How Byron Allen plans to turn BuzzFeed into a YouTube rival

When the media mogul Byron Allen took a controlling stake in BuzzFeed in May—becoming its CEO and chairman—it was his latest bold bet in a volatile media landscape. The Allen Media Group founder explains his strategy for BuzzFeed, why YouTube and Netflix aren’t untouchable in the streaming wars, and why race matters in media ownership. ( Editor’s note : This interview was recorded before BuzzFeed announced layoffs for 35% of its staff on July 27, 2026.) This is an abridged transcript of an inter