Downstream

Sitcoms are one of the most popular genres of television, yet streaming services tend to do better repurposing someone else's catalog rather than creating their own. What's behind this trend, and what will the future hold? Also, College Sports Corner and more letters!

Marvel hits the brakes, Apple embraces theatrical releases, Netflix can make anything a hit, two combat sports combine forces, and Major League Baseball keeps fans confused about when you're allowed to watch a ballgame.

HBO has another hit, Jason Kilar has some advice for Bob Iger about the future of Hulu, and Sports Corner returns to discuss the ongoing saga of regional sports networks bankruptcies and the future of streaming sports.

Jason returns from New Zealand as a better wizard, just in time for Zaz to announce new "Lord of the Rings" films. Has it been done, or can you not keep a good Hobbit down? Also, Netflix explores lower prices in some markets, Sports Corner ponders the Bally Sports bankruptcy, and we answer some of your questions!

Susan Wojcicki steps down as YouTube CEO, what will her legacy be? Ant-Man performs well at the box office, but do reviews indicate 'Marvel Fatigue'? And guest-host Myke Hurley quizzes Julia on why he has to wait for shows to premiere in the UK.

Disney's first financial results of the Iger II era make us consider the future of Hulu and ESPN. Discovery+ pulls a fast one, Showtime can't dodge its fate, Peacock looks surprisingly robust, and everyone's mad about Netflix cracking down on password sharing--but Downstream listeners learned all about it nearly a year ago.

Netflix shows Disney how CEO transitions happen, as Reed Hastings is elevated to chairmanship and Greg Peters becomes co-CEO. Julia has analysis of Netflix's earnings report, we discuss streaming Oscar nominees, there's some Hulu follow-up, and we answer an amazing crop of your letters!

It's a new year, so it's time to consider the lessons of 2022 and make some predictions for streaming trends in 2023. Plus: was "Glass Onion" a success for Netflix? Is your next workout coming from Netflix? And to Julia's delight, Sports Corner is back!

In a very special (and silly) end-of-year episode, Julia and Jason create tier lists for everything with a plus. Happy New Year!

What's the point of HBO Max if it doesn't have all the HBO shows on it? Julia ponders the strange goings on at HBO and WarnerMedia. We also discuss Jason Kilar's predictions for the future of streaming, the BBC, and how studios handle self-dealing.

Bob Chapek is out and Bob Iger is back in! What does this mean for the future of Disney? We don't have the answers, but we have lots of questions! Also discussed: "Strange World" and the future of Disney animation, whether Disney should buy Hulu, and Netflix's strange "Glass Onion"s strategy.

Disney's latest financial results lead us to ponder where we are in the dramatic change from old-school media to the streaming world. We discuss "Hocus Pocus 2" as the ultimate direct-to-streaming movie, and why "Glass Onion" makes sense going to theaters before Netflix. Also, Warner Bros. Discovery claims to have all its franchises in order, but that doesn't seem remotely realistic. (And yeah, th...

Peacock pivots, Netflix gets to know itself, "Doctor Who" is on the move, "Andor" teaches some important lessons, and Sports Corner returns!

Is "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" the real winner of the battle between "House of the Dragon" and "Lord of the Rings"? Also: Netflix opens itself up to viewership ratings in the UK, Sports Corner covers Apple's negotiations with the NFL, and we discuss the merits of Paramount's content library and Hulu's overall value as a streaming service. Plus plus plus, your letters!

An accidental Sports Corner, understanding Peacock's slow growth, EPIX becomes MGM+, a "House of the Dragon" / "Rings of Power" check-in, Apple's "Luck", Julia and Parrot provide data to creators, and a listener explains Canadian TV quirks.

Julia's under the weather, so Jason asked our editor, Steven, to join him to talk about Amazon's NFL broadcast, Apple TV+ exclusivity of MLB record-breaking games, the insolvency of Bally Sports, and the mystery of NFL Sunday Ticket. Yep, it's Sports Corner with a little bit of bonus Canadian content.

"The Rings of Power" has arrived, but do Amazon's viewing numbers mean anything? Also: Netflix's weird identity crisis, NBC might give up its 10pm time slots, the difficulty of making sitcom hits, and your letters!

We discuss what the House of the Dragon premiere means for HBO Max, how Netflix judges the success of "The Sandman" and other shows, the business reasons behind Warner Bros. Discovery's cuts, and why Sony is sitting pretty without its own streaming service.

The big story in streaming is Warner Bros. Discovery and David Zaslav's cuts, cancellations, and the merger of HBO Max with Discovery+. Julia and Jason break it all down, including what's upsetting creators and the audience and why those weird PowerPoint slides exist.

Jason and Julia answer your letters. So many questions! We discuss live TV on Apple channels, merger mania, niche streaming, valuable hot-dog streaming rights, "it's just an eight-hour movie", and tactical release times.

How do the creators of TV shows know how well their shows are doing when their streaming services won't share meaningful data? Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe tired, or spending its capital to do some creative experimentation? We discuss, and also look at Vulture's rankings of the hottest (and coldest) streaming services.

We discuss the "Lightyear" box office and the future of Pixar, finding better ways to binge through smart software, and how streaming franchises are constructed. And then, once again, there's Sports Corner, as streaming RSNs multiply and Formula 1 turns up its nose at Amazon and re-signs with ESPN.

With the clash between "Stranger Things" and Star Wars, the summer streaming blockbuster season has begun! And we inaugurate a new segment, Sports Corner, as the path of sports on streaming media sports has begun to change dramatically.

What do "Stranger Things" and "Obi Wan Kenobi" tell us about the present and future of Netflix and Disney+? Also, Netflix's "The Gray Man" makes a very limited visit to theaters, the intellectual-property wanderings of "Daredevil" continue, and we answer your letters about churn, billionaires, and northern European dramas.

After years watching the old Netflix cruise along as the top streamer, things are getting interesting as it shifts gears and engages the realities of today's streaming scene. We discuss reports Netflix might put its films in theaters and its attempts to find hit sitcoms more like what you'd find on a broadcast network. Julia also reviews the Disney financial results and what it means for that medi...