I know it seems unimaginable. And it's too early to start workshopping UniWarnerMount-like portmanteaus just yet. But don't sleep on David Ellison — or his appetite for a third course.
Wild card and totally fantasy football corporate M&A edition, but hear me out (pure personal speculations):
- NBCU spins off local stations and RSNs to the soon-to-be-merged Nexstar/Tegna
- Rationalizes duplicative international channels and converts sports-light channels (e.g., DreamWorks Channel, 13eme Rue) to FAST or exit with local ad-sales operations either integrated or outsourced in these markets
- Enters into a joint streaming venture with Apple TV and powers Apple's ad sales
- Builds gaming partnerships with Nintendo
- Doubles down on experiences and start its cruise/ vacation clubs/ timeshare partnerships with Royal Caribbean to develop land and sea Universal vacation packages
The idea of more local station consolidation terrifies me, but a lot to like here and that can be built upon. I really have no way to guess which individual strategies they'll go for, but it's a good illustration that they have a lot of options, if they can build the right partnerships. Also, this comment would have been worth it just for "fantasy football corporate M&A edition."
Wild card and totally fantasy football corporate M&A edition, but hear me out (pure personal speculations):
- NBCU spins off local stations and RSNs to the soon-to-be-merged Nexstar/Tegna
- Rationalizes duplicative international channels and converts sports-light channels (e.g., DreamWorks Channel, 13eme Rue) to FAST or exit with local ad-sales operations either integrated or outsourced in these markets
- Enters into a joint streaming venture with Apple TV and powers Apple's ad sales
- Builds gaming partnerships with Nintendo
- Doubles down on experiences and start its cruise/ vacation clubs/ timeshare partnerships with Royal Caribbean to develop land and sea Universal vacation packages
The idea of more local station consolidation terrifies me, but a lot to like here and that can be built upon. I really have no way to guess which individual strategies they'll go for, but it's a good illustration that they have a lot of options, if they can build the right partnerships. Also, this comment would have been worth it just for "fantasy football corporate M&A edition."