‘The Traitors’ and How to Craft Hit Reality TV in 2025
Live from the Edinburgh TV Festival in Scotland, Matt is joined by television producer and executive Stephen Lambert to discuss the current state of reality TV, his newest hit, ‘The Traitors,' how to cast reality competition, what streamers are looking for in 2025, how that's changed, and whether America is falling behind in creating fresh reality formats (02:11). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Stephen Lambert Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22 Aug 45min
Why Fox Is Finally Entering the Streaming Wars
Matt is joined by Pete Distad, CEO of Fox's direct-to-consumer streaming platform, to discuss Fox One, the company's first significant foray into streaming, which will offer all of Fox’s news, sports, and entertainment branded content together in one platform. They talk about the juggernaut of news and sports, the end of NFL exclusively on broadcast, why the price is so high ($20 per month), the potential that it will cannibalize Fox's successful existing cable business, the option to bundle with ESPN for $40, and more (02:40). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the Duffer brothers, who are leaving Netflix for Paramount (24:56). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Pete Distad Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20 Aug 32min
The 10 Worst Things to Happen to Hollywood Since 2010
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back on the past 15 years in Hollywood and determine which moments were the most detrimental to the industry. In descending order, they each rank and explain their top five moments that had the most meaningful and negative effect on the greater Hollywood ecosystem (01:53). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Taylor Swift’s next act (29:57).For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18 Aug 38min
Paramount’s New Playbook Unveiled and the Taylor Swift Podcast Bounce
Matt is joined by NYT staff reporter Brooks Barnes to discuss Paramount’s new strategy under David Ellison. They were both at Paramount’s press event earlier this week, so they dissect what Ellison told the press about the company’s new direction and discuss their views on theater windows, Paramount’s content spend, its streaming strategy, and whether it will sell off its cable assets (02:43). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on where the New Heights episode with Taylor Swift will rank among the top-viewed podcasts of all time on YouTube (27:06).For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Brooks Barnes Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15 Aug 35min
The Power and Peculiar Psychology of ‘Disney Adults’
Matt is joined by A.J. Wolfe, creator of the website Disney Food Blog and author of a new book, ‘Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture’. They dive into the "Disney adult" culture and its growing community, how Disney caters to this specific demo, the millennial connection, and thoughts on Josh D'Amaro, as well as the power this community has over Disney (02:28). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the ratings for the 'Kennedy Center Honors’ broadcast on CBS later this year (26:51). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: A.J. Wolfe Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14 Aug 32min
Paramount’s UFC Knockout and Amazon’s Podcast Flameout
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw and Ashley Carman to discuss UFC’s $7.7 billion rights deal with Paramount, as well as the changing landscape in the podcast business. They begin by discussing the huge swing David Ellison took to secure the entire slate of UFC’s streaming and broadcast rights for Paramount+, eliminating the pay-per-view model. They debate where the money comes from and why UFC ultimately chose Paramount over others (02:47). Next, they discuss Amazon’s decision to fold its podcast unit, Wondery, into its Audible banner; talk about the industry’s shift into the video format; and predict which podcast has the best chance to dethrone Joe Rogan (12:19). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw and Ashley Carman Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11 Aug 31min
Could Movies Start Skipping Netflix to Go Straight to YouTube?
Matt is joined by Indian superstar actor and producer Aamir Khan to discuss his bold strategy to release his newest film exclusively on YouTube despite an eight-figure offer from a traditional streamer. He explains how this decision fuels his own creative responsibility for the film, the rationale of sacrificing money for reach, the drawbacks of the presale model, and why there needs to be a stop between theatrical and streaming video on demand (03:23). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the theatrical release of ‘Hamilton’ (25:42). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Aamir Khan Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8 Aug 32min
ESPN Jumps Into Bed With the NFL. What About Everyone Else?
LIVE SHOW in Los Angeles on August 27. Click here for tickets! Matt is joined by Huddle Up’s Joe Pompliano to break down why the NFL is acquiring a 10 percent stake in ESPN in exchange for NFL Network and other media assets. They discuss the complicated details of this deal and what's in it for both sides, including how this will affect ESPN's NFL offerings and its upcoming stand-alone streaming service (02:42). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Freakier Friday’ and ‘Weapons’ (27:06). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Joe Pompliano Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7 Aug 32min
