Paramount Global beats earnings target ahead of sale to Skydance
The owner of the CBS broadcast network, a film studio and several cable channels reported adjusted earnings-per-share of 46 cents for April through June. Analysts had predicted 36 cents per share, according to LSEG estimates.
Revenue rose 1% from a year earlier to $6.85 billion, edging the analyst consensus of $6.84 billion.
The company said strong subscription revenue growth at the Paramount+ streaming service helped boost affiliate and subscription revenue. The drama series "MobLand" attracted viewers on Paramount+.
The Paramount Pictures film studio had a hit during the quarter with "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning."
The $8.4 billion sale of Paramount to Skydance is expected to close by Aug. 7. The U.S. government cleared the final hurdle to the deal last week.
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Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Universal leaks details of massive Epic Universe expansion… and Disney may be forced to take drastic action
Universal Studios' brand new theme park Epic Universe just opened a little over two months ago... but a massive expansion is already in talks. The dazzling amusement park launched on May 22, 2025, introducing five immersive new lands - including Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and the Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragons, amongst others. From battling the Ministry of Magic in a thrilling Harry Potter-themed ride to visiting the spooky village of Darkmoor, where Henry Frankenstein's great-great-granddaughter has accidentally set free a slew of famous monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Werewolf, to name a few - there is so much to see and do. But according to Universal's executives, this is just the beginning, as they've already been teasing some pretty exciting updates to the glorious new park. And the upcoming expansions may force Disney World, which is located just down the road, to take drastic action to ensure it doesn't lose guests. Karen Irwin, president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando Resort, was first to tease a potential Epic Universe expansion in a video shared to Universal's YouTube channel in March, two months before the park even opened. 'There are already so many things in the works now. We have a slate of new attractions that we're already developing for every one of our parks. We're already planning for the next thing at Epic,' she said. Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, also hinted at the future of Epic Universe last month during a press conference. He told reporters from inside the park, 'What you can't see sitting here are all the expansion areas that are outside the spaces that you can see. 'There's a lot of room for expansion. We're already thinking about how that plays out, and it's the same on the north end of the campus, new attractions coming, new intellectual property coming.' Last month, Universal sent theme park fans into a frenzy when it filed new work permits for a 40,178-square-foot construction site at Epic Universe, titled Project 915. It was described as 'site preparation for new construction building, including but not limited to relocating existing utilities, installing new utilities, site grading, and foundation for new building.' According to popular theme park blog That Park Place, the project is set for the area 'between Super Nintendo World and Celestial Park, right across the path from the Atlantic full-service restaurant.' They theorized it will be 'a multi-purpose soundstage or theater, possibly designed for events, seasonal shows, or even temporary exhibits.' The permit expires in December 2025, giving a hint as to when the mysterious new building will be finished. Aerial shots taken by a theme park photographer known as Bioreconstruct on X (formerly Twitter) show that Epic Universe as multiple 'expansion pads' - areas of land just outside of the park that have been completely cleared out for future construction. Universal's executives have already been teasing some pretty exciting updates to the glorious new park. Some of the lands at Epic Universe are seen There is one next to Super Mario World that's about seven acres, one connected to Dark Universe that's about 3.5 acres, and one adjacent to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic