The Town with Matthew Belloni 2026 Burning Questions: Another Strike? Is 'Avengers: Doomsday' Doomed? And David Ellison’s Movie Taste.
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Jan 5, 2026 
Lucas Shaw, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in the entertainment industry, joins to tackle Hollywood's burning questions for 2026. They explore the looming possibility of another strike, driven by AI concerns and guild leverage. NFL rights negotiations emerge as a major influence on media spending, impacting everything from movies to partnerships. The duo weighs in on David Ellison's cinematic taste at Skydance and debates whether Universal can finally dethrone Disney as the box office champion. Predictions for the industry's future are also on the table, making for an engaging discussion!
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NFL Rights Could Squeeze Content Budgets
- NFL rights renegotiations may start in 2026 via an early opt-out, threatening to dramatically raise rights costs for media companies.
- Higher NFL prices will force broadcasters and streamers to reallocate spend away from entertainment content.
NFL Still Values Broadcast Reach
- The NFL still needs broadcast partners like CBS and Fox for reach, limiting a full shift to streaming-only distribution.
- Tech companies may target international or secondary packages rather than displacing U.S. broadcast windows.
Sports Deals Reprioritize Studio Spending
- Major sports deals (NBA, NFL) already prompted Comcast and others to shift spending toward sports and away from entertainment originals.
- Expect continued pullback in film and scripted TV budgets as sports become central to streaming strategies.