Hearst Media Production Group’s Post

Paramount's Q1 earnings exhibit positive trends, with increased ad sales and narrowed losses at Paramount Plus. Yet, the recent departure of CEO Bob Bakish prompts discussions on Paramount's investment strategies, notably in Paramount Plus. Activate CEO, Michael J. Wolf, goes into detail in this latest Bloomberg TV feature. For deeper insights, explore our 2024 report: www.activate.com/insights #ActivateInsights #ActivateGrowth #ActivateOutlook2024

Very curious to see how this one shakes out considering Allen’s past attempts to bid for ABC, Tegna, E.W Scripps, BET, and Paramount! Paramount Pictures and its surrounding production resources have tremendous potential if paired with the right buyer. CBS, with an NFL rights contract that runs through 2033, is likely the only linear TV asset that retains a fraction of the value Shari Redstone sees in it. The time to sell was 3-4 years ago; think Murdoch starting a bidding war for Fox’s theatrical assets and generating a 71.3 billion dollar sale price. Paramount’s best fit for a buyer is someone looking to replicate Sony’s “content dealer” license revenue model with streamers, or a PE firm with mountains of cash and large scale holdings in linear TV (looking at you Apollo). https://lnkd.in/guUM88_j

Anyone who has ever set foot on the historic Paramount Pictures lot, must be disturbed by William Cohan 's reporting in Puck about Sony and Apollo Global Management, Inc. teaming up to buy the studio's parent company, Paramount Global (formerly Viacom). Gone will be hundreds of jobs in "marketing, distribution, business affairs, digital programming, etcetera. That might generate $3 billion in savings. " If that isn't bad enough.... the " extraordinary Paramount lot, near Hancock Park, would get sold for as much as another $1 billion." Is there a more iconic image of Hollywood and movie magic than the Paramount gate? (see below) Cohan also reports that "Paramount’s films would go to Sony Pictures, and any projects in production, on the shelf, or that need a turnaround, would also go to Sony." The consolidation of media continues to be troubling. Apollo's hand in the Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK merger hasn't been a home run for journalists or consumers. As for Sony, government regulations prohibit foreign companies from owning TV networks & stations so what would that mean for CBS. So Apollo likely would fold CBS with its majority stake in the Cox stations. But that will likely exceed the limit the government permits any one company to own. So some stations may be sold. Does any of this sound good for journalism? Consumers? The entertainment business? Probably not, but read Bill Cohan 's work because it is good for shareholders of Paramount. There is an alternative that might not be great for shareholders but has proven pros like Jeff Zucker ready to right the Paramount ship. https://lnkd.in/eNTVaNYs

“TV is what anyone makes it to be. Video is what anyone makes it to be. Marketers have to start with the consumer. It’s about reach through the lens of attention - and it’s also how we see impact.” Michael Law, CEO at Carat USA, speaks at the “Moving TV Forward: A View From The Top” panel at Advertising Week New York. Check out our stage, The Screening Room, for more insightful panels with #TV industry leaders throughout the week. #AWNewYork23

💡 Key takeaways from my analysis of the BBC's announcement that it is exploring more commercial content partnerships, such as the deal with Disney for the upcoming season of Doctor Who: 📺The BBC's partnership with Disney for Doctor Who benefits both parties by extending reach, increasing investment, and adding valuable IP to Disney 💰Crucially, the partnership also brings increased investment for the BBC to direct towards the show’s production, a welcome relief from the constraints imposed by the two-year freeze on the TV licence fee 📈Boosting production investment in flagship titles during a time of budget cuts may be appealing but it comes with the trade-off of potentially straining long-term relationships with other partners

In watching the ongoing standoff between Charter Communications and The Walt Disney Company over television rights and carriage agreements, I can’t help but wonder how many organizations in the sports entertainment ecosystem are truly prepared for the implications of a resolution? The impacts of an agreement will have a downstream effect on the entire industry, from networks to sports leagues to athletes and those who support them. If you are in this arena, has your organization truly planned for the potential scenarios created by this dispute? The rise in sports revenue has in many ways relied on inertia in the media industry. But there is real evidence that the inertia is shifting, and preparation will be the difference between thriving and dying. #sports #crisis #television #industryshifts

