Show Notes
Julia and Dylan dig into Paramount’s Nashville-or-Texas brinksmanship with Rob Bonta and the red-state logic behind it, then unpack the Bari Weiss ratings discourse and Nielsen’s shifting methodology. They debate how mainstream media should cover the AI extinction-risk debate, weigh in on Ari Emanuel’s memoir, and close with ESPN’s talent-pay math on Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Tom Brady.
More from The Grill Room
CNBC’s Alex Sherman joins Dylan to discuss ESPN’s upcoming Super Bowl debut and its ambitious multi-platform strategy, in which the network plans simultaneous broadcasts across ABC, ESPN, Disney+, and other channels. They also weigh the ripple effects of Troy Aikman’s contract dispute, then turn to the bidding picture for future World Cup rights and why Disney may hold the strongest hand.
The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and Business Insider’s Peter Kafka join Dylan for a deep dive into the media reporting beat—and how sports-media talent and business pressures are reshaping coverage. They discuss finding distinct angles on popular beats, why they’re bullish on newsletters, and how talent’s growing leverage has become a genuine brand headache for networks like ESPN.
Julia and Dylan dig into Netflix’s recent bloodletting and what it reveals about the deeper challenges facing the streamer. They discuss whether Netflix’s business model can realistically challenge YouTube, and why YouTube’s creator ecosystem and engagement model are so difficult to replicate. Then they turn to Skydance and whether it can invest in its long-term growth while facing constant pressure to reduce debt.
In this special live recording from Puck’s In the Arena, Dylan convenes NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, Gotham FC owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, and Project Level exec Jason Wright to discuss the state of women’s soccer and women’s sports writ large. They get into the NWSL’s media deals, the league’s expansion plans, turning World Cup curiosity into real fandom, and plenty more.
Julia and Dylan reunite to examine Skydance’s post-merger playbook, and how David Ellison intends to manage an $80 billion debt load and deliver $6 billion in promised synergies. They also get into the fate of CNN and CBS News, which hinges on the power struggle between Mark Thompson and Bari Weiss, as neither seems eager to cede influence. The lingering question, of course: can the company create sustainable growth after the cost-cutting ends?