Inside The Stream

Amid viewership challenges, Netflix continues to diversify into creator content, video podcasts, and more. Is Netflix trying to YouTube-ify itself, and if so, will it work?

Comcast’s decision to split off NBCU highlights the company’s many strategic missteps with streaming video.

In a surprise move, Fox is acquiring Roku for $22 billion. Is it a good deal, bad deal, or something in between? We discuss from all angles.

Vionlabs’ Founder Arash Pendari explains how AI-enhanced metadata boosts the value of video assets, fits into business workflows, and improves viewer engagement.

Two horror movies from YouTubers are beating out Disney at the box office. TV OS’s are gaining importance. And Congress is scrutinizing the NFL’s media rights deals.

Netflix has added another big podcast to its roster, YouTube enhances AI disclosures, Roku revamps its home screen, Xfinity offers YouTube TV, and the FCC faces challenges with vMVPDs and NextGenTV.  You can find a transcript of this podcast here .

New research from Omdia, Hub, and Antenna underscores the growing importance of advertising in streaming, across FASTs and premium SVOD.

New Disney CEO D’Amaro intends to turn Disney+ into a central hub for Disney fans to engage with all the company’s content and experiences, complete with interactivity. ParamountSkydance has a far less expansive view of Paramount+.

YouTube’s Q1 ad revenue approached $10 billion, up 11%, with subscriptions also growing strongly. And Howdy hit 1 million subscribers, as Roku flexes its distribution muscles.

Netflix reported more steady growth in Q1 as it transitions to maturity. But from advertising to gaming, and live sports to video podcasts, Netflix is staying opportunistic.

Roku now reaches 100 million households, but is far from owning the US market. New Hub data shows Roku and Amazon’s growing role in SVOD aggregation and the messy world of over-the-air TV.

Wurl’s GM of EMEA, Keith Bedford, joins us this week, explaining why FASTs have a big opportunity in streaming sports and some of the early success stories.

Netflix has the largest price gap between ad-free and ad-supported tiers as it also seeks more sports. Ampere forecasts global streaming revenue will exceed $200 billion in 2030.

New Deloitte data highlights the popularity of ad tiers, CTV commerce gets a boost from Walmart and Vizio, the Disney-OpenAI deal is over, and Netflix streams MLB’s opening game.

New Hub data show that ad-supported viewing is gaining acceptance, especially among younger viewers, with sports leading the charge. And creators match premium shows on TV. HP launches a FAST for PCs. 

YouTube is now the world’s biggest media company, eclipsing Disney, according to MoffettNathanson. And how to solve the problem of navigating streaming sports.

Paramount Skydance plans to eventually combine its streaming platforms with WBD’s. Is this the right strategy?  Combining CNN and CBS News, and reliance on linear TV, are also challenges.

New Antenna data highlights how SVOD is maturing and how bundling is critical. Nielsen’s data reveal potential TV audience shifts due to the just-announced WBD-Paramount Skydance deal.

Apple expands live US F1 race reach with IMAX. New UK data shows YouTube’s role in TV content discovery as Stephen Colbert taps YouTube, avoiding FCC oversight. And NextGen TV struggles.

Will YouTube TV’s skinnier programming bundles attract new subscribers? AMC Networks reaches a streaming revenue milestone. And was the Super Bowl a hit for Peacock?

The NFL is now part owner of ESPN. Fubo and Hulu+Live have combined. YouTube’s 2025 revenue hit $60 billion, with two-thirds coming from ads. And Peacock’s losses jumped up. [UPDATE: Fubo asked me to correct the net loss numbers I quoted and clarified that ad revenue from Hulu+Live is transferred to Fubo. Here are their numbers: - Reported Net Loss of $19.1 million, compared to $38.6 million - Pro...

Netflix’s solid 2025 is marred by engagement and WBD questions. The BBC is making YouTube shows, Sony hands its TV business to TCL, and Amazon sets another NFL record.

In the UK, one viewing metric has YouTube edging out the BBC. Meanwhile, global ad tier usage continues to grow, driven by Netflix, and Peacock is losing key Versant programming.

Welcome to 2026. Versant, the Comcast spinoff, has seen its value plummet. TV OEMs are pursuing AI. NFL games set a streaming record in 2025, and Hulu is being sunsetted.

YouTube will stream the Oscars starting in 2029, Google has stumbled with its Movies Anywhere approach, Netflix is partnering for video podcasts, and the WBD saga continues.