The Town with Matthew Belloni Who Won (and Lost) the Year in Streaming?
21 snips
Dec 31, 2025 
Julia Alexander, a Puck media correspondent and streaming video analyst, joins the discussion to recap major trends in the streaming landscape for the year. They explore YouTube's ascent and Netflix's current standing amidst fierce competition. Julia reveals Tubi’s surprising win for Streamer of the Year against disappointing performances from others. The duo dives into breakout hits like Love Island and Heated Rivalry, plus the growing influence of free ad-supported services and the impact of sports rights in this shifting industry.
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YouTube Is The New TV Powerhouse
- YouTube has become the dominant TV-era player by MAUs and time spent, outpacing subscription streamers.
- Its moves into live sports and awards broadcasting underline a shift from web video to mainstream TV competition.
Kids Shows Anchor Disney+'s Value
- Disney+ relied heavily on kids' programming as its standout success, led by Bluey.
- Despite Bluey's dominance, Disney+ overall viewership and U.S. subscriber growth stagnated in 2025.
Peacock's Content Is Too Replaceable
- Peacock struggles because many of its assets are accessible via virtual MVPD bundles like YouTube TV.
- Exclusive reality hits like Love Island can still drive attention but don't fully reverse structural subscriber challenges.