The Varsity The Vox-Netflix Podquake & ESPN Détente
Nov 19, 2025
Sara Fischer, an Axios media correspondent, dives into the shifts in sports and media landscapes. She breaks down the standoff between YouTube TV and Disney, highlighting their negotiation tactics. Fischer also discusses Warner Bros. Discovery's potential sale, offering insights into bidder interests and its impact on sports media. Plus, she explores the rise of independent creators and Vox's strategic decisions in the podcasting realm, emphasizing why platforms are keen on acquiring audio assets as they navigate today's competitive market.
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Apple’s MLS Pivot Expands Reach
- Apple paying MLS $2.5B then removing the paywall shows streaming partners can still fail to grow audience reach.
- Making MLS free inside Apple TV was a smart fix to widen casual-fan access and preserve future deal leverage.
YouTube TV Recreates The Cable Experience
- YouTube TV's ingestion deals with Fox, NBCU, and Disney recreate a cable-like, single-environment experience for subscribers.
- Programmers may concede exclusivity if distributors pay enough and ease of consumer access wins.
Digital Providers Can Reframe Carriage Rules
- Internet pay-TV providers like YouTube TV operate outside traditional broadcast negotiation rules and can rewrite carriage dynamics.
- Regulators have largely left these market shifts alone, making industry outcomes market-driven for now.