Two annual ratings roundups of television viewing in the United States show that audiences for traditional broadcast and linear cable are in serious decline. The list of the 100 most watched broadcast episodes is mostly sports. And the top ranked channels reveal cable isn’t even really trying to program their networks anymore.

Meanwhile, the domestic box office managed to surpass $9 billion for the first time since the COVID pandemic, with Universal Pictures taking over for Disney as the top earner.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Gérard Depardieu stirs up more controversy, Taylor Swift sets more sales chart records and Paramount Global is looking for a buyer.





Warner Bros Titles Deliver $700M Worldwide In December As ‘Wonka’ Nears $400M & ‘Aquaman 2’ Tops $260M; Universal & Paramount Pics Hit Milestones During Holidays

https://deadline.com/2023/12/wonka-aquaman-2-warner-bros-global-international-box-office-milestones-1235683983/

Box Office: ‘Wonka’ Leads New Year’s Waltz as ‘Aquaman 2’ Continues to Sink

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wonka-box-office-aquaman-new-years-1235776921/

2023 Box Office: Domestic Revenue Clears $9B in Post-Pandemic First (Thanks, Barbenheimer)

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbenheimer-box-office-2023-revenue-bonanza-1235777081/

Universal Overtakes Disney as Highest-Grossing Studio at 2023 Box Office

https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/universal-overtakes-disney-highest-grossing-studio-box-office-1235859823/

Why Hollywood’s China Syndrome Is Both Meltdown and Opportunity

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/hollywood-china-meltdown-opportunity-1235848495/

Paula Abdul Is Suing Nigel Lythgoe for Sexual Assault

https://www.vulture.com/2024/01/paula-abdul-sues-nigel-lythgoe-sexual-assault.html

56 French Stars Defend actor Gerard Depardieu Despite Sexual Misconduct Allegations

https://apnews.com/article/france-gerard-depardieu-stars-sexual-misconduct-women-c4c91653dedc35be2a7b3d1892e9c6bc

The Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft Over A.I. Use of Copyrighted Work

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/business/media/new-york-times-open-ai-microsoft-lawsuit.html

The New York Times Brings Receipts in Lawsuit Against OpenAI

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/new-york-times-brings-receipts-copyright-lawsuit-openai-1235775781/