Dylan Jones’ Post

💡 Everyone's talking about the Paramount-Skydance merger! As someone who's always got an eye on the job market in entertainment, I gotta say - this could shake things up in some pretty interesting ways! Now, I know some of you might be worried about what this means for job opportunities. And yeah, there's always that concern when big companies join forces. But let's look at some of the potential positive outcomes of this merger: 🎨 Animation is getting a boost! With Skydance and Nickelodeon teaming up, we might see some cool new projects in that space. 💫 Quality over quantity could mean more exciting, high-profile gigs for top talent. Who doesn't want to work on the next big blockbuster? ⚡ Change always brings opportunities. Think integration experts, project managers, and creative problem-solvers. Your skills might be in hot demand! Sure, the industry's changing, but that's nothing new in Hollywood, right? The key is staying flexible and keeping those skills sharp 💯 So, what do you all think? Are you excited about the potential new opportunities? Or got any concerns you want to chat about? Drop your thoughts below - I'd love to hear 'em! #HollywoodJobs #EntertainmentCareers #Paramount #Recruitment #TopVoice

#ThisSunday, I had a bit of a reflection of my time with a brand that was the wind beneath my wings for close to five years. The reason for this was the news about the RIL-Disney merger and the assured, calm closure to the business end of things. Compared to that, the two other players who were to mount a similar consolidated media powerhouse fizzled towards a paltry realm of cacophony with no outcome. Now Warner Bros. Discovery had some of the best deal-makers I have come across. The rigor of their processes and the people who would contribute to the closure of those deals were Olympian-like. If you look at what they’ve done with Scripps Networks Interactive Eurosport and countless other giants that the company partnered/acquired over the years, there’s a common theme. One that shows that business begins working with closely with people and you can’t really win a business unless you truly undertstand and win people over with your empathy. I can say this specifically about Discovery Inc because that company values empathy more than any other brand I personally know of. In a similar vein, if you read Bob Iger’s history of winning over Marvel, George Lucas and Pixar (he negotiated with Jobs for this - there’s a fascinating account in his book), the theme repeats itself. All of this was a reminder that if you know about a deal that didn’t close, you should know that it was because someone didn’t win/convince/persuade a person / some people over across the other side or table. Hard, sad, even funny, but true! #career #reflections #sales #business #leadership

Positive Entertainment ❤️s Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & Joint Ventures! Now looking for Media & Production companies that like to play BIG, Globally. TV/ Radio/Magazine/Social Media etc Sources that realize you can accomplish Goals & Beyond; Faster, Safer, more Effective & Efficiently on a much Bigger & Broader Scale, than you’ve ever Realized. STOP viewing everyone as Competition & START opening your Eyes to a plethora of opportunities with the right Allies, Abundance vs Scarcity thinking. Jay Abraham “The $30 Billion Dollar Man”’s teachings have embedded within me, an incalculable amount of Business/Marketing/Mindset/Life lessons that can be Repurposed/ Reutilzed into Infinite opportunities & possibilities. One of my greatest blessings is learn directly from Mr Jay Abraham. There’s a reason WHY he’s $120,000 per day for a Private Consult, walking away with a Lifetime of Knowledge, what a Value. If You’re in Media & would like to Entertain Possibilities, please Inbox me. #tv #media #positiveentertainmenttv #partnerships #alliances #jointventures

Reed Hastings once famously said that the goal of Netflix “is to become HBO faster than HBO can become [Netflix].” The news about Marques Brownlee joining Ridge as both a chief creative partner and a board member (article in The Publish Press linked in the comments below) has me wondering how one would update that thought for today when creator content, brands and companies are increasingly disrupting traditional media. This quote from the CEO of Ridge is telling: “If Ridge could operate more like Feastables Ridge would be a better business, right? If we could actually, like, go out there and tell a story and get people bought in.” More product-driven businesses are incorporating creators and more creators are becoming product-driven businesses. To say that, to stay relevant, Netflix or any other scaled entertainment business needs to become MrBeast before MrBeast becomes them seems like a false analogy, because I’m not convinced that any modern entertainment brand can, in today’s world, build the combined level of direct fan engagement, authenticity of voice, and diversity of business model that we increasingly see from successful creators. We are, obviously, talking about different levels of scale between, say, The Walt Disney Company and MrBeast but if one accepts the premise that no modern media conglomerate can truly do what an emerging creator can do, then that has profound implications for the future of the entertainment landscape as more creators gain more audience and continue to franchise their personal brands. And before anyone dismisses the threat of creator-led disruption to traditional media on the basis of scale, let’s recall 2010 when Jeff Bewkes, then CEO of Time Warner, dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian Army” …. #EquityCrowdfunding #Creators #CreatorFinancing #CreatorEnterprise #CreatorMiddleClass #NewHollywood

