☀️PAR Rides Razor’s Edge in Q1
AMC revises streaming sub count / SPINCO 👎 on additions / TKO ups '25 guidance
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect here on LINKEDIN if ya like or email me seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com) and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on FRIDAY, May 9, 2025.
Where ya gotta love this new Hollywood tariff policy clarity from a presser in the Oval Office around Trump’s U.K. tariff deal:
“We’re putting tariffs on that (film), and we’re going to be doing some tariffs to get them, because a lot of them (moviemakers) have left this country.”
“So, we’re gonna do something to bring them back, maybe to a large extent.”
Then he said James Bond was okay because Sean Connery helped him get a golf course in Scotland one time.
Yeah, I dunno why no one on Wall Street asked WBD, PAR or DIS about this all week.
THEN: The L.A. Olympics will hold its Opening and Closing Ceremonies across both the COLISEUM and SOFI stadiums, the first time the event will be held in 2 different locations.
PLUS: EXPEDIA announced that Q1 had weaker than expected travel demand both to and from the U.S. — which is also extending into Q2.
SO: It seems like airlines are now making specific pitches for business from folks who often fly PJs. 🛩️ You know where to find me, DELTA.
AND: I think we all kinda knew that choosing the American Southwest as a prime hub for water-hungry data centers, now fueling AI growth, was a bit of a “Are we sure about that? They’re being built in more sensible places too, right?” Yeah, not so much.
WAKEUP POLL
Because we have no new major releases this weekend, let’s change it up a bit and go with ESPN. We’ll be getting the pricing info (and name) on Tuesday — where do you think DISNEY is going to land this plane?
I’ll leave aside the price if you take it in a DISNEY Bundle, but what do you think the standalone D2C subscription price will be?
NEW ANKLER PODCAST EPISODE
PARAMOUNT Q1 — Steady As She Goes (and hopefully she still goes by June 30)
All things considered . . . pretty steady seems to be what comes out of PARAMOUNT’s Q1 numbers. Wall Street seemed to agree, as the stock was basically flat after hours last night. So, not too flashy . . . but no flashing red signs either as we all wait around for the FCC and mediation processes.
Not that there aren’t headwinds (the least of which remains the economy this summer and later this year) — but the streaming proposition at PAR+ seems to continue to work to stem decline.
So let’s take a look at the key numbers to know, not just in Q1 — but also the key PARAMOUNT trends over the past 3 years.