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The Ankler

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The Ankler is a Substack-based media publication covering the business of Hollywood, entertainment, media, and technology. It offers total-access and standalone newsletter subscriptions for readers who want industry reporting, analysis, and briefings.

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What The Ankler is

The Ankler is an independent, multi-platform media company and publication focused on the business of Hollywood, entertainment, media, and technology. Its flagship product is a Substack publication founded by Richard Rushfield in 2017 and positioned as a sharper alternative to traditional trade reporting.

The site publishes a mix of subscriber-only newsletters, daily briefings, reported features, podcasts, and event-related coverage. Readers can choose total access or subscribe to individual newsletters, depending on how much of the site they want to follow.

Core offerings

All-access editorial library

Total access subscriptions unlock subscriber-only content across Richard Rushfield, The Wakeup, Series Business, Dealmakers, Reel AI, and other Ankler coverage, plus the full archive.

Single-newsletter subscriptions

Standalone subscriptions are available for specific newsletters such as The Wakeup and Series Business for readers who only need one coverage area.

Specialized coverage verticals

The newsletter lineup spans commentary, daily briefings, long-form features, awards coverage, TV industry reporting, dealmaking, AI, audience trends, and music-Hollywood crossover coverage.

Entertainment-business reporting

The Ankler describes its reporting as focused on the business of entertainment and on how decisions are made inside Hollywood and adjacent media markets.

Member event access

Subscribers are promised early access to Ankler events and exclusive conversations, extending the product beyond written newsletters.

Confidential tip submission

The site highlights a confidential tip channel for story ideas and information sharing, supporting reporting and newsroom sourcing.

When readers use The Ankler

  • Track entertainment-business news

    Use the publication to follow Hollywood dealmaking, industry power shifts, mergers, strikes, and other business issues that affect the entertainment sector.

  • Follow a specific beat

    Use standalone newsletters when you only need one subject area, such as TV industry reporting, awards coverage, or AI in Hollywood, instead of the full bundle.

  • Start the day with a briefing

    Use the daily briefing products when you want a concise morning update on the most important media and entertainment news.

  • Read deeper analysis

    Use long-form features and reported analysis when you need deeper context on how an industry change affects careers, production, audiences, or company strategy.

  • Access the full publication

    Use subscription access if you want the full archive and subscriber-only reporting rather than preview content alone.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Covers a clearly defined niche: the business of entertainment and Hollywood media.
  • Offers multiple subscription paths, including full access and standalone newsletter options.
  • Includes a broad lineup of coverage formats, from daily briefings to long-form reporting and podcasts.
  • Provides access to the full archive for total-access subscribers.
  • Supports direct audience engagement through tips, sponsorship, subscriptions, and press contact channels.

Cons

  • Pricing is only partially visible in the provided source and may vary by plan or billing cycle.
  • The source does not show a complete pricing or feature comparison table, so plan differences are not fully specified.

FAQ

What is The Ankler?

The Ankler is an independent, multi-platform media company covering the business of Hollywood and the intersection of entertainment, media, and technology. Its flagship publication is a Substack-based newsletter and site founded by Richard Rushfield.

Does The Ankler offer different subscription options?

The source pages show both total access subscriptions and standalone newsletter subscriptions. Total access includes subscriber-only content across The Ankler, while standalone options are offered for newsletters such as The Wakeup and Series Business.

What kinds of newsletters does The Ankler publish?

The newsletters page lists a mix of daily, weekly, and seasonal formats, including The Wakeup, Series Business, Prestige Junkie, Dealmakers, Reel AI, Crowd Pleaser, Ankler Features, Notable, and ICYMI.

What do subscribers get access to?

The subscription page says subscribers get access to subscriber-only reporting, the full archive, and early access to Ankler events and exclusive conversations.

How can readers contact The Ankler?

The about page provides contact addresses for tips, subscriptions, sponsorship and advertising, and press inquiries, and the site footer links to subscription help and account access.

Quick Facts

Category
Media Publication
Platform
Substack
Primary focus
The business of entertainment and Hollywood
Brand owner
Ankler Media
Founder
Richard Rushfield
Source domain
theankler.com