Downstream

Relay
undefined
Sep 6, 2025 • 47min

102: Just Like Television

Now that David Ellison owns Paramount, what's next? Also, your letters and our TV picks! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wheel and Jeopardy and Sesame Street stream, Apple TV+ price hike, and binging "The Paper."] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Relay for St. Jude Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks Joe: Irish Blood (Acorn TV), Leanne (Netflix) Jason: Platonic (Apple TV+) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
undefined
Aug 22, 2025 • 51min

101: Do They Not Know It's ESPN Day?

ESPN has left the exclusivity of the cable bundle at long last, and we break down what it all means. Also: TV Picks and your letters! (Downstream+ listeners also get: MLB's complex new TV deals, and can Jason cut the cord for real?) This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code downstream50off Guest Starring: Steven Schapansky and Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: Video Nasty (BBC) Steven: Old World Series (YouTube), Slow Horses (Apple TV+) Jason: Stick (Apple TV) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
undefined
Aug 6, 2025 • 56min

100: The Streaming Service Draft

To celebrate our 100th episode, we draft streaming services! Guest Starring: Will Carroll, Steven Schapansky, and Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: Draft picks: Joe: Apple TV+ Steven: MLB.tv Will: YouTube Premium Jason: HBO Max Joe: Prime Video Steven: BritBox Will: Disney+ Jason: Hulu Joe: Acorn TV Steven: Kanopy/Hoopla Will: Netflix Jason: Paramount+ Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
undefined
Jul 23, 2025 • 59min

99: Stephen, If You're Listening...

The real motivators behind CBS's cancellation of The Late Show; why the current era of late-night talk is ending; CBS makes a South Park deal; the future of PBS; why 'Pulse' was not 'The Pitt'; a Peacock price hike; and Jessica Fletcher vanishes. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Jiiiii: All your anime stream schedules in one place. Free to download, unlock your anime-watching-superpowers today! Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Joe: "Stick" (Apple TV+) Jason: James Acaster "Repertoire" (Netflix) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Stephen Colbert Fired? Why CBS Is Cancelling ‘Late Show’ ‘South Park’ Saved as Paramount Inks 5-Year Deal with Creators Trump Can Hurt PBS and NPR, But He Can’t Kill Them What is PBS Passport? : PBS Help What Netflix’s ‘Pulse’ Should Have Learned From ‘The Pitt’ Peacock Is Hiking Prices More Than It Ever Has Before ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Mysteriously Disappears From Peacock
undefined
Jun 27, 2025 • 1h 9min

98: You Couldn't Pay Me To Go Camping

Why American sports is so dominated by gambling content, DAZN and the Club World Cup, TNT gets spun off but may still bid for sports rights, Netflix gets into French broadcast TV, the NFL faces an existential crisis in court, and our TV picks. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks Will: Alone (History) Jason: Dark Winds (AMC+, Netflix) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback What Will TNT Sports Do After the WBD Divorce? - Puck Netflix TF1 France Deal Marks Next Step to Be New Cable TV Radio Shows - Monocle Joey Chestnut Breaks Popcorn Eating Record on Video, Eats 42 Servings in 8 Minutes Sphere Revenue Falls, MSG Networks Bankruptcy on Table
undefined
Jun 16, 2025 • 44min

97: Brand Destruction

Zaz splits WBD, the neverending Paramount sale, listener letters, and TV picks! [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Apple TV stasis, Clooney on CNN, and the Great Netflix User Migration.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Joe: Murderbot and Stick (Apple TV+) Jason: Dept. Q (Netflix) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback
undefined
May 30, 2025 • 56min

96: Hollywood Rabbit Hole

The dominance of YouTube, Disney grabs more kids content, TV's mumbling problem, Amazon's identity, the fate of SpinCos, and our TV picks. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: TRMNL: Clarity, at a glance. Get $15 off for 1 week only. Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks Joe: Netflix comedies: The Four Seasons, Running Point, Nobody Asked for This, A Man on the Inside Jason: “Welcome to Wrexham” (Hulu) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback CoComelon is headed to Disney Plus in 2027 | The Verge Netflix Welcomes 'Sesame Street' and 'The World of Peppa Pig' - About Netflix How YouTube Became the Most Popular Streaming Service on TVs - The New York Times YouTube Creators Compete With Hollywood Studio Sitcoms - Bloomberg
undefined
May 16, 2025 • 39min

95: Inside Baseball About Football

The rise of sports as a driver in streaming, NBC's big 2026, and Netflix's live reality moves. Plus: our TV picks. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: ESPN and WB's solid branding decisions and Fox's smart strategy.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: Top Chef (Peacock) Jason: Long Way Home (Apple TV+) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback NBCUniversal 2025 Upfront Preview From Ads Chief Mark Marshall Are You Watching This?! Netflix Revives ‘Star Search’ as Live Competition Show Netflix will show generative AI ads midway through streams in 2026 - Ars Technica (11) Under The Knife | Will Carroll | Substack NTANGIBLE
undefined
Apr 30, 2025 • 54min

94: Soft Power

Shōgun gets another season, Match Game re-revived, binge behavior calculated, bonus content promoted, Netflix results parsed, Apple TV+ losses pondered, and our TV picks explained. Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Joe: The Studio (Apple TV+), Running Point (Netflix) Jason: Andor (D+) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback ABC Reboots Match Game With Martin Short as Host 'Shogun' Season 2 Ordered at FX, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis Are You Happy With How You Watch TV? A Vulture Survey The ‘Wicked’ Bonus Features on Peacock Are Now a Ratings Hit Netflix Won the Streaming Wars. Now It’s Coming for YouTube - Puck How Long Can the Apple TV+ Experiment Sputter On? - Puck What to watch if you’re churning through Apple TV+ – Six Colors
undefined
Apr 15, 2025 • 40min

93: Profitable on Day One

Will Carroll joins Jason to discuss MLB's big television plans, the ratings challenge for the NBA Playoffs, and our TV picks. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Vision Pro at Yankee Stadium, made-for-TV leagues, threats to MLS, and Zombie Vin Scully.] This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Major League Baseball exploring MLB.TV licensing deal: Sources - The Athletic An R.S.N. Vulture Awaits…

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app