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2025 Media Recap: Winners & Losers

  //media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/2026/01/21/2025-media-recap-winners-losers.html
  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, January 21st 2026 at 8:15 GMT by Deadline.com
      Locales: New York, California, UNITED STATES

Recap of 2025: Winners and Losers

To understand the trajectory for 2026, it's crucial to revisit what happened in 2025. The year presented a complex picture for media companies. Disney's rebound, Fox Corporation's unexpected strength, and the promise surrounding Paramount Global were counterbalanced by the struggles of Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix's relative underperformance, Roku's advertising-dependent woes, and BuzzFeed's continued digital media challenges. The common thread? Adaptability and innovation, or lack thereof, played a decisive role.

Disney (DIS): The Reigning Champion (For Now)

Disney's impressive turnaround in 2025, led by CEO Bob Iger, sets a high bar for 2026. Iger's strategic focus on cost-cutting within the Disney+ streaming platform - a direct response to investor pressure - coupled with a renewed emphasis on major film releases, particularly revitalizing the Marvel franchise, proved highly effective. The diversification efforts, notably into immersive virtual reality experiences, signaled a willingness to explore new revenue streams beyond traditional film and television. In 2026, maintaining this momentum will depend on delivering consistent, high-quality content and navigating the increasingly competitive streaming environment.

Fox Corporation (FOXA): The Unexpected Resurgence of Linear TV

The surprising strength of Fox Corporation in 2025 underscored a key trend: linear television isn't dead. The company capitalized on live sports rights - a consistently valuable asset - and adopted a programming strategy emphasizing curated content over algorithm-driven recommendations. This approach fostered a loyal audience and, crucially, boosted advertising revenue. While cord-cutting remains a concern, Fox's 2025 performance suggests that a focused, targeted approach to linear programming can still thrive. The question for 2026 is whether this is a sustainable strategy or a temporary reprieve.

Paramount Global (PARA): Riding the Acquisition Wave (With Uncertainty)

The potential acquisition of Paramount+ by Comcast generated significant investor excitement in 2025, pushing the stock price upward. However, the ongoing negotiations and the ultimate terms of the deal remain a source of uncertainty. A successful acquisition could unlock significant value, but a breakdown in talks could dampen investor sentiment. 2026 will be a pivotal year for Paramount Global, largely dependent on the resolution of this major transaction.

The Losers and the AI Factor

Warner Bros. Discovery's struggles highlight the challenges facing companies burdened by high debt and unclear strategic direction. Netflix, despite remaining a streaming giant, faces increasing competition and the lingering impact of password-sharing crackdowns. Roku's reliance on advertising revenue proved to be a vulnerability, and BuzzFeed continues to grapple with the inherent difficulties of the digital media business. The common thread among these 'losers' in 2025, and a significant takeaway for 2026, is the underutilization or inability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence.

Companies like Magnite, benefiting from AI-powered ad targeting, illustrate the growing importance of AI in the media ecosystem. AI's ability to personalize content recommendations, optimize ad placement, and automate content creation is transforming the industry. Media companies that fail to integrate AI into their operations risk falling behind.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Key Trends to Watch

Several key trends will define the media landscape in 2026:

• The Continued AI Revolution: Expect AI to play an even greater role in content creation, distribution, and advertising.
• Streaming Consolidation: More mergers and acquisitions are likely as companies seek to gain scale and compete effectively.
• The Evolution of Linear TV: Linear television will continue to adapt, experimenting with new formats and targeting specific audiences.
• The Battle for Advertising Dollars: Competition for advertising revenue will intensify, forcing media companies to innovate and demonstrate value to advertisers.
• The Metaverse and Immersive Experiences: The growth of the metaverse and virtual reality could open up new revenue streams for media companies willing to invest in these technologies.

Ultimately, the media companies that demonstrate the greatest agility, embrace technological innovation, and develop sustainable business models will be the ones that thrive in 2026 and beyond. The 'battle for eyeballs' remains fierce, but now it's also a battle for data, innovation, and the ability to adapt to a constantly evolving consumer landscape.