PRO Tip Sheet: 5 Insights From This Week

This week we reported on Disney’s strong earnings quarter, on how “Coyote vs. Acme” was in a race for time, on how the age of billionaire media owners is waning and on how Taylor Swift is boosting ratings and sponsorships for the NFL. [5 Insights From WrapPRO]( This week more big entertainment companies reported earnings, including Disney, which scored a positive quarter for CEO Bob Iger, who touted new investments and streaming initiatives. We also reported exclusively how “Coyote vs. Acme” was in a race for time after Warner Bros. decided to kill off the film, delved into the waning age of billionaire media owners, revealed how Taylor Swift has given a 20% sponsorship boost and new women viewers to the NFL, and explained how Apple’s film strategy remains a cipher after “Argylle” turned into a box-office bust. 1. [The Final Days of ‘Coyote vs. Acme': Offers, Rejections and a Roadrunner Race Against Time | Exclusive]( By Taylor | Source:WrapPRO]( - Despite positive test audience feedback and interest from major studios like Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount, Warner Bros. demanded an inflated price for “Coyote vs. Acme,” leaving its fate uncertain amid financial pressures. - Warner Bros. executives, including CEO David Zaslav, decided on the film's fate without even watching the finished product. - The cancellation of “Coyote vs. Acme” reflects a broader trend within Warner Bros. to prioritize theatrical releases over streaming. - The studio's refusal to communicate transparently with filmmakers and insistence on a high asking price suggests a profit-driven approach. - With the looming Warner Bros. Discovery earnings call, time is running out for the film to escape being shelved for good. [Keep Reading]( 2. [Disney’s Iger Plays Offense, Touting New Investments, Streaming Initiatives After Earnings Win]( By Alexei Barrionuevo | Source: [WrapPRO]( - Bob Iger's strategic announcements, including a $1.5 billion gaming investment and details about the launch of an ESPN-centric sports streaming platform, aim to revitalize Disney's performance amid criticism from activist investors and market challenges. - Disney's Q1 earnings report showed a 58% increase in net income, driven by cost-cutting measures and a boost in Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) revenue, despite flat overall revenue. - While Iger says Disney will still focus on sequels and franchises, families continue to show a preference for familiar IP. - Disney plans to invest $60 billion in expanding its Experiences segment, with a focus on parks and resorts globally, while competition looms from Universal Studios' upcoming Epic Universe park. - As linear TV declines, Iger's strategy involves leveraging ESPN through digital platforms like the joint sports app with TNT and Fox. [Keep Reading]( 3. [The Age of Billionaire News Ownership Is Waning: Who or What Will Replace Them?]( By Emily Smith and Sharon Knolle | Source:WrapPRO]( - Billionaire “rescue plans” for newspapers are failing. Jeff Bezos' cuts at the Washington Post show even the richest media owners lose patience with money-losing ventures. This model is unsustainable. - Non-profit news is a growing alternative. The Salt Lake Tribune and others prove it's possible, but the approach may not work for “big, general-market” papers. - Community investment and philanthropy offer hope. Niche publications could find support, but large-scale funding remains a question. - Journalists are fighting back. Guilds are striking and demanding policy changes, highlighting the industry's crisis. - Success stories exist. The Boston Globe and Minneapolis Star Tribune show focused ownership and paywalls can lead to profitability. [Keep Reading]( 4. [Taylor Swift’s NFL Bump: 20% Sponsorship Gains and New Women Viewers]( By Kayla Cobb and Loree Seitz | Source:WrapPRO]( - Taylor Swift's presence at NFL games, particularly with her relationship to Travis Kelce, has resulted in significant viewership increases, with notable spikes in ratings among young women. - The Swift effect has extended beyond the NFL, impacting events like the Golden Globes and even political strategies. - Swift's attendance at Kansas City Chiefs games has coincided with bumps in female viewership across various age groups. - The pop star's presence has translated into substantial sponsorship revenue growth for the Chiefs as well. - While Swift's involvement has undoubtedly contributed to the NFL's recent success, the league's overall value and the performance of teams like the Chiefs are also driving interest and revenue. [Keep Reading]( 5. [After ‘Argylle’ Bust, Apple’s Theatrical Strategy Remains a Cipher | Analysis]( By Jeremy Fuster | Source: [WrapPRO]( - Apple's ambitious foray into theatrical releases with high-budget films like “Argylle” faces uncertainty after its lackluster domestic opening weekend, prompting questions about its overall investment strategy. - Despite Apple's vast resources, its film division's opaque performance metrics and secretive nature leave industry observers puzzled about the rationale behind its cinema ventures and their impact on Apple TV+. - “Argylle,” a PG-13 action film acquired for around $200 million, marks a departure from Apple's previous dark dramas. - While Apple remains committed to theatrical, with upcoming releases through Sony, the long-term viability of the approach remains unclear amid evolving market dynamics and shifting consumer preferences. - Apple's simultaneous focus on content integration and hardware innovation, such as the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, suggests a broader strategy to leverage entertainment offerings to sell products. [Keep Reading]( With a focus on delivering actionable intelligence, the PRO Tip Sheet empowers readers to stay ahead of the game in the industry. Want to go deeper? [Explore WrapPRO today](. TheWrap | 2034 Armacost Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Unsubscribe](