An Israeli mother whose two sons were take hostage by Hamas exploded at MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell when asked how she feels about Israel's counterstrikes in Gaza.
The US Daily Mail reports Renana Gomeh, whose two sons age 12 and 16 were kidnapped by Hamas, became visibly irritated when Mitchell asked her feelings on the attacks in Gaza.
'I can’t be sympathetic anymore. I can’t be sympathetic to animal human beings — well, they’re not really human beings — who came into my house, broke everything,' said Gomeh. 'Stole everything, took my children from their bedrooms and took them to the Gaza Strip.'
Gomeh's children were in their safe room when Hamas broke into their home and kidnapped them.
'I was on the phone with my youngest, I wasn’t at home at the time and all I could hear was him begging for them not to take him because he is too young,' the mother said in a video shared with i.
'They were taken out of their beds by terrorists who broke into my house. They broke the door and took them.'
Cumulus Media announces that KCMO, Kansas City’s Talk, today added the 95.7 FM frequency to its simulcast of 710 AM and 103.7 FM. The new tri-cast signal now broadcasts KCMO Talk on all three frequencies, expanding coverage and reaching the entire Kansas City market and beyond.
In addition, popular local and national talk show times were adjusted to the updated KCMO weekday programming lineup, including:
Pete Mundo
6:00am-10:00am Pete Mundo Mornings
10:00am-12:00pm Ray Stevens
12:00pm-2:00pm Dan Bongino
2:00pm-3:00pm Ben Shapiro
3:00pm-5:00pm The Dave Ramsey Show
5:00pm-8:00pm Mark Levin
Donna Baker, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Kansas City, said: “Today Cumulus Kansas City completes the market transformation of our dominant cluster. With recent moves for Kansas City’s Hip Hop and R&B - now Power 105.1, 107.3 The Vibe All The Hits, and now adding 95.7 FM to the simulcast of 710 AM and 103.7 FM for a tri-cast of KCMO Talk, we have the right formats on the right signals reaching the entire Kansas City community. Congratulations to Program Director Pete Mundo and our leadership team for their tireless work on this important step forward.”
Jim Fox, Operations Manager, Cumulus Kansas City, commented: “Leading the conversation with live and local shows and the biggest national names, KCMO Talk Radio is trusted on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Kansas/Missouri state line. The 95.7 signal reach allows even more listeners the opportunity to contribute to these discussions every day.”
Pete Mundo, Program Director and Morning Show host, KCMO, noted: “KCMO has a rich history. As we often say, ‘If it’s IN KCMO, it’s ON KCMO.’ These legacy call letters have been synonymous with shows that engage the audience in conversations about local and national issues that impact their everyday lives. The addition of 95.7 FM provides a crystal-clear audio experience for our rapidly growing fan base and I’m excited to even better serve Talk Radio listeners across the Kansas City region.”
iHeartMedia has announced Jonathan Tineo has been named Program Director for WUMR Rumba 106.1, # 1 Para Reggaetón Y Variedad En Philadelphia, effective immediately.
As Program Director, Tineo will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the station’s music, programming, imaging and branding. He will report to Derrick Corbett, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Philadelphia.
Jonathan Tineo
“It’s a privilege to add a programmer like Jonathan, who brings to us deep roots and commitment to our Latino community,” said Corbett. “We are confident Jonathan will be an incredible asset as Rumba 106.1 as we serve one of the fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the country,”
Whether on the radio, in nightclubs, at parades or festivals, “DJ Jonathan” has always aimed to bring the public good music and positive vibes. Jonathan is on the air on Rumba 106.1 from 2:00 -7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. He started his professional career in 2006 as an event host and DJ in Honolulu while serving in the U.S. Army. In 2008, Tineo obtained his first job in radio producing a mix show and co-hosting on KUCD 101.9 HD1. After completing his service to the military, Tineo returned to Philadelphia and made a name for himself as one of the city’s most recognized Latino DJs, opening for headlining artists such as Bad Bunny, Ozuna and Pitbull, and working as a mix show DJ for WHAT 1340 AM.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to work closely with such a great group,” said Tineo. “Latin music has never been bigger, and Philadelphia is an exciting place to be. I could not be more excited to work closely with our sales team to find creative ways to generate revenue, while playing the music that speaks to our target audience. I’m honored to be a part of the great team at iHeartMedia Philadelphia & iHeartLatino.”
