Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Content Creation is a Semi-Glamourous Business

01/08/2024

Content Creation is a Semi-Glamourous Business

Andy Marken August 1, 2024

0 Comments

They worship everything, and they value nothing. - Sebastian, LaLa Land, Lionsgate, 2016

One of the toughest jobs in the world is to be a boss/CEO of a company.

Worse? Being a CEO in the Americas.

Worse yet? Being a CEO of a tech/entertainment company in the Americas.

How did we arrive at this epiphany?

Logic! because you have to pay some idiot an exorbitant amount of money along with a huge backend payment to take the job.

According to the Booth School of Business, the average salary of a CEO at a Fortune 500 company is about $15M and entertainment CEOs get a lot more.

The job is so tough that when Sheri Redstone (family fortune so it sorta' doesn't count) and the board blew out Bob Bakish, she had to convince three guys to share the blame job - Chris McCarthy, George Cheeks and Brian Robbins. Then she could focus full attention - along with the board - to decide if they're going to keep the old girl together, sell her as a single diamond or cut her up into smaller gemstones.

Safe Landing - A for hire CEO always needs a well-crafted exit package or golden parachute because well, paying boss gigs are tough to come by.

In addition to having some small consolation knowing it took three folks to replace him, Basich was given time to clean out his desk and got his monthly stipend ($258K/mo.) until the end of October.

Oh yeah, he had a soft landing like most CEOs who get fired with a $48.5M ++ severance package.

Hollywood may be a tough business, but it pales in comparison to tech firms. Elon Musk is so broke he asked (demanded) that his $56B compensation package be reaffirmed. Wonder how much he gets paid every time he goes to the bathroom?

It's Tougher - While we have a world economy, it's obvious that being a boss in the US is tougher than anywhere else so you have to pay the guy (most of the time it's a guy) because, ah well because.

Sorry, got sidetracked, but being CEO for an American company really has to be tougher than anywhere else in the world.

After all, they have to get paid so much more than their counterparts in other parts of the world to be convinced to take the thankless job.

According to Bloomberg analysis, US CEOs average $14.3M annually more than double their counterparts north of the border and 10X more than those in India.

There are a lot of different reasons for the discrepancies - many of the world's largest companies are located here, there's a higher cost of living (you know about that, right?) and well stuff.

Of course, their jobs - making their numbers - were made even tougher by all of the strikers (actors, auto workers, etc.) who wanted a living wage, healthcare, holidays (EU folks get a month) and simply drug the strikes out, quibbling over little things.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median US worker made about $31.43/hr. last year but actors were paid $17.94/hr.

While the negotiating bosses still got paid, folks on the picket lines lived off savings (?), the kindness of others and union health plans.

Most actors aren't stars, most creators aren't Tarantino or Nolan; stunt folks have it a little tougher than Fall Guy's Gosling; production folks only get in front of the camera to clean the lens and most postproduction folks grind away hours on end in dark rooms staring at screens.

Sorry to crush the kids' dreams of heading to Hollywood, getting discovered serving coffee, becoming instantly famous, living in a Beverly Hills mansion and wallowing in money.

That s*** doesn't even happen in the movies!

But ever since the golden era of Hollywood, media industry executives have always been highly paid. And over the past bunch of years, these tormented executives have been through the grinder.

There was the MeToo period, the pandemic, those troublesome worker strikes and the total upheaval of the show/movie food chain. But through it all, top executives at Disney, Warner Bros and others got paid an average of $34.8M last year (more than double their counterparts in other US industries).

Salary Plus - Executives - or their agents - may have to negotiate how much they get paid but there's an entire industry built around executive compensation that helps them ensure they get theirs first.

True, stock awards make up most of their compensation packages and they're granted at the beginning of the year.

So, it probably doesn't count that all of those shelved video projects (regardless of how far along they are) that create tax savings and folks being layed off rather than adjusting their salary, are important management decisions.

After all, the pandemic was behind us and obviously, people were going to flock back to theaters even though they had been cutting back on high ticket prices and expensive popcorn for years.

Not Going - Certain segments of the entertainment industry don't like to admit that the cost (time/money) of a movie makes it less attractive for a lot of people to go to movie houses today especially since they have options.

In fact, according to most research, only eight percent of folks consider themselves frequent movie attendees while 59 percent say they rarely or never see movies in the theater.

And we hate to break the industry, but that just ain't gonna change!

The other change, which has been equally as slow and insidious, has been the petering out of the pay TV gold mine.

Folks have options lots of options.

Past Prime - Prime TV viewing is past its prime as the cost of the payTV bundle continued to grow along with the number of ads networks/services packed into each hour. Consumers have begun switching to economic and quality options.

