Inside The Stream

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.

Disney has taken the bold and risky step of licensing the use of 200 characters to OpenAI’s Sora. Meanwhile, who’s going to win the raging battle for Warner Bros. Discovery?

Will MS Now’s plan to transform itself from a cable news network into a streaming and community hub work? Amazon has engagement issues. And microdramas are surging.

Canela Media’s global president, Phillipe Guelton, describes how the company is tapping AI for content creation, user experience, and monetization.

Field & Stream and Outdoor America have joined forces to launch Field & Stream TV, a new FAST offering. Company executives join us to explain their strategy.

Fubo posted its Q3 results and integration plans with Disney, Netflix introduced a new ad metric called Monthly Active Viewers and Gracenote’s data reveals streaming’s value.

In earnings news this week, Tubi has turned profitable, YouTube notched another $10 billion quarter in US ad revenue, and Peacock’s subscriber count is stuck in neutral. 

Netflix reported Q3 results this week, saying 2025 ad revenue will double and engagement is rising, but by how much? And is the NBA a ticket to Peacock’s success or a poison pill?

How effective is a specific title at acquiring, retaining, and engaging viewers? Antenna’s CEO, Jonathan Carson, explains how his firm’s new Subscriber Views delivers the answers.

Netflix looks poised to equalize average revenue per member between ad and ad-free viewers. The Trade Desk scored a win with DirecTV for its Ventura TV OS, as did Fubo with ESPN.

New data from Wurl reveals renewed growth in viewership for FAST channels. But monetization challenges remain, particularly for those outside the top tier.