Inside The Stream

Comcast’s decision to spin out all of its cable networks except Bravo into an independent company is a signal of more cable network consolidation to come.

Disney's CEO accidentally highlights the booming rise of ad-supported streaming, revealing significant subscriber gains for platforms like Netflix. Meanwhile, a deep dive into Prime Video shows its impressive content share but low engagement. The conversation also touches on evolving viewer habits, contrasting strengths of various streaming services, and the increasing preference for ad-supported models. As the industry adjusts to economic shifts, strategies for growth, profitability, and leveraging popular franchises emerge as hot topics.

The podcast dives into the explosive rise of live sports viewership on streaming platforms, outpacing traditional pay-TV for the first time. It highlights eMarketer's prediction of 20 million more streaming sports viewers this year, growing even more by 2027. Tubi's revenue growth through political advertising is analyzed, alongside Peacock's transformation into a major sports broadcaster. There's also a focus on the need for flexibility in catering to diverse viewing habits as the sports media landscape evolves.

This week, two big indicators of significant change in the TV/video industries: Comcast may spin off its cable TV networks, and YouTube hit a $50 billion revenue run rate.

Disney+ and Hulu dropped Apple’s App Store, IAB Tech Lab is driving new CTV ad standards, Fubo is offering premium sports services, and streamers are partnering with grocers.

Bloomberg Screentime interviews highlighted Amazon's dominance in streaming distribution, while Comcast seemed indifferent to cable TV despite NBCU's reliance on it.

Google’s Rob Caruso joins us to discuss key new features in Google TV and the new Streamer device. Can smart home and photo integration boost the TV OS’s market share?

Jonathan Carson, CEO and co-founder of Antenna, shares insights into the booming specialty SVOD landscape, revealing its impressive growth and how it's heavily reliant on Amazon Channels. He discusses the challenges faced by niche services, including subscriber retention and churn rates compared to premium platforms. The conversation also covers the recent DirecTV and Dish merger and its implications for the pay-TV market, alongside addressing the launch of a new FAST sports streaming service aimed at diverse sporting content.

Google and Roku have launched new streaming devices, igniting competition in the market. Disney's new paid sharing policy limits access outside households, raising eyebrows on subscriber retention. Netflix is venturing into the sports arena, exploring live rights as industry dynamics shift. Meanwhile, FAST viewing metrics are being scrutinized, with efforts to improve transparency in data sharing among services. Insights on subscription strategies and consumer preferences add to the lively discussion.

YouTube is revamping its CTV app to emulate best practices in SVOD apps and launching a series of AI features for creators that will drive better viewer experiences.