In this Halloween episode of MediaTalk, host Mike Reynolds and Kagan Research Analyst Peter Leitzinger dive into the hotly contested 2024 US elections. With political ad spending projected to jump 17% to $4.1 billion, local TV stations are set to reap the rewards as candidates ramp up their campaigns in swing states like Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. The stakes are high, with pivotal races for the White House and control of Congress unfolding against a backdrop of pressing issues such as the economy and reproductive rights. Tune in as they break down the ad spending strategies of both parties, the key battlegrounds to watch and the potential for surprises in the final stretch. Join us for insights that are as thrilling as a Halloween night! 

The US wireless industry has largely reached the point of saturation, making continued growth difficult. As carriers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile report third-quarter results this week, S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analyst Lynnette Luna talks us through where future wireless service and device revenue increases will come from in the next decade — whether that is additional lines for individuals with personal and professional phones, 6G services or the introduction of AI-enabled devices and services.

With the NBA season tipping off Oct. 22, MediaTalk host Mike Reynolds is stepping up to the three-point line with S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan Principal Analyst Scott Robson, who tracks US TV networks and sports; Kagan Research Analyst Michael Johnson; and Lee Burke, principal of consultancy LHB Sports, Entertainment and Media. Together they talk about the changes afoot nationally for the '25/'26 NBA season, as well as evolving local rights strategies amid the collapse of the RSN model.

The sports video market is in the midst of a historic shift. When it comes to local rights, myriad teams are abandoning regional sports networks in favor of broadcast and streaming offerings. On the national side, more and more rights are migrating to streaming from pay TV. Standing in the middle of it all is FuboTV, the sports-centric virtual multichannel service. Fubo has been making headlines of late with its legal battle against Venu, the proposed sports-oriented streaming joint venture from Walt Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. On this episode of MediaTalk, host Mike Reynolds sits down with Fubo co-founder and CEO David Gandler to discuss the ever-evolving sports media landscape and the company's progress in its effort to secure a more equitable playing field for distributors.

Though the video game market is eagerly looking ahead toward the holiday sales market, it is facing myriad headwinds. Console shipments are struggling both as the market waits for a new Nintendo Switch and consumers digest the price tag of the new PlayStation 5 Pro. This episode of MediaTalk brings back S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analyst Neil Barbour, who leads video game coverage for the consumer technology team. Then, Neil and fellow Kagan analyst Richard Berndes weigh in on the top video games from the sports arena and the eSports market.

In this episode, MediaTalk host Mike Reynolds sits down again with S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analyst John Fletcher, who specializes in multichannel and broadband. With funding for a key federal subsidy having ended, cable operators and telcos both reported heavy fixed broadband subscriber losses in the second quarter, with further declines expected in the third quarter. At the same time, fixed wireless is continuing to drive subscriber growth for the broadband industry as a whole, especially when combined with subscriber additions from newer satellite services like Starlink. Will fixed wireless continue to gain share? What markets are seeing the most fixed wireless growth? And what do fixed wireless customers have to say about their experience with the service? Mike and John dial into these questions and more.

In this episode, MediaTalk Host Mike Reynolds speaks to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan Senior Research Analyst Wade Holden, who specializes in the movie business, and Mac Mathews, associate director of editorial, design and publishing at S&P Global and film aficionado. Wade and Mac discuss the performance of the summer box office, touching on the films that most resonated with moviegoers and films where viewers opted to wait until the streaming release. Spoiler alert: while franchise films and long-awaited sequels did well, a number of originals failed to find their audiences -- at least in theaters. Looking forward, they also talk about the biggest films coming out this fall. Grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy!

With lawmakers back from the August recess and the US presidential election heating up, MediaTalk host Mike Reynolds sits down with S&P Global Market Intelligence policy reporter Stefan Modrich. Together, they discuss some of the biggest issues facing the tech, media and telecom segments, including regulating AI, privacy, cybersecurity, antitrust and M&A.  

With the start of the NFL season on Sept. 5, MediaTalk host Mike Reynolds joins three S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analysts to talk about the 2024/25 professional football season. While the NFL thrives on broadcast, it continues to increase its streaming presence with Thursday night games on Amazon Prime, NBC games on Peacock, CBS games on Paramount+, "NFL Sunday Ticket" on YouTube and even a couple of games on Netflix this year. Though the streaming services are good partners for the NFL and will likely grow the amount of exclusive NFL games they carry over time, the Kagan analysts believe broadcast still remains the best platform for the NFL in terms of reach — at least for the time being.

More S&P Global content:

• Business of Sports

Featured experts:

• Justin Nielson, principal analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan
• Scott Robson, principal analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan
• Michael Johnson, analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence

Credits:

• Host/Author: Mike Reynolds
• Producer/Editor: Sarah James

With both political parties having wrapped up their conventions, MediaTalk Host Mike Reynolds speaks to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan Analyst Peter Leitzinger, who specializes in the broadcast industry with expertise in political advertising. Joining the conversation is Market Intelligence tech policy reporter Stefan Modrich. After broadcasters recently upped their estimates for political ad revenue, Peter shares his outlook for the 2024 election cycle, projecting an "all-out ad blitz" between now and Election Day. Peter and Stefan discuss not only the battle for the White House, House of Representatives and Senate, but also the battle occurring between traditional and digital video platforms as broadcast stations, TV networks and social media companies all look to scoop up as much ad revenue as possible.