Media & Entertainment

Exclusive news, analysis, and commentary on legacy media companies, streaming, celebrities, and sports.

Media & Entertainment

America’s Shortening Attention Spans are Corporate Gold

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photo by Tohamina via Freepik

The stakes for media and tech companies have never been higher, even if attention spans have never been shorter.

5 min read
Media & Entertainment

Roblox Gets into Video Ads

Photo by Village Global via CC BY 2.0

The gaming industry, like every other sector including banking and rideshare apps, is enmeshing itself even deeper into advertising.

1 min read
Media & Entertainment

Disney Beats Activist Investor in Shareholder Vote

Photo by Josh Hallett via CC BY-SA 2.0

Bob Iger is emerging victorious in Disney’s epic board seat battle with infamous activist investor Nelson Peltz.

2 min read

Media & Entertainment

Advertisement Market is Booming, But Not for Everyone

Photo by James Ting via Unsplash

Media investment firm Magna now expects ad sales by media owners to increase over 9% this year.

1 min read
Media & Entertainment

Nelson Peltz Scores Major Ally in Disney Fight

Photo by Colton Jones via Unsplash

Activist investor Nelson Peltz has earned a huge win in his protracted battle of wills with Disney CEO Bob Iger.

2 min read
Geopolitics

My Kingdom for a Sport: Saudi Arabia Goes All in on Athletics

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside, Photos by EKSRX via CC BY 2.0 and Upklyak via Freepik

Why is Saudi Arabia spending a king’s ransom on sports? The Middle East powerhouse doesn’t care if you call it sportswashing.

6 min read
Media & Entertainment

Can Hollywood Reboot the Bundle?

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Hollywood may be rethinking its business model of direct-to-consumer, a la carte streaming services — meaning the bundle may be back.

6 min read
Media & Entertainment

‘Dune 2’ Set to Breathe Some Life Into a Sluggish Box Office

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels

Ticket sales are down 18% so far this year as the industry continues to deal with a labor-stoppage hangover.

1 min read
Patent Drop

Roku Patent Could Make Ads Better Without Violating User Privacy

Photo via U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Roku wants its previews to make you feel the same way the movie does.

2 min read
Media & Entertainment

Amazon Prime Scores NFL Playoff Game for 2024 Season

Photo by Norbert Braun via Unsplash

After a trial run with Peacock, the league will step up to a bigger base of streaming spectators.

2 min read
Media & Entertainment

Will Hollywood’s Labor Peace Be Short-Lived?

Photo illustration by Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

This year, a slew of unions representing Hollywood’s less heralded below-the-line workers have their turn at the negotiating table

5 min read
Media & Entertainment

Digital News Media Has Fallen Off its New Millennium Perch

Photo by Brusk Dede via Unsplash

The toast of the early 2000s, many prominent news and lifestyle sites like Vice and Buzzfeed have fallen on hard times.

2 min read
Media & Entertainment

‘WWE Raw’ Is Heading to Netflix in 2025

Photo by Miguel Discart via CC BY-SA 2.0

The 10-year pact puts the king of streaming squarely in the sports livestreaming arena.

1 min read
Media & Entertainment

Musicians Could Be Next to Disturb Hollywood’s Labor Peace

Photo by Nick Philly via CC BY-SA 4.0

In the wake of monthslong work stoppages by both writers and actors, musicians prepare to negotiate over similar issues.

1 min read
Media & Entertainment

Wide World of Streams: How Sports is Navigating Media’s Shifting Landscape

Photo by Norbert Braun via Unsplash

The old world of media is collapsing, while a new order is rising. Live sports, meanwhile, are caught in the middle.

5 min read
Media & Entertainment

Amazon Axes Hundreds of Employees Across Streaming Business

Photo by Thibault Penin via Unsplash

Amazon has announced hundreds of layoffs across its Prime Video, TV and film studios, and Twitch businesses.

2 min read
Media & Entertainment

Radio Giant Audacy Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Photo via Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

Audacy, one of the largest radio networks in the nation, filed for bankruptcy on Sunday to restructure its billion-dollar debt load.

1 min read
Media & Entertainment

Disney Gets Some Help from ValueAct in Board Battle

Photo by Lydia Turner via Unsplash

The media and theme-park giant agreed to consult with the hedge fund in exchange for backing its board slate.

1 min read
Patent Drop

Disney Could Bring Machine Learning to Parks’ CCTV

Photo via U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The tech could raise privacy concerns if it’s used on Disney theme park visitors that are children and minors.

2 min read
Media & Entertainment

New York AG Sues SiriusXM for its Annoying Cancellation Process

Photo via Connor Lin / The Daily Upside

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued SiriusXM Radio on Wednesday for “trapping consumers in subscriptions.”

2 min read