Actually, FX CEO John Landgraf coined the term Peak TV a few years af
LINK: https://creativecow.net/content-creation-is-a-semi-glamourous-business...
See more stories from creativecow

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

07/10/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Media Operations from Ingest to Distribution

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...

06/09/2026

Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Germany with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: Bridge Technologies Adds Blackmagic IP10 Support to VB440 Production Probe

Bridge Technologies will announce at IBC2026 (Booth 1.A71) that its VB440 produc...

01/09/2026

DAZN to Acquire EverPass Media to Expand U.S. Commercial Venue Distribution

DAZN has announced an agreement to acquire EverPass Media, a commercial sports distribution platform serving bars, restaurants, hotels, and other venues in the ...

01/09/2026

Kalshi Named Official Prediction Market Partner of the US Open

The USTA and Kalshi have announced a multi-year partnership making Kalshi the Official Prediction Market Partner of the US Open, beginning with the 2026 US Open...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: MASV to Showcase Sports Video Transfer Workflows

MASV will exhibit at IBC2026 (Booth 5.B40, RAI Amsterdam, September 11-14). CTO Majed Alhajry will appear on a panel session, A Tale of Two Feeds: Automation o...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: FingerWorks Telestrators Partners with Broadcast Rental for European Distribution

FingerWorks Telestrators has announced a partnership with Broadcast Rental to ex...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: FOR-A Expands viztrick AiDi into Two Dedicated Products

FOR-A has announced the expansion of viztrick AiDi into two dedicated products: Go Vertical! AiDi and AiDi Sports Hub. Developed by Nippon TV and delivered glob...

01/09/2026

Sony Launches Live TV on PS5 with Free Ad-Supported Streaming in the U.S.

Sony Pictures Television has launched Live TV on PS5, a free ad-supported streaming experience available to PS5 players in the United States. The service is acc...

01/09/2026

Friedrichstadt-Palast Installs Riedel Production Infrastructure

Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin has installed a Riedel production infrastructure spanning video, intercom, control, and I/O across the venue, implemented in col...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: Arkona Partners with BFE for Arkona-Branded Control Panels

Arkona technologies GmbH has announced an OEM partnership with BFE Studio und Medien Systeme GmbH to offer arkona-branded control panels for its SDI-IP routing ...

01/09/2026

Cricket Australia Launches Cricket TV Streaming Service on Eluvio Platform

Cricket Australia has launched Cricket TV, a direct-to-consumer streaming service built on Eluvio's Content Fabric platform. The service is currently in ear...

01/09/2026

Eluvio Selected to Power Pasifika+ Streaming Service for Pacific Island Communities

Eluvio has announced it was selected to power Pasifika , a new direct-to-consume...

01/09/2026

Layercake Names Jon Marquard as Director/Chairperson

Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, has appointed Jon Marquard as Director and Chairperson. The appointment marks ...

01/09/2026

Gravity Media Extends Powercor Stawell Gift Broadcast Agreement Through 2031

Gravity Media has announced a multi-year renewal of its agreement with Stawell Gift Event Management to produce the complete broadcast of the Powercor Stawell G...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: Beam Dynamics Makes Debut with License Intelligence Module

Beam Dynamics will exhibit at IBC2026 for the first time (Stand 14.FT29, Hall 14), introducing License Intelligence, a new module for managing software licenses...

01/09/2026

ZOO Digital Selects Interra Systems BATON for File-Based Quality Control

Interra Systems has announced that ZOO Digital has selected BATON for file-based quality control across its media workflows. ZOO Digital delivers localized ente...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: Bridge Technologies Deploys VB330 Monitoring at Sunrise

Bridge Technologies has announced the deployment of its VB330 monitoring probe at Sunrise, supporting the Swiss telecommunications provider's IP-based telev...

01/09/2026

Riedel Expands Coach Communications Partnership with Scottish Rugby Union

Riedel Communications has announced the continued expansion of its managed coach communications partnership with Scottish Rugby Union, now entering its third se...

01/09/2026

Behind The Mic: Football Season Approaches, as Networks Name On Air Talent for NFL, College Broadcasts

Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...

01/09/2026

IBC 2026: SMPTE Brings Full-Day Software-Defined Infrastructure Roadshow

SMPTE today detailed the centerpiece of its IBC2026 program: the SMPTE Roadshow: Future of Media Infrastructure, a full-day workshop on Monday, 14 September, th...

01/09/2026

Sound Particles & SOS Webinar: John Warhurst

Inside the Music and Sound of Michael Sound Particles have announced an upcoming webinar with John Warhurst, the Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning supervisin...

