Publications

08 Sep 2016
Cold Call Podcast

How Netflix Built its House of Cards (and Changed TV Forever)

Keywords: Re: Anita Elberse; Entertainment & Recreation

June 1994
Supplement

Rudi Gassner at BMG International, Video

By: Linda A. Hill

Shows excerpts from a class discussion with Gassner and an MBA class. He describes his leadership style and the challenges he faces as the senior executive of a global entertainment enterprise. View Details

Keywords: Entertainment; Globalization; Leadership Style; Problems and Challenges; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Career Coach

David Woodman

David (HBS '92) uses his experience in starting and running media companies to assist students in matching their skills and interests with opportunities in the Media, Sports, and Entertainment sectors.Work Experience: General Manager of... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment / Media; Entertainment / Media; Entertainment / Media

Why Tik Tok is Beating YouTube for Eyeball Time

November 2022

Video clips might draw people to TikTok, but its algorithm keeps them watching. John Deighton and Leora Kornfeld explore why TikTok raced ahead of other platforms. First,... View Details

Career Coach

Crystal Yao

Crystal is particularly interested in helping students understand careers in Sports, Media, and Entertainment and Big Tech, as well as functional careers in General Management, Strategy Consulting, Business Development, and Sales &... View Details

February 2025
Teaching Note

Barbie: Reviving a Cultural Icon at Mattel

By: Elie Ofek and Sarah Mehta

Brand Management; Culture and Marketing; Marketing Strategy; Entertainment Marketing; Intellectual Property; Consumer Preferences; Societal Marketing; Brand Purpose; Diversity and Inclusion; Driving Growth; Turnaround Strategies; Toy Industry View Details

06 Jan 2014
News

Blockbusters and the Ticket to Success

24 Nov 2015
News

Why Did Urban Outfitters Buy A Pizzeria?

01 Feb 2018
News

Black Business Leaders Series: Oprah’s Path to Authentic Leadership

Career Coach

Wabantu Hlophe

Wabantu wants to help students build networks that can help them access new opportunities in industries off the beaten path. Having gained significant experience in clean energy investing, startups and consulting before HBS; and pivoting into the gaming industry at... View Details

22 May 2023
News

Getting to Know 2023 Class Day Student Speaker Adán Acevedo

January 2002 (Revised February 2002)
Case

Valuing the AOL Time Warner Merger

By: Lynda M. Applegate, Rena Miller and John N Rei

On January 11, 2000, AOL and Time Warner announced their intention to merge, creating what AOL CEO Stephen Case and Time Warner CEO Gerald Levin called the 21st century's first fully integrated communications, media, and entertainment company. This case, prepared from... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Valuation; Situation or Environment; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

May 2007 (Revised March 2010)
Case

Maria Sharapova: Marketing a Champion (A)

By: Anita Elberse and Margarita Golod

In July 2004, a then 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon, arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Max Eisenbud, Sharapova's agent at International Management Group (IMG), knew the championship would lead to a flood of new opportunities. What... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy; Advertising; Gender; Product Marketing; Sports Industry

May 2016 (Revised April 2019)
Case

Legendary Entertainment: Moneyball for Motion Pictures

By: John A. Deighton and Leora Kornfeld

Legendary, the Hollywood studio responsible for such hits as Jurassic World and The Dark Knight, decides to take the marketing of its films in-house, and to market them fan-by-fan. Owner Thomas Tull acquires the big-data-in-sports firm started by Matt Marolda and... View Details

Keywords: ＂Marketing Analytics＂; Marketing Strategy; Decision Making; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

09 Apr 2016
Blog Post

Meet The HBS Sound Society

entertainment powerhouse on campus. It all starts with the students. One of the goals of the club has been to showcase the amazing talent that HBS students possess. We’ve hosted Pub Night and Spangler Night Live events featuring... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment / Media / Sports

13 Jul 2017
Blog Post

Summer Snapshot: Interning in the Sports Industry

York Tell us what you are up to this summer. This summer I am working for The Madison Square Garden Company in the Corporate Development & Strategy group. After four years in banking, I wanted to work in the sports and entertainment... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment / Media / Sports

January 1998 (Revised March 1998)
Case

Viacom, Inc.: Carpe Diem (Condensed)

By: Joseph L. Bower and Thomas R. Eisenmann

Viacom has built a powerful position in the global entertainment industry through skillful and bold acquisitions. Now its expansion is challenged by the moves of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Different businesses within Viacom have contradictory positions on how to deal... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Cost vs Benefits; Decisions; Entertainment; Competition; Corporate Strategy; Expansion; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

July 1991 (Revised May 1993)
Case

Fairfield Inn (B)

By: James L. Heskett

The manager of a Fairfield Inn located near a family entertainment center is requesting special consideration for a falling quality rating caused, in his opinion, by unusually high occupancy rates at his unit. The case raises questions about quality measurement,... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment; Measurement and Metrics; Performance Consistency; Quality; Strategy; Accommodations Industry