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Brandon Katz

Brandon Katz

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The Oscars’ Fight to Stay Relevant Amid Its Cultural Decline

Fragmented media, streaming and social media have weakened the Oscars’ cultural influence, prompting the Academy to chase audiences on YouTube.

11.03.2026 9

Observer

Brandon Katz

Can David Ellison Break Hollywood’s Mega-Merger Curse?

Paramount Skydance may soon own one of the deepest libraries in entertainment, but until it decides what kind of studio it wants to be, the merger...

09.03.2026 5

Observer

Brandon Katz

Netflix Leaves WBD Fight With $2.8B and a New Identity Question

After losing WBD to Paramount Skydance, Netflix walks away with $2.8 billion but faces new questions about its next phase of growth.

05.03.2026 5

Observer

Brandon Katz

Live Sports Are Fueling Streaming Growth, But Streamers Need an Off-Season Plan

Sports content is up 52 percent across major streamers in the last two years. The real challenge now is keeping NFL and UFC fans engaged after the...

25.02.2026 9

Observer

Brandon Katz

Dana Walden Faces Disney’s Franchise and Streaming Reckoning

As Bob Iger exits and Josh D’Amaro ascends, Dana Walden becomes the key figure shaping Disney’s stories, franchises and streaming future.

11.02.2026 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

As Streaming Grows Up, Familiar Shows Dominate Viewing, Data Shows

Nielsen’s yearly rankings reveal how streaming has shifted from breakout culture to dependable, repeat viewing anchored by familiar IP.

31.01.2026 10

Observer

Brandon Katz

These 5 Directors Remain Hollywood’s Most Bankable, Data Shows

In an IP-dominated industry, a handful of directors remain powerful enough to secure green lights and audiences on reputation alone.

22.01.2026 10

Observer

Brandon Katz

As ‘Stranger Things’ Ends, Streaming Giants Scramble for Their Next Tentpoles

As Stranger Things exits, a handful of mega-series are left carrying the economics and identity of the streaming business.

31.12.2025 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

HBO’s Crown Jewel Status Shapes the Battle for Warner Bros. Discovery

HBO’s unmatched brand power makes it the prestige asset every bidder needs in a fragmented streaming market.

14.11.2025 6

Observer

Brandon Katz

Why No Late-Night Show Host Has Cracked the Streaming Code (Yet)

Late-night hosts once ruled TV. Now, streaming’s algorithms and culture have left the format obsolete and out of sync.

22.10.2025 5

Observer

Brandon Katz

Disney’s Once-Unshakable Animation Empire Is Wobbling

Box office slumps, audience apathy and internal rewiring reveal how deeply Disney is rethinking animation.

15.10.2025 6

Observer

Brandon Katz

Disney’s Once-Unstoppable Franchises Are Showing Signs of Fatigue

Disney’s reliance on aging franchises like Star Wars and Marvel shows cracks as audiences demand fresher stories and more urgent big-screen hits.

01.10.2025 6

Observer

Brandon Katz

How a Warner Bros.-Paramount Merger Could Make or Break Hollywood

With the Ellisons circling, a Warner Bros.-Paramount merger could crown a new franchise king—if debt, egos and regulators don’t block it.

12.09.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

4 Actors With Real Star Power in Hollywood’s Franchise-Obsessed Era: a Data-Backed Look

Data shows Sandra Bullock, Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon still command audience attention outside blockbuster franchises.

03.09.2025 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

How Sony Pictures ‘Won’ the Streaming Wars By Sitting Them Out

While Disney, WBD and other Hollywood giants bled billions on streaming, Sony took a slower, smarter path.

06.08.2025 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

Why Some Movies Hit Theaters While Others Go Straight to Home Screens

Box office hits, streaming spikes and data-driven pivots are redefining how films reach audiences.

15.07.2025 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

Action Franchises Still Thrill Gen Z—With the Right Stars and Strategy

The action genre is evolving with streaming, spectacle and savvy stars—keeping Gen Z engaged even as classic franchises age.

