Skydance Media CEO David Ellison outlined a vision on Monday for Paramount Global (PARA.O) as a technology-media hybrid company amid Hollywood’s competition with tech giants entering the entertainment sector. During an hour-long presentation to investors following the merger announcement with Paramount, Ellison drew inspiration from Steve Jobs, citing the late Apple (AAPL.O) co-founder and Pixar Animation Studios leader as a mentor who shaped his perspective on the intersection of art and technology.
“The art challenges the technology and the technology challenges the art,” Ellison quoted Jobs, emphasizing their symbiotic relationship. “We believe understanding this dynamic is crucial to seizing this moment.”
A central theme behind merging Skydance, a media firm founded in 2010 focusing on streaming media, with Paramount, rooted in cinema history dating back to the silent film era, is to position the company for a transformed market landscape. Ellison discussed plans to enhance Paramount+’s streaming service, hinting at leveraging artificial intelligence.
“As technology firms increasingly enter the media space,” Ellison explained, “Paramount must bolster its technological capabilities to thrive as both a media and technology enterprise.”
Ellison also outlined improvements to Paramount+’s algorithmic recommendation systems to increase viewer engagement and reduce churn. He proposed advancements in advertising technology to provide marketers with better audience insights. A presentation slide deck detailed how artificial intelligence could revolutionize content creation and operational efficiency.
“David Ellison’s tech savvy, influenced perhaps by his upbringing or his father’s guidance,” remarked Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel in an April Reuters interview, “sets him apart from others in the industry.” Ellison’s father is Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle (ORCL.N).
