Strictly Business

Hosted by Variety

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 16, 202619 min

How Creators Make Money: Digital-First Content Leaders on What Drives Brands and Audiences in the Attention Economy

On today’s episode, leaders in digital-first content discuss the factors that are funneling viewership, fan engagement and brand deals into the creator economy. Participants in the panel recorded Sept. 17 at Variety’s annual Entertainment and Technology Summit, are Aaron Doades, senior VP of product management for Comscore; Zach Miller, president of JesserCo.; and Jarret Myer, CEO of Uproxx Studios; and Shaun Newsum, CEO of Culture Genesis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 14, 202615 min

An NBC Special Presentation: Jen Neal on the Network’s Legacy of Delivering Big Entertainment Events and Beloved Holiday Traditions

On today’s episode, Jen Neal, executive VP of live events and specials for NBC, explains how the network manages a busy slate of events and why this audience is indeed special to advertisers. She also hints at what’s in store for NBC’s 100th anniversary live special on Dec. 10. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 8, 202616 min

Day 1 for Skydance: What You Didn’t See at David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz’s News Conference

On today’s episode, Variety ’s Angelique Jackson and Michael Schneider detail the vibes that they picked up in covering Day 1 of the new Skydance . Jackson and Schneider discuss the scene and the mood at the news conference that David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz held Oct. 6 on the Paramount Pictures lot to mark the closing of the hard-fought Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 7, 202617 min

Ben Affleck Tells All About Artists Equity, Fighting to Film in California and Reclaiming His Stature in Hollywood

On today’s episode, Variety’ s Matt Donnelly details his Variety cover story on Ben Affleck as the multihyphenate returns to the spotlight as an industry player. Affleck also breaks down the working model of Artists Equity, the production company he runs with Matt Damon that has taken a United Artists-like vow to share the wealth with creative talent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 7, 202620 min

Aaron Sorkin, Rachel Zegler, Krysta Rodriguez and Bradley Whitford on Bringing ‘A Few Good Men’ and ‘Evita’ to Life: Variety’s The Business of Broadway Breakfast

Stars and creatives behind buzzy shows coming to Broadway – including “A Few Good Men,” “Evita” and “Dolly: A True Original Musical” – gathered Oct. 5 to talk shop and compare notes about working on the Main Stem at Variety’ s annual The Business of Broadway breakfast, presented by City National Bank. “Pete Hegseth makes Jessep look like a folk singer,” Whitford says of the rock-ribbed Marine he plays in the upcoming revival of “A Few Good Men.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 5, 202620 min

Fox News Channel Marks 30 Years On Air: ‘We Saw an Opportunity Nobody Else Saw’

On today’s episode, Jason Klarman, chief digital officer for Fox News Media, discusses the channel’s milestone 30th anniversary that arrives on Oct. 7. The veteran marketer and programmer who was part of the channel's launch team talks about the brand’s enduring “challenger” mentality, how it's dealing with upstart competitors and how it’s courting younger viewers via streaming and social platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 2, 202627 min

'Grand Theft Auto' Veteran Dan Houser Builds Absurd Ventures to Create Expansive Transmedia Worlds

Dan Houser, co-founder and former head writer of Rockstar Games, details his vision for building a new kind of media company rooted in transmedia storytelling across games, TV, film and audio fiction. Houser is the mastermind of the original "GTA" and "Red Dead Redemption" gaming franchises. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 1, 202618 min

Variety's Business of Broadway: Producer Sue Frost on Birthing Original Musicals: 'Somebody's Got to Do It'

On today's episode, as part of Variety 's annual Business of Broadway celebration, veteran stage producer Sue Frost discusses her work in bringing original musicals to life, including such acclaimed Broadway productions as "Memphis" and "Come From Away." Frost, who is also chair-elect of the Broadway League, explains why her Junkyard Dogs Productions banner is devoted exclusively to launching original tuners, including "The Heart," which opens Oct. 8 at the Roundabout Theatre. "It's a crazy business model, but somebody's got to do it," Frost says. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 25, 202624 min

The Delicate Art of Releasing a Hit Streaming Series

On today's episode, Andrew Wallenstein, chief insights officer of Variety 's data and analytics sibling Luminate, and analyst Tyler Aquilina discuss how long gaps between seasons take a toll on original streaming series viewership. The two break down the findings in the latest Luminate report, "Release Strategies for Music & TV." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 21, 202620 min

Who Won, Who Lost and What’s Next Now That Paramount Has Settled the Antitrust Lawsuit With 12 States

On today’s “Strictly Business Daily,” Variety ’s Matt Donnelly, Gene Maddaus and Todd Spangler break down the news of Paramount’s settlement of the antitrust lawsuit filed by California and 11 other states . The agreement puts Paramount on a glide path to close its hard-fought acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition by October. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.