The Powers That Be: Daily Media Monday: Murdochology & Ellison’s Mic Drop
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Sep 15, 2025 Jon Kelly and Peter Hamby dive into the fallout from the Murdoch trust settlement, revealing the tension within the family and its impact on their media empire. They also discuss Ellison's bold move in the World Bank Discovery takeover attempt, weighing the implications for the industry. A humorous anecdote about searching for a lost magazine in Venice adds a nostalgic touch amidst serious media mergers and the complexities of powerful family dynamics. The podcast highlights the intricate dance between power, wealth, and personal relationships in media.
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Petty Cash Rescue In Venice
- Jon Kelly recounts traveling with lots of petty cash in the pre-internet magazine era to recover a mock-up of Portfolio magazine in Venice.
- He overpaid a security guard to retrieve the lost mock-up during a chaotic conference.
Ellison Is Playing Acquisition Long Game
- David Ellison's Skydance-Paramount deal was likely a first step in a series of aggressive acquisitions.
- Jon Kelly says Ellison aims to buy more legacy assets, making further mega-deals plausible.
Whole-Company Bids Change The Price
- A combined Skydance-Paramount bid for Warner Bros. Discovery would unite big studios but raise thorny questions about assets and regulation.
- Kelly notes Ellison likely wants the whole company, not just a spinoff, to control both cable and studio value.