Ben Fritz

Wall Street Journal

Guest/Host

Reporter covering the film business for the Wall Street Journal; former film business reporter for the Los Angeles Times; former reporter and video-game reviews editor for Variety, covering technology and feature animation; blogger; editor of the satirical website Dateline Hollywood and co-author of the New York Times bestseller All The President's Spin

Ben Fritz on KCRW

Hollywood studio executives are planning to release their movies as “premium” video-on-demand soon after they hit theaters for $30-$50 per rental.

Will premium video-on-demand kill movie theaters?

Hollywood studio executives are planning to release their movies as “premium” video-on-demand soon after they hit theaters for $30-$50 per rental.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Our weekly look at the movies. This week… Brick Mansions is an action remake of a 2004 French film. It stars the late Paul Walker from the Fast & Furious series.

Movies

Our weekly look at the movies. This week… Brick Mansions is an action remake of a 2004 French film. It stars the late Paul Walker from the Fast & Furious series.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

We’ve managed to rise above our post-Oscars malaise for a fresh round of film talk. Because it’s Friday, and that’s what we do on Fridays.

Movies

We’ve managed to rise above our post-Oscars malaise for a fresh round of film talk. Because it’s Friday, and that’s what we do on Fridays.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

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from KCRW Features

Donald Trump flexed presidential powers during his address to Congress. But did punishing Ukraine weaken America’s image? Plus, KCRW analyzes how Democrats could gain influence.

from Left, Right & Center

Investigators are looking into whether one of SoCal Edison’s idle power lines may have become re-energized and caused the Eaton Fire. The utility already faces over 40 lawsuits.

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President Trump’s trade war and Friday’s Oval Office berating of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky represent a remarkable shift in American foreign policy.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new podcast has featured far-right provocateurs like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon . It’s been angering his political base .

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A federal judge in Rhode Island says the Trump administration didn’t comply with a court order to unfreeze federal funds. Yesterday Vice President J.D.

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from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Measles is spreading in a West Texas community with low vaccination rates. What’s the risk in Southern California?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand