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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took a lot of heat this year
In so many ways, 2017 was not normal. That's true for the world at large, and of course in the media and advertising business.
Consider that at the start of this year, no company on the planet was hotter than Snapchat. Now every few months it's as if the media world braces for its earnings.
Similarly, YouTube opened the year poised to steal ad money from TV. Then came ads next to PewDiePie Hitler jokes and exploitive kids videos.
Meanwhile, three years ago 21st Century Fox tried to buy Time Warner. Just a few weeks ago, the media conglomerate sold a bunch of pieces to Disney!
Speaking of mergers, if there was one sure bet of 2017 it would be that AT&T would complete its acquisition of Time Warner. But alas, the US government suddenly doesn't love that deal (hint, like Jaws 4, this time it's personal).
It's increasingly clear that every sector of these industries is being upended and uncertain. And everyone's afraid of the Facebook-Google duopoly.
Other than that, no one knows anything. Happy New Year.
