Unlike most major streaming services, which allow new subscribers to choose between a more expensive ad-free plan and a cheaper ad-supported tier, Amazon has taken an opt-out approach with Prime. When Prime Video begins streaming ads in late-January one of the biggest streaming services in the world with at least 150 million subscribers, will immediately become a major player in television advertising. Especially since most of its customers will decide not to pay extra to avoid ads.
Meanwhile the Emmys got slotted into January due to last year’s actors and writers strikes forcing the awards ceremony to compete with football playoffs and presidential election campaigns. Will anyone be paying attention to see who wins prizes for television series that aired two years ago? Or with guild awards nominations piling in has everyone already moved onto the Oscars.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the deal Tom Cruise landed to make movies at Warner Bros., Harry Potter’s best selling video game and another former cable news anchor launches a program on X (née Twitter).

2024 Golden Globes Reaches Viewership of 9.4 Million — Highest Ratings In Years
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golden-globes-succession-oppenheimer-2024-ratings/
Henry Kissinger Cause of Death Revealed
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/henry-kissinger-cause-of-death-congenital-heart-failure-1234946127/
‘Wonka’ Hits Sweet Milestone As Musical Tops $500M WW; ‘Beekeeper’ Buzzes To $37M Global Bow, ‘Mean Girls’ Clicks With $35M
https://deadline.com/2024/01/wonka-milestone-beekeeper-mean-girls-global-international-box-office-1235789848/
‘Mean Girls’ Singing to $33.2M Opening, ‘Beekeeper’ Buzzes to $19M
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mean-girls-opens-box-office-beekeeper-1235787238/
IMAX Soars to Banner Year in 2023 With $1.06 Billion in Global Box Office
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/imax-soars-to-banner-year-in-2023-with-1-06-billion-in-global-box-office/
Highest-Grossing Documentary Film at the Global Box Office
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/78695-highest-box-office-film-gross-for-a-documentary-film
Don Lemon Announces Comeback, New Show on X
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/09/don-lemon-new-show-twitter-00134540
Taylor Swift Made Up 1.7% of Total U.S. Music Market in 2023, According to Luminate’s Year-End Report
https://variety.com/2024/music/news/taylor-swift-percent-total-us-music-market-2023-luminate-1235867482/
What Tom Cruise’s New Deal Really Means
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