2026 M&E trends: simplicity, authenticity, and the rise of ... - EY
Platforms like TikTok and YouTube rely on deep learning to analyze user behavior—watch time, skips, likes, and shares—to serve hyper-personalized content. AI now writes scripts, generates synthesized voices for audiobooks, and even edits trailers. For the consumer, this means an endless, curated “Endless Feed” of perfect recommendations. For creators, it means fighting an algorithm for visibility.
Podcasts and Digital Audio: The resurgence of audio has allowed media to become "background content." Whether it is true crime storytelling or educational deep dives, podcasts provide a level of intimacy and portability that visual media cannot match. The Role of Artificial Intelligence
The most obvious shift has been the explosion of streaming. Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Max, and a dozen other platforms have dismantled the traditional cable bundle. The result? A golden age of volume . More television series were released in 2023 than in the entire decade of the 1990s.
This has changed the nature of the content itself. Series are being designed with "commercial cliffhangers" again, just like broadcast TV. Shorter seasons produce higher "re-watchability" to justify the licensing cost. The financial models are forcing a return to tighter, more compelling writing.
AI is the most significant disruptor in the history of entertainment and media content. Beyond recommending what you should watch next, generative AI is now being used to write scripts, compose music, and create realistic visual effects. While this democratizes production, it also raises complex questions regarding copyright, intellectual property, and the value of human creativity. The Future: Personalization and Immersion
While the tools change—from the printing press to the smartphone—the core of a "solid story" remains the same: it must build with its audience, regardless of the medium.