In this article, we’ll discuss the 29 movie studio and news media stocks . If you want to skip our detailed analysis and recent news and developments in movie and news media, then head straight to the Top 5 Movie Studio and News Media Stocks.
In the fast-changing media landscape, three major stories are making waves. Disney contemplates parting with ABC, Rupert Murdoch exits as chairman of Fox and News Corp, and a breakthrough may be in sight as studios make final offers to end a prolonged writers' strike.
So, Why is Disney Selling ABC?
Recent reports have indicated that The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is in preliminary discussions to sell ABC to Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXST), a media conglomerate with an extensive network of local TV stations and well-known networks such as CW and NewsNation.
While these talks have garnered attention, it's worth noting that no formal steps have been taken in terms of hiring bankers or circulating sales documentation. Insiders familiar with the situation suggest that Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXST) might face challenges meeting Disney's asking price for ABC.
The idea of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) parting with ABC was initially floated by former CEO Bob Iger back in June. In an interview with CNBC, Iger hinted that traditional television assets, including ABC, may no longer be considered core to Disney's future strategy.
This shift in perspective suggests that The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is exploring new horizons and considering a more expansive approach to the television business. However, Iger also acknowledged the significant creative contributions that networks like ABC have made to The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) over the years, leaving the door open to the possibility of a sale while emphasizing the value of the content and creativity that these networks have brought to the entertainment giant.
Hollywood's Showdown: Inside the 2023 Writer's Strike
The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, which began on May 2, 2023, stands as a significant disruption in American television and film production, similar to the setbacks witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the WGA's substantial labor strike in 2007-08.
Representing 11,500 screenwriters, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is locked in an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike's central issues revolve around the lack of agreement on a new contract, with writers advocating for improved compensation, enhanced funding and job security, larger writers' rooms, and limitations on the use of artificial intelligence in the writing process.
The WGA's demands encompass AI regulations, adjusted pay structures to replace residuals, writers' room preservation, streaming pay standards, and job security. Notably, the Guild's proposals, as estimated by the WGA, could potentially cost studios $429 million annually, while studio counterproposals have been substantially lower, at $86 million.
This strike has disrupted TV and film production, gaining support from Hollywood luminaries expressing backing for strike authorization on social media.
High-level talks between studios and writers, involving key industry figures like Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) CEO David Zaslav, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)'s Bob Iger, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and NBCUniversal film head Donna Langley, are ongoing. These negotiations come as media companies grapple with making streaming profitable and reviving theater attendance.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD), in their securities filing in early September,adjusted their earnings expectations, anticipating a significant loss of $300 million to $500 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, with a full-year range of $10.5 billion to $11 billion, due to the strikes.
Zaslav, at Goldman Sachs' Communacopia and Technology conference the next day on September 6, stressed the need to resolve the strikes swiftly, emphasizing the industry's commitment to a fair resolution.
“We need to do everything we can to get people back to work,” Zaslav said at the investors’ conference. “We really have to focus as an industry, and we are, on trying to get this resolved in a way that’s really fair.”
As of September 20, 2023, optimism surrounds the potential finalization of a deal by Thursday, though there's a warning that without an agreement, the strike could persist throughout the year, further affecting the industry and its stakeholders.
Why is Rupert Murdoch Stepping Down?
Rupert Murdoch, the iconic leader of News Corporation (NASDAQ:NWSA). and Fox Corp. (NASDAQ:FOXA), is stepping down as chairman to become chairman emeritus after a storied seven-decade career. His eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, will assume the role of sole chairman at News Corporation (NASDAQ:NWSA) and continue as Fox Corp. (NASDAQ:FOXA)'s executive and CEO.
Rupert Murdoch's transition will take effect at the upcoming mid-November shareholder meetings. This move solidifies Lachlan's position as his father's successor, overseeing entities like the New York Post, Fox News, and Fox Entertainment.
In a memo shared with CBS News, Murdoch emphasized that he's stepping back while in excellent health, while also stating that it's the opportune moment for him to embrace new roles.
Armed with recent headlines about media and news companies, it's valuable to have insights into the stocks of movie studios and news media companies.
Without further ado, let's move to the list of top movie studio and news media stocks.
Movie Studio and News Media Stocks List
Our Methodology
To create our list of movie studio and news media stocks, we initially gathered the largest movie studio and news media stocks listed on U.S. exchanges, focusing on their market capitalization (as of the writing of this piece) as the ranking metric of our list. Subsequently, we arranged them in ascending order, from the companies with the smallest market capitalization to the biggest. We've also discussed their revenues to give readers another perspective on their scale.
29. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSSE)
Market cap: $10.111 million
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSSE), headquartered in Cos Cob, Connecticut, is a diverse American company involved in self-help, consumer goods, and media. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSSE) specializes in producing and distributing films and TV series and also operates video-on-demand networks offering content across various genres, with a market capitalization of $10.111 million. In 2022, the company generated a total revenue of 252.81 million.
Cineverse Corp. (NASDAQ:CNVS) is a global streaming technology and entertainment company with a market capitalization of $13.761 million. And in 2022, Cineverse Corp. (NASDAQ:CNVS)'s total revenue was $68.03 million. The company has an extensive portfolio of streaming channels and libraries, all driven by its advanced proprietary platform, spanning digital cinema, streaming channels, content marketing, and distribution.
CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI) is a worldwide independent factual media company providing a video-on-demand subscription service (on Science, Mathematics, History, Technology, among other categories) and operating the Curiosity Channel, with a market capitalization of $36.618 million. CuriosityStream Inc. (NASDAQ:CURI)'s total revenue in 2022 was $78.04 million.
