Plain English with Derek Thompson

How Hollywood Drove Its Business Model Off a Cliff

Jul 19, 2023

In this engaging discussion, Julia Alexander, a media strategist and writer with Puck News, unpacks the chaos currently plaguing Hollywood. She reveals how the industry’s fixation on blockbusters has led to a financial crisis. From the decline of pay TV to the turbulent impacts of streaming, Julia explains Disney's struggles and the ongoing strikes by actors and writers. She also highlights the battle to adapt to consumer preferences and the future of sports media partnerships, making it clear that Hollywood needs a strategic makeover.

01:01:34

Episode guests

Julia Alexander

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Combining Companies, Emerging Industries, and the Entertainment Future of Tomorrow

01:29

Legacy Companies' Misconception on Consumer Demand for Individual Apps

01:31

Intro

2min

Hollywood's Troubling Trends in Entertainment and Media

6min

From Cable Kings to Streaming Struggles

29min

Strategic Missteps in the Streaming Revolution

5min

The Changing Landscape of Streaming Entertainment

4min

ESPN's Future: Strategic Partnerships in Sports Media

15min

The trouble brewing in the media and entertainment industry has become one of the most interesting—and truly perplexing—business stories in the world. How does everything seem so bad at the same time? The domestic box office is still in a recession. Pay TV is a nightmare. Streaming is a money pit. And actors and writers are on strike. How did this happen? And could it get worse before it gets better? Today’s guest is Julia Alexander, director of strategy for Parrot Analytics and a writer with Puck News. We discuss a brief history of Hollywood, how we got to this point, how Disney’s plight in particular tells a story of how streaming has roiled this town, how the strikes fit into this picture, and what these companies should do now.

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Julia Alexander

Producer: Devon Manze

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