13.06.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

Apple TV+ Leads Streaming’s Return to Old Hollywood Economics

Apple TV introduces a new pay structure based on performance metrics, reshaping how talent is compensated in the streaming industry.

11.06.2025 10

Observer

Brandon Katz

ESPN’s Streaming Leap Could Make or Break Sports TV as We Know It

ESPN’s long-awaited streaming launch marks a critical turning point in the collapse of cable and the fight for sports viewer loyalty.

04.06.2025 9

Observer

Brandon Katz

Unpacking British Shows’ Enduring Appeal to American Audiences

From Bridgerton to Bake Off, U.K. shows dominate U.S. streaming with smart drama, unscripted hits and quirky comedy—here’s why.

19.05.2025 4

Observer

Brandon Katz

Dropping HBO Was a Mistake, and Warner Bros. Discovery Isn’t Afraid of Admitting It

Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to revive the HBO Max brand marks a strategic recalibration toward premium storytelling and brand clarity.

17.05.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

Trump’s Proposed 100% Tariff on Foreign Movies Pushes Hollywood to the Edge

The idea of a purely American-made movie is a myth. Neil Soni/Unsplash When President Donald Trump fired off a Truth Social post over the weekend...

09.05.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

A24’s $3.5B Valuation Pushes the Indie Studio Toward Blockbusters

As A24 scales beyond art house acclaim, its billion-dollar ambitions raise the stakes for Hollywood’s coolest brand.

05.05.2025 9

Observer

Brandon Katz

Can Superhero Films Still Fly? Marvel and DC Face a Reckoning

The fate of the superhero genre hangs on the box office performance of Marvel’s Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four and DC’s new Superman.

19.04.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

Hollywood Keeps Betting on Books, Games and Manga—Why Familiar Stories Always Win

Studios chase familiar stories to mitigate risk, with books, games and true events powering streaming success and audience loyalty.

13.04.2025 10

Observer

Brandon Katz

How Marvel Masters Storytelling Across Movies, TV, Video Games and Books

Marvel led with a character-first ethos that grounded stories with human stakes that all demographics connected with. 

07.04.2025 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

The Decline of Originality in Hollywood: a Look at the Numbers

Originality and new-to-screen concepts have lost in a landslide over the last 15 years.

25.03.2025 6

Observer

Brandon Katz

‘The White Lotus’ Shows HBO Still Has Its Magic in the Franchise Era

Can any other series wring laughs out of a deadly Jennifer Coolidge shootout?

06.03.2025 7

Observer

Brandon Katz

Forget Streaming Bundles—the Future is About ‘Ecosystem Bundling’

TV series and films will not be enough to retain subscribers. The future is about creating all-encompassing digital ecosystems.

25.02.2025 10

Observer

Brandon Katz

‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ Puts a Rare Hollywood Franchise to Test

Can dinosaurs live forever?

14.02.2025 20

Observer

Brandon Katz

By the Numbers: Exactly How Popular Is Netflix’s Squid Game 2?

Despite lackluster reviews, Squid Game 2's popularity is undeniable.

23.01.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

Netflix Pivots to Theatre With Greta Gerwig’s New Movie: Opportunities and Challenges

Greta Gerwig’s "Narnia" reboot will play exclusively on 1,000 IMAX screens across 90 countries before debuting on Netflix next year.

22.01.2025 10

Observer

Brandon Katz

Streaming Is Making Live Sports More Expensive and Becoming a Fan Harder

Streaming platforms’ competition for splashy sports rights has transformed not only viewing habits but the sports ecosystem itself.

17.01.2025 8

Observer

Brandon Katz

Why Hollywood No Longer Produces Superstars

Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio avoided franchise fare, which allowed them to maintain their drawing power for non-IP films.. Getty Images Star power,...

20.12.2024 10

Observer

Brandon Katz