Even Strong Brands Can't Justify Premium for Weak Products
It's tough to consistently sell a weaker product for higher prices, no matter how strong the brand is. That's the Coachella dilemma in one sentence. We did a full breakdown on Coachella in a recent episode of Trapital with @realdavebrooks Follow and comment “Coachella” below, and I’ll DM you the episode.
Jack Emmert Returns, Unveils Veteran Leadership and MMO Vision
Our interview with Jack Emmert on his return to Cryptic Studios, his new veteran leaders and his plans for MMOs. https://t.co/BC7LMpCrMN
Tommy Harper Aims to Build HBO‑Style Micro‑Drama App
Exclusive: 'Star Wars' and 'Top Gun' producer Tommy Harper wants to make the 'HBO' of micro dramas with a new app. Read my interview with him and the pitch deck here 👉 https://t.co/kblixmikVy
Fox Set to Buy Back 2026 Big Ten Rights
Fox is near a deal to acquire the rights to the 2026 Big Ten championship game from NBC for between $45 million and $55 million. NBC had subleased the game from Fox and is now essentially selling it back.
Comcast Appoints Vicki Williams as HR Chief
Comcast Names Vicki Williams Human Resources Chief, Leading HR Across NBCUniversal and Cable Business https://t.co/E91RHmGNKG via @variety
Sony Pictures Cuts Hundreds in Sweeping Reorganization
Sony Pictures Entertainment to Lay Off Hundreds in Massive Reorganization Across TV, Film and Corporate https://t.co/pS2l98bQdA via @variety
Ackman Proposes Michael Ovitz as UMG Chairman
Part of Bill Ackman's proposal to buy Universal Music Group for $64 billion is to name a new chairman of the board, Michael Ovitz:
Wireless Festival Overreliant on Kanye Amid Budget
Was Wireless Festival predicated on Kanye and him alone? Thats insane given the talent out now (especially in the UK). I'm guessing financially they're gonna have to pay him -- and don't have the budget for another headliner.
OpenAI‑TBPN Deal Could Redefine Media Landscape
🎙️ NEW POD: Is The OpenAI-TBPN Deal the Future of Media? ... w/ @loudmouthjulia https://t.co/ED0Rj5JfrD @PuckNews
Inside SXSW: Pop Trends, Marketing & Streaming Royalties
had a fun chat with @popsamcam at SXSW about all the latest trends in pop music, artist marketing, and streaming royalties. managed to get references to robyn, rosalia, charli, britney, & audrey hobert in there, too. https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xWxyeYptPs3LV9xuG1S9j
Disney Funded Disneyland via TV Deal After Banks Rejected Dreams
Walt Disney said he couldn’t get traditional bank financing for Disneyland in the 1950s because “dreams offer too little collateral”. So, he funded the theme park through a unique TV deal with ABC. https://t.co/rdil08daDr
Pitch Spotify Playlists Correctly: Avoid Common Mistakes
Want your song on Spotify playlists? There's a right way to pitch — and most artists are doing it wrong. Here's the step-by-step breakdown. https://t.co/lPCJKuGHtP
MMR Revenue Targets New College Sports Money, yet Viability Unclear
I think @HowieLongShort is right in that MMR rev is the most obvious target for new college sports $...but I wonder if the math pencils out for many leagues to try and consolidate MMR rights... https://t.co/75mBDWQppr
Flexible Collaboration Options Tailored to Your Release Cycle
I offer a few different ways to work together depending on where you are in your release cycle. Worth a conversation — contact me: Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
Paramount Skydance Secures Middle Eastern Fund Investments
Paramount Skydance Confirms Investments by Middle Eastern Wealth Funds, Cites ‘Potential for Strategic and Commercial Opportunities’ With Them https://t.co/pP4GsavBCH via @variety
Rome Court Orders Netflix to Refund Illegal Price Hikes
A Rome court has ruled that Netflix's price increases in Italy between 2017-2024 were illegal and that it must refund customers and roll back its price adjustments. Customers on the Premium plan continuously from 2017 are entitled to €500 in...
Kalshi Lands Major Partnership, Data to Power Fox News
NEW: After cutting deals with CNN and CNBC, the prediction market Kalshi has made arguably its biggest deal yet. It is getting into business with Fox, where its data will be baked into Fox News programming.
