Strictly Business

Nabbing exclusive rights to the prequel to "Shtisel," the series Netflix made popular around the world, is more than just a financial opportunity for Izzy CEO Nati Dinnar to put his fledgling streaming service on the global map. "Kugel" represents a chance to advance the interests of his homeland's reputation amid war in the Middle East, not to mention its struggling TV industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh off the release of their new Variety Intelligence Platform research study "Production Pipelines: Film & TV in Flux," analysts Tyler Aquilina and Kaare Eriksen share their insights on how the unfolding tragedy in the heart of the entertainment industry alters the outlook for Hollywood long-form content output. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you measure a year? Audience research firm Luminate does just that in its newly released 2024 Film & TV Year-End Report. Two top Luminate executives – Marc Hoebich, executive VP and head of film and TV, and Carolyn Finger, senior VP of consumer success and product – break down the report and its findings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natasha Hritzuk, Head of corporate research at Warner Bros. Discovery, dives into her eye-opening research on short-form video. She reveals how platforms like TikTok and YouTube don't just compete with TV and film but actually enhance audience discovery of long-form content. Discussing the evolving viewing habits of younger generations, she highlights that short videos can act as gateways to traditional media. Natasha also emphasizes the need for innovative marketing strategies to engage today's digital audiences effectively.

David J. Lee, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Webtoon Entertainment, discusses the rapid growth of webtoons as a digital entertainment medium during a session held as part of the Variety Entertainment Summit at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And prolific webtoon creator Brandon Chen, author of "Just a Goblin" and many other titles, explains the appeal of the graphic novel-like format as a creative outlet and training ground for budding storytellers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Ravi Ahuja gives his first interview since taking the reins of the studio. The conversation was held Jan. 8 at Variety’s Entertainment Summit at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as firestorms were raging across Los Angeles County. Later that day, NBCUniversal ad sales chief Mark Marshall and NBC Sports host Maria Taylor brought some levity with a freewheeling session previewing what Marshall calls “the greatest 730 days that any media company has ever had” given the Super Bowl, Winter Olympics, NBA coverage and more on tap for 2025 and 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Hutcheon, the CEO of Dice, a London-based ticketing software company dedicated to accessible live events, shares insights from a decade of transforming ticketing. He discusses the fight against dynamic pricing and scalping, emphasizing ethical practices that strengthen artist-fan connections. Hutcheon explores Dice’s expansion plans and community-building through music. A notable highlight is a meeting with President Biden about transparency in ticketing, alongside strategies to support mid-market artists with direct fan engagement.

Liz Parker, Bryan Besser, Adam Levine, and Adam Weinstein, partners at Verve talent agency, share their insights as their agency approaches its 15th anniversary. They discuss the end of packaging fees and the shifting dynamics within the creative community. Fascinatingly, they explore unexpected sources for intellectual property and highlight growth areas in animation. The conversation touches on innovative strategies in the book business and the importance of adapting to industry changes while focusing on client development and a robust workplace culture.

Strictly Business co-host Andrew Wallenstein looks back on the rationale he laid out a decade ago as co-editor-in-chief of Variety for publishing the contents of the Sony hack and shares his misgivings about a difficult decision and why he made it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nominated for producer of the year at the Grammys, Daniel Nigro has become one of the top writer-producers in the pop thanks to his collaborations with Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo, who became superstars on his watch. He talks about why he thinks of himself more of a band member with these artists than a traditional producer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.