President Biden said Wednesday that he has seen “confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children” in southern Israel following reports that up to 40 babies were butchered over the weekend near the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip – but the White House later walked back the commander in chief’s claim. “I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children. I never thought I’d ever — anyway,” Biden, 80, told leaders of Jewish groups at the White House Wednesday.
But neither the president nor US officials have seen images or independently confirmed reports of beheaded children, a White House spokesperson later clarified, according to the Washington Post. The White House says that Biden based his remark on claims made by a spokesman for Israel’s prime minister and media reports coming out of the Jewish state.
The sickening reports emerged Tuesday as the Israeli military offered journalists tours of areas ravaged by Hamas’ Saturday morning surprise attack, which left more than 1,200 civilians and Israeli troops dead and about 150 believed abducted — with at least 22 Americans dead and 17 others still unaccounted for. A senior White House national security aide told reporters immediately following the event that he had not seen the images to which Biden was referring.
➤P-M VOWS TERRORISTS WILL BE DESTROYED: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his country late Wednesday night, as Israel continues fighting against Hamas terrorist attacks that began on Saturday. At least 1,200 Israelis have died since the surprise attack began on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday. Most of the deaths were civilians. "We are dealing with it an enemy that is cruel and worse than ISIS," the prime minister explained. "We saw children, boys and girls who were shot in their heads. Men and women who were burned alive. Young women who were raped and slaughtered, children whose heads were cut were decapitated." "We are fighting with all our strength on all fronts," he said later in his speech. "We have moved over to the offense. Every Hamas member will be destroyed...They are ISIS, they will be destroyed."
There is a potential second front along Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Israel is massing tanks and soldiers there following four days of rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/hNpNhK5xTA
➤ISRAEL POUNDS GAZA WITH AIRSTRIKES: Desperation swept across Gaza as Israeli rockets smashed into neighborhoods for a fifth day Wednesday, destroying homes and infrastructure in response to the brutal attack by Hamas. The American death toll rose to 22 and Israeli fatalities surpassed 1,200 Wednesday as Israeli soldiers retaking communities near the Gaza border encountered streets littered with the bodies of civilians, including women and children. Palestinian officials say more than 1,100 people in Gaza have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded. An estimated 250,000 people have fled their Gaza homes, with most taking shelter in packed U.N. schools.
Former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal urges Muslims, globally, to protest Israel and join the fight https://t.co/i2cUTq6A61
➤THIS ISN'T 'FREEDOM FIGHTING': An Israeli woman talked to Fox News Digital about the traumatic experience she had being trapped in a bomb shelter for 36 hours during a Hamas terrorist attack. Sderot resident Sabina Elayev, 31, woke in the middle of the night on Saturday and heard Hamas terrorists shooting her neighbors outside. "Whole families were disappeared, and during this whole time, you just sit in the shelter waiting for someone to tell you it’s over, and it’s not over," she explained. "Every gunshot … it’s a person killed, murdered, butchered."
Elayev found her niece and the two women raced to their bomb shelter. They expected to stay for a few minutes, but they ended up waiting in the bunker for 36 hours. "Not even in the worst dream we would imagine terrorists will come to the city," she said. "Dancing on bodies, parading them, kidnapping kids, how can you look a person in the eye and just shoot them dead?"
"Why would they hate us so much?" Elayev added. "This isn't freedom fighting."
Hamas terrorist sent mother video of son, girlfriend's gruesome murder: Israeli reality TV star https://t.co/uqbtdET6Ll
➤REALITY LESSON FOR IVY LEAGUE STUDENTS: A flurry of Harvard University students and groups are desperately trying to backtrack on their support of a letter blaming Israel for the mass slaughter of its own people by Hamas terrorists — as some business titans seek to blacklist them from future jobs. Four of the initial 34 student organizations attached to the inflammatory statement have already withdrawn their support — while board members of other groups have quit to distance themselves. Late Tuesday, 17 other Harvard groups joined around 500 faculty and staff and 3,000 others in signing a counter-statement attacking the other groups’ letter as “completely wrong and deeply offensive,” according to the campus paper, the Harvard Crimson. A third letter from nearly 160 faculty members also ripped Harvard’s response to the scandal, writing that it “can be seen as nothing less than condoning the mass murder of civilians based only on their nationality.” Others in groups supporting the initial letter — which held “the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence” — quit while distancing themselves from any involvement.
Fox News Channel correspondent Trey Yingst took viewers into a home in Southern Israel that he described as a “horror house,” its floors awash in blood, bullet holes in the walls and “the stench of death in the air” after militants stormed the village early Saturday morning and killed families—some still in their beds.
“It is a community where there are breakfast plates out with food still on them, on dining room tables,” Yingst said in a live report Wednesday. “There are refrigerators like you would see anywhere in the world with pictures of little kids playing sports. There are bicycles and still ceiling fans going inside the house and there are beds soaked with blood. The floor of that kitchen, as you saw, and there are weapons laying everywhere from those militants. You can see some of their vehicles just outside. It is a house of horror behind me and the entire neighborhood looks like this.”
Forbes reports Yingst warned viewers he would be showing extremely graphic video from inside the home. The images that captured the true magnitude of what militants did in their surprise attack Saturday, capturing families without warning and killing men, women and children.
“It's very important that we show you this,” he said. “I'm going to have my cameraman come in here. You can see the floors are stained with blood. It was Saturday morning, around 7 a.m. when militants stormed this village. You can see the weapons they brought with them, extra ammunition, bullet holes in the side of the house and knives on the floor. This was the scene. This kibbutz, this community over the border with Gaza is littered with bodies. It is completely destroyed. It looks like some of the buildings were hit with RPGs, explosives and beds covered in blood. The kitchen floor covered in blood. This is inside a home stormed by the militant... it is hell on earth.”
Yingst and his Fox News crew arrived in the village early Wednesday, among the first to enter the kibbutz after Israeli forces reclaimed control of the area. Yingst said he saw numerous bodies, most of which have yet to be identified. On the way into Be’eri, he said “the stench of death” was unmistakable.
The European Union has expanded that tech companies must remove illegal content from their platforms, or risk facing severe legal penalties.
Following the militant Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel and Israel's retaliatory airstrikes in Palestinian enclave Gaza, social media firms have seen a surge in misinformation related to the conflict, including doctored images and mislabelled videos, alongside images of graphic violence.
Reuters reports EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Tuesday told Elon Musk to curb disinformation on his messaging platform X, warning it was being used to disseminate illegal content and false information in the wake of recent violence in the Middle East.
iHeartMedia Las Vegas’ Sunny 106.5, The Best Variety of the ‘80s, ‘90s and Today, has announced Sean Strife will join “Sunny Mornings with Joanna and Sean,” effective Monday, October 16. “Sunny Mornings with Joanna and Sean” will broadcast weekdays from 5:00AM/PT – 10:00AM/PT.
KSNE's “Sunny Mornings with Joanna and Sean” features Joanna Baumann, a host on the Sunny 106.5 morning show since 2016.
Joanna Baumann is a Las Vegas-based morning host with deep roots in the community and a strong bond with Las Vegas listeners. Her audience knows her to be a proud new mom and a leading voice for Las Vegas community fundraising and awareness campaigns. Sean Strife’s move to mornings in Las Vegas is the next step in his successful career. He’s known for his commitment to connecting to audiences and to celebrating the cities he has served. With the ‘Sunny Story Of The Day’ and ‘Feel Good Fridays’ Sunny mornings with Joanna and Sean will help give Las Vegas listeners a positive start to their day. The show will focus on a celebration of all things Las Vegas and sharing with listeners a love for their favorite songs.
‘We’re very happy to have Sean Strife joining the Las Vegas team. His incredible talent and ability are an excellent match for our mission on Sunny 106.5.’ – Tony Matteo, Senior Vice President Of Programming for iHeartMedia Las Vegas.
Sean joins Sunny 106.5 from WKQI-FM, Channel 955, in Detroit where he most recently served as the Midday Host, Assistant Program Director and Music Director. Sean began his career at iHeartMedia’s WiLD 95.5 in West Palm Beach and is a graduate of the University of Florida.
“My family and I will always love Detroit, but we are so excited to move to Las Vegas.
“It really is one of America’s special cities, and I can’t wait to jump in with a market vet like Joanna. Huge thanks to Tony Matteo and Glynn Alan for the opportunity to wake up Vegas every morning on this legendary station!” said Sean Strife.
Sunny 106.5 is currently the #1 ranked station in Las Vegas with a blend of hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s to now. The station serves the Las Vegas community by supporting local efforts by organizations like Opportunity Village, Nevada SPCA, Three Square Food Bank, Baby’s Bounty, American Heart Association, AFAN and many more. The station has been a National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Awards finalist for many years, and as recently as 2022 and 2023.
