Who is going to buy Paramount Global? Is M&A best done before or after the presidential election? Can anyone compete with Netflix? These are just a few of the big dilemmas Naveen Sarma, managing director of S&P Global Ratings, tackles in his return visit to Strictly Business as he wrestles with some of the questions vexing Wall Street right now regarding the media sector.

Who is going to buy Paramount Global? Is M&amp;A best done before or after the presidential election? Can anyone compete with Netflix? These are just a few of the big dilemmas Naveen Sarma, managing director of S&amp;P Global Ratings, tackles in his return visit to Strictly Business as he wrestles with some of the questions vexing Wall Street right now regarding the media sector.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Strictly Business

Variety journalists and industry leaders converse about news and trends in media and entertainment. "Daily Variety" episodes offer entertainment business headlines and news analysis, published Monday through Thursday. "Strictly Business" episodes, published on Friday, feature long-form interviews with the newsmakers, movers and shakers who drive the business of entertainment.

Variety journalists and industry leaders converse about news and trends in media and entertainment. "Daily Variety" episodes offer entertainment business headlines and news analysis, published Monday through Thursday. "Strictly Business" episodes, published on Friday, feature long-form interviews with the newsmakers, movers and shakers who drive the business of entertainment.

Variety's Strictly Business

Paramount Just the Start of Media's 2024 M&A Mysteries

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0b2afc8a-51cf-4c70-9f88-b10e0178810f/transcript

On today's episode, Variety's Todd Spangler analyzes the latest moves in Paramount Skydance's quest to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. And Dodger great Orel Hershiser talks baseball, broadcasting, business and faith as he prepares to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Aug. 13 for his work as a sportscaster.

On today's episode, Variety's Todd Spangler analyzes <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/david-ellison-move-paramount-out-of-california-states-antitrust-lawsuit-1236831936/">the latest moves in Paramount Skydance's quest to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery</a> for $110 billion. And Dodger great Orel Hershiser talks baseball, broadcasting, business and faith as he prepares to receive his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Aug. 13 for his work as a sportscaster.

Will Paramount Bail on the Golden State? Dodger Great Orel Hershiser on Broadcasting, Baseball and Faith

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/71c65732-87d0-4ceb-ab0b-b4a40180a817/transcript

On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID.

On today's episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety's Rebecca Rubin reports that the good news keeps on coming for <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/spiderman-brand-new-day-box-office-near-record-second-weekend-1236830807/">the movie biz as "Spider Man: Brand New Day" soars in weekend two and "The Odyssey" </a>becomes Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film. Most important, the summer tally to date has already reached the $4 billion benchmark that was the norm pre-COVID.

Daily Variety -- Summer Box Office Will Surpass the $4 Billion Benchmark

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/779e4057-fef7-4d65-81f3-b4a20154b86b/transcript

On today’s episode, Variety’s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.

On today&rsquo;s episode, Variety&rsquo;s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/inside-googles-efforts-creatives-hooked-on-ai-1236827944/">covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders</a> and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.

Daily Variety -- Fear, Loathing and Endless Potential: AI4 Conference Takes Stock of Transformative Technologies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/81c40db9-a998-46ff-90ce-b49e0117f57e/transcript

Paramount Just the Start of Media's 2024 M&A Mysteries

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