According to the Media & Entertainment Industry Predictions Report 2025 by AlixPartners, the media industry is undergoing rapid and radical transformations. A global phenomenon is revolutionizing the landscape: the abandonment of traditional pay-TV in favor of video streaming platforms and cloud-based games. The rise in streaming adoption has led to a dramatic 60% drop in pay-TV subscribers, with the US seeing the number of subscriptions fall to less than 50 million, a drop from 85% of households in 2015.
In Italy, in the first half of 2024, streaming subscribers exceeded traditional pay-TV subscribers for the first time, marking an epochal change in consumption habits. The video game sector is also experiencing a major transformation, with cloud gaming ready to compete with traditional consoles, a battle reminiscent of the challenge between Netflix and Blockbuster.
The report predicts further market evolution with the rapid growth of online streaming services, but also a future crisis for Virtual Multichannel Programming Distributors (vMVPDs), due to increasing competition and difficulties related to streaming sports. In the field of sports betting and iGaming, the battle for the market will leave room for a few large operators.
Other changes are also expected on a regulatory and financial level, with media consolidation operations on the rise. Artificial intelligence, however, will not replace human creativity, but will offer new opportunities for industry professionals to develop advanced skills and exploit new technological tools.