Do you remember Blockbuster? Friday nights picking out DVDs, grabbing popcorn, heading home for movie marathons…Blockbuster was 𝘵𝘩𝘦 way to experience home entertainment. Or it was back in 2000, when Blockbuster executives laughed the co-founder of a company called Netflix out of the office in response to a proposed acquisition. At the time Blockbuster dominated the movie rental market. Why would they pivot to online movie rentals? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥. Now they don’t have walls. Blockbuster’s rapid collapse is a cautionary tale of what happens when leadership is too nearsighted to see the future on the horizon. But what about a company that 𝘥𝘪𝘥, and pivoted to meet it? I’ll tell you more in my article (link in comments 👇). #purpose #purposeandprofit #CSR #ESG #leadership #vision #futureproofing #disruption

My favorite concept is ‘serendipity’ followed closely by ‘narrative fallacy’, which describes how we simplify complex information to make it more digestible. The recent merger in the Indian media industry has created so much buzz. I have seen posts likening the ones involved to Avengers, to the current one which speaks about how this may shape the rules of the game globally. Simply put, I recognize the irony here, it’s the narrative fallacy at play which creeps into our analysis, business plans, forecasts and the biggest and yet silent driving factor, the need to conform. To move the needle on video on demand services, it's important to separate the metrics that matter from the vanity metrics. Unfortunately, the narrative around us often supports the latter. Vanity metrics refer to the potential of a market based on overall numbers, while the metrics that matter focus on the health of your individual business. It's no surprise which of the two is easier to simplify. https://lnkd.in/gniz8X6G

as a lot of the spotlight is turned to Comcast SpinCo we watch as Lionsgate is progressing with the formal separation of its studio operations from Starz. This move will create two distinct publicly traded entities: 1. Lionsgate Studios Corp.: Focused on film and TV production, including a library of major franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games. The studio will continue under CEO Jon Feltheimer and his leadership team. 2. Starz Entertainment Corp.: Comprising the Starz pay TV and streaming services, this company aims to adapt its media networks to current industry challenges. It will be led by Jeffrey Hirsch as CEO. The separation intends to allow investors to evaluate the businesses independently, leveraging the potential of Starz as a streaming platform and Lionsgate's studio as a standalone indie content powerhouse. A shareholders' meeting is planned to approve the restructuring, which includes a complex share exchange designed to be tax-efficient. This move reflects Lionsgate's strategy to maximize shareholder value and adapt to an evolving media landscape. https://lnkd.in/dfWwBP3K

2024 marked a turning point for #Hollywood, with high-stakes deals redefining the industry. From streaming giants to AI-driven innovations, these agreements set the tone for how content is created, distributed, and experienced. Here’s a look at the year’s most impactful moves. Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, acquired Paramount Global in a $8 billion deal backed by RedBird Capital Partners, consolidating Paramount’s iconic assets. The National Basketball Association (NBA) secured an $11-year, $76 billion sports rights deal with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, and Amazon, ensuring its future on broadcast and streaming platforms. Netflix signed a $5 billion, 10-year deal for WWE Raw, marking its largest live programming commitment yet. The Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger, valued at $8 billion, created a mega theme park operator to rival Disney and Universal. Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games, aiming to build a digital universe powered by Disney IP and engage younger audiences. Lionsgate pioneered AI integration, using its film library to train generative AI for content creation. Sony acquired Alamo Drafthouse, signaling the return of studios to the theater business and expanding experiential entertainment. Walmart bought VIZIO for $2.3 billion, strengthening its connected TV and advertising capabilities. RedBird IMI acquired All3Media for $1.45 billion, adding over 50 production banners to its growing empire. Charter Communications partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery., AMC Networks, and Paramount to bundle streaming services for cable customers. Legendary Entertainment, led by Josh Grode, ended Chinese investment with a buyout of Wanda’s stake, signaling shifting global dynamics. Podcasting saw growth with SiriusXM and Wondery acquiring top shows like SmartLess and Call Her Daddy. Silver Lake began taking Endeavor private, focusing on sports and entertainment divisions for private growth. Universal and Disney doubled down on immersive entertainment to maintain an edge in the theme park space. #HowItImpactsTheMarkets Streaming giants are redefining live and digital content while AI reshapes production. Theme parks are evolving, and global investments are shifting away from China, all indicating a dynamic future for Hollywood. #HollywoodDeals #StreamingWars #AIInMedia #EntertainmentInnovation #MergersAndAcquisitions

If my brother-in-law can rebrand a bachelor party to a 'men's retreat'... If Stanley 1913 can rebrand from blue-collar utility to on-trend feminine luxury... If Netflix can rebrand from an on-demand DVD service to a world-class production studio booking top talent... Then, you can utilize the power of positioning for your company, too. You just have to be bold enough to ask the hard questions and listen to what the market is telling you. #rebrand #rebranding #positioning #marketing #brading