Plus: Execs’ ‘embarrassing’ chase for the next Kane Parsons — and 7 creators actually worth the bet
By Alison Brower
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Team Ankler is headed to Cannes Lions this month in a big way, but back at HQ, the week’s biggest stories captured an industry in full scramble: nepo babies tightening their grip on shrinking entry-level jobs, showrunners getting spooked by Paramount chaos, and executives throwing dumb money at YouTube creators after a trio of breakout horror hits.
Now, on to the Croisette, where we’ll have a packed slate of programming June 22-25 featuring Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade, Netflix top ad exec Amy Reinhard, Bravo & Peacock unscripted chief Frances Berwick, Roku president Charlie Collier, Summer House’s Lindsay Hubbard and more C-suite and creative standouts. Read all about our plans — including panels and soirees in partnership with the Impact Lounge, Brand Innovators, ADWEEK and Whalar — and RSVP to join us below. And look for Ankler Media CEO Janice Min and Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey amid the Palais and plages.
The Ankler was out in force this week too: Christopher Rosen interviewed YouTube daredevil Michelle Khare at Tribeca X, Richard Rushfield sat down with The Housemaid director Paul Feig at Alliance of Women Directors’ Back to Set symposium, and Elaine Low joined Katie Aselton there for a conversation of her own (she’ll have more on that Monday).
BOLD VOICES From left: Michelle Khare shared the advice she got from Tom Cruise — be competent, not careful — with Chris at Tribeca X. Paul Feig, onstage with Richard, encouraged rising filmmakers at Alliance of Women Directors’ Back to Set.
And in New York, we hosted our latest Documentary Spotlight with Thom Powers at Roxy Cinema, featuring Rafa filmmaker Zach Heinzerling, Mr. Scorsese director Rebecca Miller and more. Catch up on all of Thom’s great conversations below.👇🏼
Next up: I’m headed to StreamTV in Denver this week for keynote conversations with Tubi chief content officer Adam Lewinson, Radial Entertainment CEO Jeff Shultz and YouTube’s departing VP, Americas, Tara Walpert Levy. Say hello if you’ll be there.
↑ The Paramount-HBO Max Pitch Scramble: A Sellers’ Guide In Elaine Low’s latest Spring Sellers’ Guide, she reveals what CBS, P+, HBO and its streaming sibling are looking for as the proposed Para-WBD merger redraws Hollywood’s programming map.
British TV’s YouTube Trap Is Coming for Hollywood The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are growing on YouTube via short-form titles. But the more they succeed, the less leverage they have. Manori Ravindran weighs British broadcasters’ digital paradox.
Plus, All Her Fault star Dakota Fanning explains how the crime drama defied stereotypes and talks sharing a production company with her sister, Elle — and Spider-Noir co-showrunner Oren Uziel, with cast members including Lamorne Morris and Jack Huston, share their best Nicolas Cage stories from the set of the genre-bending series:
The Paramount-WBD merger is far from over, and Sean McNulty breaks down the additions to Paramount and the California AG’s office, along with PSKY’s late-stage concessions to get the deal over the finish line:
Elaine, Natalie and Sean dive into Netflix and Spotify’s podcast strategy as a bulwark against YouTube — and why streamers are betting that video pods are really just the next generation of low-cost talk shows:
Sean and Christopher Rosen break down last weekend’s biggest winners and losers, from Paramount’s nostalgia-fueled Scary Movie success to Amazon MGM’s Masters of the Universe flop:
Rushfield Lunch
L.A. Confidential author James Ellroy helped define Los Angeles noir, and the legendary crime writer joins Richard to discuss his career, process and Red Sheet, the latest installment in his ongoing saga of the city:
