Media, Entertainment & Related Technology

Over the last decade, the media, entertainment, and technology industries have experienced unparalleled disruption and opportunities due to innovations in technology. Hughes Hubbard & Reed’s media, entertainment and technology practice group recognizes the pace at which these innovations affect day-to-day operations of our clients and specializes in helping clients stay ahead of the curve by understanding the way technology influences the media and entertainment business and its ongoing evolution. The convergence of the media, entertainment, and technology industries – and the impact of that convergence on the global consumer -- drives the marketplace forward. We combine the resources and experience of a traditional law firm with an understanding and passion for today’s cutting-edge technologies to assist our clients in anticipating and navigating the new realities and challenges arising from this shifting landscape.

Our extensive experience includes representing major companies operating across the full spectrum of the media, entertainment, and technology industries – companies in the film, television, music, digital video, podcasting, radio, publishing, advertising, marketing, data, sports, esports, video game and other businesses, including major industry players such as Condé Nast, Madison Square Garden, Paramount Global, Sony Music Entertainment, AMC Networks and FanDuel. We represent these companies, as well as private equity firms and other financial investors in those industries, in all types of matters ranging from M&A, financing, joint venture, private equity and venture capital transactions to litigation, arbitration and other dispute resolution, from securities offerings and capital markets transactions to commercial and technology-related transactions. Our team includes experienced data privacy and intellectual property lawyers, as well as subject-matter specialists in employment, executive compensation, and tax.

We structure, negotiate, and draft a wide range of agreements relating to the acquisition, development, production, financing, marketing, distribution, publishing, sale, licensing, branding, merchandising, and other exploitation of television programs, motion pictures, digital video, podcasts, print content, theater and immersive exhibits, advertising, video games, music and consumer products. We also provide strategic counsel to media and entertainment industry clients on cutting-edge intellectual property and other issues, including AI and data privacy.

For more information please contact the Chair of the practice:

Sabrina Silverberg

Chair

Our experience includes:

Condé Nast in connection with its sales of:
- Golf Digest magazine to Discovery Inc. (“Discovery”);
- Brides magazine to digital media company Dotdash, a subsidiary of IAC; and
- Iconic women’s fashion brand magazine W to Future Brand Media Group.
Viacom Inc. (“Viacom”), including cable television channels Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, BET, CMT, TV Land and Paramount Pictures Corporation in connection with various transactions.
AMC Networks in connection with the acquisition of a 49.9 percent stake in BBC America and in the establishment of a joint venture with DIRECTV Latin America to own and operate a Sundance-branded channel in seven Latin American countries.
The Madison Square Garden Company:
- in its investment in Counter Logic Gaming (owner of several competitive esports teams);
- in its investment in Obscura Digital (live entertainment technology and production company);
- in its investment in Tao Group (operator of the Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Avenue restaurants and nightclubs); and subsequent acquisition of Hakkasan Group restaurants;
- in its investment in Tribeca Enterprises (operator of the Tribeca Film Festival cofounded by Robert De Niro);
- in its investment in Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas LLC;
- in its investment in Boston Calling Events (operator of the Boston Calling Music Festival); and
- in its sale of the New York Liberty Women’s Basketball team.
CBS Corporation in connection with its merger with Viacom Inc.
Advance Publications, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of 360VINSPIN d/b/a MotoMiner.
Knight-Ridder Inc. in acquisition of ABC Media Inc. from ABC Inc. for $1.65 billion (four newspapers in Kansas City, MO, Fort Worth, TX, Wilkes-Barre, PA and Belleville, NJ)