Mato just raised pre-seed Read more
Podcast charts
Published by Lola Media
Hosted by former Marvel entertainment lawyer Paul Sarker and entertainment enthusiast Mesh Lakhani, Better Call Paul will delve into the business and legal issues at play behind the glitz and glam. This show takes you beyond the catchy headlines to find out what’s really at play behind the scenes and gives you an introduction to the business side of show business.
On the charts
Every published chart this podcast appears in, in the snapshot behind this page. Each one links to the chart it came off.
The Mato Topic Intelligence Platform does not report this podcast as charting in a published category in this snapshot.
From the feed
The latest episodes published to this podcast’s own RSS feed. Titles and descriptions are the publisher’s.
This week, Paul and Sean begin with an update on the potential Skydance/Paramount WBD merger that has polarized Hollywood. While federal regulators have signed off on the deal, 12 states are suing to block it and a few major financial penalties hang in the balance. Next, they discuss a great week for sports franchises as the LA Lakers who were sold for the second time in 14 months as Bob Iger and Josh Kusher announced their 12.5B purchase while Sportico released its NFL team valuations for 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Sean begin with the recent development that several prominent SVOD platforms are exploring adding a free tier to expand their subscription funnel and sell increased advertising revenue. Next, they discuss a study released by Ampere that stated US and UK individuals spend more time consuming media than doing anything else (including work or sleep), and break down the categories and findings. Finally, they dissect a recent report from the WGA West about writers' earnings over the past 10 years and wonder whether peak TV will return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Sean Gupta brings his passion and business savvy to BCP. Paul and Sean start off with a celebration of Spider-Man: Brand New Day which had the largest ever domestic box office opening with $360M. Next, they discuss producer/financier Jason Cloth's indictment on 7 counts of wire fraud in connection with a $100M ponzi-scheme. Finally, Sean shares his perspective as someone who has worked in cable, streaming and broadcast, on the FCC's upcoming decision to lift the broadcast ownership cap for TV stations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess begin with a quick recap of San Diego Comic Con in its pop culture glory. Next, Paul provides a break down of the proposed Senate bill, the Protect College Sports Act and how it may impact the NCAA NIL landscape, if passed. Finally, Paul and Jess tick through some of the media companies that announced Q2 earnings, in a quarter that was generally very positive for media companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jessica begin by congratulating Spain on their 2026 World Cup win. Next, they discuss FCC Chair Brendan Carr's intention to remove the 39% broadcast ownership cap. Then Paul reminisices about his start at Marvel as he provides an update on Marvel moving out of NYC and Paramount possibly leaving California. Finally, they reflect on Fandango's plan to pivot to being a FAST platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess come back from their 4th of July break in a big way. First they break down the 78th Emmy nominations - once again dominated by the streamers. Next, they discuss the movie box office week from Moana's live action struggles, to Michael crossing $1B and look forward to Christopher Nolan's epic, The Odyssey. Finally, Paul discusses Comcast's recently announced decision to spin off its media and content empire from its distribution business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess discuss the scorching summer box office with July expected to be a major month for tent pole films including Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Next, Paul breaks down the Fifth circuit's somewhat curious view on US copyright terminations having a global reach, and why publishers are asking the Supreme Court to weigh in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Jess and Paul begin with a major streaming update as legacy media power house Fox Corp announced a $22B purchase of Roku which will position Fox as a major player in the platform wars. Next, they discuss Quinta Brunson's overall deal with Twentieth Century Fox/Disney as she moves her production banner 5th Chance from WB to Disney and hopes to build out her content catalog beyond the widely-adored Abbott Elementary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess focus on a sports-themed episode to celebrate the NBA champion New York Knicks, the arrival of the World Cup in North America for the first time in over 30 years, and how the recent Brendan Sorsby judicial decision could set a precedent that gambling may not be a deal breaker for NCAA eligibility. Finally, they end with a brief recap of the 25th Tribeca Film Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul welcomes back special guest Sean Gupta who provides an update on how technology and AI are impacting the media business from areas such