Industry Insiders Share Their 2025 Predictions
As the holiday season approaches, top media and entertainment executives are sharing their predictions for the year ahead. With anonymity, they’re able to speak candidly about their visions for 2025.
A New Era for Comcast?
One executive predicts Comcast will test the regulatory waters and attempt to combine the two largest U.S. cable companies, a move that would have significant implications for the industry.
Fox on the Prowl
Another executive believes Fox will make a major play to gain scale, acquiring HBO, the movie studio, the Turner networks, and the streaming assets of Warner Bros. Discovery. This would be a shocking move, especially given Fox’s sale of entertainment assets to Disney in 2019.
Disney’s Next CEO
With Disney delaying the announcement of a new CEO until early 2026, one executive predicts Dana Walden, Disney’s co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, will take the reins. Walden is seen as the front-runner for the job, given his insider status in Hollywood.
Bezos’ Next Move
Jeff Bezos has stated his commitment to The Washington Post’s future, but with the paper embroiled in drama, one executive wonders if 2025 will be the year Bezos decides to cut his losses.
Consolidation in the Air
Several executives predict a wave of consolidation in the industry, driven by companies seeking scale and desperate to avoid bankruptcy. This could lead to broadcast networks acquiring stations, or big tech companies snapping up media entities.
Paramount Global’s Next Move
If Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media is approved, one executive believes the company will make a bold move to acquire Lionsgate studio after it spins off from Starz.
Electronic Arts on the Block
Another executive predicts Electronic Arts will sell to a big tech company like Netflix, Alphabet, Apple, or Amazon, following in the footsteps of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision.
A Bundle of Services
One executive suggests that instead of consolidation, the industry will see a bundle of services featuring Paramount Global, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. This could be a hard bundle on one platform or sold together at a discount.
Venu’s Future in Doubt
With an antitrust lawsuit stalling the launch of Venu, a joint venture between Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, one executive predicts the companies will abandon the service and focus on individual streaming offerings.
A New Leader for Lucasfilm
As Kathleen Kennedy approaches her 70s, one executive wonders if it’s time for a new leader to take the reins at Disney’s Lucasfilm, home of the Star Wars franchise.
These predictions offer a glimpse into the minds of industry insiders, but only time will tell what 2025 will bring.
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