that's a whopping 17 acres, amongst others. In addition, the gate at the center of Epic Universe has a symbol for all five of the current worlds - and there's two more spots that are empty, hinting that two new lands may be added in the future. Naturally, social media has been ablaze with theorizes about what new things will be coming to Epic Universe. Many people believe a Wicked-themed area will be next to arrive, while others have speculated that Luigi's Mansion, a Lord of the Rings land, or something to do with Legends of Zelda or Pokemon will come to the park. There are also a slew of rumors that a Creature from the Black Lagoon boat ride will be added to Dark Universe in the future, as well as a second ride for the Harry Potter area. When asked about a potential Wicked land by the New York Times in February, Mark said, 'When I saw it, my first reaction was, "This is a theme park waiting to happen."' So what does all this mean for Disney World? Well, for years, Disney has been looked at by many as the top theme park in the world, offering four amusement parks, two water parks, and a slew of hotels, shopping, and dining. But there's no denying that the opening of Epic Universe tilted the scale slightly - and Universal's fast and ambitious talk of expansions has got many avid theme park fans talking. 'The opening of Universal's Epic Universe sent ripples through the industry - and now, just two months later, those ripples have become a tidal wave,' Inside the Magic wrote earlier this month. From battling the Ministry of Magic in a thrilling Harry Potter-themed ride (seen) to visiting the spooky village of Darkmoor - there is so much to see and do at Epic Universe 'Universal didn't just throw open the gates to its most ambitious park ever - they also just confirmed that expansion is already in the works. 'It's fast. It's aggressive. And it's exactly the kind of pressure Disney hasn't had to deal with in decades. 'And if the rumors and leaked plans are anything to go by, Universal isn't just trying to compete anymore. They're aiming to take over the market. 'Universal is building hype, driving bookings, and reshaping expectations. Disney needs to meet that energy, or risk falling behind.' They pointed out that Disney has become somewhat known for its 'slow and calculated' expansions - something the company might have to reconsider amidst the immense excitement surrounding the future of Epic Universe. And Disney may already be taking notice as it has announced a slew upcoming changes to its parks in recent months. A new Cars-themed land is in the works at Magic Kingdom, as well as an area inspired by the Disney villains. In addition, an Encanto river ride, an Indiana Jones attraction, and a Zootopia show are all set to come to Animal Kingdom in the upcoming years. Over in Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters Inc. land will replace Muppets Courtyard, and it's set to have a suspended rollercoaster that will put riders 'right in the middle of the monster action.' But the all the new stuff has meant that a slew of beloved rides have been forced to close, including the Liberty Square Riverboat ride, the Dinosaur ride, and Muppet*Vision 3D, leaving many die-hard Disney fans outraged. Earlier this year, a new Comprehensive Plan 2045 from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District even showed potential plans for Disney to build a fifth sprawling theme park. The plans detailed a reserved development capacity for another 'major theme park' and two 'minor theme parks' that could be built over the next few decades. The expansion at the Orlando resort could be expansive - mirroring the scale of other popular parks such as Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. The documents allotted 400 to 500 acres for the new park which would be Disney's first all-new gate in over 25 years. It is thought that the two smaller parks will be water parks, spanning an estimated 147 acres each. Walt Disney World has not officially confirmed a fifth Florida theme park, and the Comprehensive Plan does not mean that the fifth park is definitely happening, but it opens the door for one in the future should Disney want to go forward with it. In the end, only time will tell what will come next for both Epic Universe and Disney World, but all in all, it's an exciting time for theme park lovers.
