Nuked 
Hello, tech enthusiasts! Today, we dive into a significant shift at Amazon’s streaming division.
This week, Amazon announced that Jennifer Salke will be stepping down as head of Amazon MGM Studios, a move that hints at some dissatisfaction with their streaming strategy over the past few years.
Salke’s boss, Mike Hopkins, who also oversees Prime Video, lauded her contributions in an email to employees but added that this change would help flatten the leadership structure.
Rather than filling Salke’s role, the heads of Amazon’s film and TV studios will now report directly to Hopkins, reflecting some of the ongoing challenges and disappointments faced by Amazon’s streaming services during her tenure.
Since joining in 2018, Salke was tasked with expanding Amazon’s reach beyond critically acclaimed films to include more popular content.
While there were successes with shows like “Reacher” and “The Boys,” the major investment in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has faced scrutiny despite its record-breaking viewership.
The ambitious project had a staggering budget of over $1 billion yet has not achieved the expected impact.
Additionally, the upcoming series “Citadel,” with its extensive reshoots, became one of the costliest shows produced but has received a lukewarm response from audiences.
Amazon’s challenges extend to its efforts in producing the next James Bond film, following its acquisition of MGM, as key producers of the franchise have expressed dissatisfaction with Amazon’s handling of the beloved series.
Despite these changes, Salke is set to launch her own film and TV production company, already with a first-look deal at Amazon. A new chapter awaits, and the industry will surely keep an eye on how this unfolding story impacts the future of streaming.
