This week on The Media Odyssey Podcast, Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet roll up their sleeves to recap the tumultuous first half of 2025. From mass layoffs at Disney, ITV, and Warner Bros. Discovery to a sports rights meltdown in Europe, they dig into the biggest media headlines of the season, and what they truly reveal about the state of the business. Evan and Marion dissect the difference between strategy and reactive chaos, while highlighting where leadership is stepping up, or falling apart.
They also explore the rising relevance of public service broadcasters, the challenges of entering new markets with overvalued rights, and why diversifying your business, whether you're a global company or a solo entrepreneur, is no longer optional, it’s survival. If you’re navigating the volatility of today’s media landscape, this is your spring reset.
Key Takeaways:
- The Season of Acting vs. Reacting: Spring 2024 revealed a stark divide between companies with proactive strategies—like Disney and ITV, reallocating resources with intent—and those stuck in reactive mode, like Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal, whose repeated layoffs reflect short-term panic over long-term planning. In a turbulent market, the difference between surviving and shrinking comes down to whether leadership chooses to lead—or scramble.
- Sports rights are inflating, and unraveling: As streaming platforms chase high-profile sports content, deals are becoming unsustainable. The case of PSG’s lost broadcaster in France highlights how inflated rights, poor local brand recognition, and fan backlash can destabilize even elite clubs and disrupt fan access.
- Public broadcasters are poised for a resurgence: With commercial networks cutting back on scripted content and reallocating funds to live events and sports, public service media (like the BBC and France Télévisions) may step into the void, assuming they can secure the funding and infrastructure to deliver.
- In uncertain times, diversification wins: From personal careers to global media companies, those who reinvest in themselves, whether through diversifying products, revenue streams, or newfound adaptability, are more likely to weather uncertainty and emerge stronger on the other side.
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Connect with us on Linkedin:
Evan Shapiro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshap-media-cartographer/
Marion Ranchet - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionranchet/
Newsletters:
Marion Ranchet - https://marionranchet.substack.com/
Evan Shapiro - https://eshap.substack.com/
- (00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview
- (00:31) - Spring Wrap-Up: Key Topics
- (01:02) - Football Management Lessons
- (08:52) - Media Layoffs and Industry Impact
- (12:05) - ITV Layoffs and Strategic Shifts
- (16:14) - Public Service Broadcasters and Content Creation
- (21:16) - Upfronts and Market Uncertainty
- (24:35) - Navigating Uncertain Times
- (28:15) - Conclusion and Upcoming Events