Daniel Frankel and David Bloom are joined by media analyst Brian Ring (Future of TV.live) to recap the Parks Associates Future of TV Conference and unpack the industry’s biggest shifts.
💬 In this episode:
• Laura Martin’s prediction that Ellison’s Skydance will buy Warner Bros Discovery — and why the deal may already be “greased.”
• FAST channels & Paramount’s next move: What happens to MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central in 2026?
• Charter’s comeback: How smart search and voice control are keeping pay TV alive.
• CuriosityStream is licensing its library to AI models — and making real money doing it.
• How AI training may reshape Hollywood IP value.
• Bill Maher’s new CNN slot, streaming bundles, and sports rights chaos in the Big Ten.
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Tags / Keywords:
Future of TV 2025, Warner Bros Discovery sale, Skydance Ellison deal, Laura Martin analysis, Paramount FAST channels, MTV reboot, CuriosityStream AI content, Next TMT Podcast, David Bloom Daniel Frankel, Brian Ring, Future of TV conference, streaming wars 2025, ad-tech trends, AI in Hollywood, media industry analysis
00:00 Introduction
02:18 Insights from the Future of TV Conference
07:36 The Changing Landscape of TV Consumption
12:33 Search and Recommendation Challenges
15:47 YouTube episodes of Joey, the Friends spinoff
16:25 Bidding Wars and Industry Predictions
23:15 The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions in Media
26:27 Wealth Destruction in the Media Industry
27:35 Innovations in Content Licensing and AI
30:37 The Future of Streaming and Content Ownership
33:55 The Evolution of College Football and Media Rights
41:22 The Transfer Portal and Its Implications
46:09 Closing Thoughts and Reflections on Media Trends