Tom Rogers

Bob Bakish steps down as CEO of Paramount Global. Amid the M&A drama enveloping Paramount Global, Bob Bakish is stepping down as CEO after eight years at the helm of Shari Redstone's media empire. Bakish resigned under pressure. The executive has been with Paramount and its predecessor Viacom since 1997. He was hired by Redstone in 2016 to help bring stability to the company amid a public legal battle between shareholders and a fight for control between Redstone and former Viacom CEO Philippe Daumanamd. The Wall Street Journal is the first media source to report the situation with Bob Bakish. Paramount's board is currently in exclusive takeover talks with Skydance Media and RedBird Capital. Another group, Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management, is poised to make a formal all-cash offer for the company next week as the May 3 expiration date of the exclusive negotiation window with Skydance approaches. As Skydance talks have dragged on for months, it's become clear that Skydance CEO David Ellison would take the helm of the enlarged Paramount-Skydance operation, while RedBird executive Jeff Shell, formerly CEO of NBC Universal and a longtime Comcast executive, would serve as Ellison's No. 2, overseeing day-to-day operations. There was no pretense of carving out a role for Bakish. Bakish will step down as CEO when the sale is completed. Whoever acquires Paramount Global does not matter. The company has been through the wringer over the past year. A falling stock price, losses in the company's streaming division, weak earnings in consecutive quarters - these are the main reasons to say goodbye to Mr Bakish. CNBC reported that Bakish's exit was hastened by his opposition to the merger plan with Skydance. Let me know, what are your thoughts about this topic. You can find a link to the full article in the first comment under this post. Follow my profile to stay up-to-date when it comes to industry news, technology updates, and market analysis. #SzymonKarbowski #StreamVX #BobBakish #ParamountGlobal #ShariRedstone #Viacom #SkydanceMedia #RedBirdCapital #SonyPictures #ApolloGlobalManagement #TheWallStreetJournal #CNBC #NBCUniversal #Comcast

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Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has experienced a significant decline in its stock price due to several factors highlighting the rapid deterioration of the traditional television business: 1. Massive Write-Down: ▶ $9.1 billion write-down: WBD took a substantial hit on its troubled network assets, reflecting the declining value of its traditional television business ▶ Signal of industry decline: This write-down is a clear indicator of the challenges the entire television industry faces as viewers shift towards streaming platforms. 2. Reliance on Linear Channels: ▶ Revenue dependence: Much of WBD's revenue still comes from linear channels (cable and satellite TV). ▶ Cord-cutting impact: The increasing trend of cord-cutting (cancelling cable subscriptions) directly impacts WBD's revenue. 3. NBA Dispute: ▶ Public breakup: WBD's high-profile dispute with the NBA over broadcasting rights has further damaged its reputation and investor confidence ▶ Lost revenue potential: The failed attempt to acquire Amazon's NBA package highlights the company's challenges in securing premium content. 4. Investor Concerns: ▶ Stock price decline: The stock price has plummeted over 70% since the merger, reflecting growing investor concerns about the company's future.  ▶ Company restructuring calls: Investors are calling for significant changes to address the company's challenges and improve its financial performance. WBD's struggles are a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the traditional television industry. The shift towards streaming, declining viewership and rising costs have created a perfect storm for companies like WBD.

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During a conference this week, Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra stated that the business is trying to create more profitable, genre-specific streaming projects that are equivalent to Crunchyroll. Tony stated, "We would love to launch more genre-based targeted, passionate fan centered streaming services. We're really positive on that front. And that's what we're now working on. However, it will take some time for the market to stabilize." He added that Sony is not beset by legacy TV networks, in contrast to Disney and other broadcasters. When he began working for Sony, the business had 110 cable networks worldwide. However, all of those networks have since been sold, with the exception of three markets—Spain, Latin America, and India—where cable networks are continuously expanding. For licensing of content, Sony has "proposed structures where we'd get the show back after 4 years or 5 years as opposed to the much longer terms that are currently in place, but thus far, there hasn't been much development in that area." Tony said that when it comes to consolidation in the market, Sony plans to "sit back and watch what comes available to us because we're in a very stable, very comfortable position. And we think that there will be lots of businesses that pop out of these companies...we would be interested in taking on mainly in the IP area, and that's really where we'll be focused." #streamingmedia #sony #SVOD #AVOD #paytv #cordcutting

