NFL owners voted to let institutional investors buy minority stakes in teams.Omnicomis acquiring Interpublic, reshaping the advertising landscape.
International highlights include Mediawans acquisition of Leonine Studios.
Thats Lionsgate Studios and Starz, which are splitting into stand-alone companies, andAMC Networks.
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Streaming partnerships will accelerate.
Cable networks will consolidate.
SpinCo is seen as a buyer of other networks.
The company is seen is as a seller of cable networks.
This is the classic punch in of business for private equity.
A business that throws off strong free cash flow.
Overall, linear declines are being managed better, says David Joyce of Seaport Global.
Paramount also took a hugeone-time chargeto write down value of its linear business ahead of the sale to Skydance.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025.
He has threatened to revoke broadcast licenses and jail journalists and just won a$15 million settlementfrom ABC.
Im doing this not because I want to.
Im doing this because I feel I have an obligation to, Trump said at a recent press conference.
And, you’re able to say scale will help you.
I dont know if the government lets it through or not, he said of cable consolidation.
A merger of Hollywood studios is a whole other level of problematic, Wall Streeters say.
Putting together Warner Bros and Universal would not fly.
Lionsgate and Warner Bros would be fine, Lionsgate and Paramount would be fine.
Hollywood has some pretty powerful unions that can make a lot of noise.
People with big checkbooks who can make a lot of noise, he said.
Khan has populist Republican fans including J.D.
Theres a significant amount of pent-up demand and a lot of money sitting on the sidelines.
Prices are going up, advertising time is going up, spending on content is not going up.
And you have more and more content stuck behind these walled gardens, says one Wall Streeter.
The product is getting worse every day for consumers and thats not a great long-term path for growth.
Consumers do not want five or six services, says Loop Capitals Gould.
There has to be consolidation.
Amazon is not going away.
We dont know what Apple is going to do, how much they will spend.
But consolidation between Peacock, Paramount+ and Max, at a bare minimum.
You need two of the three, or maybe, it could be argued, one of three.
Bundling, which helps reduce churn, has accelerated.
Disney bundles Disney+ and Hulu with or without ESPN+.
Theres also a Disney+, Hulu and Max bundle.
Streamers have been cutting losses and, in some cases, turning a profit.
Price hikes have become a key driver of growth.
Some analysts think its possible the rate of linear decline may slow as streaming becomes increasingly expensive.
Low hanging fruit for deals in the new year may be local broadcasting.
YouTube has a billion hours of video watched a day.
I could certainly see Nexstar doing some deals.
Given the march of streaming, however, some wonder if Fox has a Plan B.
Others lament recent family turmoil.
A blind trust set up years ago passes shared control to Murdochs four oldest children.
Nov. 12 Fortress Investment Group acquires Curzon.
Nov. 11 Management buyout of Endeavors OpenBet and IMG Arenafor $450 million.
Retains the right to boost its stake ot 51%.
June 12 Sony Pictures acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinemafor an estimated $200 million.
April 28 Mediawan buys Leonine Studiosin all-stock deal, forming a major indie European studio.
Mediawan has owned a 25% stake in the business since 2020.
Feb. 29BBC StudiosacquiresITVs 50% stake in their joint venture streamerBritBoxInternationalfor 255M ($322M).
Feb. 8 Fremantle takes majority stake in Asian indie producer Beach House Pictures.
