• From the Wall Street Journal this morning:
"Amazon.com is searching for a senior movie-studio executive to help lead its growing entertainment division, turning to rivals for a chance to poach an experienced Hollywood player.
"Amazon Studios has held conversations with several Hollywood leaders about the role, including Netflix Inc.’s film head, Scott Stuber, one of the streamer’s most powerful and visible executives, according to people familiar with the matter.
"It couldn’t be determined if the talks are ongoing.
"Mr. Stuber is one of several candidates who have talked to Amazon about the role, the people said. The company also held discussions with former Paramount Pictures executive Emma Watts about a position, the people said.
"The conversations Amazon had with Mr. Stuber and others come amid power shifts under way in Hollywood and fresh vulnerabilities at the industry’s dominant streaming service. At Netflix, where Mr. Stuber helped cement the company’s status as the streaming industry’s dominant player, he oversees a division that has produced dozens of movies, including Martin Scorsese’s Mob drama 'The Irishman' and the big-budget action release 'The Gray Man'.
"Yet, Netflix has of late signaled a retrenchment, as rivals like Walt Disney Co. spend heavily to surpass it in subscriber numbers and content offerings. Netflix’s global rise has slowed, leading it to cut spending and scale back operations. At Amazon, executives have spent billions of dollars this past year hoping to augment its Prime service, using A-list stars to lure subscribers."
