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  • October 2017
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LeBron James: Building a Hollywood Empire

By: Anita Elberse
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:24
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Abstract

It is June 2016. Superstar basketball player LeBron James and his childhood friend and business partner Maverick Carter are celebrating James’ third NBA championship. The duo will soon have to decide on a strategy for their media businesses—their film and television production company SpringHill Entertainment as well as their digital sports platform Uninterrupted. In 2015, Carter and James negotiated a first-of-its-kind, three-year agreement with Hollywood studio Warner Bros. Entertainment that gave SpringHill Entertainment a first-look movie deal, an exclusive television deal, significant development resources that also could be used for the creation of digital content, and space on the studio lot. Later that year, Warner Bros. signed on as a lead investor in Uninterrupted. Were Carter and James right to partner with Warner Bros. in this manner? And with renewal negotiations just around the corner, how could they make the most of the opportunity?

Keywords

Film; Motion Picutres; Superstar; Innovation; Creative Industries; Talent; General Management; Celebrities; Marketing; Entertainment; Sports; Media; Film Entertainment; Innovation Strategy; Talent and Talent Management; Strategy; Digital Strategy; Sports Industry; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

Citation

Elberse, Anita. "LeBron James: Building a Hollywood Empire." Harvard Business School Case 518-042, October 2017.
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About The Author

Anita Elberse

Marketing
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More from the Author
  • Toto Wolff and the Mercedes Formula One Team By: Anita Elberse and David Moreno Vicente
  • FIFA and The World Cup: The Future of Football By: Anita Elberse, Oliver Band and Howard Johnson
  • Andreessen Horowitz’s Cultural Leadership Fund (B): Kevin Hart and Clubhouse By: Anita Elberse, Briana Richardson and Cydni Williams
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