Entertainment Strategy Guy
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A Semi-Farewell: My Favorite Ankler Data Dives
What I got right, where I veered wrong and what the numbers reveal about Hollywood’s future as I move to occasional contributor
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Box Office Is Bad. Streaming Films Are So-So. I Have a Win-Win Solution
Top straight-to-TV original films could have changed 2025 with a detour to the theater — I’ve got the numbers to prove it
Latest Entertainment Strategy Guy stories
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Is Disney Becoming a Luxury Brand? Rising Prices, Shrinking Crowds, Mounting Risk
With affordability America’s top worry, the studio’s push toward big spenders could alienate the next generation of fans
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Is Disney Only For Rich People Now?
With affordability America’s top worry, the studio’s push toward big spenders could alienate the next generation of fans
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Does Horror Pass the Four Tests of Profitability? I’ll Tell You
Breaking down four factors — revenue, profit, ROI and hit rate — the data reveals why the industry’s favorite ‘cheap win’ often doesn’t
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A24, Angel Studios & the Art of Inflated Valuations
Bubble trouble: Two indies with infinite hype face the reality of economic gravity
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Paramount Playbook: Risky, Murky — and Likely to Work. Here’s Why
Still undervalued, PSKY is the Ellison slingshot aimed at Netflix, with WBD as the next big stone
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Don’t Fall Too Hard for Romcoms’ Return, There’s a Twist!
I analyze the genre’s challenges, where love is winning onscreen and how to rebuild it for new audiences
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YouTube’s Worst-Case Scenario: Lurking Risks Behind a Big Year
Even in mega-success, two longtime threats remain and two new ones loom
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Disney’s New Worst-Case Scenario
Today the threat map looks very different from when I first explored the Mouse House’s biggest risks
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7 Sleeper Hits of the Streaming Wars
Slow burns & surprises: These shows made fewer headlines but ended up on top
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Streaming’s Final Frontier: 60M Cable Holdouts Still in Play
As all growth plateaus, the big opportunity left is viewers still watching linear — if you can figure out how to reach them
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Streaming’s Final Front: 60M Cable Holdouts Still in Play
As all growth plateaus, the big opportunity left is viewers still watching linear — if you can figure out how to reach them
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Prime to Peacock: The Right Next Genre for Every Streamer
Netflix isn’t doing this. Disney+ used to. HBO Max forgot how. Here’s what each platform should pursue now to grow
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Break ‘Em Up: Google’s Reckoning Day is Hollywood’s Big Chance
As Big Tech faces historic antitrust rulings, a new power shift could revive studios, boost creators and reshape the digital ad economy
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Why Apple’s App Store Beatdown is SO SO HUGE for Streamers
Financial gains are coming for Netflix, Disney, WBD, Peacock & Paramount (but not Apple TV+) in the first of my two looks at Trump’s Big Tech breakups
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TV Franchises: Winners & Losers in Streaming’s New War
Universes and ongoing seasons are fast replacing originals