Group Project Template: Mapping a Media Company’s Growth Strategy (Vice, Disney+, The Orangery)

Hook: Turn deadline stress into a high-grade group submission — fast

If your students struggle with teamwork, deadline pressure, and turning noisy industry news into a tight corporate strategy analysis, this reproducible group project removes the guesswork. In a semester or module-length assignment, teams will analyze the growth strategy and promotional moves of three distinct media players — Vice Media, Disney+, and The Orangery — using a ready-made timeline, templates, and a transparent grading rubric designed for educators and students in 2026.

Quick summary: what this project teaches and why it matters in 2026

Learning outcomes: Students will synthesize current industry developments, evaluate strategic choices (M&A, leadership hires, content commissioning, transmedia IP deals), and produce investor-ready briefs and promotional plans. This project targets practical skills: evidence-based argumentation, strategic frameworks, and professional presentation.

Why now: 2024–2026 saw major shifts — streaming consolidation, leadership reshuffles at legacy media firms, and rapid growth of IP-first transmedia studios. Recent moves (Vice’s C-suite rebuild in early 2026, Disney+ EMEA promotions, and The Orangery’s WME deal) make these companies ideal case studies to explore corporate strategy dynamics in real time.

Project overview: Group Project — Mapping a Media Company’s Growth Strategy

Scope

• Teams of 3–5 students (recommended).
• Three companies assigned (one per team or rotate across classes): Vice Media, Disney+ (EMEA focus), The Orangery.
• Duration: 4–6 weeks (flexible tracks for 2-week sprint or semester-long deep dive).
• Deliverables: written strategy brief (2,000–2,500 words), a 10–12 slide investor-style deck, a 6-minute recorded pitch, supporting appendix with data sources.

Core questions

1. What is the company’s current growth hypothesis? (audience, content, distribution, monetization)
2. Which recent moves (leadership hiring, promotions, IP deals, partnerships) support that hypothesis?
3. What are the key risks and competitive responses in 2026? (AI-driven personalization, rights fragmentation, cross-border streaming)
4. What tactical 12-month promotional plan would you recommend to accelerate growth?

2026 context: trends students must apply

• Executive reshuffles shape strategy — Example: Vice’s post-bankruptcy C-suite hiring in early 2026 signals a pivot from being a production-for-hire firm toward building studio capabilities; teams should assess financial and talent implications.
• Regional commissioning and local strategies matter — Disney+ promoted key EMEA execs in late 2025/early 2026 to scale localized originals; analyze how local commissioning affects subscriber growth and retention.
• IP-first transmedia studios scale faster — The Orangery’s WME deal (Jan 2026) shows how graphic-novel IP can be monetized across film, TV, merchandise, and games; students should map IP conversion paths and licensing potential.
• AI and generative content pipelines — Expect students to include AI-enabled recommendation systems, generative content pipelines, and the ethical/legal constraints around copyright and training data.
• Hybrid monetization — Ad-supported tiers, premium subscriptions, and rights licensing are all in play; the analysis must propose realistic revenue levers.

Step-by-step project timeline (reproducible)

Week 0: Orientation (Instructor)

• Distribute company briefing packs (one-page snapshots for Vice, Disney+, The Orangery).
• Share templates: Strategy Brief Template, Slide Deck Template, Appendix/Data Log, and Peer Evaluation Form.

Week 1: Research & Role Assignment

• Assign roles: Project Lead, Strategy Analyst, Finance/Forecast, Marketing/Promotion, Researcher.
• Each team compiles a 2-page situational analysis using the supplied template.

Week 2–3: Deep Analysis & Hypothesis Formation

• Use Porter’s Five Forces + Resource-Based View (RBV) to justify competitive positioning.
• Draft the growth hypothesis and 12-month tactical plan.

Week 4: Draft Submission & Peer Review

• Submit first draft of strategy brief and slides.
• Peer-review exchange using a 1–5 rubric; incorporate feedback.

Week 5: Finalize & Present

• Deliver final brief, slide deck, and 6-minute recorded pitch.
• Q&A day: 10-minute live Q&A per group (optional).

Templates (copy-paste ready)

Strategy Brief Template (structure)

1. Executive Summary (200–300 words): key thesis, recommended 12-month outcome metrics.
2. Company Snapshot: mission, revenue model, audience, recent strategic moves (cite 2025–2026 headlines).
3. Situation Analysis: SWOT; Porter’s Five Forces summary.
4. Growth Hypothesis: target audience, content pillars, distribution channels, monetization pathways.
5. 12-Month Tactical Plan: quarterly milestones, KPIs, required investment, risks & mitigations.
6. Financial Forecast: 12-month revenue/expense outline and key assumptions.
7. Appendix: data sources, press clips, interview notes.

Slide Deck Template (10 slides)

1. Cover + One-line Thesis
2. Market & Opportunity
3. Company Snapshot & Recent Moves (e.g., Vice C-suite hires, Disney+ promotions, The Orangery–WME)
4. Audience & Content Strategy
5. Distribution & Monetization
6. Competitive Landscape
7. 12-Month Roadmap (milestones)
8. Financials & Ask (if pitching investors)
9. Risks & Contingencies
10. Appendix & Sources

Grading rubric (instructor-ready)

Use a transparent, weighted rubric to align learning objectives with assessment. Below is a 100-point rubric with clear descriptors.

