Key Takeaways:
- Predictions include landmark deals, with possible acquisitions by Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox, alongside efforts to consolidate major streaming platforms.
- Leadership transitions at Disney and Lucasfilm could redefine creative directions.
- The trend of consolidating major streaming platforms may accelerate, with Paramount+, Peacock, and Max potentially merging to offer customers a bundle with more value.
As the year comes to a close and a new administration begins, industry leaders in the U.S. continue to make predictions about what 2025 may bring.
CNBC’s annual compilation of predictions from 12 anonymous media executives is worth looking into.
On top of being a trusted business news channel, CNBC’s parent company is industry giant NBCUniversal, which is owned by global media and technology conglomerate Comcast.
With three big names in the media industry, it’s undeniable that these predictions laid down by CNBC have merit, offering businesses some significant insights as to what to expect next year.
And so, let’s delve into these 12 predictions that may or may not affect how you do business in 2025.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the entertainment and tech industries are rife with speculation and bold predictions.
While some insiders predict a slew of transformative mergers, others believe that the anticipated wave of deals may fall short of expectations, with consolidation unlikely to solve the industry's broader challenges.
As regulatory hurdles and market realities come into play, the true extent of upcoming M&As will only be revealed in time.
1. Comcast will acquire Warner Bros. Discovery assets, merging them with NBCUniversal.
Anonymous executive #1 predicts that Comcast will Warner Bros. Discovery studio and streaming assets and then promptly merge them with NBCUniversal.
This aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery’s move to separate its linear services from the rest of its assets, while Comcast pushes through with its announced spinoff of its cable networks.
🚨 MEET SPINCO: NBC's NEW CABLE NEWS AND TV SPIN-OFF
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 25, 2024
Because every dumpster fire deserves a fancy name, NBCUniversal’s cable networks—MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Syfy, and others—are being kicked to the curb, spun off into a new company called... wait for it...
“SpinCo"
You cannot make… pic.twitter.com/zNtKMzflyO
2. Comcast will spin off NBCUniversal and create the biggest cable company in the U.S. by acquiring Charter.
With Comcast’s spinoff ensured, the second insider predicts that the company will try to merge two of the largest American cable networks.
The challenge now is whether or not the Donald Trump administration will allow this. To jog your memories, Comcast backed out on a Time Warner Cable acquisition about a decade ago because it anticipated the government would block the deal.
Time Warner Cable, at the time the second-largest cable TV company in the country, was bought by Charter in 2016, and this year, it surpassed Comcast by a narrow margin, becoming the largest cable company in the U.S.
3. Fox will take over a majority of Warner Bros. Discovery's assets.
In 2019, Fox offloaded most of its entertainment assets to Disney.
According to anonymous exec #3, Fox is poised to make waves next year by expanding its reach through the acquisition of HBO’s film studio, the Turner networks, and the streaming platforms of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Meanwhile, another insider thinks the opposite — that Fox will instead sell its assets with the Murdoch family trust’s uncertain future.
Disney will officially seize control of Fox after midnight tonight https://t.co/Rb3ZtTGP8jpic.twitter.com/BAozPMerZO
— Nerdist (@nerdist) March 19, 2019
4. Jeff Bezos will be forced to sell The Washington Post.
Although Bezos has made it clear that he’s committed to The Post, he might just be coerced into selling his baby.
This is because Blue Origin, President Trump’s space company, will experience setbacks due to The Post’s negative coverage.
5. A few TV stations will sell due to financial problems.
Amid declining traditional pay-TV valuations caused by cord-cutting, companies like Tegna, Sinclair Broadcast, and EW Scripps have experienced significant drops in their stock prices.
CNBC's anonymous exec predicts that these firms may pursue sales out of necessity — either to stave off bankruptcy or to achieve much-needed scale to compete — particularly if a new Trump administration allows further industry consolidation.
You can watch @scrippsnews on mobile devices with the Scripps News app and at https://t.co/9dDBajqgx3. It is also carried on all major streaming platforms and services.
— The E.W. Scripps Co. (@EWScrippsCo) November 15, 2024
Here is a complete list of platforms and information on the programming schedule: https://t.co/2RT7EuENQDpic.twitter.com/k1lHQZp0mj
6. Major TV networks will acquire affiliate stations.
Again, if the Trump administration permits it, this insider foresees that big networks like CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox will be the ones to buy the financially troubled stations mentioned above.
This will lead these major TV stations to each have their own affiliate station or two.
7. After a spinoff from Starz, Lionsgate will be snapped up by Paramount Global.
Paramount Global will be looking to reinvent its business if the government gives its approval for the Skydance Media merger.
According to this exec, this transformation will most likely come in the form of an acquisition of Lionsgate studio to augment its offerings.
Paramount has officially agreed to merge with Skydance. pic.twitter.com/8OavnXeLTz
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 8, 2024
8. A tech giant will buy Electronic Arts (EA).
2025 may just be the year we see video game maker EA selling to an industry leader like Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, or Netflix, the ninth executive thinks.
EA has previously courted Disney and Comcast, and if this prediction comes to pass, it will just be like Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision last year.
9. Most of the M&A predictions will most likely not push through.
This insider doesn’t believe in all the hype surrounding these M&A forecasts.
Even though a few M&As will likely happen, it won’t be a majority, because businesses will soon find that consolidation will not provide real solutions.
Leadership Changes
Leadership in the media and entertainment industry usually means creative direction. Once the captain of the boat changes, the destination may well be affected.
As new leaders take the helm, bringing their own vision, strategies, and priorities, it can reshape the trajectory of content creation, distribution models, and audience engagement.
This shift often leads to fresh ideas and risks, but can also disrupt established norms, presenting both challenges and opportunities for growth and innovation.
10. Dana Walden will resign from Disney if she’s not promoted to CEO.
Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment and a leading contender for the CEO position, is expected to leave Disney at year-end if she isn’t chosen for the role.
Although Disney says it plans to delay naming a new CEO until early 2026, this prediction is working on the basis that the announcement might be slightly accelerated.
Another insider speculated that NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios Chairman Donna Langley could emerge as Walden’s competitor for the position.
11. 2025 will see Kathy Kennedy leaving Lucasfilm.
Already in her 70s, Kennedy has been the president of Disney’s Lucasfilm for 12 years.
With Kennedy well in her retirement age, the Star Wars franchise may just be welcoming a new captain next year.
12. Customers will see a consolidation of streaming bundles.
Other predictions from the anonymous insiders include a consolidation of Paramount+, Peacock, and Max, with customers getting all three in one bundle, and the pipe dream of the combined sports streaming platform of Disney, Fox, ESPN, and Warner Bros.
While it was officially announced last year, this executive doesn’t see Venu launching at all, with Fubo’s antitrust lawsuit blocking the way. Instead, ESPN will get the license to Fox’s sports content.
BREAKING: The new Disney, Fox Sports, and Warner Bros. Discovery sports streaming service (Venu Sports) will cost $42.99/month. pic.twitter.com/JSb6CPvaTO
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 1, 2024
Whether or not these predictions will come to pass to challenge industry norms and reshape the future of media and entertainment remains to be seen.
For businesses navigating this uncertainty, these forecasts offer valuable insights into potential opportunities and challenges.
It is crucial for businesses to remain flexible and adaptable, keeping a close eye on both the broader trends and the specific moves that will impact their strategies in the year ahead.
Ultimately, the key to success will lie in staying agile and ready to capitalize on the most viable opportunities, while remaining mindful of the evolving media and entertainment industry
Meanwhile, Honda and Nissan just announced their plans for a $200 billion merger, which will create the third-largest car manufacturing group by 2026.