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Matt Rife buys infamous Annabelle doll's house and reveals plans for its future
Comedian Matt Rife and YouTuber Elton Castee have purchased the home of the infamous Annabelle doll. Located in Monroe, Connecticut, the building houses the Raggedy Ann doll, which is a classic fixture in the horror genre, specifically in The Conjuring film franchise. Rife shared the news Friday via Instagram, calling it an 'insane announcement.' 'I have officially purchased Ed and Lorraine Warren's home and Occult Museum, including being the legal guardian for at least the next 5 years, of the entire haunted collection including THE ANNABELLE DOLL, with my good friend @eltoncastee!! If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with the paranormal and all things haunted,' Rife wrote. 'You also may know The Conjuring films are my favorite scary movies of all time. So I'm incredibly honored to have taken over one of the most prominent properties in paranormal history. Ed and Lorain Warren arguably put demonology and paranormal into the mainstream and are the very heart of some of the most famous haunted stories of all time, The Conjuring House, Amityville Horror , et.' Matt Rife has purchased the home of the infamous Annabelle doll (Getty Images) Sharing the future of the home, Rife continued: 'We plan to open the house for overnight stays and museum tours so you yourself can experience and learn all the haunted history surrounding this amazing place.' While some of Rife's supporters applauded his news, others raised a grave concern. 'Didnt someone just die for taking that Annabelle doll on tour or something???' one person commented, referring to the recent death of the doll's handler. Dan Rivera, 54, died July 13 while on tour with the doll. According to a Facebook post from the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), which is hosting Annabelle's tour, Rivera suddenly died while at an event with the doll. Rivera was also the lead investigator for NESPR. Annabelle the doll in her specially built case at Warrens' Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut (New England Society for Psychic Research) Pennsylvania State Police shared a report via X about Rivera's death saying: 'Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man]. The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers. Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene. His cause of death is pending.' Meanwhile, Annabelle the doll will continue traveling throughout the next few months, with her next stop in Augusta, Maine, on September 6 and September 7. She's also expected to be at the Rock Island Roadhouse Esoteric Expo in Rock Island, Illinois, on October 4, and ScareFest Weekend 17 in Lexington, Kentucky, which is from October 17 through 19. The appearances come months after rumors circulated in May that Annabelle had somehow gone missing while in Louisiana when some visitors claimed they didn't see the doll during a tour. However, Rivera debunked theories that the doll had gone missing in a TikTok video at the time. 'I'm here at the museum right now, and I just wanna show you guys that Annabelle is in the Warrens' Occult Museum,' he said. 'Let's go inside and let's check.' After entering the museum, he walked over to show the doll sitting in a wooden case. Annabelle first appeared in 2013's The Conjuring before receiving her own spin-off franchise. Annabelle was released in 2014, followed by Annabelle: Creation in 2017 and the latest entry, Annabelle Comes Home, in 2019.
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Food earmarked for millions of people still languishes in warehouses after Trump shuttered USAID
Food aid groups that partner with the U.S. Agency for International Development to assist in providing critical nutrition for millions around the world have had to watch cases of food go to waste as the Trump administration dismantled USAID. In Georgia, Mana Nutrition, a company that creates ready-to-use therapeutic food, is waiting for someone to pick up 400,000 cases of its nutritional supplement to be shipped worldwide. The food could help an estimated 60 million people, but chaos with USAID has disrupted coordination, the company told the Washington Post. The company is planning to destroy approximately 585 cases of its peanut paste this month because it became too dated to ship while waiting for a new government contract that never happened. The owner of Mana Nutrition told The Post that some of it could have been added to previous shipments, but wasn't. But other companies or organizations that have or had contracts with the government to supply aid have faced similar issues in recent months. In July, approximately 500 metric tons of food aid, specifically high-energy biscuits meant for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan, expired while being stored in warehouses in Dubai. While the administration assured people that the small percentage of food aid wasted would not impact future shipments, some have raised concerns about the pattern that has been highlighted due to the dismantling of USAID. Last month, the company Edesia Nutrition waited for someone to pick up more than 100,000 boxes of nutritional aid that had sat in a warehouse in Rhode Island. After sounding the alarm, the shipments were finally picked up only after a Rhode Island retailer teamed up with the company. In May, several people familiar with USAID told Reuters that more than 60,000 metric tons of food, sourced from American farmers and manufacturers, was set to expired in warehouses by July. That concerned enough people that the Office of Inspector General said it would open an investigation into food aid in warehouses. It's unclear if that aid was eventually shipped. The Trump administration has sought to axe USAID by revoking federal funding and firing most of its staff. President Donald Trump and his allies have characterized USAID as an unnecessary agency filled with 'waste, fraud, and abuse.' USAID, which was established in the 1960s, was one of the world's leading distributors of food and aid. Partnering with other companies, USAID provided humanitarian assistance, medical necessities, education, and more to people living in poverty, war-torn countries, and disaster-impacted communities. A spokesperson for the State Department told the Post that it is 'constantly assessing global humanitarian needs and expects to allocate additional resources to address those needs in line with U.S. interests.'
