The Town with Matthew Belloni

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to debate whether Netflix or YouTube is winning the battle to dominate Hollywood. They move through the pros and cons of each platform, the new rules of engagement, whether podcasts are working on Netflix, whether YouTube should go after premium content, and more (02:26). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of WarnerMount after a judge ruled for a temporary restraining order on the deal (27:50).

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Stefano Sanchez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Matt is joined by Makan Delrahim, chief legal officer at Paramount, who argues his case in favor of Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. He explains what they are willing to concede, why the state's case should fail, why this deal improves competition, whether Paramount would leave California, and the multiple ways this case could play out (02:42).

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Makan Delrahim

Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Stefano Sanchez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

This episode is brought to you by AMC+. Start your free trial today at join.amcplus.com

This episode is brought to you by Accenture. https://Accenture.com/Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(00:00) Matt is joined by Guggenheim Senior Managing Director Michael Morris to discuss Netflix’s latest data dump and quarterly earnings report and assess why the market has started to turn on the streamer. They dig into why Netflix decided to reduce their engagement report release from biannually to annually, why the stock price has dropped nearly 50 percent since October, the nagging question of engagement, the perception that growth is slowing, and if M&A is necessary to reaccelerate growth, (02:29). Matt finishes the show with a World Cup final ratings prediction (28:25).

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Michael Morris

Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Stefano Sanchez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

This episode is brought to you by AMC+. Start your free trial today at join.amcplus.com

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Matt is joined by professor Violaine Roussel, a professor of sociology at Paris 8 University, to discuss her new book 'Data Driven Hollywood: The New Data Professionals in the Age of Streaming,' which polls 75 data scientists employed at streamers and studios to explain how modern studios use data to inform what they greenlight, what the data departments look like inside these streamers, how Netflix uses things like “taste clusters,” and how creative choices have been reinvented over the last 15 years (02:43). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for Christopher Nolan’s new film ‘ The Odyssey’ (29:23).

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Violaine Roussel

Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Stefano Sanchez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

This episode is brought to you by AMC+. Start your free trial today at join.amcplus.com

This episode is brought to you by Accenture. https://Accenture.com/Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw are joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta to discuss California’s new lawsuit to block Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. They talk about what the lawsuit highlights and avoids, Paramount’s response, and the impact the acquisition would have on Hollywood (02:51). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of Disney live-action remakes after a weak opening weekend for 'Moana' (35:03).

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw, Rob Bonta

Producers: Craig Horlbeck, Jessie Lopez, and Stefano Sanchez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

This episode is brought to you by AMC+. Start your free trial today at join.amcplus.com

This episode is brought to you by Accenture. https://Accenture.com/Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices