ESPN has released its financials, which show why they haven’t yet signed a new deal with the NBA. Amazon might bid, but the NBA’s product isn’t as compelling for streaming as it is for cable.
Netflix Earnings, Netflix’s Licensing Pitch, Netflix Gaming Revisited
Netflix’s earnings seemed targeted at other Hollywood Studios losing money on streaming; then, why gaming isn’t a completely terrible idea (and how it works in the App Store)
An Interview with Eric Seufert About Unity, Regulation, and Streaming Advertising
An interview with Eric Seufert about Unity’s recent business model changes and what that says about the state of mobile advertising, for-pay social networks, and the prospects for advertising on streaming services.
Hollywood Writers End Strike, The Utah Jazz and Las Vegas Knights Go Direct
Hollywood writer’s ended their strike and claimed victory, but the losses are coming regardless. Plus, what studios want from AI, and how new NBA local rights deals show how unprepared the NBA is for a new reality.
Max Gets Sports, The Fox Linchpin, Disney’s Taylor Swift Era Confirmed
Max adds sports, and Fox might want to shore up its position in the bundle. Then, Disney confirms it is in its Taylor Swift era, and investors are not impressed.
An Interview with Craig Moffett About Charter vs. Disney and the Path Dependency of the Communications Industry
An interview with Craig Moffett about Charter vs. Disney, the 1990s telecom bubble, the history of the U.S. TV and broadband markets, and why Google might win video.
Charter-Disney Winners and Losers
Winners and losers from the Disney-Charter stand-off, as The Great Re-bundling begins
The Rise and Fall of ESPN’s Leverage
Charting ESPN’s rise, including how it build leverage over the cable TV providers, and its ongoing decline, caused by the Internet.
Disney Earnings, A Split Disney?, ESPN’s Advertising
Disney’s earnings point to the importance of advertising going forward; that’s also the best argument for keeping Disney a conglomerate.
Disney’s Taylor Swift Era
Not even Taylor Swift can fight the devaluation of recorded music, but she makes it up in physical experiences; Disney isn’t much different, but it looks much worse given the company’s old business model.