AI Generates 500+ UGC Videos Daily, No Camera
R.I.P. manual UGC creation. OpenCreator + OpenClaw = 500+ videos/day without touching a camera. One prompt and my bot cranked out multiple UGC videos. No filming, no actors, just done. https://t.co/1wYMz6Z76I
Ackman's $63B Bid Proves Music Isn't Dead
Bill Ackman's $63 billion offer for Universal Music strikes me 2 ways... 1. I know almost nothing about the music business. 2. If he is offering $63 billion, I guess the music business is not as dead as people have been saying...
Fox Renews “Memory of a Killer” For Season 2
#Fox has renewed #MemoryOfAKiller for a second season. From #WarnerBros TV & #Fox Ent. $FOXA $FOX $WBD
Creator Fears Brand Support Collapse, UGC Drying Up
My Dearest Penelope, I wrote home to you in my hood of great despair. It has been three weeks on the front lines and the collabs have all but dried up. The brands are no longer supporting us, and I...
OpenAI’s TBPN Deal Mirrors Standard Sponsorship Practices
It’s easy / tempting to overthink OpenAI’s acquisition of TBPN. But as a brand marketing campaign, it’s not egregious. Oracle has a five-year, $500MM sponsorship deal with F1 racing. Adidas pays Real Madrid $158MM annually for sponsorship placement on its...
Ensure Fair Pay for Creators Before Capital Recalibration
Well said. Janet, they also skipped much of the part where news and entertainment companies content is being used as a vital resource? maybe make sure copyright holders are paid fair value for their work before your “recalibration of capital..”...
ESPN to Cut Around 30 Off‑Camera Jobs
ESPN is about to be hit with a round of layoffs. I’m told the number will land near 30, primarily in off-camera departments. My story for @PuckNews: https://t.co/GNxIfhNx3g
Fair Compensation for Creators Must Precede Redistribution
you seem to skip the part where news and entertainment companies content is being used as a vital resource? Is that admission issue is tbd? I get the general point on redistribution but let’s do that after copyright holders are...
Record Pre‑Sales Surge for Dune, Michael Jackson Film, Paris Venue
But not only #DunePartThree is making the headlines with pre-sales this #Easter MON. Pre-sales also kicked off for KING OF POP #MichaelJackson’s music biopic #Michael in Europe, in MEGASTAR fashion. The iconic #LeGrandRex in #Paris celebrates over 4.500 tickets sold + sold...
Dune Part Three IMAX Pre‑Sales Sell Out in Minutes
In a press release just sent by WB, #JeffGoldstein, who’s the head of Global Distribution at the studio, celebrated the incredible performance of the sold out pre-sales for #DunePartThree select IMAX 70MM screenings in a matter of minutes, 8 months...
Great PR Begins With Crafting Your Music Story
Whether it's a single, an EP, or a full album — I work with you on building the story around it. That's where good PR starts. Eric@ThatEricAlper.com
SAG-AFTRA to Resume Studio Negotiations in April After WGA Deal
SAG-AFTRA to Resume Talks With Studios in April, Thanks to Early WGA Deal https://t.co/9zZhphuVHm via @variety
Disney's Parks Power Fuels Profit, Yet Risks Stagnation
Over the past decade, Disney’s Parks & Cruises division has jumped from 18% to 57% of DIS operating profit. The combined TV, Sports and Film Studio operating profit fell from 70% to 25% (32% if include streaming). Parks & Cruises still...
Netflix Expands Kids Lineup, Adds Gaming App
Netflix Orders More ‘Ms. Rachel,’ ‘Sesame Street’ Episodes, Launches Kids Gaming App https://t.co/LPj03ZWA43 via @variety
CBS Hands Entire Late‑Night Lineup to Byron Allen
CBS Seals Deal With Byron Allen to Lease All of Late Night After Stephen Colbert Exits in May https://t.co/LANSjGQxKA via @variety
Saudi, Qatar, Abu Dhabi Fund 30% of Paramount‑Warner Deal
About 30% of Paramount's $81B takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is financed by the sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi—three countries attacked by Iran since the U.S. started its latest Middle East conflict. https://t.co/mOjqkF3fza
ESPN Absorbs NFL Talent, Except Scott Hanson, Adds Digital Shows
Additional nuggets in ESPN/NFLN deal 1) While almost all NFL Media TV talents became ESPN employees, Scott Hanson did not 2) ESPN plans to eventually populate NFLN with some digital shows (similar to what it's been doing on E2) + possible...
Big Tech and ESPN Poised to Host FanDuel Teams
Which Companies Will Next Carry FanDuel’s NBA And NHL Teams? (Amazon, Apple, ESPN?) https://t.co/k4dzzdTNfO via @TVAnswerMan
Vegas Strip Rolls Out Summer All‑Inclusive Deals for Budget Travelers
Las Vegas Strip Casinos offering summer all-inclusive packages: - Excalibur - Luxor - Harrah's - Flamingo - The LINQ Move by MGM and Caesars comes as the Strip's two largest operators look to bolster appeal to more budget-conscious customers
Measure Conversions, Not Likes: Move Audiences Forward
The most important analytics for creators: Not: • Likes • Followers • Comments But how many people you move to the next step. The: • Stanger to a follower • Follower to a lead • Lead to a client Focus on those numbers
Paramount‑Skydance Raises $24B From Gulf Investors for Warner Bros. Deal
Paramount Skydance Secures $24 Billion From Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi Funds for Warner Bros. Deal: Report https://t.co/pBowLfuPXc via @variety
NFL's Billion‑Dollar Media Demands Spark Backlash, FIFA Diversifies Revenue
🆙 Episode #44 of The Bundle is now available. The monthly walk-through with @UnffclPrtnr and @MurrayBarnett, trading facts, insights, and opinions at the intersection of #sports, #streaming, and #media — this time including but not limited to: • 🏈 NFL's media...
Coca-Cola Taps Iconic Jingle Archive to Stand Out
Coca-Cola uses something only a handful of corporations can -- a massive archive of promotions that won over large audiences -- in bid to stand out in the ad pack. Beverage giant revives its famous 'I'd like to buy...
QVC and HSN Bankruptcy Threatens
Wherever will I acquire my capodimonte now? QVC, HSN cable networks face Chapter 11, insolvency https://t.co/60gKHLv5PG
Media Must Adopt New Funding Model After Ad Removal
Good to see The American Prospect get rid of programmatic ads https://t.co/ok8pZfIhl0 People should support it, but we need a new funding model for the media https://t.co/KAdV4BPWze
Bully Hits #1; Deluxe Album Announced, Lauryn Hill Joins Ye
‘Bully’ debuts at No. 1 according to gamma., deluxe album announced; Lauryn Hill records vocals for Ye https://t.co/CttMQ4acfs
YouTube Launches 24/7 “Stations” Via Coachella TV
YouTube introduced Stations, a FAST-style feature that lets creators turn playlists into 24/7 linear streams of their content. 📺 The company will debut the feature as part of its Coachella streaming experience through Coachella TV. The channel will enable viewers to tune...
CEO May Absorb COO Role After Ken Johnson Departs
D.C. Memo: @CableOne or Team Turmoil? Highly Regarded Ken Johnson Steps Down as Chief Operating Officer; New CEO Jim Holanda, who just took over in February, did not announce a Johnson successor, perhaps a sign he's still searching or might...
HarperCollins Turns Books Into AI Shorts, Pays Authors
HarperCollins is turning authors’ books into AI YouTube Shorts HarperCollins has partnered with Toonstar to turn books into AI YouTube Shorts The launch starts with Lisa Greenwald’s Friendship List series Episodes run 2–10 minutes, targeting young YouTube audiences Toonstar’s CEO says “creator-led,” with authors...
TikTok Deploys AI Detection to Guard Music Rights
TikTok Tackles AI Music Clones With Advanced Audio Detection Tech TikTok has integrated ACRCloud’s detection tech into SoundOn to spot copied music “Derivative Works Detection” flags altered tracks, including pitch and speed changes The system helps artists track misuse, secure credit, and protect...
From Content Creation to Media Operations: A Paradigm Shift
The phrase I keep coming back to is this: we’re moving from content creation to media operations. That shift matters because it changes what tools people need, what skills matter, and what kinds of products become valuable.
Gulf Funds Poised to Finance Paramount's $81B Warner Deal
MyPOV: the middle east to the rescue. Gulf Funds Near Deal to Back Paramount’s $81 Billion Takeover of Warner https://t.co/hTIMzrGhf5
Universal Extends Theatrical Window to 45 Days in 2027
Universal To Extend Exclusive Theatrical Window For Pics To 45 Days In 2027 --- bullish cinemas https://t.co/U20KYoNQOD