MediaTalk

In this episode, MediaTalk Host Mike Reynolds speaks to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan Analyst Scott Robson, who specializes in TV networks. Scott shares his thoughts on the evolving pay TV business as sports rights and viewers shift to streaming services — and what these trends mean for traditional cable networks. The pair take on the media rights negotiations for the NBA and just how big of an increase the league could get. Continuing with sports, Scott weighs in on the upcoming streaming joint venture from Fox, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as the ongoing Diamond Sports bankruptcy proceedings. Finally, he touches on the ongoing speculation around further consolidation among US media giants.

In this episode, MediaTalk Host Mike Reynolds speaks to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan Senior Research Analyst Wade Holden, who specializes in the movie business. Wade shares his thoughts on the box office performance in 2023 as the industry continues its recovery from the pandemic. Touching on everything from big films that hit to big films that flopped, Wade discusses how studio windowing strategies may be affecting consumer behavior and box office results. Finally, Wade looks ahead to what summer will bring for all of us at the theaters. So grab some popcorn and have a listen!

In this episode, MediaTalk Host Mike Reynolds speaks to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan Principal Analyst Justin Nielson about his outlook for the broadcast industry in 2024. The conversation touches on everything from cord-cutting to advertising, including expected impacts from the presidential election cycle and the Paris Summer Olympics. Speaking of sports, Justin weighs in on the sports-oriented joint venture between Disney, Fox, and Warner Brothers Discovery and its potential impact on the media ecosystem. The pair also discuss how broadcasters are embracing artificial intelligence and the prospects for Next Gen TV.

In 2024, S&P Global's podcast focused on the media and communications sectors is back with a new look and feel, releasing weekly episodes. As MediaTalk kicks off, we're going to provide our outlook for the broadcast, streaming, TV network, movie and gaming spaces, as well as the presidential election cycle. There will also be talk around the widening world of sports media.

Amazon, Target and Walmart are cutting back on capital expenditures and fixed costs while increasing promotional activity to spur demand from inflation-weary consumers. In this episode of MediaTalk, S&P Global Market Intelligence reporter Katie Arcieri speaks to Michael Nocerino, an analyst with 451 Research, and Arun Sundaram, an analyst with CFRA Research, about the state of the e-commerce industry, how retailers are positioning themselves for growth, and consumer sentiment during the holiday season.

Telemundo Deportes President Ray Warren and Kagan analyst Richard Berndes join host S&P Global Market Intelligence reporter Mike Reynolds to discuss advertising and potential audiences for the FIFA's tournament from Qatar, as well as opportunities with the 2023 Women's World Cup and beyond.

The increasing cost of capital combined with a growing aversion to risk is weighing heavily on technology M&A volumes in 2022, even as historic valuations are still being logged. S&P Global Market Intelligence reporter Joseph Williams and 451 Research M&A analyst Melissa Incera unpack the evolving tech M&A landscape in the latest MediaTalk episode, covering everything from private equity trends to the Adobe-Figma deal.

Hot button topics like rising food costs, sports betting and reproductive rights are manifesting through a surfeit of political ads. S&P Global Market Intelligence Senior Reporter Mike Reynolds sat down with Kantar Media's Steve Passwaiter, TVB's  Steve Lanzano and Kagan analyst Peter Leitzinger to learn which media platforms are set to earn that largest share of the ad spending pie as Election Day approaches. 

In this episode of "MediaTalk," S&P Global Market Intelligence tech reporter Anser Haider and Kagan analyst Neil Barbour discuss how gaming companies are grappling with a range of hurdles, including ongoing hardware component shortages, disruptions to game development cycles caused by the pandemic and an increasingly hostile regulatory landscape.

The 2022 box office results are outstripping most expectations despite the permanent changes to the business brought on by the pandemic. In this episode of "MediaTalk," S&P Global Market Intelligence reporter Joseph Williams talks to Kagan box office analyst Wade Holden and Box Office Pro chief analyst Shawn Robbins about the films that are driving consumers back to theaters, even as exhibitors face shorter exclusive theatrical windows and increased competition from streaming services.

S&P Global Market Intelligence reporter David DiMolfetta spoke to 451 Research analyst Jordan McKee and Cleve Mesidor, a policy adviser with The Blockchain Association, about who is using cryptocurrencies today and how they might use them in the future. Investing in cryptocurrencies can offer equal opportunities to groups of people who historically have experienced discrimination in their efforts to access legacy banking systems. Banks and regulators must launch more digital asset outreach and education to avoid creating a new digital divide between those who can access the cryptocurrency market — estimated by the White House at $3 trillion — and those who cannot.

Over the past four years, sports betting has gone from being a somewhat taboo, off-shore business and has now become "a mainstream entertainment platform," PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken said on the latest episode of "MediaTalk," a podcast by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Aitken — whose company offers mobile betting in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia — said that in 2021, legalized sports betting generated some $58 billion in wagers.

In this episode of S&P Global Market Intelligence's "MediaTalk" podcast, Kagan analyst Neil Barbour delves into the various trends that the video game industry is increasingly eyeing in efforts to establish new revenue streams. This includes a rash of M&A activity, the metaverse and the use of NFTs and cryptocurrency for in-game transactions.

While state privacy laws in California, Virginia and Colorado have helped lay the groundwork for a national privacy standard, there is still work to be done on figuring out exactly what an omnibus privacy bill should look like. In this episode of MediaTalk, we talk with two experts -- Alexandra Reeve Givens, president and CEO at the Center for Democracy and Technology, and Sheryl Kingstone, head of customer experience and commerce at 451 Research -- who provide insights on privacy legislation in the U.S., how online companies are storing our data, and growing concerns among consumers about privacy in the wake of the pandemic.

As companies accelerate digital transformation moves in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are also driving diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Discovery Inc. is gearing up for its upfront, in which media companies look to sell linear and digital schedules to media buyers and their agencies ahead of the upcoming TV season. Ahead of its May 18 virtual presentation to advertisers, S&P Global Market Intelligence recently caught up with Discovery Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer Jon Steinlauf to discuss the company's new streaming service, Discovery+, and the ad market amid COVID-19. Steinlauf also addresses the programmer's burgeoning TV Everywhere business and opportunities beyond linear TV's traditional demographics.

S&P Global Market Intelligence's tech reporter Anser Haider, Kagan Research's Neil Barbour and Panjiva's Chris Rogers discuss the state of video game hardware, including continuing stock shortages for the new consoles released by Microsoft and Sony last year.

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus discusses production difficulties posed by the pandemic, sell-through and pricing levels for the NFL championship game, and the integral role sports will play in driving subscriptions for streaming service Paramount+.