Rick, thank you for joining us. This is a legendary February or it will be that's the name that NBC is using for. Really correct me if I'm wrong, an unprecedented stretch of marquee sports for the network.Yeah, we think so. It starts off with Sunday night basketball launching on February 1, Lakers and Nicks at Madison Square Garden. We go right into the closing opening ceremony the following Friday, the Super Bowl happens at Sunday and then the NBA All Star Weekend happens the following week, and again, the ...

- I was born in South Korea. I read a lot and I was always drawing or painting. I really wasn't much of an outdoor kid.I'm not the girl who has ever dreamed of being part of an international spy ring or whatever it is. - 49-year-old Christina Chapman helped the North Korean government avoid sanctions. - Conspiring in a scheme to defraud the US.- Was running what they called a laptop farm. - Christina Chapman's laptop farm alone generated $17 million. - Computers started showing up at my house.I had no clue. ...

Core Insights - Top executives in media, sports, and entertainment predict significant industry changes by 2026, including potential acquisitions and shifts in asset valuations [1] Group 1: Acquisition Predictions - There is speculation that Apple may acquire NBC Universal, replacing previous predictions of an Apple-Disney acquisition [2][3] - Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, may consider selling NBC Universal due to the current high valuation of media assets, especially after the bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery [3][4] - Apple is seen as wanting to enter the TV industry, which could lead to a strategic acquisition to enhance its programming library and sports rights [6][7] Group 2: Market Dynamics - Comcast's stock recently surged by 5.8%, attributed to the increased valuation of its media assets and the absence of a bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery [8][9] - The media side of Comcast's business may start to positively influence its stock price, contrasting with its historical reliance on broadband internet for valuation [10]

As 202025 comes to a close, CNBC's Alex Sherman spoke with 16 top executives across media, sports, and entertainment, who made some pretty bold industry predictions for 2026. Joining us right now with some of those calls is Alex Sherman, CNBC's media and sports reporter. I always love when you do this.So, what would you say is the most provocative, outrageous, over-the-top thing that could actually come true. >> Yeah. So, look, these people that I speak to, these are top of the food chain executives.So, it' ...

Paramount Sky Dance set to report quarterly results that's going to happen after the bell today for some insights on what to expect and how the chess board may move. Want to get uh into all of it with Rich Greenfield, partner and co-founder of Lightshed Partners. Uh let's start with uh what you're expecting on the earnings, but maybe perhaps more importantly what you think it portends uh as this merger chess board seems to be evolving.You know, the crazy part, Andrew, and I'm sure you you know, you you all ...

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing dispute between Google and Disney over YouTube TV's access to ESPN and other Disney-owned networks highlights the shifting dynamics in media distribution and the relative leverage each company holds in the negotiation [1][4][6]. Group 1: Financial Implications - Disney receives approximately $18 per month from YouTube TV for its suite of channels, translating to about $2 billion in annual revenue, which constitutes 2% of Disney's total revenues [4]. - Google reported over $100 billion in quarterly revenue, indicating that YouTube TV's performance is not a significant factor for Google's overall financial health [5][19]. - YouTube TV accounts for 15% of ESPN's subscribers, making it the fourth largest distributor in the U.S. for cable and satellite, with potential to become the number one distributor in the next two to three years [20]. Group 2: Strategic Considerations - The dispute may involve more than just financial terms, as both companies are exploring the possibility of creating smaller, more flexible bundles of channels [8][18]. - Google is likely seeking to maintain a bundled offering while also pushing for more profitable and compelling packaging of content, which could affect future carriage deals [16][19]. - The negotiation reflects a broader trend in the media industry where companies are reassessing their distribution strategies and consumer relationships, particularly in the context of sports content [11][15]. Group 3: Consumer Experience - YouTube TV aims to enhance the consumer experience by providing a one-stop shop for sports content, which could lead to increased viewership compared to standalone applications like ESPN or Peacock [13][14]. - The ability to access all ESPN content within YouTube TV, rather than requiring separate apps, is a significant factor in the negotiation [10][11]. - The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how other media companies approach their distribution agreements and consumer engagement strategies [12][15].

Core Points - Disney Channel is no longer available on YouTube TV due to the expiration of their carriage deal, affecting YouTube TV's 10 million subscribers who can no longer access Disney's channels including ABC and ESPN [1][2] - The negotiation between Disney and YouTube revolves around compensation and the integration of Disney's streaming content into YouTube's platform, with Disney accusing Google of using its market dominance to undermine industry standards [2] - YouTube has countered that Disney is using the threat of a blackout as a negotiation tactic and has offered subscribers $20 if Disney's content remains unavailable for an extended period [2] - YouTube TV's subscriber base of 10 million gives it a strong negotiating position, being more than double that of Hulu with live TV and nearly comparable to DirecTV and Charter [3] - The urgency to resolve the negotiation is heightened as YouTube TV subscribers risk missing major sports events, including NFL, NBA, and college football games [3]

We are a week away from the expiration of the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement and tensions are running high. Julia Borson's here to explain what it means for the league and its big corporate partners. Julia, >> well Melissa, as WNBA players push for a total overhaul of their deal, there is a growing concern about a lockout when the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement with players expires next Friday, a week from today.And while the season doesn't start until spring, a lockout would cause players t ...

Industry Trends - Traditional US TV programming budgets and interest are shrinking, while episodic vertical video consumption is exploding [1] - Micro dramas or vertical dramas are breathing new life into the content world, offering 1 to 2 minute clips with intense cliffhangers accessible on smartphones [2] - These micro dramas capture viewers who are on the go and desire something more substantial than doom scrolling on social media [3] - Short-form video platforms like TikTok and Reels, along with the changing attention economy, are interconnecting with the rise of vertical dramas [4] Market Size and Growth - In China, the micro drama industry made $6.9 billion (十亿) in revenue in 2024, surpassing the country's entire box office sales [4] - Analysts predict the US vertical streaming industry will surpass $4 billion (十亿) in revenue in 2025 [4] Strategic Implications - Brands like Telemundo are entering the vertical drama space to capture audience attention wherever they are [5] - Streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu should embrace vertical dramas to avoid becoming obsolete [6] - Vertical dramas offer a cost-effective way for creators to tell stories, costing a fraction of feature-length films and TV shows to produce [7] - Creators can potentially make $40,000 (千) a month in the vertical drama space [7]

Core Insights - The cloud has become essential for global media distribution and content creation, enabling access to streaming services and audience engagement [2][3] - Over a billion people are currently receiving streaming content through cloud services, with 750 million engaged in gaming monthly [3][4] - The entertainment industry is projected to grow from $2.9 trillion to $3.5 trillion by 2029, indicating significant opportunities for content creators [12][13] Industry Trends - There is a growing demand for high-fidelity content creation at lower costs and faster production times across various media types, including live and episodic content [7][8] - Companies are focusing on multichannel monetization strategies to maximize revenue from intellectual property across different platforms [9] - Enhanced fan engagement is a priority, with organizations looking to retain subscribers and encourage repeat interactions [10] Technological Developments - Generative AI is seen as a key enabler for innovation and productivity in content creation and audience engagement [10] - The transition from on-premise to cloud-based solutions offers sustainability and cost benefits, allowing for more extensive content production [27][28] - The cloud facilitates the ingestion and processing of live feeds, which is crucial for live sports broadcasting and interactive viewing experiences [20][24][26] Strategic Partnerships - Companies are forming strategic relationships with major sports organizations, such as the NBA, to enhance data-driven insights and interactive experiences for fans [19][20] - Collaboration with industry bodies like the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers is aimed at advancing cloud-based film production capabilities [31][32]