Media Trends Live Summit: Media leaders rethink business models
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Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson on stage at Axios' Oct. 20 Media Trends Live Summit. Photo: Jonathan Heisler for Axios
NEW YORK — Media leaders outlined new revenue strategies, distribution plans and audience engagement approaches at Axios' Media Trends Live Summit.
Why it matters: AI, mergers and political pressures are reshaping the entertainment industry. How companies navigate these challenges will determine which legacy organizations survive and which newcomers stand out.
- The Oct. 20 event was sponsored by BBC Studios and Civic.
Catch up quick: Here are our top takeaways.
- There's no price at which Hearst would sell its stake in ESPN, Hearst president and CEO Steven Swartz told Axios' Sara Fischer on stage, pointing in particular to the company's relationship with the NFL.
- Longest-running Saturday Night Live cast member, actor and comedian Kenan Thompson addressed the recent Shane Gillis controversy, saying that if Gillis were to return as a host, there would need to be a conversation "like a little kid" about what could have gone differently. "I would just sit him down and be like, 'Yeah, so what do you think we could change there, pal?'"
- Versant is unlikely to acquire Skydance's cable networks, Versant CEO Mark Lazarus told Fischer exclusively, and will instead focus on other M&A opportunities.
- Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez predicted ABC will win its First Amendment lawsuit against the agency over alleged retaliation for editorial decisions related to Jimmy Kimmel.
- Trump Media and Technology Group CEO Kevin McGurn declined to comment on investigations into Truth API, saying, "We hear from all sorts of government agencies all the time. We're one of the most scrutinized businesses on the face of the planet."
Content from the sponsor's segment:
In a View From the Top conversation, BBC Studios North America SVP of client partnerships Jon Otto said that modern media companies can stay relevant by being selective about how they reach and engage audiences.
- "Being everything to everyone at all times is a really difficult strategy today, when we're in an industry with endless fragmentation and access to infinite content. So audiences are not a monolith, and neither can we be."
In a sponsored conversation, CIVIC Entertainment Group co-founder and CEO Stuart Ruderfer said brands can build trust through creating shared experiences and community, especially in emerging audience segments like Gen Z.
- "Let's stop being so much the disco ball and more be the dance floor. Invite people to get on that dance floor and help co-create the brand together. That's where magic can be made, and that's where value can be built in the next couple years."
Go deeper: Watch the full event.
