Linda Nicolai

The news is out! Wolf Games has partnered with NBCUniversal and raised our Series A. We’re excited to have the support of Main Street Advisors, Jimmy Iovine, Maverick Carter, Dick Wolf, Tom Werner, Rashid Johnson, and all of our amazing investors that see the same future we do. Our mission has always been simple and ambitious: to build the world’s first AI-native, creator-driven game platform where anyone can create, play, and expand the IP universes they love. We believe that the next generation of entertainment should allow fans to be able to expand the IP that they love. Writers, artists, role-players, modders… millions of creators building stories inside the universes that move them. Wolf Games exists to give these creators a creative, technical, and legal home to create deeply fun experiences. A place where their stories can become games, and their games can become canon. This next round of funding allows us to accelerate our roadmap on: - Game releases with NBCUniversal and our original IP. Each introducing new mechanics, systems, and stories - A unified Wolf Games platform linking all Wolf titles with metaplay from Public Eye to upcoming worlds. - AI-assisted creator tools that make it possible to build playable stories through natural language, remixing, and collaboration. In the long term, we see Wolf Games evolving from studio to service to ecosystem. Join us on the journey, learn more at: wolfgames.net Read about it: https://lnkd.in/gfnhp4Jy

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Paramount has tapped Jesse Sisgold, Skydance Media President & COO and Skydance Sports Chair, to lead its new division, Paramount Sports Entertainment, as its first president 💼 Career highlights: ◾Joined Skydance senior management in 2016, led acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment to form Skydance Interactive. ◾Helped create Skydance Sports and secure NFL partnership in 2022. ◾ Former managing shareholder of boutique entertainment and venture capital law firm; launched Anomaly Productions. ◾ Minority owner of Angel City FC; board member of UCLA Institute of Environment, Conservation International Global Council, and Angels at Risk. ◾ Named to SBJ 4SE in 2023; earned J.D. with honors from UC Hastings and B.A. with honors from UC San Diego. Sisgold’s appointment strengthens Paramount Sports Entertainment’s focus on sports and interactive content. https://ow.ly/vBnh50WVVEC

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Major studio restructures are opening new licensing opportunities as streaming takes over. Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into streaming and traditional TV to grow franchises like Harry Potter and DC, while Lionsgate is separating studio operations from Starz to better leverage its IPs. With streaming now accounting for nearly 45% of TV viewership, these shifts highlight a move toward streaming-focused content and licensing. Additionally, studios are adjusting their licensing strategies. Warner Bros. is unveiling new plans for Harry Potter and restructuring its gaming division around key IPs. As Netflix expands into live and on-demand TV, brands that prioritize their popular IPs across evolving distribution models will unlock new opportunities in this rapidly changing media landscape. #WarnerBros #IP #HarryPotter #Streaming

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Dolby’s Signature Partnership with the Bay Area Host Committee is a big moment for sports fans in San Francisco - and a signal of where live sports is heading globally. The Bay Area Host Committee is helping showcase our region as we prepare for some of the world’s biggest sporting events, and this week is an opportunity to demonstrate what the next generation of viewing can look like. Sports fans across the world - from Europe to Asia Pacific - are no longer just “tuning in” to live games. They expect live sports to feel more like being in the stadium than watching a stream. That is exactly what our partners Comcast’s Xfinity and Peacock are building toward, and what we’re showcasing in San Francisco this week. Xfinity’s new RealTime4K capabilities, paired with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, are delivering ultra-low latency and cinema-quality experiences that fans can actually feel. Peacock and Xfinity understand that viewers want more from sports broadcasts. Dolby is helping them deliver that differentiation with incredible picture, immersive sound, and live experiences without the usual compromises. We’ll be demonstrating these innovations at our San Francisco headquarters and through the BAHC Innovation Summit. But the truth is, fans in Seoul care about this just as much as fans in the Bay Area do. Watching live sports can be just as exciting as being there in person, and what we're doing with the Host Committee this week proves it. #Dolby #Innovation #BayArea #Technology #DolbyVision #DolbyAtmos #DolbyOptiView Dolby Laboratories Bay Area Host Committee

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Big News: We’re excited to share that Blue Ant has officially signed a deal to acquire Thunderbird Entertainment, a move that significantly expands our creative and production footprint across the global content landscape. This combination brings greater scale across animation, unscripted, scripted, and Kids/YA—giving buyers access to a notably larger and more diverse slate of premium content across genres and formats. #blueantmedia

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UAE-based entertainment streaming platform OSN+, a subsidiary of OSN Group, has raised $57 million from Warner Bros. Discovery for an approximate 30% equity stake in the company. The deal will see both firms invest in locally produced content as they seek to court regional viewers.

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Breaking: Virgin Music Group closes $775M acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings: A seismic shift in the indie music landscape! After months of regulatory scrutiny and industry debate, Universal Music Group's Virgin Music Group has finalized its purchase of Downtown, bringing together powerhouse platforms like FUGA, CD Baby, and Songtrust under one roof. This serves 5,000+ clients and 4M+ creators across 145 countries. Key Leadership Moves: - Pieter van Rijn (ex-Downtown CEO) → COO of Virgin Music Group - Justin Kalifowitz steps away as founder - Andrew Bergman → Senior Advisor role The Rocky Road: EU regulators probed competition risks, leading to a full divestiture of Downtown's Curve platform. Cleared on Feb 13 – but IMPALA warns of narrowing indie options. This underscores the indie distribution consolidation wave. Artists owning masters? Great. But fewer pipelines to market? A red flag for creator choice. What does this mean for talent managers, indie labels, and emerging artists in India and Dubai? Wider global reach or less competition? Thoughts? #MusicIndustry #IndieMusic #M&A #TalentManagement #MediaBusiness

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