Weekly Roundup – April 15, 2025

As legacy media competes with large-scale social platforms, executives must learn how to participate in the creator economy or risk extinction: TikTok-style shorts as a discovery tool can help...

Now in 2025, many content and streaming companies are seeking to aggressively invest in shorts, creating more value for their long form content by leveraging it in short form. And while the majority see a big business opportunity for themselves on their own platform, as well as the potential in the syndication market, what has been most interesting to me is the various use cases that have come to light, many of which are beginning to reveal themselves more to businesses.

The primary use case that has emerged is shorts as a discovery tool. Long gone are the days of channel flipping or reading your coffee table TV guide to find something of interest, and there are certainly AI-based discovery options on the market today. But perhaps like the happy accident of sticky notes, consumers are finding content through their social video feeds. That’s right: shorts is the new EPG (Electronic Programming Guide, or TV Guide).

Major League Baseball could put some of its most valuable inventory — out-of-market local rights — on the market.

Major League Baseball has discussed potentially selling exclusive rights to MLB.tv as part of upcoming media rights talks, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported Wednesday. The out-of-market package is already available to purchase as an add-on through multiple third-party platforms, including Amazon, Sling and Fubo, but has always remained under the auspices of MLB.

The report Wednesday did not indicate whether MLB has begun talks with any specific contender for the package, but local MLB rights have long been coveted by Amazon and ESPN.

Consumers in New York spent $23.94 billion betting on sports during the 2024-25 fiscal year, setting a new record for both the state and the United States, according to data released by the New York State Gaming Commission.

The figure represents a 21.9% increase over the $19.64 billion wagered in the previous fiscal year and marks the highest annual sports betting handle ever posted by a U.S. state.

Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, has redefined the boundaries of digital entertainment. With over 250 million subscribers across multiple YouTube channels, a net worth surpassing $1 billion, and a reputation for extravagant stunts and philanthropy, he's transformed online content into a formidable business empire. While his viral videos and high-profile giveaways have captivated audiences worldwide, it's his ventures beyond the screen that are generating substantial profits.​

MrBeast's chocolate brand, Feastables, has emerged as a significant revenue driver. In 2024, the company reported $215 million in revenue, accounting for half of Beast Industries' total income. This success is particularly noteworthy given the challenges posed by new U.S. tariffs on cocoa imports, which have increased production costs. Donaldson has criticized these tariffs, stating that manufacturing Feastables abroad has become more economical. Despite these hurdles, Feastables continues to thrive, underscoring Donaldson's ability to navigate complex market dynamics.

Interest in superfans and their revenue potential has become so strong that market research firms and equity analysts are digging into the topic. This week, Bernstein released a report on music streaming services’ potential moves and MIDiA Research released a new report about music streaming pricing strategy.

For the uninitiated, a music superfan has been defined by Luminate as those fans who interact with artists and their content in multiple ways, including streaming, social media, physical music purchases and buying merchandise. These superfans make up 19% of U.S. music listeners, according to Luminate, and are more likely than the average fan to buy physical music, spend more on music, discover new music, connect with artists on a personal level and participate in fan communities