Janice Min on Hollywood’s Crisis; Reed Duchscher on the Creator Boom
Janice Min, publisher of The Ankler, paints a bleak picture of Hollywood, likening Los Angeles to a "Detroit vibe" as media consolidation squeezes the advertising pool. In contrast, Reed Duchscher, founder of Night, announced a $70 million raise to expand his agency that represents digital stars like Kai Cenat and Hassan Piker. Both CEOs are building companies designed to survive rapid industry shifts—Min preparing for fewer advertisers, Duchscher juggling YouTube’s long‑form and Shorts formats. Their divergent tones underscore a common challenge: adapting legacy and creator‑focused businesses to a volatile media landscape.
The Casey Wasserman Scandal, and Who Wants to Buy His Agency
In this episode, Matt Belloni and Bloomberg analyst Lucas Shaw dissect the fallout from Casey Wasserman's decision to put his entertainment agency up for sale, exploring the internal Hollywood power struggles that prompted the move. They evaluate potential suitors, ranging...
Catch up when You Fill Up: The Podcast at the Pumps
The episode highlights innovative ways podcasts are reaching listeners, featuring Purple Daily’s 30‑second gas‑pump teaser at Kwik Trip stations and discussing the rise of audio‑centric advertising metrics from CoHost. It also flags a Guardian investigation into Substack’s handling of extremist...
NFL Marketing Wins Big with Bad Bunny
Joe and Robert dissect the NFL’s bold partnership with Bad Bunny, framing it as a strategic move to attract younger, more diverse global fans and signal a brand repositioning. They then evaluate this year’s Super Bowl ads, highlighting which campaigns...
YouTube TV’s Skinny Bundles, AMC’s Streaming, Super Bowl Stats
In this episode, Will Richmond and Colin Dixon discuss YouTube TV's new skinny bundles, evaluating whether the pared‑down channel line‑ups can lure fresh subscribers in a crowded market. They also highlight AMC Networks' recent streaming revenue milestone, underscoring the growing...
Should Hollywood Take the Microdrama Boom Seriously?
In this episode, Matt Belloni talks with Shicong Zhu, head of West Coast Studios at DramaBox, about the rapid rise of vertical micro-dramas and their profitability. They explore how these short-form series are produced on shoestring budgets, which genres thrive...
The Chatbot Ad Platform
In this episode, the AdExchanger team examines OpenAI's rollout of ads on ChatGPT, turning the chatbot into a new advertising canvas, and contrasts it with Anthropic's public criticism aired during a Super Bowl commercial. They break down the potential impact...
Jeff Probst on What It Takes to Produce ‘Survivor’
In this episode, host Matt Belloni sits down with Jeff Probst, the longtime host and showrunner of "Survivor," to explore the behind‑the‑scenes mechanics that have kept the reality series thriving for 50 seasons. Probst breaks down the show's massive production...
YouTube Edges BBC, Ad Tier Use Soars, Versant-Peacock
In this episode, hosts Will Richmond and Colin Dixon discuss three major streaming developments: YouTube surpassing the BBC in a key UK viewing metric, the rapid expansion of ad‑supported tiers driven largely by Netflix, and Peacock’s loss of flagship Versant...