Company Overview
About The Ankler
The Ankler is an independent trade publication covering the entertainment industry — Hollywood studios, streaming platforms, talent agencies, production companies, and the business of entertainment — providing insider analysis, reported news, and commentary targeted at industry professionals. Founded in 2019 by Richard Rushfield, a veteran entertainment journalist previously at BuzzFeed and Variety, The Ankler operates on a subscription newsletter model that has built a loyal following among entertainment executives, agents, producers, and journalists who value its unfiltered perspective on industry dynamics.
Business Model & Competitive Advantage
The Ankler's content covers the strategic decisions of major studios (Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix, Amazon), the streaming wars and their economic sustainability, talent representation shifts, the impact of the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, and the ongoing restructuring of Hollywood's business model. Rushfield's voice is distinctive — combining insider access, sharp analysis, and occasional irreverence that differentiates The Ankler from trade publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter that must maintain broad industry relationships.
Competitive Landscape 2025–2026
In 2025, The Ankler has expanded from Rushfield's solo newsletter to a multi-writer publication with contributors covering different industry beats, positioning itself as a premium subscription alternative to free trade publication content. The Hollywood trade publication market has seen significant disruption — parent companies of major trades have faced financial pressure, while independent newsletters with loyal paid subscribers have proven surprisingly resilient business models. The Ankler competes with Puck News, Deadline Hollywood, and the major trades for Hollywood insider readership and competes with all premium Substack newsletters for entertainment professional subscription dollars.
Recent Activity
View all →‘It’s not trying to be fake,’ says the Emmy-nominated host of what makes his show stand out. ‘The show is perfect because of its imperfections’ The post Kareem Rahma on His ‘SubwayTakes’ Emmy Breakthrough appeared first on The Ankler .
The 'Stranger Things' and Marvel star spent years trying to get the HBO limited series off the ground. He tells me why The post 🎧 David Harbour Got Tired of Watching TV. Then Came ‘DTF St. Louis’ appeared first on The Ankler .
The dog days of summer get a bad rap. But the eighth month has long been where the most interesting cinema thrives The post Hollywood Abandoned August. But the Movies Didn’t appeared first on The Ankler .
Media Res’ CEO on the fundamentals that matter when the formulas stop working — and you still have to sell TV and film The post Michael Ellenberg’s Market Rule: ‘Frisky’ Viewers Will Punish ‘Safe’ Shows appeared first on The Ankler .
PEACOCK can’t stop raising prices / Another WBD exec departure / A24 enlists Sharon Stone, Ramy Youssef The post ☀️ PSKY & Bonta Trade Barbs; DISNEY Sues FCC appeared first on The Ankler .
With an opening of $21 million, the well-reviewed Warner Bros. release didn’t break out. What happened? The post Who Was ‘The End of Oak Street’ For? appeared first on The Ankler .
My read of the most competitive Emmy race — plus full videos from our starry Women Shaping Television lunch The post Everybody Loves ‘Hacks’ & ‘Widow’s Bay’ — But One Has to Lose appeared first on The Ankler .
Tensions between the guilds mount over creative clout: ‘Motherfuckers, I helped make this show for you' The post DGA v. WGA: Directors Score Pilot Credit, Writers Cry ‘Power Grab’ appeared first on The Ankler .
NETFLIX (re) hires scripted exec / D23 roundup / HBO sets gambling series from MEDIA RES The post ☀️ WB ’26 Woes Mount; PSKY Move Tax Savings Questioned appeared first on The Ankler .
Plus: How to get your indie series financed and sold The post DC TV Trouble; 17 Hot PR Stops for Hollywood; Women Shaping TV appeared first on The Ankler .
The British theater vet on becoming Patricia, cracking up with Jeff Hiller and the role that suddenly has Hollywood abuzz The post 🎧 Everyone Wants to Meet ‘Widow’s Bay’ Breakout Kate O’Flynn appeared first on The Ankler .
Emmy-nominated editors Jen Bryson, Isaac Hagy and Kyle Reiter discuss the genre-bending comedy series The post Welcome to ‘Widow’s Bay’: Shaping the Suspense appeared first on The Ankler .
Key Differentiators
Strong Challenger
The Ankler is an established challenger with significant market presence and competitive offerings in Media & Publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated Visibility Trend (Beta)
Simulated 8-week rolling score
Based on estimated brand signals. Historical tracking coming soon.
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