Upfronts 2026: What We Learned From TV's Biggest Platforms; Crafting the Music of ‘Heated Rivalry’

So Long, LeBron! What the Lakers Shakeup Means for the NBA and for L.A.'s Sports Star Power

On today’s episode, Variety’s Marlow Stern unpacks LeBron James’ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons [https://variety.com/2026/sports/news/lebron-james-leaving-los-angeles-lakers-nba-luka-doncic-1236799506/] and one championship title. The shakeup leaves one of the NBA’s most high-profile teams a little short on star power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

CNBC Chief KC Sullivan on Transforming the Linear TV Business in a Global World: ‘We’re Very Much on Offense’

On today’s episode, CNBC president KC Sullivan discusses the channel’s evolution following the Versant Media spinoff. [https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/comcast-versant-spinoff-january-close-1236599205/] The preeminent financial news network is transforming from a business rooted in linear cable to multiplatform digital. “We’re very much on offense,” Sullivan told Variety during last week’s Cannes Lions festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Box Office: ‘Supergirl’ Stumbles, ‘Toy Story 5’ Flexes and ‘Michael’ Hits a Milestone; Why Comcast is Splitting NBCUniversal and Sky From Cable

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Jack Dunn breaks down a rough weekend for “Supergirl” and a big frame for “Toy Story 5” and “Michael.” [https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/supergirl-stumbles-box-office-opening-weekend-jackass-flops-toy-story-rules-1236797777/] And Todd Spangler explains why Comcast is hauling out the corporate meat cleaver to separate NBCUniversal and Sky from the core Comcast cable [https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/comcast-split-nbcuniversal-cable-two-companies-1236798205/] and tech assets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

'Abbott Elementary' Exec Producer Justin Halpern Juggles Series and a New Novel

On today’s episode, writer and showrunner Justin Halpern speaks with Variety’s Michael Schneider about the road to writing his novel “Get Lost." Halpern also updates Schneider on a few TV development projects, including the status of high school memoir “I Suck at Girls” at Netflix [https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/i-suck-at-girls-tv-show-netflix-1236627791/]and the upcoming season of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” on which he is an EP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Eddy Cue and Jerry Bruckheimer talk ‘F1’ Sequel – Brad Pitt ‘Would Like to Get in That Car Again’ – and Apple’s Evolution in Movies and TV in Cannes Lions Sitdown With Variety

On today’s episode, Apple content chief Eddy Cue and producer Jerry Bruckheimer [https://variety.com/2025/film/news/f1-apple-movie-strategy-tim-cook-lewis-hamilton-1236424270/]speak to Variety at the Cannes Lions festival [https://variety.com/t/cannes-lions/] about the tech giant’s influence in entertainment, how they’re working to get Brad Pitt back into a fast car for an “F1” movie sequel and how Apple’s incoming CEO feels about the company's expansion into TV and film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]