as search, recommendations, production, and licensing. To some degree old patterns have re-emerged (e.g., placement of content within home screens and guides) and in other ways, the process of going from concept to product is more streamlined than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul starts with the update that the DOJ appears likely to approve the Skydance-Paramount purchase of WBD. Next, Paul and Jess discuss the dramatic impacts of NJ's film and TV production incentives which have led to a dramatic increase in projects and production spend. Finally, they discuss Curry Barker's Obsession which has amazingly grossed $115M on a mere 750K budget and ponder next generation film-makers who use YouTube to launch their careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess begin with the announcement that Charlamagne Tha God's smash hit radio show and video podcast will stream live on Netflix 5 days a week as Netflix further embraces a hybrid model offering live content. Next, they discuss the end of an era as CBS's Late Show ends its run. Finally, they discuss JPop's entry into the U.S. market with Number_i signing with WME and Atlantic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week the twists and turns of entertainment continue as Vertical Microdramas pick up steam and BET announces its partnership with aTwist. Next, Paul and Jess discuss how Cocomelon might translate to the big screen. Finally, Paul recaps Byron Allen's deal to buy a controlling stake of Buzzfeed for $120M and ponder whether Buzzfeed can reinvent itself as a FAST platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess begin with a high level recap of the tentative 4-year agreement between SAG and the AMPTP which means that Hollywood is unlikely to repeat the strikes of 2023. Next, they discuss the costly legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni that is settling unceremoniously. Finally, they look forward to the next Cannes film festival and share a few films and developments to look forward to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul starts with an update on how much broadcast viewership numbers have skewed to live sports since 2005. Next, they discuss Tupac's step-brother's wrongful death action against those involved in the killing of Tupac. Finally, Paul and Jess reflect on and reminisce about Kaufman Astoria studios, the iconic NYC film studio at the center of a $360M foreclosure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Jess begin the episode with an update that the WBD shareholders overwhelmingly approve the $110B sale to Paramount. Next, they provide an update on the new expanded California Film production incentive and $193M in tax credits that were awarded, including, for the first time ever in California, for animated films. Finally, they look forward to the May movie box office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jessica start with CinemaCon's highlights which showcase a lot of franchises and a few originals. Next, they discuss another milestone for Roku as it crossed 100M households amid the growth of FAST. Finally, they discuss the bankruptcy of QVC and how the once-dominant brand might reclaim its glory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode begins with a proposed 5-year cap to NCAA eligibility that aims to reduce the variance and disparity of the current waiver process. Next, Paul and Jess discuss recent layoffs among entertainment, gaming and tech companies and ponder whether its merely cyclical or a result of companies turning towards AI. Finally, they discuss Twinnin, an app/marketplace that bills itself as allowing actors to leverage AI to recreate and clone their likeness digitally and grant usage rights to content producers and studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess discuss the last-minute cancellation of Season 22 of ABC's Bachelorette which was shelved 3 days before the season premiere date due to negative PR which resulted from TMZ's release of video of Taylor Frankie Paul's assault. Next, they discuss MRC's loss following a five-week trial with its insurance company over whether Kevin Spacey's removal from House of Cards was as a result of an "illness". Finally, they discuss the Home Team Act, a proposed bill which would require one-year notice and a ROFR process prior to any major professional team relocating across state lines or out of its metro region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess look forward to Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day as well as Dunesday, the potential clash between Dune 3 and Avengers 5. Next, they discuss Nexstar's annoucement that it has closed its purchase of Tegna now that FCC and DOJ have given the deal a green light. Finally, Paul provides a recap of Chance the Rapper's successful lawsuit defense of claims from his former manager, Patrick Corcoran, over claims of unpaid commissions under an oral agreement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 18, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
Apple and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Pairs with
Bring this source into Mato to read its transferable patterns, then turn them into an original show for your own audience.