The entertainment industry is already speculating over what its next big megamerger will be. So far, a lot of analysts and industry insiders think it’ll be Netflix and NBCUniversal, which is due to spin off from Comcast in 2027.
But first: This week, AdExchanger Editor-in-Chief Allison Schiff was on the ground at LUMA’s digital media summit, where she sat in on a session about the challenges facing connected TV (CTV) advertisers and platforms.
Plus: A streaming service has finally fulfilled our longtime wish of being able to program and share watch playlists!
But first: We’re talking to another one of our Top Women in Media honorees!
Plus: ABC announces its midseason premiere lineup, which won’t include the new “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff. And in larger Disney-owned television news, employees at the Mouse House are starting to feel the pressure from an impending restructuring.
“The Pitt” heads to the courtroom: A three-judge panel unanimously declined to dismiss charges brought against the show by Michael Crichton’s widow, Sherri, who says that failed negotiations to resurrect the juggernaut “ER” led to the show’s inception.
Versant Media, which spun off from Comcast in January, announced a 4% decline in third-quarter revenue on Tuesday. The company largely chalks the loss up to industry-wide declines in the pay TV business.
We hear from James Hercher, senior editor at AdExchanger, about sports marketing tactics that clash with the user experience at home and player safety out on the field. Plus, some major advertisers are getting outbid by sports betting brands, GLP-1s, crypto exchanges and other forms of what Hercher describes as “cynical advertising.” So, is there a way forward where everyone wins?
Peacock just achieved its second profitable quarter in a row with $261 million in pre-tax revenue, according to Comcast’s earnings report on Thursday. Peacock’s paid subscriber base also increased 17% year over year to 48 million, despite a recent price hike in August.
Netflix kicked off a new season of third-quarter earnings reports on Tuesday evening. Revenue grew 12% year over year to $12.9 billion, in line with Wall Street estimates – but ads sales didn’t grow quite as much as expected.
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