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HOW CAN WE MOVE ATTENTIVENESS FOR TV FORWARD? This is the question we pose in the third chapter of our new report on TV attentiveness, just released to subscribers. In it we point out that many potential users of such data are standing idly by---or are not involved---while mass usage is effectively blocked as attentiveness is not part of TV's standard audience measurement systems. We propose a possible solution to this unfortunate impasse which you may---or may not agree with. Interested? To find out more why not subscribe to our hard hitting report and learn the realities about TV attentiveness---how it has developed over the years, where we are now and how we might move more aggressively forward. https://lnkd.in/erSjyzB6

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STREAMING BUNDLES: Is the cable box making a comeback!? Subscriber churn remains an issue for SVOD services – 42% of US streaming subscribers report that they “'regularly subscribe, cancel and resubscribe,” according to Ampere’s Media Consumer survey covering 1Q24. But bundling streaming services can have a significant impact on mitigating the issue. Ampere cites Disney subscribers as an example: Consumers who had previously churned and then returned to take the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle are 59% less likely to churn within 12 months than those who take Disney+ alone, based on 1Q23 sign-ups. Ampere also found that US resubscribers skew younger (aged 18-44), are more likely to be in family households, and are typically avid media consumers. And with that wide media diet, the cohort is 40% more likely than average to exhibit signs of subscription fatigue and 21% more likely to desire unified access to content across different services. Which makes bundles, Ampere concludes, a key strategy in subscriber retention. The cable box is making a comeback! This time, it's on your mobile device$!

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The Fox Corporation has always been a very intriguing topic of conversation for me in entertainment because of the press and the stigmatism around the company. In an article written by Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter goes into explaining the revenue boost that the Fox Corporation has experienced this election cycle due to the paid political advertisements on their national and local networks. According to Weprin, “Fox reported revenues of $3.56 billion, up 11 percent from a year earlier, including advertising revenues of more than $1.3 billion, also up 11 percent.”  This is promising news for Fox, and the rest of the linear television companies, because political ads have proven to provide a valuable source of revenue, offsetting the industry-wide shift to streaming platforms. While the streaming epidemic is still upon us, political ads have provided linear television companies with a temporary but reliable revenue source this election cycle. The election cycle keeps linear television alive and relevant, but it also distinguishes the priority of cable news networks to cover current events such as elections or breaking news over streaming platforms which rely more on libraries and intellectual property (IP) from the parent companies that operate them. Another factor that could point to the revenue generated for Fox Corp. during this year's election cycle is the brand and political ideology the company has crafted for itself. Since the inception of Fox News, the network has always been a one-stop-shop for conservative news drawing in large numbers of viewers who are dedicated to the GOP. This aspect, coupled with a candidate such as Mr. Donald Trump, and a politically divided nation, draws in even more viewers to their broadcast throughout the months leading up to the election and weeks after.  Overall. I believe that this is a big win for linear television because of the neglect that it has received from the lack of faith that media conglomerates have in their networks and the push to move to digital. This article provides a temporary solution for the problems facing the linear television business providing a significant revenue boost to company bottom lines while also showing the importance of linear television during political campaigns and election cycles. I am interested to see if other nationwide events have the same effect that this election cycle has had on the traditional television model.  Esquire Group Inc. https://lnkd.in/eWp4EPQG

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The stage was set at the NAB Show 2024. Hundreds of products battled for supremacy in the ever-evolving streaming video arena. Tensions were high as the industry's elite judging panel meticulously evaluated each offering. Then, a true champion emerged from the fray. Vimond's VIA App Builder captivated the experts with a perfect fusion of power and elegance. Features that dazzled: - Lightning-fast development capabilities that make deploying streaming services across devices a mere formality. - An interface so intuitive even a novice could wield its might. - Unparalleled content management that monetises like never before. In an epic clash of innovation, the VIA App Builder reigned supreme – conquering the "Next TV" category to seize the coveted Best of Show honour. A thousand competitors stood in awe. This was more than just an award. It was a statement of Vimond's unwavering commitment to streamlining video streaming for the modern era. An undisputed mark of quality that will shatter industry conventions. The victory horn has sounded. All others have been put on notice. Brace yourselves for the VIA App Builder's continued dominance, as it leads content creators to a new era of broadcast supremacy. https://lnkd.in/gssvefKG

