Geekonomy

Any given Friday. The three most interesting facts from the Economy of Pop Culture of the last 7 days. Here are the ones from this week.

1) Media Stocks in 2024: winners and losers.

Netflix emerged as the standout performer among media stocks in 2024, with its shares surging more than 90% over the year. The streaming giant outpaced competitors still grappling with the shift toward streaming and the decline of traditional linear TV. Netflix now boasts a market capitalization of $385 billion, with its stock climbing 92% to close at $900.43 per share by year-end. Over the first nine months of 2024, the company added 22.5 million new subscribers, reaching 282 million globally by the end of September.

Despite cooling slightly in December after reaching record highs, Netflix remains bullish about 2025. The company projects revenue of $43 billion-$44 billion (representing 11%-13% growth) and an operating margin of 28%, up from its 2024 forecast of 27%.

Netflix’s ad-supported tier saw significant growth, surpassing 70 million users, while its content strategy continued to deliver. Hits like Bridgerton and Squid Game maintained momentum, alongside milestones such as its first NFL live broadcasts and a blockbuster boxing event featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Netflix also secured a deal for WWE Monday Night Raw, set to begin in January.

Fox Corp. saw substantial gains, with its stock up 64% year-to-date. The company benefited from increased ad revenue tied to the 2024 election cycle and a summer packed with soccer broadcasts.

Disney experienced a more modest 22% rise, with its stock hitting $120 per share in spring after activist investor Nelson Peltz failed to overhaul the board. While summer concerns over theme parks dampened performance, strong earnings and streaming profits propelled Disney’s stock higher in November. CEO Bob Iger sold $42 million worth of shares in late November.

Conversely, Warner Bros. Discovery faced a challenging year, with its stock down 10%. The company reported a $9.1 billion write-down on its pay-TV networks, contributing to all-time low share prices in August. However, gains in its Max streaming service and a divisional restructuring announcement helped stabilize the stock.

Paramount Global and Comcast also struggled. Paramount’s stock plunged 28% as the company made significant cuts ahead of its anticipated acquisition by Skydance Media. Comcast, down 14%, began preparations to divest most of NBCUniversal’s cable TV assets to strengthen its financial outlook.

Source Variety

2) The year of the Videogame industry, in numbers.

The global video game market in 2024 was valued at $184.3 billion, with revenue distributed across mobile games ($92.5 billion), console games ($50.3 billion), and PC games ($41.5 billion).

In the mobile gaming sector, the top markets by revenue were the United States, China, and Japan, while the leading countries by downloads were India, Brazil, and the United States.

The industry also faced challenges, with over 14,000 layoffs reported, reflecting broader difficulties in the tech sector, including the impact of AI.

Despite these setbacks, the global gamer community grew by 4.5%, reaching 3.42 billion people.

Looking ahead, major releases like "Grand Theft Auto VI" and new hardware from Nintendo are anticipated to drive industry growth in 2025.

Source gamesindustry.biz

3) “The Batman Part II” release delayed to 2027 and Jason Momoa cast as Lobo in “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”.

In recent developments within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), significant updates have emerged regarding upcoming film projects.

Jason Momoa, previously known for his role as Aquaman, has been officially cast as Lobo in the forthcoming film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This casting aligns with Momoa's enthusiasm for portraying the intergalactic bounty hunter, a character he has long admired.

The film, featuring Milly Alcock as Supergirl, is scheduled for release on June 26, 2026, marking the second installment - after Superman - in the revamped DC Universe under James Gunn's leadership.

Warner Bros. has also announced a delay in the release of The Batman Part II, now slated for October 1, 2027. This postponement extends the gap between the original film and its sequel to five years. James Gunn, co-president of DC Studios, addressed concerns by noting that such intervals are common in the film industry, citing examples like the seven-year gap between the first two Terminator films and the 13-year hiatus between Avatar installments. Gunn emphasized that the delay allows director Matt Reeves to deliver a high-quality sequel without rushing the creative process.

These developments reflect DC Studios' strategic planning to balance character reintroductions and ensure the quality of its cinematic offerings.

Source Polygon & Variety