The Paramount Global streamer led all platforms with 42.0 million gross U.S. sign-ups, followed by Hulu (on demand) at 31.2 million, Peacock at 30.6 million and Netflix at 26.5 million.
Four of the five legacy media companies were down in advertising results in the first and second quarter of this year.
A potentially eye-opening move by legacy TV network groups and legacy pay TV distributors revolves around issues for their seemingly much maligned smaller cable TV networks.
A sale of Paramount Global to any big legacy TV-based media or digital-first company is an uncertain situation, Bernstein Research says. "Without a clear buyer/structure, the outcome is still up in
the air," writes Bernstein media analyst Laurent Yoon. "It could limp along for a while and requires a risk-taker with a lot of money to burn."
A WBD-Paramount Global merger would initially result in dominance in two legacy entertainment measures: Linear TV viewing time and theatrical box-office revenue. MoffettNathanson Research says the
initial combination of the companies would result in a 35%-40% share of linear TV time depending on the season for viewers ages 2 and up.
TV network groups with 15 to 20 channels might have good reason to be concerned about their next negotiations with legacy pay TV services.
Affiliate-fee revenues as a percentage of total company revenue is highest for Fox Corp. followed by NBCU, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global, MoffettNathanson says.
Advertising a digital sales event on traditional media may not be as necessary.
Research from 2022 shows unscripted programming has a greater share of total day time viewed among CBS, ABC, and NBC. Comparatively, unscripted and other non-scripted TV content has a much larger
share of time viewed when it comes to cable TV networks.
How do you NOT get to Carnegie Hall, if you're Paramount's upfront pitch team? You practice dining, dining, dining!
His 20-year analysis shows the Big 4's share of global ad spending rising from 16% to 55%, but says there has been little practical change in options for individual advertisers.