Matt Belloni: what the Oscars tell us about Hollywood

Analyst/writer/investor-to-be Matthew Ball gives his predictions on how Disney, Netflix, Apple and Amazon are faring in the ‘battle royale’ - the streaming wars. He gives Peter Kafka his insight on Amazon Video from his time there, and talks about why he's bullish on Disney but skeptical about WarnerMedia. He also explains how he used the internet to transform himself from anonymous consultant to in-demand-strategy guy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6 Juni 20191h

Jimmy Pitaro is president of one of the most powerful programming networks on TV - but how does ESPN stay competitive in the streaming era? He talks to Peter Kafka about how he got the job at ESPN, and how he’s reshaping the network. Also: building relationships with the NFL and NBA, and sports journalism at ESPN: where sports and politics intersect.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30 Maj 201954min

Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer at YouTube talks to Peter Kafka about how YouTube deals with problematic content: how it enforces the site’s community guidelines, and deploys machines to detect, and humans to evaluate this content. YouTube users upload 500 hours of content every minute, and YouTube has no plans to slow that down, so the job won't get an easier; the site takes down 8-9 million videos every quarter. They also discuss the strategy around YouTube's subscription service and its TV service. Also on the show, Vox’s Todd VanDerWerff’s take on Game of Thrones, and his new podcast, Primetime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23 Maj 201951min

Amazon and Hulu veteran Eugene Wei has a really smart take on how status determines our use - and the success - of social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He talks to Peter Kafka about why we’re all status monkeys on social media, how young influencers use it differently than the rest of us, and how our mental models of these networks are changing. Also: his thoughts on working in the Amazon bubble, and the failed HQ2 in New York.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 Maj 20191h

Author Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy) talks to Peter Kafka about his newest project: Sundance’s “State of the Union” a 10-part series that unfolds in 10 minute episodes. Hornby, who became famous writing about obsessive fans, also talks about trading vinyl for Spotify, and why that’s not a bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Maj 201939min

Two conversations in this episode: Vanity Fair writer, podcast host, and Game of Thrones expert Joanna Robinson talks to Peter Kafka about the end of GOT, and what that means for HBO, and the media ecosystem that has built up around the show — and what it says about the state of TV. Plus, Hulu CEO Randy Freer, talks about the fast-growing subscription service, which has become a key part of Disney's video strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 Maj 20191h 8min

Jason Hirschhorn, digital media pioneer and CEO of news aggregator REDEF, comes back for this third visit with Peter Kafka. They talk about streaming and ‘direct-to-customer’: what this means for Disney and Netflix. Also: how tech is changing movie-making, and the evolution of Hulu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7 Maj 20191h 2min

Kickstarter is now synonymous with crowdfunding, but for years it was just an idea in founder Perry Chen’s mind: “This is something that should exist.” Chen talks to Peter Kafka about building and funding the site, the challenges of running a for-profit, mission-driven business — and why he hates ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Maj 20191h 4min