In the past few months, media companies large and small have been behaving with everything from cutting deals to building search partnerships and rethinking waldingbooks. Traditional outlets like C-SPAN, for example, are chasing new audiences, while startup platforms like X are finding ways to wrap ads into AI products. Together, these moves highlight how quickly the industry is evolving — and how blurred the lines between tech and media have become.
Between July and September, established players and entertainment giants alike created new opportunities for growth through equity opportunities, acquisitions and mergers-giving more media wavers to track the third quarter.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable media and tech deals making headlines during the event:
Puck finds Greydon Carter’s Air Mail
Puck, the media startup founded by Jon Kelly, announced in September that it is acquiring Air Mail, the digital media company launched by Greydon Carter. Air Mail’s flagship product is the weekend email newsletter. Terms were not disclosed, but the New York Times reported that the puck was paid for the acquisition with its own stock. Carter, who founded Air Mail in 2019 with a business model focused on luxury advertisers and e-commerce, will stay on as a consultant for now.
Minutes Media to buy Ai Sports Tech Tech videoverse
And in September, Minute Sources, the parent company of Floss and the games shown, announced its biggest acquisition to date: the purchase of VideoVerse, an Indian software company. The agreement strengthens the capabilities of minute games and short video capabilities. The Videoverse Magnifi tool can automatically generate real-time sports scores and drive content engagement across social channels. While the names were not revealed, most reports value between $200 million and $250 million.
Paramount and Skydance total $8 billion merger
David Ellison’s Skydance Media completed its $8 billion merger with Paramount Global in August, creating a new entity called Paramount, a skydance company. Transfer Agreement Old Hollywood studio management and Skydance positions to reinvigorate the home of franchises such as Star Trek and Task: Impossible long-term and attractive structure. In his first month as CEO of the combined company, Ellison announced major moves, including a $7.7 billion deal to end the UFC’s exclusive broadcasts beginning in 2026, a four-year partnership Stranger Things Creators Matt and Ross Duffer, and plans for Call of Duty film film.
IC-SPAN secures new broadcast deals
After the union’s decision to urge broadcasting platforms to transmit live coverage of C-SPAN was announced in September, the agreements bring C-SPAN to the basic structures of both services, expanding its reach by an estimated 13.8 million viewers
Disney is taking a stake in Webtoon Entertainment
The Walt Disney Company deepened its relationship with Webtoon entertainment through a two percent investment tied to the launch of a new digital comic platform. Announced in September, the initiative includes titles from Disney’s portfolio—including Marvel, star WarsPixar and 20 Studios of the 20th century – in one subscription-based service powered by Webtoon. The platform, which will have more than 35,000 comics, will synchronize disney franchises for the webtoon’s Signature Vertical-Scroll.
X brings ads to grok
In August, Elon Musk announced plans to include paid advertising within the Platform Chatbot, Grok. Brands will be able to pay to appear on grok answers when users ask for things like product recommendations. Musk described the move as a way to help reduce the high cost of computing. Grok was developed by another musk subsidiary, xai.
Delta and YouTube expand in-flight entertainment partnership
Delta Airlines and YouTube have expanded their multi-year partnership to promote in-flight entertainment. Under the new deal, DELTA passengers can access ad-free videos, podcasts and music playlists from top creators like mrbest via Delta Wifi. US Skymiles members on domestic flights can also redeem a YouTube account for YouTube. The collaboration even extends to the boarding experience, with a playlist of YouTube Music Gryllings playing as they board the plane.
