Business leaders have long embraced the adage: "There's no such thing as bad publicity." Not anymore. Company leaders are becoming increasingly tight-lipped in the wake of the Trump administration's fresh attacks on philanthropist George Soros, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel, several public-relations pros told Business Insider.They said CEOs are declining press and other speaking opportunities, even on seemingly benign topics, for fear of irking the White House and beyond. The ...

Joining me now is Matt Stler, director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project and author of the book Goliath: The Hundred-Year- War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. Matt, welcome to the show. It's good to have you here.Hey, thanks for having me. Matt, I'm I'm trying really hard to to make sure people understand this this connection that monopolies and corporate control and consolidation are all bad, but they're not just bad for the sake of being bad because your prices go up. They're ba ...

Core Viewpoint - Nexstar Media Group announced the return of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to its owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network, following Disney's recent decision to revoke its affiliation [1] Group 1 - Nexstar Media Group is set to reinstate "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on its television stations [1] - The announcement comes shortly after Disney's revocation of its affiliation with the show [1]

Core Viewpoint - Fox Corporation is actively pursuing a potential acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations, which has positively influenced its stock performance and reflects its strategic direction under Lachlan Murdoch's leadership [2][3][5]. Company Overview - Fox Corporation operates in the media industry with a diverse portfolio that includes news, sports, and entertainment content, led by CEO Lachlan Murdoch and chairman emeritus Rupert Murdoch [1]. - The company competes with major players like Disney and Comcast [1]. Stock Performance - The current trading price of FOXA is $60.23, showing a slight increase of 0.12% from the previous session [4]. - The stock has experienced fluctuations between $59.80 and $61.04, with a 52-week high of $62.85 and a low of $41.13 [4]. - Guggenheim's Michael Morris has set a new price target for FOXA at $68, indicating a potential upside of 12.9% from its current price [1][5]. Recent Developments - News regarding Fox's potential acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations has led to increases in Fox A and B shares by 2.2% and 1.9%, respectively [2][5]. - The acquisition involves a consortium of U.S. investors, including notable figures like Oracle's Larry Ellison and Dell Technologies' Michael Dell, with the investment expected to come from Fox Corporation itself [3][5]. - This strategic move is seen as an effort to consolidate Lachlan Murdoch's control over the family media empire [3][5]. Market Metrics - Fox Corporation's market capitalization is approximately $26.84 billion, with a trading volume of 4,101,616 shares [4].

Group 1: Baidu and Kunlun Chip - Baidu holds a 59.45% stake in Kunlun Chip, which recently won a large-scale procurement project from China Mobile, achieving first place in three bidding packages with market shares of 70%, 70%, and 100% respectively [1] - Kunlun Chip has also secured significant market shares from major clients such as Tencent, Oppo, and Vivo, as well as energy companies like Southern Power Grid and State Grid [1] Group 2: Baidu's Online Marketing and User Engagement - As of June 2025, Baidu's app has 735 million monthly active users, reflecting a 5% year-on-year growth, comparable to domestic Douyin users [1] - Baidu's search services are undergoing AI-driven enhancements, which are expected to improve advertising efficiency [1] Group 3: Baidu's Intelligent Cloud Services - By July 2025, Baidu's intelligent cloud has maintained the top position in China's AI public cloud market for six consecutive years, leading in 48 bidding projects across various sectors including finance, energy, and government [1] Group 4: Baidu's Autonomous Driving Orders - In Q2 2025, Baidu's autonomous driving service, "Luobo Kuaipao," saw order growth exceeding 2.2 million, marking a 148% increase year-on-year, with operations in 16 cities and total orders surpassing 14 million, making it the global leader [1] Group 5: iQIYI's Revenue Sources and Policy Environment - iQIYI's revenue is derived from three main segments: membership services, online advertising, and content distribution [2] - In August 2025, the National Radio and Television Administration issued 21 policies viewed as significant benefits for the industry, similar to the 2023 relaxation of gaming license regulations, favoring companies that operate platforms and create content [2] Group 6: Baidu's Market Valuation - Baidu currently has $30 billion in cash, with an expected net profit of $20 billion in 2026, leading to an estimated valuation of $360 billion based on an 18x PE ratio [2] - Kunlun Star is projected to reach $5.5 billion in revenue by 2025, with a 40x PS ratio valuation of $220 billion, translating to Baidu's 60% stake worth $132 billion [2] - The total estimated valuation approaches $500 billion, while Baidu's latest closing price is below $330 billion, indicating a potential upside of 50% [2]

A bondholder industry group has accused Warner Bros. Discovery and its bankers of undermining creditors when the company repurchased billions of dollars of its bonds earlier this year https://t.co/zf6ifkl1jp ...

