Strictly Business Daily Variety – Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and the Swirl that is Roiling Hollywood; Red Carpet Rundown With Catherine Zeta-Jones
7 snips
Nov 11, 2025 Matt Donnelly, Senior Entertainment Writer at Variety, dives into the swirling chaos of Hollywood, discussing Paramount's bold moves under David Ellison’s tech-savvy leadership. He explores the $7 billion UFC bet and its implications for direct-to-consumer strategies. Plus, the podcast delves into the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and the challenges of operating two legacy studios. Lastly, Marc Malkin features a fun Red Carpet Rundown with Catherine Zeta-Jones, who playfully suggests Danny DeVito for a quirky role.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Millennial Mogul Recasts Paramount
- David Ellison is reshaping Paramount with aggressive, front-facing leadership and big bets like UFC rights.
- His mix of tech fluency and deep-pocketed ambition is changing how legacy studios compete with streaming giants.
UFC Deal Brings Year-Round Reach
- The $7 billion UFC deal gives Paramount year-round live sports content that can stabilize viewership across seasons.
- That breadth could materially strengthen CBS and Paramount's streaming and linear strategies.
Subscription Could Upend Pay-Per-View
- Making UFC accessible by subscription could upend pay-per-view economics and test Paramount Plus's conversion power.
- The industry is closely watching whether streaming accessibility drives meaningful audience growth.
