The Eric Jackson Podcast

Apple has spent $150 billion on stock buybacks and $50 billion on dividends since starting the capital return program in 2012. They've also tacked on $100 billion in debt that needs to be repaid down the road. They'd have been better off buying Facebook, Netflix or Instagram. Google hasn't minded taking big swings at YouTube, Android, or DoubleClick over the years - and it's reshaped the company. Eric outlines why Apple needs to face its big M&A blind spot.

Verizon's Go90 strategy looks dated compared to AT&T's with DirecTV and Time Warner zero rated data streaming as well as Sprint and T-Mobile's unlimited data plans. Eric outlines why Vessel isn't a solution for Go90 and Verizon likely needs to make a much bigger content acquisition.

With Michael Lynton leaving to go to be Executive Chair at Snap, many in the media have speculated that Sony is about to sell off its movie studio to either CBS or someone else. Eric gives his read on why he thinks it's more likely that Sony's CEO Kaz Hirai will double down on its investment in the movie studio as it tries to better fuse its hardware and software.

The NFL's TV Ratings ended 2016 down 8% from the prior year. That's much better than earlier in the season. Some think the blip was purely the result of the election year. Eric explains why he thinks there are still big ratings problems ahead for the league next year and after.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Verizon executives have approached Charter about a potential tie-up of the cable and wireless companies. It demonstrates how Verizon feels it’s ill-equipped to compete against the cable/wireless/content behemoths of AT&T and Comcast. Eric explains what's behind the interest in the deal.

Eric speaks to Laundry Service Founder and CEO Jason Stein about what to expect from the Tech and Media sectors in 2017. Topics include: (1) how successful will Snapchat’s IPO be?, (2) the speed at which ad dollars are moving to Snapchat, (3) why Facebook has been forgotten and what you’ll see from them this year, (4) can anyone else besides Google and Facebook make money in digital in the near term?, (5) which companies are best poised to be the next content bundlers?, (6) can Twitter be saved?,(7) what's going to happen to live sports in 2017?, and (8) which of the wireless company strategies will be most successful?

Some have speculated that Disney might want to spin off ESPN this year to increase the value of the stock price. Eric doesn't think it will happen because ESPN is still such a huge provider of cash for Disney management.

The biggest media story in 2016 was unquestionably the AT&T acquisition of Time Warner for $85.4 billion. Eric discusses his 5 predictions for what will happen in the media sector in 2017.

HBO is still seen as the most prestigious destination for dramas and comedies on TV. But they face huge challenges in the face of competition from Netflix and Amazon. What do they need to do to compete? Lose a lot more money, Eric argues.

Since news broke this week that National Amusements wouldn't pursue a merger of CBS and Viacom, the conventional wisdom has been that it was because CBS CEO Les Moonves didn't want to own the distressed assets. It's more likely there's more upside in the Viacom turnaround plan that Bob Bakish has articulated.