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [1][2] - The news team operates in major financial hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth, focusing on medium and small-cap markets as well as blue-chip companies [2][3] - Proactive covers a wide range of sectors including biotech, pharma, mining, natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging technologies [3] Group 2 - The company emphasizes the use of technology to enhance workflows and content production, adopting automation and software tools, including generative AI [4][5] - All content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, ensuring adherence to best practices in content production and search engine optimization [5]

Core Insights - iQIYI announced the launch of the first AI theater in China, named "Baudry·iQIYI AI Theater," aimed at gathering content ideas and teams globally while providing technical support and creative subsidies [1][3] - The first batch of AI narrative films, each over 15 minutes long, is scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2026, focusing on both artistic and commercial value [1][3] Group 1 - The AI-native content production model is expected to become mainstream in the industry, although no AI narrative works have been realized yet [3] - The theater will explore new narrative modes and content ecosystems in the AI era, collaborating with a new generation of creators [3] - Baudry believes that AI-generated creative methods will break traditional limitations and lead a visual revolution, providing creators with opportunities to innovate [3] Group 2 - The first batch of films will come from the "Baudry·iQIYI AI Theater" creative camp, where 30 selected teams will undergo a 7-day offline training with Baudry's guidance [3] - The top 15 teams will receive production subsidies and technical support, and will benefit from promotional resources provided by the platform upon release [3] - Creators of selected works will participate in profit-sharing from membership fees and advertising revenue, aiming for new value realization for creators [3]

Core Insights - Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), Tencent Cloud, and Tencent News launched the "Tencent City Smart Media Plan" to integrate resources and enhance urban cultural branding and soft power [1][3][9] Industry Trends - The media industry is undergoing a digital, intelligent, and IP-based transformation, focusing on integrating cultural resources and enhancing content production efficiency [3][5] - The shift towards advanced technology and diverse operational scenarios is crucial for media outlets to explore transformation [3] Technological Integration - Tencent Cloud leverages its expertise in cloud computing, big data, and AI to establish a robust technical foundation for the platform [3][5] - The plan includes creating a cultural big data center to process various cultural resources, breaking down data barriers across the entire content lifecycle [3][5] Application Development - Tencent Cloud integrates its product ecosystem to provide intelligent applications, aiding local governments and media in creating a "smart brain" for cultural dissemination [5][7] - The use of AI-driven tools like 3D digital humans enhances visitor experiences through personalized services [5][7] Content Creation and Marketing - Tencent News focuses on local cultural IP development through diverse formats such as micro-dramas and documentaries, achieving positive responses [7] - TME collaborates with local cities to explore innovative paths in music and cultural tourism, enhancing regional cultural dissemination [7][9] Future Collaboration - TME, Tencent Cloud, and Tencent News plan to deepen cooperation through shared technology, co-created content, and joint channel development to establish sustainable urban cultural branding [9]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **Media & Entertainment** industry in **North America**, specifically examining the impact of **Generative AI (Gen AI)** on the entertainment business [1][3]. Core Companies Mentioned - The companies identified as well-positioned to benefit from Gen AI include **Netflix (NFLX)**, **Spotify (SPOT)**, **Meta (META)**, and **Google (GOOGL)** [1][3]. Key Insights and Arguments 1. **Current Winners**: The report highlights that NFLX, SPOT, GOOGL (YouTube), and META are expected to see medium-term benefits from Gen AI through enhanced personalization, monetization, and content cost efficiencies. However, there is a long-term risk that new entrants may disrupt these established players using emerging technologies [3][4]. 2. **Intellectual Property (IP) Concerns**: For TV and film studios and music labels, the focus is on defending and exploiting owned intellectual property. The report emphasizes the importance of protecting copyright and artist repertoire while leveraging Gen AI to enhance connections between artists and fans [4][10]. 3. **Experiential Assets**: Gen AI is anticipated to lead to ultra-personalization, increasing demand for live, shared experiences as digital lives fragment. This trend is expected to benefit companies with unique experiential assets, notably **Disney (DIS)** and **Live Nation (LYV)** [5][10]. 4. **Content Creation and Efficiency**: - NFLX is utilizing Gen AI to make high-cost effects accessible for smaller budget series. - Runway AI has helped **AMC Networks (AMCX)** lower content spending guidance [8][10]. - Gen AI is driving a surge in content volumes, with Deezer reporting that approximately **30%** of daily music uploads are fully AI-generated [8][10]. 5. **Distribution and Product Innovations**: - Netflix has revamped its landing page to enhance personalization and user engagement. - Spotify launched an AI remix tool to help users customize music tracks [37][38][39]. 6. **Monetization Strategies**: - Gen AI tools are entering the advertising market, focusing on video and audio ad products for small businesses. - Meta reported improved ad conversions due to the adoption of Gen AI tools for ad creative [54][55][60]. Additional Important Insights - **Legal and Talent Complexities**: The report notes ongoing litigations, including lawsuits from Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. against AI companies like Midjourney over copyright issues. The expiration of Hollywood labor contracts in 2026 is also highlighted as a looming concern [1][10][82]. - **Cost Reduction Potential**: Major media companies could potentially reduce overall programming expenses by approximately **10%** through the adoption of Gen AI tools, with film budgets expected to save between **10-30%** [19][22][21]. - **Emerging Technologies**: New AI platforms like **Showrunner** and **Genie 3** are being developed to enhance content creation and storytelling capabilities, indicating a shift towards more interactive and personalized entertainment experiences [17][68][89]. - **AI Guidelines**: Netflix has issued its first AI guidelines to manage risks associated with talent and copyright, reflecting a cautious approach to integrating Gen AI into content creation [72][75]. - **Market Dynamics**: The report discusses the potential for AI-generated content to flood the market, raising concerns about quality and authenticity, particularly in the context of platforms like TikTok [59][60][91]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights and developments within the Media & Entertainment industry as it navigates the transformative impact of Generative AI.