iWorld
Kevin Mayer leaves Disney to become TikTok CEO
MUMBAI: Walt Disney Company’s top executive Kevin Mayer has resigned to take up the top executive job at short-video app TikTok, which has seen its popularity soaring during the Covid2019 pandemic.
According to a New York Times report, the 58-year-old will also serve as chief operating officer of ByteDance, the Chinese parent company that owns TikTok.
“I was happy with my job at Disney, The magnitude of this opportunity was just something I couldn’t pass up,” Mayer told New York Times over phone
Mayer has worked on services like Disney Plus, which has been a phenomenal hit with around 55 million subscribers, and the prominent OTT in India Hotstar.
According to him, gaming and music are two possibilities for expansion.
After having overseen the direct-to-consumer and global division for the two years, he had served as Disney’s chief strategy officer. Mayer joined Disney way back in 1993. He left the company in 2000 and joined Playboy.com. Later he returned to Disney and started working on Go.com, which later bit the dust.
Rebecca Campbell has been named as Mayer’s successor.
That soaring popularity of the TikTok, an immense feat for a Chinese company, has not gone down well with many government agencies in the US. In fact, the military has prevented its workers from downloading or using TikTok. Recently, a Republican senator even proposed a law to bar federal employees from using it.
In the first quarter of 20202, TikTok’s has been downloaded 307 million times, more than any other app in the world, as per Sensor Tower data.
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iWorld
Paramount revamps app with short videos to boost mobile viewer engagement
Streaming giant borrows from TikTok playbook to drive daily usage on phones
LOS ANGELES: Paramount Skydance is giving its streaming strategy a mobile-first twist, rolling out a redesigned version of its Paramount+ app that leans heavily on short-form video to capture viewer attention, according to a Reuters report.
The updated app, currently available to iPhone users via Apple, features scrollable clips such as sports highlights, news snippets, UFC moments and trailers. The idea is simple but effective: get users to open the app multiple times a day, much like they do with TikTok or Instagram.
By encouraging repeat visits, Paramount is betting it can deepen engagement and unlock new features such as real-time statistics during live events and interactive viewing elements. The approach reflects a broader industry shift, where streaming platforms are borrowing cues from social media to stay relevant in an increasingly crowded market.
The stakes are high. In the first quarter of 2026, Paramount accounted for just 2 percent of global app-based streaming, trailing rivals such as Netflix, HBO Max and Peacock, according to data cited by Reuters. Even a potential combination with Warner Bros Discovery would only place it fourth in the streaming rankings.
Meanwhile, YouTube, owned by Google, continues to dominate the mobile video space, boasting user numbers far ahead of Paramount+. This gap has pushed traditional studios to rethink how audiences discover and consume content.
Industry insiders suggest Paramount could go further by experimenting with micro dramas or tapping digital creators to draw in younger viewers. Rivals are already moving in that direction. Netflix is investing in video podcasts featuring names like Pete Davidson, Michael Irvin and Brian Williams, while Amazon has teamed up with Jimmy Donaldson for a reality series.
There are also hints of potential collaboration with TikTok, given shared links to Larry Ellison of Oracle, though both companies have said no formal agreement exists.
The revamp is part of a wider overhaul of Paramount’s streaming operations, including both Paramount+ and Pluto TV, as the company looks to sharpen its competitive edge.
In a market where attention spans are shrinking, Paramount’s latest move signals a clear pivot. If viewers will not come to long-form content, the strategy suggests, then perhaps the content must first meet them in short bursts.
