The Ankler logo

The Ankler

Challenger

Independent Hollywood trade newsletter by Richard Rushfield; subscription-based entertainment industry analysis competing with Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

55
AI Score
Grade C
AI Visibility Score (Beta)

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.

Founded
2019
Curated content • Fact-checked and verified

Recent Activity

View all →
blog_post
100 A-Listers’ Summer Reads; A24-Google DeepMind Fears; NBCU Breakup

Plus: AMC vs. the streaming giants; Academy shakeup The post 100 A-Listers’ Summer Reads; A24-Google DeepMind Fears; NBCU Breakup appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
19 Riveting Reads for a Long Weekend

Rats, cigarettes and reckonings: our best (so far) of 2026 The post 19 Riveting Reads for a Long Weekend appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
Taylor Swift: First Comes Love, Then Marriage, Then Oscar in a Disney Carriage?

The singer's quest for an Academy Award via 'Toy Story' is her latest EGOT hill to climb The post Taylor Swift: First Comes Love, Then Marriage, Then Oscar in a Disney Carriage? appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
America at 250, Explained in 22 Movies

From ‘12 Years a Slave’ to ‘The Social Network,’ a birthday syllabus that sheds light on our nation's experiment The post America at 250, Explained in 22 Movies appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
🎧 The Books Hollywood Is Obsessed With This Summer

100 notables tell us what's in their luggage — and on their nightstands The post 🎧 The Books Hollywood Is Obsessed With This Summer appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
Academy Shakeup: Chief Oscars Officer Teni Melidonian Is Out

In an internal email Monday, Academy CEO Bill Kramer said the exec would exit her full-time role as the org dissolves her division ahead of the 100th ceremony The post Academy Shakeup: Chief Oscars Officer Teni Melidonian Is Out appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
Christopher Nolan & the Short List of Directors Whose Names Open Movies

‘The Odyssey’ sold out before a single review. The three ingredients that turn a filmmaker into box office IP today The post Christopher Nolan & the Short List of Directors Whose Names Open Movies appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
Anne Rice, Zombies — and Netflix? AMC’s Plan to Outlast the Streaming Giants

Dan McDermott on a premium-for-adults strategy that works, Walking Dead plans and (scoop!) a new A24 sports show The post Anne Rice, Zombies — and Netflix? AMC’s Plan to Outlast the Streaming Giants appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
☀️ Hollywood Stocks Q2 Winners & Losers

New 'Landman' cast paydays / PSKY sends EU concessions / NETFLIX's 'Voicemails' pops The post ☀️ Hollywood Stocks Q2 Winners & Losers appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
‘Summer House’ Scandal — and the Summer Reality TV Took Over

I got the dish from star Lindsay Hubbard, also of the spinoff ‘In The City,’ and Bravo & Peacock exec Frances Berwick on making audiences lose their minds The post ‘Summer House’ Scandal — and the Summer Reality TV Took Over appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
A24, Google DeepMind and the Dangerous Business of Selling Cool

Yes, the internet hates the new partnership, but the risks fall entirely on one side — and it's not about jobs The post A24, Google DeepMind and the Dangerous Business of Selling Cool appeared first on The Ankler .

blog_post
🎧 ‘Project Hail Mary,’ ‘Obsession’ & the Early Oscar Contenders

A mid-year check-in on the upcoming race and the movies we'll still be talking about next March The post 🎧 ‘Project Hail Mary,’ ‘Obsession’ & the Early Oscar Contenders 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

55
→ Stable

Based on estimated brand signals. Historical tracking coming soon.

Compare The Ankler with Competitors

Side-by-side AI visibility scores, platform breakdown, and market position.

For The Ankler

Claim This Profile

Are you from The Ankler? Claim your profile to see full AI mention excerpts, get weekly visibility change alerts, and optimize how AI systems describe your brand.

Claim The Ankler Profile →
For competitors & analysts

Track AI Visibility in Real Time

Monitor how ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude mention The Ankler vs competitors. Get alerts when AI recommendations shift.

Start Free Tracking →