Two of global business's most prominent figures are directing vast capital into the media and broadcasting industry. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has invested approximately $1 billion in American media giant Skydance, while Ylias Akbaraly, widely regarded as Madagascar's richest man, is pursuing a $450 million contract to modernize public broadcasting infrastructure across Nigeria.
- Elon Musk has invested $1 billion in the American media company Skydance, strengthening his ties with the Ellison family.
- Skydance recently acquired Warner Bros. Discovery, uniting major media brands but taking on $82.5 billion in debt.
- Skydance aims to cut $6 billion in costs over three years and plans to integrate artificial intelligence into its operations.
- Ylias Akbaraly is leading a $450 million project via Thomson Broadcast to modernize public broadcasting in Nigeria, potentially marking one of Africa's largest media infrastructure upgrades.
Elon Musk backs Skydance with $1 billion investment in the United States
In the United States, world's richest man Elon Musk has invested about $1 billion in media company Skydance, led by David Ellison.
According to reports by Semafor and the New York Post, this move strengthens Musk's financial partnership with the Ellison family.
Back in 2022, David's father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, helped fund Musk's purchase of Twitter with his own $1 billion investment.
Musk's new investment follows Skydance's recent takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6.
That deal brought major brands like CBS, CNN, HBO, Paramount+, and Warner Bros. under Skydance’s portfolio, though the newly combined entertainment giant is now managing roughly $82.5 billion in debt.
To streamline operations and address debt, Skydance leadership is targeting $6 billion in annualized cost reductions over three years while integrating artificial intelligence into production.
Speaking in a CNBC interview, Skydance Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Ellison explained his perspective on new technology, stating, “We are a big believer that artificial intelligence is a tool for artists, not the other way around”.
Meanwhile, American Billionaire businessman, John Malone analyzed the restructuring during an appearance at the Paley Center, noting that Ellison “is gonna have to re-engineer all of those channels, and figure out how they morph into streams themselves rather than just traditional linear”.
Malone also pointed to potential commercial synergies with Musk's Starlink satellite network, remarking, “I think there’s a deal coming there”.
Madagascar's richest man targets $450 million infrastructure deal in Nigeria
In Africa, Madagascar's richest man, Ylias Akbaraly, is spearheading an initiative to overhaul public television and radio networks across Nigeria.
His company, Redland, owns a French broadcasting technology firm called Thomson Broadcast, which is trying to secure the $450 million (€400 million) contract with the Nigerian government.
According to reports from Nairametrics and Africa Intelligence, the proposed modernization project targets major state media organizations, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
![Ylias Akbaraly [Image Credi: Forbes Afrique]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/0476ce4ea63948a1cab8d3cc05f592f7.jpg)
Thomson Broadcast Chief Executive Stéphane Bollon has held talks with Nigeria's Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, following a preliminary memorandum of understanding signed in 2025.
This expansion represents a significant step for Akbaraly, who transformed his family's Madagascar detergent venture into a multi-sector conglomerate with operations in finance, aviation, real estate, and telecommunications.
As reported by Nairametrics, having previously completed broadcasting infrastructure upgrades in nations such as Guinea and Mali, securing the Nigerian deal would mark one of the largest media technology modernizations on the continent.