01/09/2026

Roland launch FP-40 piano & Piano Sphere app

Piano offers tutorials, lessons & feedback via app Roland have just launched a new digital piano that integrates with a mobile app in an effort to encourage...

01/09/2026

Trinnov Nova goes immersive

Update introduces 7.1.4 support via Dante Trinnov have just announced a software update that will allow Nova units with eight licensed Optimizer channels to...

01/09/2026

SBS secures exclusive rights to FIFA World Cup 2030

SBS secures exclusive rights to FIFA World Cup 2030 1 September, 2026 Media releases Major sports rights deal ensures all Australians will be able to view...

01/09/2026

SBS announces the launch of outcomes-based measurement across its network

SBS announces the launch of outcomes-based measurement across its network 1 September, 2026 Media releases New offer sees national broadcaster put outcomes...

01/09/2026

Revealed: The Booster Economy' how $140bn+ in everyday inheritances' is funding the lifestyles of the next generation

Revealed: The Booster Economy' how $140bn+ in everyday inheritances'...

01/09/2026

SBS census explorer to provide new insights into contemporary Australia

SBS census explorer to provide new insights into contemporary Australia 1 September, 2026 Media releases The 2026 Census Explorer will give marketers new i...

01/09/2026

SBS and oOh!media launch exclusive SBS News content partnership across office, airports and universities

SBS and oOh!media launch exclusive SBS News content partnership across office, a...

01/09/2026

SBS offers marketers greater reach with extension into outdoor, creator economy and retail

SBS offers marketers greater reach with extension into outdoor, creator economy ...

01/09/2026

SBS and The Guardian join forces to supersize sustainability challenge for 2027

SBS and The Guardian join forces to supersize sustainability challenge for 2027 1 September, 2026 Media releases SBS Media and Guardian Australia have join...

01/09/2026

SBS goes deeper in 2027 with provocative Australian documentaries, star-studded global drama, and unmissable events

SBS goes deeper in 2027 with provocative Australian documentaries, star-studded ...

01/09/2026

Amazon MGM Studios commission thriller based on Stephen King short story, Crouch End

Amazon MGM Studios have commissioned a new thrilling 6-part drama, Crouch End, b...

01/09/2026

Nielsen Announces New Local Methodology Enhancements

New York August 31, 2026 Nielsen is announcing four new local methodology enhancements that will be activated into Local TV currency data starting today, Au...

01/09/2026

Broadcasters Gain Flexibility in Pursuit of 5G Multicasting

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

Winning the Fight Against Churn

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

How Multiviewers Are Evolving Into Information Hubs'

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

IBC2026: New Audio Tools on Tap from Telos Alliance

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

SMPTE Roadshow to Examine Media Infrastructure at IBC2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

Roku Debuts Its First 4K OLED TVs

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

Mark Vinten Joins ASG's Audio and Postproduction Team

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

01/09/2026

Pronology Introduces New StreamFile Core Capabilities at...

Pronology, a developer of cutting-edge broadcast workflow solutions, showcases the newest capabilities for its StreamFile Core platform at the 2026 IBC Show (S...

01/09/2026

PROTON Unveils Next-Generation FLEXY Camera at IBC 2026

PROTON Unveils Next-Generation FLEXY Camera at IBC 2026 Brie Clayton September 1, 2026 0 Comments 10-metre serialised coax unlocks new perspectives an...

01/09/2026

Hulu Drama The Season Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio

Hulu Drama The Season Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio Brie Clayton September 1, 2026 0 Comments Senior Colorist Mark Kueper of Picture Shop crafts ...

01/09/2026

Pluxbox Launches CoreOC to Transform Mission-Critical Media Operations

Pluxbox Launches CoreOC to Transform Mission-Critical Media Operations Brie Clayton September 1, 2026 0 Comments A vendor-agnostic operational control l...

01/09/2026

Layercake Appoints Former FOX SPORTS and Network Ten COO...

Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, today announced the appointment of Jon Marquard as Director and Chairperson. T...

01/09/2026

Actus Digital Unveils the Future of Broadcast Monitoring...

Actus Digital, a LiveU company, will unveil the next generation of its Actus X platform at IBC2026 on LiveUs Stand 7.C24, demonstrating how broadcasters can sim...

01/09/2026

Studio Automated and Egripment Power the Tactical Feed fo...

Broadcast Solutions, a leading systems integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast media industry, delivered transformational technology a...

01/09/2026

OTV turns to Quortex to replace legacy video hardware

Quortex, the intelligent video technology company carved out from Synamedia by Lumine Group, today announced that Odisha Television Network (OTV), the leading r...