Downstream

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

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

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…

Netflix and Amazon prepare to celebrate NFL Christmas, the PVOD vs. Theatrical debate rages on, Gunsmoke is having a moment, Max rebrands again, Jason watched some Netflix ads, and did we mention that Julia is back? Guest Starring: Julia Alexander Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback NFL to air 3 games on Christmas Day 2025, Netflix partnership continues: Source - The Athletic Sources: NFL ‘Virtual Lock’ to Opt Out of Media-Rights Deals New York Yankees Boss Thanks Donald Trump For Helping YES Resolve Carriage Fight With Comcast 'Wicked’ Made $100 Million On PVOD - CinemaCon Michael O’Leary, CEO Of Cinema United, Slams Shorter Theatrical Windows Matt Belloni's funny post ‘Reacher,’ ‘Gunsmoke’: Streaming Ratings March 3-9, 2025 Max’s rebranded logo and colors look very HBO | The Verge My unsuccessful journey into Netflix’s ad tier – Six Colors

MLB is trying to open up local streaming, but it doesn't solve the problem of reaching casual fans. Also: a weird café in Korea and our TV picks. (Downstream+ listeners also get: British TV vs. streamers, deep programming thoughts, and Looney Tunes.) This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Guest Starring: Josef Adalian Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Joe: The Pitt (Max), Severance (TV+), White Lotus (Max) Jason: The Outlaws (Prime Video) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback MLB, NBC Sports Regional Networks to stream Athletics, Giants, Phillies games Press release: New ROOT SPORTS stream app offers all Mariners games airing on ROOT SPORTS

The MLB/ESPN separation and the future of ESPN, the Nationals escape from MASN, Fox's sports streaming service quandary, interesting tidbits from the Sloan Sports Conference, and our TV picks! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, full-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code FACTORPODCAST for 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: "Fear" on Prime Video Jason: "Shoresy" on Hulu Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Inside the MLB-ESPN Split - Puck Stephen A. Smith, ESPN agree to $100M contract that lets him talk more about politics: Sources - The Athletic Disney+ to Debut SC+: ESPN SportsCenter Spinoff for More Casual Fans MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference - Sports Analytics, Business, & Technology. sonar NTANGIBLE

Josef Adalian, Vulture's media reporter, dives into the shifting landscape of television, particularly how events like the Super Bowl influence viewership metrics. He discusses Tubi's unique marketing strategies during the Super Bowl, detailing how they engage younger audiences. The conversation also touches on pressing issues in football safety while exploring popular British TV shows and standout streaming picks. With picks like 'Paradise' on Hulu and ‘Flow’ on Max, listeners get a taste of the best in contemporary television.

Will Carroll returns on Super Bowl week, and we discuss Super Bowl 4K, Tubi, and the enduring power of communal live events. Also: ESPN Flagship and Fox's streaming play, a new RSN is heard from, Apple and MLS make tweaks, your letters, and TV picks! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: Ludwig (coming to Britbox, Elsbeth (Paramount+) Jason: Detectorists (Acorn, Pluto TV, Roku, Hoopla) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Fox does streaming (Apple News/WSJ) 2025 Super Bowl Will Stream for Free on Tubi, Fox Streaming Service Fox’s 1080p to 4K Upscaling Workflow for Super Bowl 2025: An Engaging Debate - Streaming Learning Center Comcast Sales, Profit Beat as ‘Wicked’ Lifts Film Studio - Bloomberg Altitude Sports, Comcast end long-running dispute to televise Nuggets and Avalanche games | AP News Apple adds Xfinity, DirecTV as MLS Season Pass distributors – Six Colors Rangers Sports Network Boss Explains Why Team Managing Own TV Business Texas Rangers: ‘We’re in better hands managing our own risk’ Comcast Sales, Profit Beat as ‘Wicked’ Lifts Film Studio - Bloomberg (3) Under The Knife | Will Carroll | Substack

Joe Adalian joins Jason to discuss Netflix's big moves, price hikes, and what drove Jason to cancel it. Also we answer your letters and make some TV picks! (Downstream+ members also get: the return of CNN+, death of Venu, and Tubi spikes the football.) 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: New Hollywood Squares (CBS/P+); The Pitt (Max) Jason: Severance (Apple TV+), SNL50 (Peacock), St. Denis Medical (Peacock) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Netflix Q4 2024 Earnings: Subscriber Tally Passes 301M, Smashing Estimates Netflix Q4 2024 Earnings: NFL and Jake Paul Help Drive Subscribers Netflix Raises Prices in First Major Hike Since 2023

Will Carroll joins for a mega Sports Corner: Fubo meets Hulu to enable Venu, Netflix goes full force into live sports, how football dominates American TV, NFL announcers, and our TV picks! This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Will Carroll Links and Show Notes: TV Picks: Will: Traitors (US and UK, Peacock), Landman (JERRY JONES!, Paramount+) Jason: Ludwig (UK, coming to Britbox), All Creatures Great and Small (UK, PBS) Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Jeopardy: Behind the Scenes With Ken Jennings Disney Deal Will Combine Hulu + Live TV With Fubo, Ending Venu Lawsuit NFL Owns 72 of Top 100 Broadcasts as Pols Undermine Sports' TV Might Arctos co-founder on the future of private equity in sports Takeaways from Netflix’s NFL Christmas ratings door-buster: The streaming giant could be here to stay - The Athletic Netflix Spent $5B on WWE Monday Night Raw, Convinced Me to Watch Netflix secures U.S. broadcast rights for 2027, 2031 Women’s World Cups - The Athletic Netflix Scores FIFA Women's World Cup Exclusive Rights for 2027, 2031 Netflix’s FIFA Women’s World Cup deal feels like a page out of the pay-to-play book: Rueter - The Athletic ‘Why walk away?’ Al Michaels wants a 39th season calling NFL prime-time games - The Athletic John Gruber: "2024 NFL broadcast teams and telecast quality, ranked" Under The Knife | Will Carroll | Substack