Nielsen has announced Warren Jenson will now serve as President of Nielsen, in addition to his current role as Chief Financial Officer.
In this expanded role, Jenson will oversee Nielsen’s work to modernize its operations with the aim of creating an agile, innovative company that is best suited to serve the changing needs of the media industry. In assuming this role, he will also manage the company’s Information Technology, Corporate Development, and Global Strategy functions alongside his existing leadership of its Finance group. The company’s Portfolio Analytics business unit will report into Jenson, as well.
He will continue to report to Karthik Rao, CEO.
Warren Jensen
“I am humbled to take on the additional role as President of Nielsen and lead the company’s vision and transformation, particularly during Nielsen’s centennial anniversary year,” said Jenson. “Since joining Nielsen just five months ago, I am encouraged by Nielsen’s commitment to innovation and shaping the media measurement ecosystem around the globe. I look forward to working closely with our CEO Karthik Rao to help power a better media future for the next 100 years.”
“Warren has made a tremendous impact on our organization since joining Nielsen and proven to be a trusted advisor as we’ve navigated a changing environment,” said Karthik Rao, CEO of Nielsen. “His expanded role will be integral to our work as we set out to transform our business now and into the future.”
Jenson is a seasoned CFO and operations leader who brings over three decades of experience in transformation and value creation in diverse industries, including data and media. He has a track record of driving growth, improving profitability and business development, and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. He has served as CFO for several Fortune 500 companies including Amazon, Delta Airlines, NBC, and Electronic Arts, and most recently served as President, CFO, and Executive Managing Director of International for LiveRamp.
The Massachusetts Broadcasters Association (MBA) will hold its 12thannual Sound Bites event on November 16, 2023, at the Sheraton Framingham, in Framingham, MA. Sound Bites is the association’s annual learning, meeting, and mingling event which combines seminars, networking, industry speakers, dinner, entertainment, and awards along with the annual meeting of the members.
The event will be emceed by longtime radio host for WBZ-AM, Jordan Rich.
Pat Bryson
Leading the sales seminar is Pat Bryson. Bryson, named three times to RadioInk’s “Most Influential Women in Radio” list will present “Creating the Bespoke Suit (Campaign)” aimed at radio and television sellers and managers. The session likens the sales process to a tailor expertly crafting a suit to fit his or her client.
Industry-veteran Tracy Johnson returns to Sound Bites to conduct a timely seminar on “Mastering The Setup and Storytelling Basics.” As broadcasters continue to rely on “live and local” to set them apart from Spotify or XM, Johnson will break down the art and science of crafting the perfect Setup, providing attendees with the tools and techniques needed to inject unique personality into every break.
After a networking reception, highlights of the Sound Bites dinner program include the highly anticipated annual meeting of the association, a legislative update from Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the National Association of Broadcasters, Josh Pollack, plated dinner, comedy from the incomparable Jimmy Dunn, and the 2023 Sound Bites Awards.
Now in its twelfth year, the Sound Bites Awards received 260 entries from member radio and television stations, with winners highlighting the excellent work done each year by local broadcasters in Massachusetts.
Pebbles
Capping the night, the MBA will name Hot 96.9 personality Pebbles, as its 2023 Broadcaster of the Year. The Broadcaster of the Year Award is the association’s highest honor and recognizes an industry leader that displays an outstanding commitment to his/her job and community, while showing an unwavering dedication to the evolution of broadcasting.
The popular personality has been a staple of mornings on Boston radio since 1988 on WILD-AM, JAM’N 94.5, and Beasley Media’s Hot 96.9. The two-time Gracie Award winner isn’t just committed to great morning radio, focusing on “the importance of helping others, and using [her] voice to make a difference.”
Tickets to Sound Bites are $40 for MBA members, $50 for non-members, and can be purchased on the MBA website through November 8th.
➦In 1937...'Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons' debuted on the NBC Blue Network. It was one of radio's longest running shows, airing to April 19, 1955, continuing well into the television era. It was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, who based it upon Robert W. Chambers' 1906 novel The Tracer of Lost Persons. The sponsors included Whitehall Pharmacal (as in Anacin, Kolynos Toothpaste, BiSoDol antacid mints, Hill's cold tablets and Heet liniment), Dentyne, Aerowax, RCA Victor and Chesterfield cigarettes. It aired on the NBC Blue network until 1947, when it switched to CBS.
