VaynerMedia’s Post

✅🖥️ Variety (10/31): “There are just too many channels,” said an NBCU exec in 2016, after the company had scuttled Style and G4. Also gone: Esquire, Cloo and Chiller. In 2021, NBCU raised eyebrows by announcing plans to close NBCSN — a sports network! The theory: sports broadcasts would bolster the NBC broadcast network, the USA cable channel and the Peacock streaming service (Narrator: “They have.”). It’s no secret that stand-alone cable networks have become complex but toxic assets in the modern media lineup. They continue to generate millions in advertising and distribution revenue, but they require millions in content spend to keep up their ratings at the exact moment that many of their viewers are moving to streaming services. Disney’s FX, for example, was long known for offering signature dramas and edgy series, which it doled out one episode a week at specific times of the year that often synced up with the needs of its producers. Now, most people think of “The Bear,” a current FX favorite, as something more tied to Hulu, the streaming service owned by parent Walt Disney Co. NBCU’s current cable properties aren’t all running full steam ahead. The Universal Kids network has never scaled the heights the company planned when it acquired DreamWorks Animation for $3.89B. Indeed, NBCU might have been better off keeping the outlet under its previous moniker, Sprout, when it was designed to appeal to preschoolers and their parents. Oxygen, once a network created to appeal to female audiences, is more or less a cookie-cutter true-crime outlet in which rivals have a stronger perch. But there are still some good businesses to be found. MSNBC and CNBC have die-hard audiences, and USA, though no longer known as the home for “blue-sky” dramas such as “Burn Notice” or “White Collar,” still brings in sizable crowds with sports and the return of “WWE SmackDown.” Bravo has cultivated a die-hard fan club of people who want to scoop up every detail of whatever edition of “Real Housewives” is on the schedule.” ⬇️ #cabletv #upfronts #cordcutting #ctv #streaming #ott #avod #tvos https://lnkd.in/exaG6Nhu

Gold for both Peacock and NBC (revised based on a comment below). 🥇 Not only did Peacock's viewership share jump 39%, from 1.5% in July to 2.1% in Aug, but it nearly 2x the amount of viewers aged 35-49, according to Nielsen (remember, this is across ALL broadcast, cable, streaming). And considering the CPMs (The Trading Desk's price floor was a $60 cpm, per Adweek), this surge in viewership means a lot of loot. Here is a look at the staggering viewership numbers for this Olympics: https://lnkd.in/gvVH53Yt 🥇 Moreover, the 2024 Summer Games was a big driver of overall broadcast viewership, which popped from 20.4% of all viewership in Aug 23 to 22% this year. Naturally, broadcast sports program viewership was up 239% over August 2023. The natural question becomes.... how likely are these folks to stick around? Well, research firm Antenna observed 2.8M sign-ups to Peacock between July 25 and July 31, a 5.6x increase to their 8 week benchmark.  This falls short of the 3M new subs for the Chief-Dolphins wild card debacle of a game in January. Yet, 71% of those Chiefs/Dolphins subscribers stuck around on the service at the end of Feb. Obv, the sustainable subscriber numbers will likely depend on the viewership and programming but for a service that’s been stuck at the back of the bus, I think it's worth throwing some shine their way.

Fox Corporation – Redefining Media and Entertainment in a Digital Era Fox Corporation, a leading name in the global media and entertainment industry, continues to shape the future of news, sports, and entertainment through its innovative and multi-platform approach. With iconic brands like FOX News, FOX Sports, and FOX Entertainment, the company is at the forefront of delivering engaging content and capturing diverse audience segments. In Q1 FY24, Fox Corporation reported revenue of $3.21 billion, reflecting a steady growth trajectory supported by strong advertising and subscription revenues. The profit after tax (PAT) stood at $430 million, with an EBITDA margin of 18%. Fox’s focus on digital transformation, strategic partnerships, and premium content ensures it remains a key player in the evolving media landscape. As the demand for streaming, live sports, and digital news grows, Fox Corporation represents a compelling long-term investment opportunity in the media and entertainment sector. #FoxCorporation #MediaIndustry #Entertainment #RevenueGrowth #ProfitAfterTax #EBITDA #StockMarket #Investment #DigitalTransformation #StockAnalysis #GlobalMedia #LongTermGrowth #SportsEntertainment #StockOpportunities #FinancialResults #Q1FY24 #StockPerformance #EmergingMarkets #ContentInnovation #DigitalNews #InvestingInMedia #StreamingServices #OperationalExcellence #IconicBrands #EntertainmentTechnology #EquityMarkets #AdvertisingRevenue #SubscriptionServices #GlobalEntertainment #InnovationInMedia

