Brian Jeremy Kupetz

Is Paramount's Tech Transformation Just a Pipe Dream? In the ever-evolving landscape of media, David Ellison’s announcement about transforming Paramount into a tech powerhouse stirred quite the conversation. Including by me: https://lnkd.in/eBsi2xbi But as we dive deeper, several challenges emerge, casting shadows of doubt over this ambitious pivot. #1. Financial Feasibility With Paramount grappling with substantial debt and pressing financial obligations, notably hefty NFL payments, the costs of attracting top tech talent become a significant concern. Can Paramount realistically afford this tech overhaul amidst economic uncertainties and a struggling stock? The talent war isn't won on ambitions alone, especially when competitors like Google offer more stable havens. #2. Creator vs. Coder Paramount’s tech ambition, while necessary, seems at odds with maintaining the creator-friendly environment Ellison dually promised. In an era when interest rates have climbed, balancing tech innovation with creative freedom is a tightrope walk. Remember, even Netflix, once a haven for creators with its blank checks during #ZIRP, is tightening its purse strings. How can Paramount navigate these waters without the cushion of a tech giant's capital or rising stock prices? 3. Building vs. Buying Tech Infrastructure David Ellison’s plan for Paramount involves a substantial commitment to developing in-house tech capabilities, focusing on cloud services, AI, user interfaces, recommendation algorithms, and ad-serving technologies. This approach aims to differentiate Paramount from competitors and enhance user experience. However, the tech sector’s history suggests leveraging established third-party platforms could be more cost-effective and reliable. Giants like Disney have successfully integrated platforms like BamTech, while HBO initially utilized external technology before transitioning. AMC Networks similarly relies on Brightcove for streaming technologies. The pivotal question for Ellison is whether the potential benefits of custom-built solutions justify the investment and risk, especially when patching together proven third-party solutions might yield quicker and more economical results. #InEssence... These challenges are monumental, yet not insurmountable. As we watch Paramount’s narrative unfold, one thing is clear: transitioning into a tech entity is more than just a strategic pivot—it’s a gamble on the future of entertainment itself. Thoughts? #Paramount #StreamingWars #MediaTech

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Over the years I’ve seen dozens of variations of the strategy/tactics “layer cake”. Somewhere at the top (or bottom) you have vision. And then three to six layers away you have projects, bets, experiments, options, or whatever. The vision is super stable, lasting years and years. The strategy sticks around for one, two, or three years. And at last we have the “work”—where the magic happens—lasting weeks and months. Everything cascades, nests, and connects neatly. It feels good; It looks good. Except… We operate in environments that don’t operate in terms of neat cascades. A shift in the macro-economic or socio-political environment can upend every layer. If you imagine a strategy consisting of many assumptions and motions, it is unrealistic to expect a homogenous level of stability. Some parts are about winning/losing in days and weeks. While other parts are much more stable. No one has any skin in the game for all the fluffy words in the cake. Nothing holds them to these words. No one will keep a 2y goal “stable” just because teams want it that way. One quarterly misstep and the whole thing will be rewritten—implicitly or explicitly. The budget is where the actual decisions are made. And no one looks back at the nice diagrams and says "alas, that's a three year commitment!" All to say that outside of the nice slide-ware, it is much more effective to imagine many diverse motions in play—each with unique shapes and needs—instead of a cascade.

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If anyone is in North County San Diego, on Thursday May 2nd, we will be hosting a tech entrepreneur and investor meet up at 5:30pm. We’ll have a couple speakers, one of which is a fin-tech start-up raising a round, followed up by a presentation on the state of the stock & crypto market. We host these events quarterly and usually get a lot of founders and investors to attend. If anyone is interested, please message me and I can send you the details. LaunchPad San Diego #startups #startupincubator #entrepreneur #investing #crypto #meetup

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Go to this

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ROI is making it RAIN!!! (aka incremental revenue) No Seattle jokes please;) We are working with large scale publishers in News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Travel, and Autos verticals. High volume, high frequency. STOP READIG NOW if you are not interested or incentivized by incremental revenue. Now that we have dropped nonrevenue incented/operation types, let's talk about increasing revenue. If you are selling 100% of your supply you are in a rare, probably non-optimized group. Most publisher do not and should not fill more than 75% of supply directly. Using the bottom 25% to leverage floors higher, increasing bids/ecpm. ROI allows publishers the opportunity to efficiently monetize 100% of their supply. Accomplishing this by selling unfilled outside of the direct adstack in a secondary auction or post-bid strategy. We will deliver real time market data on supply value, allowing publishers to understand supply value and flooring. Selling and optimizing your unsold is a simple and import part of a balanced programmatic strategy. ROI is the only company that is doing this and has been doing this from the beginning of programmatic. Let's talk, let's drive incremental rev!