➦In 1944...What would come to be known as the "Columbus Day Riot" took place in New York City, when 35,000 hysterical teenage girls crowded into the Paramount Theatre for a chance to see the return of Frank Sinatra. The crowd of teen "bobbysoxer" girls stopped traffic in Times Square and refused to leave between shows.
➦In 1950…The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, sometimes called The Burns and Allen Show, made it debut on TV. The is a half-hour series broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS.
Burns and Allen were headliners in vaudeville in the 1920s, and radio stars in the 1930s and 1940s.
Their show was initially staged live and broadcast every other Thursday at 8 pm ET. In fall 1952, it became a weekly series filmed on the West Coast. From March 1953 through September 1958, The Burns and Allen Show aired Mondays at 8 pm ET.
The show was an immediate success.
➦In 1955...Chrysler introduces the world's first sound system for it cars. The system consisted of -- record player mounted under the dashboard.
➦In 1969...Pop Culture's "Paul is Dead" hoax began when Tom Zarski, a student at Eastern Michigan University, called WKNR in Detroit and informed DJ Russ Gibb on air of the rumor that Paul McCartney died in a car crash, perhaps as long ago as 1966. Zarski told Gibb that by playing a section of the band's "Revolution 9" backwards, a clue emerges: the phrase "Turn me on, dead man." Gibb proceeds to do just that. Many listeners were stunned.
Two days after the WKNR broadcast, The Michigan Daily published a satirical review of Abbey Road by University of Michigan student Fred LaBour under the headline "McCartney Dead; New Evidence Brought to Light". It identified various "clues" to McCartney's death on Beatles album covers, including new clues from the just-released Abbey Road LP. As LaBour had invented many of the clues, he was astonished when the story was picked up by newspapers across the United States. WKNR-FM further fuelled the rumor with a special two-hour program on the subject, "The Beatle Plot", which aired October 19, 1969.
In the early morning hours of October 21, 1969, Roby Yonge, a disc jockey at New York radio station 77WABC, discussed the rumor on the air for over an hour before being pulled off the air for breaking format. At that time of night, WABC's signal covered a wide listening area and could be heard in 38 states and at times, other countries.
Later that day, the Beatles' press office issued statements denying the rumour which were widely reported by national and international media.
Various 'clues' were used to suggest the following story: three years previously on November 9, 1966. The rumored story was that McCartney, after an argument during a Beatles' recording session, had angrily driven off in his car. He had crashed it and died as a result. To spare the public from grief, the Beatles replaced him with "William Campbell", the winner of a McCartney look-alike contest.
➦In 1997...Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. died in a light plane accident (Born December 31, 1943). He was known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer.
John Denver 1974
After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career with folk music groups during the late 1960s. Starting in the 1970s, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. By 1974, he was one of America's best-selling performers, and AllMusic has described Denver as "among the most beloved entertainers of his era".
Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed, with total sales of over 33 million records worldwide. He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, his disdain for city life, his enthusiasm for music, and his relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, in all earning 12 gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Calypso", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".
After a month in limbo, Anthony Gargano’s employment at the station officially ended Tuesday night as part of a settlement between Beasley Media Group, The Fanatic’s parent company, and ALLCITY Network, which owns new digital outlet PHLY Sports. according to The Philly Inquirer.
Gargano had been suspended for nearly a month with pay stemming from his involvement building the new website and his plans to work for the outlet. Beasley claimed in a lawsuit he didn’t reveal his role until the day before the site launched.
According to the terms of the settlement, Gargano will be permitted to work for ALLCITY in other markets — including Denver, Phoenix and Chicago — but won’t be able to appear on any PHLY shows for six months. He will be able to start a preplanned national NFL show for ALLCITY with NFL Network analyst and former NFL lineman Brian Baldinger, though it won’t be allowed to air on PHLY’s network.
Gargano will also be permitted to launch a sports betting-focused podcast with Parx Casino. He currently cohosts a weekly Fox Sports Radio show with former NFL lineman Lincoln Kennedy called The Fellas.
Another condition of the settlement is an 18-month ban on Gargano seeking sponsorships or advertising from companies that have done business with 97.5 The Fanatic over the past year. One of Gargano’s longtime sponsors — Primo Hoagies — jumped ship to 94.1 WIP last month, a move that was cited in Beasley’s lawsuit. Gargano also won’t receive any severance from his lucrative contract with 97.5 The Fanatic, which was revealed in court documents to be a base salary of $300,000 a year plus bonuses.