Venu Sports is differentiator in forthcoming carriage dispute between Disney, DirecTV - theDesk DirecTV first floated the idea of selling channels grouped by genre last year, when it pushed TEGNA last year to embrace an à la carte model through which subscribers would receive and pay for broadcast stations on an opt-in basis. Ultimately, that idea went nowhere with TEGNA, and a distribution deal was signed between the two companies that did not include that term. Things may be different this time around. Disney's participation in Venu Sports opens up a new front in the ongoing distribution war between broadcasters and pay TV platforms. While Disney executives say the idea of selling channels through genre-based bundles isn't viable, DirecTV executives say Disney has already proven it is, because that is precisely what Venu Sports is designed to do — and DirecTV believes its only fair that third-party cable and satellite companies are afforded the same opportunity. https://lnkd.in/eu9nitgp

The Disney-DirecTV dispute has left millions of DirecTV subscribers without access to channels like ABC and ESPN since September 1, 2024, during key events like the U.S. Open. DirecTV claims that it is pushing for flexible, genre-specific bundles that allow customers to pay only for content they want, such as sports or news. Disney counters that it has offered multiple package options, including sports and entertainment bundles, and argues that its rates align with industry standards. Both companies claim to prioritise consumers, but the disagreement has yet to be resolved. Meanwhile only the consumer loses in this high profile spat! #Disney #DirecTV #ABC #ESPN #CarriageDispute #TVBundles #TVGenres #TVContent #Streaming #TVSports #EntertainmentIndustry

Are Streaming Consumers "Pawns, Puppets or really Priceless?" We are going to find out soon. CNBC - "Since Sept. 1, both sides accused the other of holding up an agreement. DirecTV called Disney anti-consumer, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro called the responses DirecTV made to Disney's package offers "basically hypotheticals." "Through the blackout the companies, their customers and other business owners appear to have lost out." Seems a little like a certain political campaign where consumers are caught in the middle of a nasty game of tug-o-war. Regardless of who or what is right, where's the general best interest in those who ultimately control the decision? Streaming consumers will get a chance to be enabled, 7 days and counting down. #NextGenStreaming #FreeCast #NoMoreAppDiving https://lnkd.in/ewNsAZYZ

Update: Disney in Another Carriage Dispute as DirecTV Blacks Out Channels - Following a landmark new deal with Charter Communications, Disney is now facing another carriage fight with a TV provider, this time DirecTV. With Disney’s prior deal seemingly setting a new standard for the industry, which has been followed by other TV providers and programmers, DirecTV seems poised to hold out for a similar type of deal. The upcoming launch of Venu adds another wrinkle to the negotiations, as DirecTV would like to decouple ESPN from Disney’s entertainment channels, which Disney has long required be included in basic TV packages. Given that sports-focused Venu will offer ESPN without the non-sports networks, DirecTV wants the ability to do so as well, potentially creating a lower-priced package with mainstays like ESPN but fewer of those coat-tail channels that providers and their associated monthly fees. Who doesn't. #freecast #nextgenstreaming #nomoreappdiving #sports https://lnkd.in/e9_GEZYj

New: Disney and DirecTV are in the middle of a carriage dispute resulting in several channels, including ABC and ESPN, being pulled from millions of customers during the busiest sports season of the year. I spoke with Brandon Katz of Parrot Analytics and EMARKETER's Ross Benes about the dispute's impact, how the Venu lawsuit plays a part, and how streaming and the future of TV viewership are ultimately front and center of the standoff. My latest for ADWEEK:

I'm intrigued by DirecTV's new option allowing subscribers to forgo local stations for a $12 monthly discount. This move could represent a significant shift in consumer choice and sports broadcasting's landscape. Local channels are pivotal for live sports access, particularly NFL games and regional team coverage. While this package offers immediate savings, it may compromise the sports viewing experience. The strategic timing—introducing the opt-out during the sports-off season, only to suggest resuming in the fall for NFL—implies DirecTV's reliance on sports to retain viewer interest. This strategy also underscores the broader industry dynamics, with traditional pay-TV grappling with streaming's rise and changing viewer preferences. Although this could lead to short-term savings, the potential long-term effects on sports fans' access to local and live events remain concerning. I’d love to hear your insights on this development. Do you think this approach benefits consumers, or does it risk diminishing the value of local sports broadcasting? #SportsBroadcasting #DirecTV #MediaTrends #StreamingWars

Which sports event boosted TV ad impressions by 49% YoY? And how is primetime TV reshaping the ad landscape? Download our latest report to dive deep into these trends and more, offering data-backed linear and streaming insights to help optimize your ad strategy for the second half of 2024. https://lnkd.in/eYqb45ir Here's a sneak peek at what you'll find inside: 📈 The daypart that grew 2.62% in TV ad impressions. 🍔 QSR, insurance and auto brands with stronger streaming SOV vs. linear. 🏆 The sports event that became a top-20 program by ad reach. 📺 The daypart contributing to over 26% of all national linear TV ad impressions.