Rubric: 100 points total

• Strategy & Insight (30 points)
  • 27–30: Original, evidence-based strategic thesis aligned to 2026 trends; links moves like Vice’s CFO hire or The Orangery WME deal to strategy.
  • 20–26: Solid thesis with some evidence; minor gaps.
  • 0–19: Weak or unsupported strategy.
• Analysis & Use of Data (20 points)
  • 18–20: Accurate data, diverse sources, clear assumptions in financials.
  • 12–17: Adequate data, some assumptions unstated.
  • 0–11: Missing or incorrect data. Cross-verify with filings and industry databases.
• Tactical Plan & Feasibility (20 points)
  • 18–20: Realistic milestones, clear KPIs, resource plan.
  • 12–17: Tactical but optimistic or vague on resources.
  • 0–11: Impractical or missing tactics.
• Presentation & Communication (15 points)
  • 14–15: Clear narrative, professional slides, compelling pitch.
  • 9–13: Good visuals, some narrative issues.
  • 0–8: Confusing or unprofessional delivery.
• Teamwork & Peer Evaluation (10 points)
  • 9–10: Balanced contribution, positive peer reviews.
  • 6–8: Some imbalance documented.
  • 0–5: Major imbalance or academic integrity concerns.
• Sources & Academic Integrity (5 points)
  • 5: Proper citations, no plagiarism.
  • 3–4: Minor citation issues.
  • 0–2: Plagiarism or missing citations.

Peer evaluation form (quick)

• Rate each teammate 1–5 on reliability, quality of work, communication.
• Optional: short justification comments (required if rating <3). Use a standard peer template and consider micro-recognition systems described in scaling micro-recognition.

Instructor checklist

• Provide dataset links and news clippings (include key 2025–2026 headlines: Vice corporate rebuild, Disney+ EMEA promotions, The Orangery–WME sign).
• Clarify policy on external help, AI tools, and acceptable citations (see guidance on secure AI policies at creating a secure desktop AI agent policy).
• Share grading rubric at project start and run a mid-project check-in. Consider environmental and governance signals in strategy analysis (see ESG in 2026).

Sample analysis snippets (model answers)

Vice Media — strategic take

In 2026 Vice’s new CFO hire and renewed C-suite signal a pivot to studio-scale production and improved capital discipline. Teams should argue whether rebuilding finance and biz-dev capabilities supports an owned-IP strategy versus continuing ad-driven content. Tactical recommendation example: prioritize 2–3 long-form IP investments and partner with streaming platforms on co-production deals, while reducing reliance on external production-for-hire revenue.

Disney+ (EMEA) — strategic take

Disney+ promotions in EMEA reflect a bet on localized originals to drive retention and EU regulatory compliance around local content. Students should evaluate trade-offs: higher local production costs vs. stronger subscriber loyalty. Tactical example: a regional slate of 6 scripted originals with staggered release windows and targeted marketing to under-penetrated markets.

The Orangery — strategic take

The Orangery’s WME deal is a textbook transmedia growth lever: convert graphic-novel IP into film/series and licensing. The key questions: how to scale IP catalog, negotiate rights splits, and protect creator relationships. Tactical example: three-tier IP monetization strategy (direct-to-consumer comics, licensing for screen adaptations, branded merchandise partnerships).

Assessment of common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Over-reliance on press headlines — cross-verify with financial filings or industry databases.
• Ignoring feasibility — always include resource and timeline constraints.
• Poor teamwork documentation — require weekly progress logs and peer evaluations.
• Weak KPIs — use measurable metrics (subscriber churn, ARPU, licensing revenue targets).

Actionable takeaways for students and instructors

• Start with the hypothesis: What growth outcome are you testing? Build all analysis around it.
• Use 2026 lens: Assess leadership hires, content commissioning, and IP deals as strategic signals, not just PR.
• Be data-specific: state assumptions for any financial estimate and include sensitivity ranges.
• Document teamwork: weekly logs make grading fairer and reduce conflict.

“A news headline is a data point; your job is to show the causal link between that move and the company’s strategic direction.”

Extra credit and extensions (advanced students)

• Model subscriber economics under three scenarios (base, upside, downside) using simple Excel templates.
• Design a short-form social campaign to test a content pillar in-market with A/B creative tests and a 6-week KPI plan.
• Conduct a 10-minute stakeholder mapping for licensing deals (studios, agents, creators, platforms).

Resources & suggested readings (2025–2026)

• Recent industry coverage on corporate moves (Vice C-suite rebuild, Disney+ EMEA promotions, The Orangery–WME sign).
• Reports on streaming economics and transmedia IP monetization (2025–2026 market briefs).
• Academic pieces on strategic frameworks: Porter, RBV, and platform economics.

Final notes: how to reuse and adapt this template

This template is intentionally modular: instructors can shorten timelines, swap companies, or focus on a single strategic theme (e.g., rights management or AI-driven personalization). Use the rubric as-is for consistent evaluation or adapt weights to your course priorities (research vs. presentation-heavy classes).

Call to action

Ready to run this in your class? Download editable templates, grading sheets, and an Excel financial model from our instructor kit. If you want a tailored version (different companies, a focus on AI or ad-supported models), contact our curriculum team for a customized package and live grading support.

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