It’s unclear who will replace Gargano at The Fanatic. Andrew Salciunas and Connor Thomas have been hosting the midday show while Gargano was suspended.
The wide world of sports on ESPN could be getting even wider over the next few years. That’s according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, which says that Disney has been having conversations with major sports leagues about potentially adding even more in the way of live sports rights.
ESPN could integrate games from NFL+ and NBA League Pass.
Disney remains interested in local MLB rights.
The company could also still partner with a tech firm like Verizon or Apple.
The Streamer reports Disney is planning to create a direct-to-consumer version of ESPN and its sibling channels that won’t require a cable or satellite subscription to access. The service is targeting a release date of 2025 or 2026, and before launch Disney wants to make sure the service offers as many live sports as possible to justify a price that will almost certainly run north of $30 per month.
The Journal reports that Disney has had conversations with the NFL regarding integrating content from NFL+ onto the new ESPN streamer. That would instantly grant ESPN the rights to stream every single in-market NFL game to users’ mobile devices, and while that would not mean that all NFL games would be on ESPN going forward, it would be a big step in that direction.
Talks with leagues are still in the preliminary stages, and some or all of these potential deals could fall through or simply never materialize. Disney is also in discussions with firms like Apple and Verizon to boost distribution of the future ESPN streaming platform and assume some of the financial burdens, but if it can iron out all of these details, the ESPN streamer may become a true one-stop destination for all major sports.
Activist investor Nelson Peltz is planning a new board challenge at Walt Disney less than 10 months after the home of Mickey Mouse laid out plans that addressed his criticism.
Reuters reports with Disney's stock price down 30% since then, the 82-year-old billionaire investor is now expected to ask the company for "multiple" board seats, including one for himself, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Peltz's Trian Fund Management owns roughly $2.5 billion, or more than 30 million shares, in Disney, making it one of the entertainment giant's largest investors, said the person, who declined to be identified because the discussions are private.
New York-based Trian has increased its ownership five-fold since the end of the second quarter when a regulatory filing showed it owning 6.4 million Disney shares.
Trian had pushed for one board seat for Peltz in January, but ended its proxy fight in early February, saying that Peltz would be watching and cheering Disney from the sidelines, after Disney chief Bob Iger laid out plans to fix the company. Disney had rejected Peltz as a possible board member.
Disney has undergone a period of transformation, restructuring the company and streamlining operations to make the business more cost effective. It is on track to exceed the $5 billion in cost savings it promised investors.
The Burbank, California-based entertainment conglomerate has improved the financial performance of its streaming business, which is losing money but on track to turn a profit by the end of fiscal 2024. Disney also is working to improve the quality of its films, focusing on franchises and major releases, whose profits it seeks to maximize by distributing movies both in theaters and in the home.
Iger also has said the company is evaluating options with regard to its television business, as traditional cable and satellite distributors continue to lose subscribers. In addition, Disney is laying plans to make its flagship ESPN sports network available via streaming at some point in the future.
Disney said it would double its investment in its theme parks over the next decade, spending $60 billion as it develops new experiences based on its "Avatar," "Frozen," "Coco" and "Black Panther" film franchises.
On Saturday, Bruno Mars was set to become the third American artist ever to perform two sold out concerts at the 70,000-capacity HaYarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel — following Madonna in 2009 and Michael Jackson in 1993.
Billboard reports he played his first show there last Wednesday with two Tel Aviv acts opening, running nearly four hours in total. Both shows were promoted by Bluestone Group, which is owned by Live Nation Israel.
“I say Tel Aviv!” Mars shouted to the audience. “The Hooligans made it to Israel – thank you so guys so much for coming out,” Mars told fans after opening his show with his hit 2016 song “24k Magic.”
Mars’ Saturday show was supposed to be the second-to-last date on a brief world tour that previously stopped in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Oct. 1 and was headed to Doha, Qatar, for an Oct. 8 show to follow the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
Early Saturday, though, reports began to circulate of a coordinated Hamas-led terrorist attack that would escalate the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. Later that day, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on television and declared that his country was now “at war” with Hamas. By afternoon, Live Nation Israel issued a statement that the concert was canceled. (The following day, Mars also cancelled his planned Doha concert.)
