2026 looks ominous for media, from Hollywood to journalism

2026 looks ominous for media, from Hollywood to journalism

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The worst thing about today's media environment is that — bad as it is — it is easy to imagine how things might get worse in 2026.

Traditional journalism outlets buffeted on all sides by misinformation, weak-kneed ownership and a hostile White House will struggle to earn back public trust even as the need for fair, accurate reporting grows.

Smaller groups of wealthy businesspeople control larger swaths of the country's information ecosystem, pitting their overall corporate interests against the public's desire for accurate journalism challenging powerful institutions in society.

And the biggest media deal of recent years is looming over everything, with ominous consequences for streaming, journalism, the film industry and consumers — no matter who finally closes on a purchase.

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The real wild card here is the audience, which has more power than it realizes. The fall and rise of Jimmy Kimmel proved that viewers can make their preferences known in ways that preserve free expression, forcing media owners to show some backbone.

But the public will have to get more involved in 2026, weighing in with their viewing choices and their pocketbooks to make sure the options that bring the most freedom and ethical behavior are also the most profitable.

Here's a look at five complicated predictions I have for media in 2026, some of which herald significantly tough times ahead for professionals in the business and the general public.

No matter who wins the contest to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the public may be the biggest loser

The largest media deal in recent years involves a tug-of-war between Netflix and Paramount over the purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery — itself a gigantic media company that's home to one of the industry's major streamers (HBO Max), one of Hollywood's biggest film studios (Warner Bros.), TV's most consistent source of high