Julia Alexander, a streaming wars expert, joins Matt Belloni to discuss the most strategic streaming moves in 2023. They talk about Netflix's dominance, Disney's strategy, upfront payments in streaming, and changes at the Oscars.

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 futurePixar 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 appApple and Major League Baseball to offer “Friday Night Baseball”Yankees will have 21 games only available on Amazon PrimePrime Video unveils logo for 'Thursday Night Football'CNN Plus launches with Reddit-like interactive Q&AsTranscript:https://www.theverge.com/e/22774600Credits: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.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The trouble brewing in the media and entertainment industry has become one of the most interesting—and truly perplexing—business stories in the world. How does everything seem so bad at the same time? The domestic box office is still in a recession. Pay TV is a nightmare. Streaming is a money pit. And actors and writers are on strike. How did this happen? And could it get worse before it gets better? Today’s guest is Julia Alexander, director of strategy for Parrot Analytics and a writer with Puck News. We discuss a brief history of Hollywood, how we got to this point, how Disney’s plight in particular tells a story of how streaming has roiled this town, how the strikes fit into this picture, and what these companies should do now.If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_Host: Derek ThompsonGuest: Julia AlexanderProducer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we need to talk about Bob. Two Bobs, actually: Bob Iger, the former and now current CEO of Disney, and Bob Chapek, the man Iger handpicked as his replacement, who flamed out and was fired by the board, and then, on November 20th, was replaced by Bob Iger. Bobs, man.The heart of this whole thing is total Decoder bait. It’s a story about how to structure a company like Disney. Then you add in the complexity of the shift to streaming, the future of TV and movies generally, and the gigantic reputation of a character like Bob Iger, who many people think could plausibly run for president. There’s just a lot going on here.Whenever I need to talk Disney, media, and Bobs, I call one person: Julia Alexander, director of strategy at Parrot Analytics and a former reporter at The Verge. Julia pays a lot of attention to the streaming giants, she’s sourced inside all the companies battling for our attention, and she has a lot to say about the Bobs.Links:Bob Iger steps back in as Disney CEO, replacing Bob Chapek Reed Hastings on TwitterDisney+ launch lineup: Every movie and TV show available to stream on day one - The VergeBob Iger steps down as Disney CEO, replaced by Bob Chapek - The VergeDisney streaming chief Kevin Mayer resigns to become TikTok CEO - The VergeDisney Plus surpasses 100 million subscribers - The VergeMeta announces huge job cuts affecting 11,000 employees - The VergeNetflix's $6.99 per month ad tier is now liveStranger Things - The VergeDisney’s major reorganization is good news for anyone who loves Disney Plus - The VergeFunctional Structure: Advantages and Disadvantages | Indeed.comPros and Cons of Implementing a Divisional Structure | Indeed.comDisney Proposal to Restructure, on McKinsey’s Advice, Triggered Uproar From Creative Executives - WSJDisney Shows the Limits of Streaming - WSJDisney Erases Almost All Its Pandemic Gains After Earnings Miss‘Strange World’: Beautiful to look at, but not much below the surface - The Washington PostWatch The Future Of | Netflix Official SiteKevin Mayer quits as TikTok CEO due to ongoing political turmoil - The VergeKevin Mayer Says His Firm Is In Deal Mode After Buying Reese Witherspoon's Hello SunshineWarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar announces exit as Discovery deal nears close - The Verge Transcript:https://www.theverge.com/e/23259187Credits:Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.It was produced by Creighton DeSimone and Jackie McDermott and it was edited by Callie Wright.The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Editorial Director is Brooke Minters and our Executive Director is Eleanor Donovan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julia Alexander discusses the flawed comparison between streaming services and cable TV bundles, along with advertisers' perspectives during Upfront Week in NY. They explore the evolution of media distribution, challenges faced by traditional media companies, ad-supported tiers in streaming services, and user expectations on streaming platforms.

Exploring Netflix's sports strategy with insights on live sports rights, data on viewership, oversaturation of sports documentaries, and the importance of live sports for Netflix's success. Plus, a prediction on the opening weekend box office for Mark Wahlberg's new film.

Dylan Byers discusses Semafor's CCP scandal, while Ben Landy and Julia Alexander explore ESPN's aim to dominate live sports streaming. Topics include US-China tensions, media outrage, Semaphore's global ambitions, and ESPN's strategies to streamline sports content for younger viewers.

We're talking about Disney's pivot to streaming and the hurdles ahead for the legacy media company as new rivals emerge. We're joined by Parrot Analytics strategist Julia Alexander and comedian Chase O'Donnell.Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/businesswars.Support us by supporting our sponsor!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Julia Alexander, a journalist at The Verge, discusses the downfall of Quibi, revealing the reasons behind its closure and the challenges in the streaming landscape. Adi Robertson dives into the U.S. government's antitrust charges against Google, highlighting the implications for the tech industry. Josh Dzieza investigates the troubled Foxconn factory in Wisconsin, exposing the gap between ambitious plans and reality. Together, they provide insights into tech failures and regulatory challenges that shape our digital world.

It’s time to check back in on the state of the streaming wars, with two binge-worthy conversations. First, Recode’s Peter Kafka talks to analyst Michael Nathanson about Big Media’s new problem: TV ratings are plummeting because all the good stuff is streaming — but now Wall Street doesn’t just want streaming, it wants *profitable* streaming.Then, we travel into the time stream to talk about the past, present and future of the streaming wars with Dawn Chmielewski, co-author of Binge Times: Inside Hollywood’s Furious Billion-Dollar Battle to Take Down Netflix, and Julia Alexander of Parrot Analytics. We discuss the legacy of Seeso, why the real audience of CNN+ may be the people in front of the camera, and when and if we’re getting the bundle back.Featuring: Michael Nathanson, Senior Research Analyst at MoffetNathansonDawn Chmielewski (@DawnC331), U.S. Entertainment Business Correspondent at ReutersJulia Alexander (@loudmouthjulia) Senior Strategy Analyst at Parrot AnalyticsHost: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at RecodeMore to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices