Data centers, edge infrastructure, and AI RAN economics with Earl J Lum

Dan Jones talks with Earl J Lum, President of EJL Wireless, about how New York’s new data center moratorium could shape future state policy, what it means for mega watt and gigawatt builds, and whether edge data centers can fill the gap. They also dig into the practicality of Elon Musk’s small cell approach, and whether Nokia’s AI RAN plans will deliver enough performance to justify the cost.

Key topics

Timestamps

00:00 - Introductions and the data center policy conversation 01:12 - Why New York’s moratorium could set a national precedent 02:09 - Renewable energy targets and long term compliance requirements 03:31 - Environmental impact, water use, and the pressure on other states 04:19 - Texas grid concerns and the energy burden of hyperscale builds 05:44 - What counts as a large data center versus edge scale infrastructure 06:57 - Containerized edge data centers and liquid cooling 08:28 - Why Starlink plus small cells creates mobility problems 10:18 - Why small cells are not a practical first choice for operators 11:47 - Transition to Nokia’s AI RAN plans 12:40 - ReefShark, Marvell, Broadcom, and Nokia’s silicon stack 14:15 - How NVIDIA based AI RAN cards could fit into AirScale 15:31 - The cost hurdle for operators and the need for real performance gains 16:22 - Why field trials matter more than lab claims 17:33 - What kind of AI operators actually need in the RAN 18:03 - Energy savings, software subscriptions, and operating cost pressure 21:24 - Why AI RAN is more likely to land in major metro markets 22:29 - Closing thoughts and wrap up

Notable quotes

Join Next TMT co-founders David Bloom and Daniel Frankel as they break down the biggest structural shifts hitting media, entertainment, and tech this week. From the slow death of lucrative local sports networks to high-stakes antitrust negotiations, streaming shakeups, and the evolving mechanics of digital distribution, David and Daniel unpack what these industry moves mean for the future.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Timestamps

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What will the television and streaming business look like three years from now?

David Bloom and Daniel Frankel break down the forces reshaping the media industry — from the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal and the accelerating decline of cable TV to Netflix’s push into live sports, the future of ESPN, and the next battle over NFL rights.

The big question: Is linear TV declining gradually — or could it collapse much faster than the industry expects?

They also examine:

• Why the Paramount–WBD deal depends on squeezing more value out of declining cable networks
• Why streaming could overtake linear TV faster than expected
• The future of Fox, Fox One and the NFL
• Netflix’s strategy for live sports and why the Field of Dreams game may have missed the mark
• What baseball’s changing distribution model says about the future of sports media
• Whether ESPN will remain part of Disney
• The changing value of ABC and broadcast television
• Why live events may become increasingly important to streamers
• How Korean content, vertical programming and lower-cost productions could shape the next era of streaming
• What happens to Hollywood as the traditional TV ecosystem continues to shrink

The media business is entering a major transition — and the next three years could reshape television, streaming, sports rights and Hollywood.

Next TMT Talks is hosted by David Bloom and Daniel Frankel in partnership with Media Play News.

Subscribe for more analysis of technology, media and telecom.

In this episode of Next TMT Talks, David Bloom and Daniel Frankel are joined by Rick Ellis of All Your Screens (soon launching Too Much TV) to break down the massive $112B proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.

They dive deep into the media spin, state AG pressure, and why selling off CNN or moving studio production out of California isn't as simple as it sounds. Plus, the team covers:Charter & Cox Deal: Charter moves to acquire Cox, forming an integrated communications powerhouse. Reed Hastings’ Next Chapter: The Netflix co-founder reflects on leading through AI innovation while rehabbing a ski lodge.

Creator AI Debates: Hank Green faces fan backlash over AI use, coinciding with strict new EU disclosure rules. Disney D23 & Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: John Favreau revives Disney’s original 1927 classic.

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00:02 The Big Merger: Charter and Cox
02:17 Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Merger Insights
05:41 The Role of Unions in Media Mergers
10:02 Financial Struggles and the Future of Warner Bros.
12:26 CNN's Digital Transformation and Challenges
15:32 The Stakes of the Paramount Merger
19:40 Public Pressure and the Future of the Merger
24:08 Disney's New Ventures and Franchise Challenges
28:01 The Quest for New Franchises in Media
31:50 Adapting Popular Media: The Case of Squid Game
36:14 Exploring Humor in Recent Shows
37:42 Rediscovering Hidden Gems in Streaming
39:42 The Future of Cable and Mergers
43:34 The Evolution of Content Creation and AI
48:38 Reflections on the Streaming Industry's Past
56:29 Navigating the Challenges of AI in Journalism

David Bloom and Daniel Frankel dive into the biggest shifts reshaping media, tech, and sports entertainment:

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Ericsson, Samsung, and Nokia are racing to put AI directly into the RAN, but the real question is which approach actually survives the jump from 5G Advanced to 6G. Daryl Schoolar — Analyst & Director at Recon Analytics breaks down what AI RAN really means, why some vendors are betting on CPUs while others push GPUs, and why the biggest opportunity may not be cost savings at all, but entirely new services and revenue streams.

Dan Jones and Daryl Schoolar unpack Ericsson's AI RAN deal with SK Telecom, how South Korea is becoming a proving ground for next-gen network trials, and why these announcements are more than just vendor theater. You will discover the difference between AI for RAN, AI RAN, and the even more ambitious idea of RAN for AI, plus why each one creates very different business models for operators.

They also get into the timing. If 6G is really coming around 2028 to 2030, these partnerships are the early proof points that will shape what the network stack looks like by then. Along the way, they compare Ericsson's and Samsung's CPU-heavy approach with Nokia's more aggressive GPU strategy and explain why inferencing could become a key part of the next phase.

Then the conversation shifts to SpaceX and Starlink's much-discussed "FEMTO frenzy" - and the reality check behind it. Daryl explains why becoming a mobile operator is a lot harder than announcing one, why small cells alone are unlikely to cut it, and why low-band and macro coverage would be essential if Starlink is serious. He also lays out the hidden complexity of spectrum, zoning, customer service, billing, OSS, and device provisioning that can sink even the best technology story.
If you're following AI in telecom, next-gen RAN architecture, or the chances of a Starlink mobile play, this episode is packed with sharp analysis and zero hype. Essential listening if you want to know what's real, what's marketing, and what's coming next in wireless.

Tubi is quietly building the stickiest rabbit hole in streaming, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are stuck in a deal that could reshape Hollywood, and Netflix just scored an exclusive first look at the biggest video game launch of the year.

David Bloom and Daniel Frankel break down the streaming strategy that’s working where everyone else is still guessing. From Tubi’s AI-powered discovery engine and its 110 million monthly active users to the future of FAST, the economics of cable-scale media, and why “free” is suddenly one of the most powerful words in entertainment, this episode is packed with the kind of industry context that explains where viewers are actually going.

You’ll discover:
Why Tubi’s “rabbit hole” approach is turning old library titles into a growth engine
How Fox turned a $440 million acquisition into a streaming asset that keeps compounding
What Hub Entertainment Research’s latest FAST data says about free vs. paid viewing behavior
Why Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are still waiting, and what every delay costs them
How Netflix landed a six-hour exclusivity window on Grand Theft Auto 6’s trailer
What Versant’s latest golf move signals about the future of legacy media brands
The conversation also veers into the state of Hollywood media power, the future of IndieWire, and the long shadow of Nikki Fink, including the unpublished book drama and the culture of gossip-driven entertainment reporting that shaped an era.

This is essential listening if you follow streaming, media M&A, ad-supported TV, gaming, or the business of Hollywood itself. If you want to understand what’s changing, who’s winning, and where the next audience battles are being fought, this one delivers.

00:02 Exploring Tubi's Expanding Universe
08:29 The Streaming Landscape: Tubi vs. Competitors
12:19 The Waiting Game: Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery
16:07 Nikki Fink: A Polarizing Figure in Hollywood Journalism
28:10 The Rise of a Media Icon
29:56 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Indie Media
33:30 The Future of Film: Trends and Innovations
38:43 The Complexities of College Sports Legislation
46:26 Cultural Conversations in Women's Sports
51:36 Strategic Moves in Media and Entertainment

After years of losses, is streaming finally becoming a sustainable business?

On this episode of Next TMT Talks, David Bloom and Daniel Frankel break down the biggest stories shaping the technology, media, and entertainment industries. They examine David Ellison's vision for CBS News and CNN as the Paramount-Skydance merger moves forward, why streaming services are finally posting meaningful profits, and what Spider-Man's record-breaking box office success says about the future of movie theaters.

The conversation also explores Disney's evolving streaming strategy, Scripps' AI-driven newsroom layoffs, SpaceX's latest earnings report and Starlink's expansion plans, plus the week's most anticipated streaming releases—including the return of Ted Lasso.

In This Episode

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Roy Chua joins Dan Jones to break down the latest US policy moves, satellite D2D realities, and the ROI on enterprise AI.

In This Episode:

This week on the podcast, Dan Jones sits down with Roy Chua, Founder and Principal at AvidThink, to analyze the major policy shifts, market moves, and spectrum battles shaping the tech and telecom landscape.

Here’s what we dive into:

Is the AI Bubble About to Burst? Oracle, Warner Bros., FIFA & Hollywood's Biggest Risks | Next TMT Talks

Is the AI investment boom reaching a breaking point?

This week on Next TMT Talks, David Bloom and Daniel Frankel examine the growing cracks in the AI economy, Oracle's massive debt-fueled gamble on AI infrastructure, and what it could mean for the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery–Paramount merger.

We also dive into:

If you work in media, streaming, AI, entertainment, sports, or technology, this episode connects the dots between Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood in ways few others do.

Subscribe for twice-weekly conversations on the future of media, technology, telecom, streaming, AI, advertising, and sports business.

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Timestamps
00:00 Is the AI bubble starting to crack?
00:46 Oracle's debt and AI infrastructure gamble
04:00 Could Oracle's problems affect the Warner-Paramount merger?
12:55 Will the merger actually save Hollywood?
18:00 RFK Jr., Dana Bash & media accountability
24:00 The influencer economy is changing
30:30 FIFA's private equity controversy
37:20 Netflix's stolen movie lawsuit
43:00 Final thoughts

#AI #Oracle #LarryEllison #OpenAI #Hollywood #WarnerBros #Paramount #Streaming #Media #Technology #Netflix #FIFA #SportsBusiness #WallStreet #NextTMT