Inside The Stream

Netflix boasts 40 million ad-tier subscribers, positioning it as a frontrunner in streaming bundles. The partnership with Roku and Major League Baseball marks a pivotal shift in sports streaming. The acquisition of NFL streaming rights for Christmas 2025 highlights their shift toward live sports. Additionally, Netflix is set to revolutionize the ad-supported landscape with new tech and potential bundling opportunities. The exploration of immersive experiences via Roblox could further strengthen their competitive edge.

How did Amazon Prime Video vault to the top of the chart in ad-tier subscribers? Is Disney’s DTC progress sustainable? Get the answers and much more in this week’s podcast!

This week’s NewFronts highlighted three key and interlocking themes: TV OEMs’ emphasis on FASTs, AI’s role in driving video ads’ value, and CTV evolving to the full funnel.

Wurl released its new AI-powered BrandDiscovery product. CEO Ron Gutman says it makes CTV ads context-sensitive, and AI will make ads more targeted and valuable.

AI loomed large at NAB 2024, with solutions exposing new video revenue opportunities. The blockchain delivers big encoding savings and how to cut TV power use by half.

AI is revolutionizing the value chain of video creation, delivery, and discovery. The Cineverse-Gracenote partnership and other initiatives show how.

TiVo’s Q4 2023 Video Trends Report showed that paid services used flattened while free services grew. Churn, discovery, and operator STB streaming were some of our other highlights.

Hulu has been integrated into Disney+, but key UX features aren’t yet included. ESPN is moving toward being a hub with RSN feeds, and the NFL is skeptical of the sports JV.

Discover how streaming is overtaking traditional media, with viewer engagement thriving on platforms like Paramount Plus and Peacock. Innovations like Chess.com for chess fans and NBCUniversal's multi-view feature for the Olympics enhance niche streaming experiences. Explore shifting consumer habits, revealing a rise in smart TV usage while traditional cable falters. Despite streaming's rise, moviegoers still cling to theaters, facing rising costs and fatigue with franchise films. The landscape of media consumption is rapidly evolving!

This week, we explore why FASTs in Europe lag vs. the US, why there are now 18 TV OSs and counting, and how “super apps” help broadcasters fight global SVOD.