Jessica Reif, Managing Director of Bank of America Merrill Lynch joins Cheddar to discuss the changing media landscape in America, specifically the Disney / Fox 21st Century deal set to close soon.
According to Reif, this deal will reshape the entire media landscape. She talks about the Murdoch family and their willingness to sell. She says the deal will make other companies think about what they want to be, and how they will compete in the modern era.
Disney isn't interested in Fox's news or sports programming, and that may be because of regulatory issues. Reif says when it comes to sports, the best reach is still, by far, broadcast. She expects sports to stay on traditional TV for a long, long time.
Reif also talks about the amount of money the FANG stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google) are spending on video content, and how they will compete with the traditional outlets.
President Donald Trump has signed the GENIUS Act into law, setting new regulations for stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency tied to assets like the U.S. dollar.
The switch from high-fructose corn syrup in Coke sold in the United States would put Coca-Cola in line with its practice in other countries, including Mexico.