The rise of cross-media entertainment deals and transmedia IP strategies
The boundaries between gaming, film and television are rapidly dissolving as entertainment companies race to secure the next generation of global franchises. In a market defined by IP scarcity, shifting consumer engagement and platform convergence, dealmakers are increasingly looking beyond traditional studio consolidation toward cross-media acquisitions that promise deeper, more immersive storytelling ecosystems.
This discussion will bring together industry leaders and investors to explore the strategic logic behind these transactions. Are acquisitions of gaming studios and interactive platforms creating durable, multi-format franchises, or simply extending IP into new channels without sustainable returns? How should companies evaluate the risks and rewards of convergence in a capital-constrained environment? And what will determine whether cross-media M&A becomes the industry’s next growth engine or its next overreach?
This webinar will act as a prelude to our Business of Entertainment Summit, which is returning in September 2026.
More to be announced!
Key themes
Scarcity and the New IP Arms Race
In a market defined by franchise fatigue and rising content costs, how are studios, streamers and gaming giants competing for premium intellectual property, and what makes an asset truly defensible?
Valuation in a Capital-Constrained Era
How should dealmakers assess risk, synergies and return on investment when pursuing cross-media M&A amid higher interest rates and investor pressure for profitability?
The Convergence of Gaming, Film and Television
Are cross-media acquisitions building sustainable, multi-format franchises, or simply repackaging IP across platforms without long-term value creation?
Platform Power and Ecosystem Control
As distribution, technology and storytelling converge, will owning platforms and interactive communities become more valuable than owning content itself?
Global Franchises and the Battle for Attention
As international players and tech platforms scale their entertainment ambitions, what will determine which companies can build globally resonant franchises, and which deals prove to be strategic overreach?
From Adaptation to Immersion
Can transmedia storytelling deepen audience engagement and unlock new monetization models, or does expanding IP across formats dilute creative focus and brand equity?
Join us at the FT Business of Entertainment Summit
September 24, 2026 | 1 Hotel West Hollywood, California & Online
The FT Business of Entertainment Summit will gather industry leaders for a day of candid discussion and actionable insight. Through exclusive interviews, panels and roundtables, we’ll examine how consolidation and dealmaking are reshaping Hollywood, where AI-driven personalization creates real commercial value, and how sports, gaming and global franchises are redefining the entertainment economy.
As power shifts across borders and platforms, and audiences demand more immersive, trusted and connected experiences, the industry faces a defining question: who will set the agenda for the next era?
Join us to shape the future of film, TV, music, gaming and sport.
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