The Powers That Be: Daily Media Monday: TikTok Slippage, Times Drama & Netflix-Paramount Intrigue
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Dec 29, 2025 Peter Hamby and Jon Kelly dive into bold media predictions for 2026. They discuss Disney's potential succession drama and predict Josh DeMauro as a frontrunner. The duo speculates that Netflix will outmaneuver competitors to win the Warner Bros. auction. They highlight TikTok's momentum slowing against Instagram and foresee the rise of AI-generated video news. The NBA's ambition for global expansion and the potential fallout of political podcast blunders add more intrigue to the mix.
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Netflix Is Poised To Win Warner
- Netflix has strong strategic appetite to win Warner Bros. despite skepticism about regulatory hurdles and rival bidders.
- Jon Kelly believes Reed Hastings and Netflix leadership will push aggressively to close the deal.
Instagram Is Eating Into TikTok
- Instagram is aggressively encroaching on TikTok's territory by improving ranking, targeting, and chat features.
- Peter Hamby warns TikTok's momentum could stall as users and features shift toward Instagram.
Roll Up Mid-Tier Creators
- Bundle mid-tier creators into networks or agencies to sell ads and scale distribution.
- John Kelly suggests companies should roll up podcasters and YouTubers into businesses that package inventory for advertisers.