accelerate growth and diversify its slate. The move follows recent layoffs and ongoing concerns about engagement, with Rice bringing experience from Disney and Fox to oversee global content, including live sports and events.
Anthropic has proposed an IPO price range of $70–$78 per share in a filing that values the Claude maker at roughly $1.4 trillion to $1.5 trillion and would raise as much as $64 billion. The company has reported rapid revenue growth and large losses and has committed nearly $895.4 billion to computing and infrastructure deals.
The Lakers sale has moved forward with Josh Kushner and Bob Iger securing terms, and investor interest remains high as the NBA board reviews the deal. Public reporting indicates Walter has sold or is arranging to sell the team and Sparks assets, with ongoing chatter about funding and board approvals.
Disney is pursuing additional cost reductions after earlier rounds of layoffs, with managers told to cut costs by up to 20%. The moves follow prior rounds in April, September and 2023-2025, and come as CEO Josh D’Amaro seeks to reinvest savings into programming, tech, and theme parks. The company has warned more reductions are possible and earnings are upcoming.