Ari Emanuel says that, regardless of CAA’s blockbuster acquisition of ICM, Endeavor isn’t essentially trying to be a part of the shopping for spree within the area.
Interviewed by Kara Swisher on the Code Convention in Beverly Hills, the Endeavor CEO was requested straight whether or not he would pursue UTA within the wake of the CAA-ICM deal. “No, we don’t want it,” Emanuel replied.
Requested in regards to the CAA-ICM deal, Emanuel stated: “I believe what they purchased principally was 5 unbelievable TV writers … They purchased an excellent e-book enterprise and an excellent soccer enterprise out of Europe.”
He additionally stated that the deal “validated” Endeavor’s technique when it merged with WMA. “They’re simply coming to it 13 years later … Mazel tov,” he added.
He additionally defended Endeavor’s illustration enterprise, pushing again towards the notion that the corporate is ignoring it in favor of UFC or its different ventures.
“I’d say to you, we’re the most important company,” Emanuel stated. “Our illustration enterprise, for the final 10 or 11 years, has grown double digits yearly for 10 years. It’s a very important a part of our enterprise, and it’s the core feeder for a way our enterprise grows.”
He additionally argued that Endeavor continues to be vital to its purchasers, significantly because the variety of streaming providers proceed to develop, and because the energy of movie star to drive different companies will increase.
“I believe we truly add worth to their goals or needs, whether or not that be making a manufacturing firm, whether or not or not it’s producing, whether or not or not it’s endorsements,” Emanuel stated. “They [streaming services] all want extra content material, and there’s a voracious urge for food for extra content material. From the place I’m sitting, my purchasers are doing actually, rather well, and they’ll proceed to do rather well.”
Nonetheless, there’s a restrict to who Endeavor will characterize. When requested if he would as soon as once more characterize Donald Trump (Emanuel repped him earlier than he ran for president), Emanuel gave an prompt and temporary response: “No.”
