Matt Pressberg

Los Angeles Correspondent

61-90 (out of 145)

Matt Pressberg covers the business of entertainment and Los Angeles for the International Business Times. He was previously a finance reporter and managing editor at the Los Angeles Business Journal, and before that worked as a private equity analyst. Matt also writes occasionally about gun violence. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern California.

Why ‘Batman v Superman’ Could Be The Hero Warner Bros Needs — And Hollywood Deserves

Warner Bros. has all its chips behind “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” whose early reviews are mixed at best.

Tribune Abandons Bid For OC Register Following DOJ Lawsuit, Paving Way For Digital First Purchase

Tribune Publishing's decision, prompted by a federal antitrust lawsuit, clears the way for a competitor to buy Freedom Communications.

Saving California Porn: Payment Processers Pump Up Campaign To Fight Condom Mandate

Under threat, the state's adult film industry might get much-needed campaign cash from payment processors in its fight against a condom mandate.

Justice Department Files Antitrust Suit To Block LA Times Publisher From Buying Major Competitor

The federal agency on Thursday filed a lawsuit attempting to block Times owner Tribune Publishing from buying the owner of a nearby competitor.

Why ‘Zootopia’ Means Hollywood Animators Might Want To Start Learning Chinese

The success of “Kung Fu Panda 3” and especially “Zootopia” has Chinese studios paying closer attention to animated films. One just started a division.

VR Advertising Might Make Car Commercials A Lot More Fun

Los Angeles-based Immersv launched one of the first virtual reality mobile video ad platforms Thursday, targeting mobile app developers.

Viacom’s Red Check: Why A Chinese Buyer Makes The Most Sense For Paramount Pictures

Finding a Chinese buyer for Paramount Pictures isn’t just the best choice for entertainment conglomerate Viacom; it might be the only choice.

‘Zootopia’ Box-Office Dominance Reveals Hollywood’s Possible Post-Oscars Blind Spot

Movies like "Zootopia" might not be the best fare to take advantage of heightened consumer interest after the Academy Awards.

How The Porn Industry Plans To Convince California Voters To Trash The Condom Law

Performers plan to leverage their social media presences to beat a California initiative that would mandate condoms.

Chinese-Owned AMC Agrees To Buy Carmike, Creating Largest Cinema Chain In US

AMC Entertainment will spend $1.1 billion for Carmike Cinemas. The combined company would pass Regal Entertainment Group to become the largest U.S. chain.

Disney And ESPN Networks Just Added To Sony's PlayStation Vue Over-The-Top Service

Channels including ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Disney XD and Freeform are now available on the basic tier of Sony's PlayStation Vue, just reduced to $40 a month.

‘The Mermaid’ Box Office: 3 Reasons Why The Chinese Import Is Making A Splash With American Audiences

Stephen Chow’s epic “The Mermaid” is bucking a trend of foreign comedies not playing well stateside.

Oscars 2016: Chris Rock’s Trip To ‘Compton’ Pointed Out Hollywood’s Real Diversity Problem During An ‘Oscars With A Message’

Chris Rock was a highlight of an Academy Awards ceremony that veered deeply into race. But historical films ruled at the diversity-focused Oscars.

Oscar Nominations Can Bring Financial Windfall, But Telecast Ratings May Not Matter For Movies

Oscar nominations and wins can be jackpots for the relevant films, but the ratings of the ceremony itself doesn’t mean much for the movie industry.

Melissa Harris-Perry Will Not Appear On MSNBC Show Until Further Notice In Protest Over Being ‘Silenced’

Melissa Harris-Perry has told her staff she will not appear on air until she can fully participate in election coverage.

Oscars 2016: Welcome To Blarneywood? How Ireland Plans To Be A Bigger Player In Show Business

Two of this year’s Best Picture nominees, “Room” and “Brooklyn,” have Irish ties, and they probably won’t be the last.

USC’s Film School Wants To Make The Future Of Hollywood Less White — And Ready For VR

Amid the groundswell of controversy over the lack of diversity at the Oscars, USC is working to make the film industry a little more diverse.

Viacom (VIAB) Pursuing Sale Of Minority Stake In Paramount Pictures, Hopes To Make Deal By Third Quarter

Viacom chief executive Philippe Dauman said he has been approached by investors interested in investing in Paramount Pictures.

Hollywood Diversity Study Says The Industry Ignores Women Not Playing ‘Sexy’ Roles

White men and "sexy" women flourish in film, but minorities and older women are barely visible, a diversity study shows.

Low-Tech Nevada Caucus Could Be An Added Circus In An Already Crazy Republican Presidential Race

The Nevada Republican Party’s peculiar caucus protocol, which involves texting photos of envelopes to the state party chair, could add another wild card to a strange race.

Despite Diplomatic Breakthroughs, A Bad Economy Looms Over Iranians’ Election Spirit

Voters across Iran will head to the polls on Feb. 26, and the current government can’t be reassured by their anger over the country’s anemic economy.

Oscars 2016: China Wants To Top The Box Office, But Oscar Nominations, Not So Much

China’s studios and production companies have global ambitions. But, with the exception of Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” 15 years ago, don’t expect the academy to take notice.

Christian Anti-Drug Vigilantes, Myanmar Police In Opium Fields Standoff

In Myanmar, one of the world’s largest suppliers of opium, police are preventing Christian anti-drug crusaders from destroying poppy fields.

Fox's R-Rated 'Deadpool' Dominates Domestic Box Office For Second Straight Week

Filmgoers can’t get enough of Ryan Reynolds’ adult humor, as “Deadpool” was the No. 1 movie in the U.S. again, lapping its competition.

A North Korean rocket prepares to launch.

Obama Administration Secretly Approached North Korea About Diplomatic Talks Days Before Its Latest Nuclear Test: WSJ

The U.S. was prepared to abandon its demand that North Korea reduce its nuclear arsenal before the beginning of talks that could have formally concluded the Korean War.