Hot List: Survival in the Tilly Norwood Era, Larry/David’s New Stack
"Come on, agencies, don't do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection." - Emily Blunt on AI actors/Tilly Norwood (pictured left)
Tucked between social posts of friends riding lions, media analysts catching NFL touchdowns and other AI-generated tomfoolery—there is an important, growing conversation about the implications all these changes to production and distribution capabilities are having on our industry.
While agencies are bidding on “AI-star” Tilly Norwood, the actual working class that makes up the entertainment infrastructure is caught in the crosshairs. The industry widely unionized to protect creativity and worker rights is now forced in many ways to surrender to entertainment’s ultimate true north: better margins.
In this week’s Hot List must read, Alan Wolk builds his body of work about the Death of Monoculture to explore AI gaming and the collateral damage of rapid changes in Hollywood.
Elsewhere, this week’s Hot List explores some questions that may be on your mind.
What does The Trade Desk’s deal with DirecTV even mean? Alan spoke with TTD.
What are local broadcasters to do next? Tim Hanlon explores their existential crisis.
What’s the future of cross-platform TV ad buying? Jon Lafayette looks to OpenAP’s 16 platform/publisher expansion.
What is the latest for the industry in Europe? Marian Ranchet has 6 big lessons, and Alan has ideas for how Telcos can fix their UX timebomb.
How much do NFL blowouts impact advertisers? John Cassillo shows us with exclusive iSpot data.
One more thing, Larry/David …
A few weeks ago I speculated that Ellisons Larry/David would actually get a sizable TikTok taste to add to the Paramount portfolio. Now nicely portioned on their plate, they have a chance to explore a vertical integration unlike any other.
Stacked with radio stations, TV networks, movie studios, news operations, online media properties, addictive algorithmic platforms and insane data infrastructure, Ellisons Larry/David are now officially a new pillar in the Attention Industrial Complex.
What chess pieces might be next? And will this spur a new type of cross-platform competition?
P.S., If you’re attending Advertising Week, MIP or OTTX this month, reach out and say hi!
