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Ari Emanuel on the Future of Entertainment: Hollywood, AI, Creator Economy, YouTube vs Netflix

Ari Emanuel, a transformative force in entertainment and sports, shares insights on the evolving media landscape, technological disruption, and the future of content creation. From talent representation to building global live events, his career spans decades of industry transformation—all while navigating personal dynamics and high-stakes innovation.
Emanuel discusses how Endeavor leveraged infinite distribution to evolve from a talent agency into a global powerhouse through strategic acquisitions like UFC and IMG, overcoming early IPO challenges. He highlights a major shift in entertainment: creators now take equity in brands they promote, reshaping podcasting into a stakeholder-driven model. Live content is emerging as a critical antidote to AI saturation, with growing demand for real-world experiences signaling a move toward a three-day workweek. Balancing leadership at TKO and WME, Emanuel emphasizes IP ownership and platform choice—YouTube versus Netflix—as pivotal for creators. Sports must adapt to shorter attention spans and global markets, particularly in India, China, and Europe, by embracing faster formats and digital clip culture. Internationally, leagues are expanding reach through localized events and partnerships. Personally, Emanuel reflects on his competitive upbringing and growing respect for Elon Musk’s robotics ventures, underscoring a belief in their long-term economic impact.
01:03
01:03
Endeavor was founded on the idea of infinite distribution inspired by George Gilder.
06:54
06:54
Big podcasters can own equity in their sponsors instead of just running ads
09:21
09:21
The opposite bet to AI is live — humans want connection.
17:26
17:26
Top creators can still make tens of millions through residuals and IP ownership
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21:09
I don't want to buy a studio or sports team — we've started a big events company after raising $2 billion.
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22:13
Most sports will need to adapt due to kids' shorter attention spans
24:22
24:22
Elon Musk's robot project will be profitable by replacing human workers at low cost