Decoder with Nilay Patel

Is streaming just becoming cable again? Julia Alexander thinks so

Apr 5, 2022

Julia Alexander, a Senior Strategy Analyst at Parrot Analytics and co-host of the Downstream podcast, dives into the evolving streaming landscape. She critiques how platforms are beginning to resemble traditional cable, with Netflix's shift toward games and potential ad offerings becoming a new norm. The conversation also touches on Disney's leadership conflicts and WarnerMedia's tumultuous changes, emphasizing how these developments shape content creation and viewer engagement in today's entertainment world.

01:23:01

Episode guests

Julia Alexander

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Discovery, HBO Max, and CNN+ - Are They Converging into Cable?

03:24

Do you go directly to disney plus?

00:55

Streaming Isn't Enough

01:08

Intro

5min

Navigating Streaming Strategy

8min

Navigating Leadership Conflicts and Cultural Controversies at Disney

5min

Navigating Change: Disney's Leadership Challenges

22min

Navigating Streaming Services: WarnerMedia and HBO Max Insights

2min

Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Warner Media's Evolution

4min

CNN Plus and the Streaming Landscape

23min

Navigating the Streaming Landscape

12min

Engagement and Promotions: Wrapping Up the Conversation

2min

Julia Alexander was the perfect guest to come on our show and talk about the state of the streaming industry – we’re a couple years into the huge shift to streaming entertainment in Hollywood, and it’s clear the streamers are here to stay. Apple just won the Oscar for Best Picture for a film it bought out of Sundance called Coda. Amazon now owns MGM. Netflix is investing in games and hinting at advertising for the first time. One idea that comes up on Decoder again and again is that how we distribute media has a huge influence on the media itself – and we talked about what kinds of movies and shows are getting made now that the streamers are here to stay.

Links:

Downstream Podcast

‘Extremely awkward’: Bob Chapek and Bob Iger had a falling out, they rarely talk — and the rift looms over Disney’s future

Pixar staff speaks out against Disney moving its films to streaming only: ‘It’s hard to grasp’

HBO Max and Discovery Plus will merge into one app

Apple and Major League Baseball to offer “Friday Night Baseball”

Yankees will have 21 games only available on Amazon Prime

Prime Video unveils logo for 'Thursday Night Football'

CNN Plus launches with Reddit-like interactive Q&As

Transcript:

https://www.theverge.com/e/22774600

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Today’s episode was produced by Creighton DeSimone and Jackie McDermott and it was edited by Callie Wright.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Sr Audio Director is Andrew Marino and our Executive Producer is Eleanor Donovan.

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