The 2024 Paley International Council Summit: Global Innovators: Defining the Future of Media, took place Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 at The Paley Museum in New York.
Day one of the event was full of conversations that brought enlightenment to the modern media landscape. From media tycoons to sports luminaries, each panel was full of conversations that both provided knowledge and inspired.
Mike Fries, Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Global and John C. Malone, Chairman, Liberty Media, Liberty Broadband, and Liberty Global kicked things off with a fantastic virtual talk that focused on how media companies must adapt to changing consumer behaviors and leverage emerging technologies effectively to thrive in this rapidly evolving environment. The duos conversation is a long-standing annual wide-ranging talk and is considered a Paley International Council Summit highlight.
Other conversations at the sold-out conference included a fantastic look at Major League Soccer with Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer with Taylor Twellman, Lead Analyst, MLS Season Pass, Apple TV. Over the past twenty-five years under the stewardship of Garber many wonderful things have taken place and now there is an anticipated thirty teams by 2025.
Garber spoke on the power of the team to the fans in the sports community all while maintaining a focus on delivering a winning product on the field. Each level was also highlighted on how embracing innovative new technology initiatives is driving the growth and aspiration to become a leading soccer league globally as North America prepares to host the World Cup in 2026.
Keia Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, New York Liberty and Kim Stone, Chief Executive Officer, Washington Spirit along with moderator, Crystal McCrary, Cofounder, Get to Yes Productions; Cofounder, GameUp all also demonstrated the power of sports in modern media during their panel.
A widespread excitement has taken over the industry as women’s sports surge in visibility and recognition, marking a significant turning point in the sports landscape. This momentum is exemplified by record-breaking viewership for events like the NCAA women’s basketball championship, which attracted more viewers than the men’s final for the first time in history. More recently, the National Women’s Soccer League has broken attendance records this season and nearly doubled its national TV audience, while the WNBA’s regular season ratings hit a twenty-four-year high. This panel will explore the massive boost in women’s sports audiences and attention and look at the necessary next steps to continue growing this momentum.
The Paley International Council Summit brings together visionary thought leaders from around the world to explore the cutting-edge technologies, platforms, and business models that are reshaping and redefining the media landscape. This forward-looking event provides a forum for the brightest minds to share insights, forge partnerships, and collectively define a bold new future for content creation, distribution, and consumption.