Gaia, Inc. (NASDAQ:GAIA) is a global conscious media and community company with a market capitalization of $52.886 million, specializing in a digital video streaming service. It offers a diverse range of curated conscious media content across three main channels: Seeking Truth, Transformation, and Yoga, encompassing an extensive library of inspiring films, cutting-edge documentaries, interviews, yoga classes, and transformation-oriented content. Gaia, Inc. (NASDAQ:GAIA) had a total revenue of $82.04 million in 2022.
The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS), classified as a movie studio stock, boasts a market capitalization of $481.694 million. Its operations are divided into two main segments: Marcus Theatres and Marcus Hotels and Resorts, with the primary business segments consisting of movie theatres and hotels and resorts. The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS)'s cinema exhibition business encompasses around 85 movie theatres. In 2022, the company generated a total revenue of $677.4 million.
AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX) is a media corporation headquartered in the United States, known for its ownership and operation of various cable television channels, such as AMC, BBC America, and IFC. In 2022, AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX) generated total revenue of $3.05 billion, and as of the writing of this piece, the company has a market capitalization of $495.519 million.
Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE:GTN) is an American television broadcasting firm that possesses and/or manages television stations and digital assets across the United States. As of current, Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE:GTN)'s market capitalization amounts to $667.304 million and in 2022, it achieved a total revenue of $3.67 billion.
FuboTV Inc (NYSE:FUBO) stands as a prominent live TV streaming platform with a primary focus on sports, boasting a market capitalization of $675.869 million. FuboTV Inc. (NYSE:FUBO) had a total revenue of $984 million in 2022.
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) is one of the top entertainment stocks. Its a major player in the entertainment sector, particularly specializing in the movie theater business, and its market capitalization currently stands at $1.207 billion. AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AMC) had a total revenue of $3.91 billion in 2022.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF-B) is a multinational mass media and entertainment company based in Canada and the United States, with a market capitalization of $1.899 billion. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF-B) operates across various sectors, including film, television, subscription services, and location-based entertainment, serving audiences both domestically and internationally. The company's key business segments encompass Motion Picture Production and Television Production. The company’s total revenue in 2022 was $3.854 billion.
Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK) is one of the top movie studio stocks. Cinemark is a prominent player in the theatrical exhibition sector, boasting 514 theaters and 5,812 screens across the United States and Latin America as of June 30, 2023. Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CNK) commands a market capitalization of $2.146 billion. Cinemark Holdings' total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, was $2.4547 billion.
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:TGNA) is an American media firm that manages television stations and digital assets. In 2022, TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:TGNA) recorded a total revenue of $3.28 billion. Currently, the company's market capitalization stands at $2.72 billion.
DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) is a company headquartered in the United States, specializing in pay-TV services offered through the DISH and SLING brands. Currently, DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) boasts a market capitalization of $3.347 billion. In 2022, the company achieved a total revenue of $16.68 billion.
iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ), a Chinese streaming-video company, offers online entertainment services. Currently, iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ)'s market capitalization stands at $4.554 billion, and in 2022, it reported a total revenue of $29.00 billion.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXST) holds the distinction of being the largest local television and media enterprise in the United States, with a network of 200 broadcast stations, including partner stations, spanning 116 markets and reaching over 68% of the U.S. television audience. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXST)'s market capitalization stands at $4.902 billion. And in 2022, the company generated a total revenue of $5.21 billion.
Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EDR) is a company operating in the entertainment, sports, and content sectors. Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EDR)'s market capitalization stands at $6.024 billion, and in 2022, it recorded a total revenue of $5.268 billion.
The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) is an American news media enterprise with a market capitalization of $6.797 billion. The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) operates globally, producing, gathering, and disseminating news and information across diverse platforms. The company generated a total revenue of $2.3 billion. The New York Times Company is one of the best known news stocks.
Paramount is 12th in our list of the top studio and news media stocks. Global (NASDAQ:PARA) is a multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate based in New York City, under the control of National Amusements. Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA) boasts a market capitalization of $8.354 billion. In 2022, the company generated a total revenue of $30.154 billion.
Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU) is a prominent provider of streaming television platforms in the United States with a market capitalization of $9.802 billion. Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU) offers an extensive array of streaming services and devices. In 2022, the company reported a total revenue of $3.127 billion.
News Corporation (NASDAQ:NWSA) is a worldwide diversified company engaged in film, television, news media, and book publishing. For the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2022, News Corporation (NASDAQ:NWSA) reported a total revenue of $10 million.
For the fiscal year concluding on June 30, 2022, Fox Corp. (NASDAQ:FOXA) reported a total revenue of $14 million. Fox Corp. (NASDAQ:FOXA) is involved in film, television, news media, and sports broadcasting operations with a market cap of $14.746 billion.
Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) is a Canadian telecommunications corporation offering wireless, cable, and media services. Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) boasts a market capitalization of $21.38 billion. In 2022, the company generated a total revenue of 15.8 billion CAD.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) is a prominent American media and entertainment firm involved in the film, television, news media, and sports broadcasting industries. As per the company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 financial results, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) reported total revenue of $11 billion for Q4 2022.
BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE) is a Canadian telecommunications firm offering a diverse array of services encompassing wireless, internet, television, and home phone solutions. BCE Inc. (NYSE:BCE)'s market capitalization stands at $36.2 billion, while its 2022 revenue reached $18.595 billion.
