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Published May 20, 2023

No Mercy / No Malice: Struck

Scott Galloway delves into Disney's existential crisis amid evolving media landscapes and technological pressures, while the entertainment industry grapples with a writer's strike influenced by the rise of AI and short-form content, reshaping economic and creative frameworks with platforms like TikTok challenging traditional norms.
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Episode Highlights

  • Economic Shift

    The economic landscape of content creation is shifting dramatically due to the writer's strike. highlights the overinvestment in content by streaming services, which has strained profit margins and created a backlog of shows that outlasts the strike fund 1. He notes that while AI could lead to job losses, it also presents opportunities for those who understand it 1. The strike offers studios a chance to recalibrate their spending without losing market share, but the urgency to resolve the strike is lacking 1.

    The writer's strike and its outcome will boil down to incentives and leverage.

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    Additionally, points out that short-form content like TikTok is capturing more attention, especially among younger audiences, further challenging traditional scripted TV 2.

       

    Historical Parallels

    The current writer's strike draws parallels to past labor disputes, such as the British coal miners' strike of the 1980s. compares the situation to the decline of the coal industry, where technological and consumer shifts led to a collapse 3. He suggests that the Writers Guild of America may face a similar fate if they fail to adapt to the changing landscape of content consumption 3.

    The strike ended a year later with the union gravely weakened.

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    The media's support for the writers mirrors the public sympathy for the miners, yet the structural decline in scripted television poses a significant challenge 3.

       

    Union Strength

    Union solidarity among writers and actors is a crucial element in the ongoing strike. emphasizes the importance of unity, noting that actors and writers share a common struggle against declining pay and job security 4. Despite the solidarity, the entertainment industry faces a structural decline similar to the British mining industry, with changing consumer preferences and increased competition 4.

    They screamed at change, but progress wouldn't listen.

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    The rise of reality TV and live sports, which require fewer writers, further exacerbates the challenges faced by traditional scripted television 4.

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