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We're seeing a steady increase in the number of consumers and advertisers gravitating toward CTV and streaming. It's the fastest-growing advertising channel right now and is expected to reach $30.1 billion in spending this year. To succeed during this shift, advertisers will need to leverage their first-party data, focus on smart buying practices through premium channels, and embrace sound measurement solutions. #Advertising #DigitalAdvertising #CTV

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An interesting update on what Disney's streaming division profit might mean for the TV industry from Guy Bisson at Ampere Analysis "Disney's results show that that transition [from linear to streaming] is now in full swing: as with other studios (and linear channel businesses around the world), Disney's linear business is in fairly sharp decline (revenues dropped 10% in the past six months against a year earlier). There is no going back from here." Could it mean an end to this cost cutting round and a cautious return to investing in new originals? "One thing that has never changed about the on-demand streaming model, though, is its voracious appetite for fresh content. Original production is a key part of that and with pressure now easing on costs, some resurgence of original production must surely follow." Let's hope this is corner turned! Read the full article below for this and other interesting insights.....

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AI may be the future, but the ancient art of storytelling is not going away. Far from it, communicating your message in authentic, compelling, human ways is what we think will define the second half of the ‘20s. Because while AI is changing how we live, work and communicate, it still is - and always will be - as advertised: artificial. We’re launching Goldcomm to be the exact opposite: authentic. Focused on telling our financial services clients’ stories in real, authentic ways, and being unapologetically honest about the counsel we give to make that happen: that is our mission. We believe the human mind will always be better at communicating than machines. Give us a call so we can prove it. #financialservices #publicrelations #Goldcomm

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How did the pro camcorder market achieve annual growth in the face of the Hollywood strikes? These workhorse products continue to be a relevant indicator of overall investment in video production beyond just the broadcast media & entertainment vertical due to their versatile nature. Here are three of the main drivers keeping pro camcorders in-demand. More info is included in the blog post linked below: 🏡 In-house content creation continues to gain ground in corporate and enterprise verticals - More decision makers understand the value proposition of using video throughout their business, helping to cultivate investment. 📱 Intensifying competition over short form vertical video - Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts trying to get in on TikTok's success has led to increased incentivisation and lucrative growth potential for marketers and content creators posting video to these platforms. 🏆 Successful product releases - There's no denying that Sony have recently brought to market a slate of large sensor products with the ILME-FX3 and later ILME-FX30 that have offered end-users a compelling performance to price ratio and continued to stimulate year long end-user demand.

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I am still reading up on the proposed FCC changes to LPTV and what that means to LP stations. Check out the article from Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance on more details. What are your thoughts on these proposed changes?

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The Soros Plan to Change Audacy • Why the $28 billion Soros Fund is interested in taking over a tiny $500,000 media market cap company. • The likely way they scale up Audacy to get bigger – what we’re hearing. • What they’re going to do with David Field, the CEO who presided over the • Audacy financial disaster – it’s becoming quite apparent. • How they will put the failed CBS merger behind them. https://lnkd.in/ewxhfRgP

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WATCH NOW ☕ Perception Box: Corner Office - Episode 2 💼 🌟 The Next Chapter in the Short Form Series Co-Produced with The The Wall Street Journal and Unlikely Collaborators 🌟 🔥 In this episode, sit down with another trailblazing leader, Bob Stiller, to explore what lies beyond the titles, achievements, and success. 💭 What happens when you challenge the stories you tell yourself? ✨ This series dives deep into the Perception Box, unearthing insights that redefine leadership and personal growth. 👇 Watch now and share: What’s a story you’ve had to reexamine and rewrite about yourself? 💬 #Leadership 💡 #SelfDiscovery 🔍 #PerceptionBox 🧠 #WSJSeries 🎥

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I couldn't agree more with Jason Kilar, CEO of WarnerMedia prior to the Discovery takeover: the #streaming business can be incredibly attractive for media companies and investors. Kilar recently quoted Charles Darwin, stating, “It’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." We see this natural selection playing out in the #Media industry today. Some companies are adapting, while others are leaning back. To be clear: there is a path to growth, scale, and attractive margins for legacy media companies in streaming. But it requires leaving behind many old management practices and thinking and embracing change and innovation. #Strategy #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #MediaEconomics #Netflix #Leadership #Investing

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Unlock the essentials of funding and distributing your TV series with this in-depth guide. From navigating debt and equity financing to leveraging public funding and understanding distribution strategies, this article breaks down the unique challenges and opportunities in episodic content production. Read it now at: https://bit.ly/40C8VOb

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