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Such an amazing walkthrough of the remx.xyz platform from artist Melissa DiVietri! If you've ever been interested in how the Remx platform works from either an artist or sponsor perspective, check this out!

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Ooh... This'll be good! I speak with #VR devs/pubs on a daily basis, and the one recurring issue right now is the Meta Quest Store. And it's no longer just complaining about placement (which, judging by mobile, will be an enduring issue); it's about the search function. It's about backend changes not being replicated on the frontend. It's about the reporting tools available being woefully inadequate. The are a great many problems right now. Let's get Henry Stockdale some info to make a credible, cohesive report on this!

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DO THE BEST WITH WHAT YOU HAVE At Glory Visuals, we believe it's not about having the most resources but making the most out of what you have. This core value drives us to always find a way to create something amazing, regardless of the tools at hand. No matter where you are or what you have, you can make a difference. 3 things to remember on set: 1. Embrace what you have 2. Approach each challenge with gratitude 3. Push the limits of creativity Remember, it's not the resources that define success—it's how you use them. Let's all make the most of every opportunity! Austin Hall #GloryVisuals #CoreValues #MakeTheMostOfIt #Mindset #Gratitude #Inspiration #Resourcefulness

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Gyms post-COVID are becoming software-enabled powerhouses as programming becomes digital and collaborative. Superset is creating a world where gym managers, personal trainers, and athletes benefit from one centralized system of record. Coaches and clients can expect a lot more in 2025 than 2018 or 2019 💪

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🎯 Seeking: A Design Visionary for Forge™ In the 90s, Jony Ive helped transform Apple's design language. Now, FORGE Inc. seeks an even more ambitious visionary -> someone who can define how humans and AI companions will interact for decades to come. Our aiRobot™ family isn't just another product line -> it's the beginning of a new era in human-AI relationships. We need someone who sees beyond current design paradigms to create something truly revolutionary. We're seeking a design pioneer who: Has shaped revolutionary products before Understands that tomorrow's classics are born from timeless principles Can envision AI companionship in its purest, most elegant form Believes in making sophisticated technology deeply human This is an opportunity to define an entirely new category -> one that will influence how generations connect with AI. If you're a design visionary with the experience and passion to shape this future, let's connect! ✅ michael@aientityforge.org Help us bring the FORGE™ aiRobot™ family to life in 2025. MIchael Founder & CEO FORGE™ | aiRobots #Design #Innovation #AI #ProductDesign #IndustrialDesign #FutureOfTechnology #AICompanion #FORGE #Leadership

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We added a new roster of feed specific filters to help professionals search through their content feeds. Here is a quick screen recording (with music) of it. Enjoy.

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Artists’ catalogs and intellectual property are goldmines for those who get the market’s rhythm. Music rights, album catalogs, and creative assets aren’t just timeless pieces of art—they’re long-term investments with the potential to create steady income streams for years, sometimes decades. Whether through streaming, sync deals for ads and movies, or licensing for new media, a well-managed catalog can keep generating value long after the final note is played. Those who understand this space know it’s about more than just owning songs; it’s about knowing when and how to put those assets to work, leveraging trends, technology, and audience demand. In today’s digital world, where access is everything, the opportunity to turn intellectual property into lasting revenue is real. The best in the business aren’t just curating music—they’re creating a legacy that pays forward. We are building something in this space, a first for Africa and indie artists will thank us for it.

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Has your Design System team gotten smaller? You're not alone. This week on The Question, I'm joined by co host Maya Hampton to talk about how to do more with less. It's easy and free to participate—all you have to do is answer The Question and register for the deep dive. >>> https://bit.ly/4e53mvo <<< See you on Thursday at Noon Eastern for Episode 33! #designsystems

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