The new year looks to begin just like the old year, with the nation gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s also starting off with a bunch of year-ahead predictions that most likely won’t happen. But hey, they’re still fun to consider. (Check out last year’s predictions for 2021.)
What follows is a compilation of interesting predictions for the technology and media industries in 2022.
Netflix possible acquisition target?
Internet television network Netflix could be acquired by a large media company in 2022, says Phillip Swann, editor of TV Answer Man.
“I predict that Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings and his team will conclude the time is right to join with a rival to form an even more powerful company – one that can survive a long-term streaming war that will be even more expensive than the current one,” Swann wrote in a blog post.
Two buyers make the most sense: Disney and Comcast, he said. “If I were betting today, I would bet on Disney. But either company could be in the hunt,” Swann said.
Roku: Acquisition target or studio buyer?
Depending on who’s talking, streaming video platform Roku either will be acquired by a larger company or bid for a major studio in 2022.
Hub Entertainment Research analyst Peter Fondulas predicts a large company like Apple could buy Roku. The deal would help Roku’s expansion into international markets and give Apple customers a lower-priced alternative to the Apple TV box, according to Fierce Video.
Media analyst Michael Nathanson told CNBC that Roku might buy a studio, such as Lionsgate, to bolster the exclusive content for its Roku Channel. But it likely would face other bidders such as Comcast’s NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS, Netflix and Disney.
Twitter, Pinterest acquisition targets?
MKM Partners made several “black swan predictions” for internet companies in the year ahead. It calls these “high-impact, low-probability” events.
It’s possible that Twitter and Pinterest will no longer be independent public companies after 2022, MKM managing director Rohit Kulkarni said in a Dec. 23 report.
“Both companies have had issues during 2021, with media reports surfacing around M&A. If the stock price stays under pressure, we wouldn’t be surprised if such speculations start swirling again. Twitter has a new CEO while (former CEO Jack) Dorsey leaves the board. Pinterest altered executive compensation this week – such events increase the likelihood of M&A speculations on both Pinterest and Twitter,” Kulkarni said.
NFT bubble might pop
Activate Consulting, a management consulting firm for technology, internet, media, entertainment, and sports businesses, predicted that non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, will continue to grow in 2022. NFTs are unique blockchain-based digital assets such as artwork, videos, games and recordings.
“Buying, collecting, and trading non-fungible tokens will become a mainstream behavior,” the firm said in a news release. “Many industries are creating NFTs, including art, fashion, sports, video games, and consumer products. Every technology and media company will need an NFT strategy.”
However, “NFTs could be experiencing a speculative bubble,” Activate Consulting noted.
But others are highly skeptical about the worth of NFTs.
“NFTs will remain hyped to oblivion (and) some people will lose their shirts,” James Ball, global editor at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism at the Guardian, said in his 2022 predictions.
Photo: Television from Best Buy brand Insignia running the Fire TV operating system from Amazon. (Best Buy)
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