A couple weeks ago, Matthew Belloni floated David Ellison and his Skydance Media as a potential participant in the Paramount Global sweepstakes, if and when Shari Redstone decides to sell her challenged media heirloom. As it turns out, Skydance is in fact kicking the tires on the Redstone assets, per three sources with knowledge of the situation. It’s Ellison and RedBird Capital Partners’ Gerry Cardinale taking the lead, Matt is told, but it’s super early, and a potential deal—if Redstone actually decides to pull the trigger—could take several different forms. One scenario Matt is told interests the Skydance/RedBird team focuses not on buying Paramount Global assets but rather a majority stake in National Amusements Inc., the parent company. “Buying a majority stake in NAI could be a more straightforward (and cheaper) way of gaining control of the Paramount assets without buying them outright—and Redstone might be into it, given the check that RedBird/Skydance and other investors (they’d need to recruit more) could write, and the lack of interest from potential buyers for the dead-weight linear TV assets,” Matt writes. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/enYKpPau #Media 

Here's the thing. We recently starting encouraging more members of the Origin team to start contributing to our CTV Insider blog and out the gate it has proven a worthwhile exercise. Why? Because only yesterday, our very own Lee H. wrote a piece that was so passionate and so true that I found myself reading it over and over again. Seriously, take a look (and don't let the headline fool you): https://lnkd.in/edEp4AgW #advertisingstrategies #leaveanimpression #creativecounts

As Bob Bakish steps down from his role at Paramount, his farewell note paints a picture of significant achievements. However, it's crucial to also reflect on the broader context of the achievements he touted, as well as the challenges facing the company as he exits... "World’s biggest shows, beloved films and culture-defining moments": While Paramount has indeed produced notable content, the decline in its market share doesn't suggest it has that many of the world's beloved films. In fact, their studio released just 8 films last year, the fewest of any studio, and lost $119 million. Additionally, Paramount's box office revenue has not kept pace with industry leaders like Disney or Warner Bros, often finishing outside the top five in annual studio rankings. "Pioneered free ad-supported streaming TV with Pluto TV": Although Paramount was ahead of the game when it acquired Pluto TV, the platform has faced stiff competition from newer, more dynamic services like Tubi, Peacock and Roku—all of which have/had free tiers and have surpassed Pluto in the Nielsen rankings for time spent streaming. "Launched and grew Paramount into the fastest growing pay streaming service in the US": That #fastestgrowing thing is always funny. If you go from 1 to 2, that's 100% growth, but it doesn't mean much. Yes, Paramount has indeed shown growth, but it's important to note that of the 11 streamers in the Feb 2024 Nielsen streaming report, Paramount ranked 10th...only ahead of its own property, PlutoTV. "Elevated one of the most iconic global entertainment brands": A simple Google Trends search will show you that Paramount's reincarnation has not reached the heights in interest of CBS or MTV. Maybe it's not as bad a move as taking the HBO out of Max, but it's no elevation of the brand either. "Using our platforms to do good in the communities we serve": Paramount's initiatives in community engagement and social responsibility are probably where I give Bob the most credit. They did give Tyler Perry a bag, brought in more diverse reality casts (#TheCookout), and made a major commitment in BET Studios. That said, there have been criticisms regarding the depth and impact of these initiatives compared to those by other major studios (e.g., Disney, Netflix), particularly around their deal with the NAACP which hasn't yielded much of any content. In Conclusion: In his 27 years at Paramount, Bob Bakish has undoubtedly shaped the company's trajectory. Yet, as we bid farewell to his leadership, it's also a moment to critically assess the legacy of his strategies and their long-term impact on Paramount's position. And a critical assessment can say nothing other than Bakish has left Paramount in choppy waters. And fair or not, he was the one steering the ship. #Paramount #MediaLeadership #StreamingWars #CorporateStrategy

📉 Paramount Global in Sales Mode: The entertainment giant is in the spotlight as Shari Redstone considers a sale, with Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway recently slashing its stake by one-third. Shares dipped to $12.83 after the sell-off, closing at $12.00 on Friday. 🎬 🔄 Industry Shake-up: As Paramount faces potential takeovers, including bids from Skydance Media and RedBird Capital, the future of Paramount hangs in the balance. Market analysts anticipate significant divestitures, emphasizing the evolving challenges in the entertainment sector. 💼 Morale Hit: Paramount recently laid off 800 employees, adding to the company's challenges and impacting morale. This, coupled with Buffett's stake cut, underscores the uncertainties, amplifying the studio's struggles and raising questions about the broader industry landscape. Stay tuned for Paramount's Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings results on Feb. 28. 💼📈 #ParamountGlobal #EntertainmentIndustry #SalesMode #IndustryChallenges https://lnkd.in/duyzFVWa