New Owners, New Tech, and New Directions

The media and technology industries are undergoing significant changes, with new ownership, emerging technologies, and shifting business strategies making headlines. Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is a major development, with the company set to take on $57.5 billion of debt to finance the deal. Meanwhile, companies like Zscaler and Duolingo are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver of growth and innovation.

Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is a complex deal that will see the company take on a significant amount of debt. According to Bloomberg, the deal will feature an unusual combination of investment-grade and junk-rated debt, as Wall Street banks turn to as many markets as possible to raise the necessary funds. This deal is not only significant for the companies involved but also has implications for the wider media landscape.

In the world of technology, AI is becoming increasingly important. Zscaler, a cloud-based security company, is one example of a business that is embracing AI as a key driver of growth. According to Zscaler Founder, Chairman, and CEO Jay Chaudhry, AI is "an opportunity... not a threat" to the company. Chaudhry spoke with Bloomberg Businessweek Daily about the company's latest earnings results and its plans to expand its portfolio beyond its core secure access service edge product. Zscaler is also investing in AI and data-security offerings tied to the deployment of AI agents.

Another company that is investing heavily in AI is Duolingo, the popular language-learning app. Duolingo Co-Founder, Chairman, President & CEO Luis von Ahn spoke with Bloomberg Businessweek Daily about the company's plans to double its daily active users to 100 million by 2028. To achieve this goal, Duolingo is stepping up its investment in AI and sacrificing some degree of monetization in the short term. Von Ahn also discussed how the app is using AI to bolster its language-learning programs.

The changing media landscape is also having an impact on news organizations. David Ellison, the new owner of CBS News, is shaking up the network, and CNN is reportedly next on his list. According to Bloomberg, Ellison's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. has put CNN anchor Jake Tapper in an awkward position, reporting on the sale of his employer.

The Charlotte Hornets, a professional basketball team, is also undergoing changes under new ownership. Shelly Cayette-Weston, President of Business Operations for the Charlotte Hornets, spoke with Bloomberg about the team's strategic initiatives to enhance the fan experience and drive economic development in Charlotte.

In conclusion, the media and technology industries are undergoing significant changes, with new ownership, emerging technologies, and shifting business strategies making headlines. As companies like Paramount, Zscaler, and Duolingo navigate these changes, it will be interesting to see how they adapt and evolve in the coming years.

Sources:

• Bloomberg: "Charlotte Hornets Aim to Generate Buzz Under New Owners"
• Bloomberg: "Paramount’s $57.5 Billion of Warner Debt to Mix Junk, High Grade"
• Bloomberg: "Zscaler CEO: AI Is Opportunity, Not Threat, For Our Business"
• Bloomberg: "Duolingo Looks to Double Daily Active Users to 100M by 2028"
• Bloomberg: "David Ellison Is Shaking Up CBS News; CNN Looks to Be Next"