

Downstream
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Jason Snell and a rotating group of experts break down the present and future of television. Hosted by Jason Snell.
Episodes
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Oct 3, 2024 • 1h 6min
79: Decade of Confusion
Brian Williams will bring live news to Prime Video, but what's the future of streaming news? Also: More cable bundles include streaming services; Amazon programs a night of game shows; Netflix's coming compensation crunch; and a Diamond/MLB update.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Trakt.tv: Track shows and movies you watch. Discover what's hot and where to stream it. Get 50% off your first year.
Guest Starring: Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback "Max Headroom" War (TV Episode 1987) - IMDb Does Brian Williams’ Return Offer a Future for Cable News? - Puck Brian Williams is set to anchor election night coverage on Prime Video. Is Amazon getting into live news? | CNN Business ‘Free HBO’ Isn’t the Full Picture of WBD’s Charter Bundle NBCU-Charter Renewal Deal: Peacock Bundled With Spectrum Select TV Are You Smarter Than an Amazon Streaming Executive? What We Watched the First Half of 2024 - About Netflix The Limits of Netflix’s Semiannual Viewing Ratings Broadcaster Diamond Sports Group drops two MLB teams, implies nine others are in danger - The Athletic

Sep 17, 2024 • 35min
78: The Calgorithm
Will Carroll re-joins for a mega Sports Corner episode. We discuss the power of the NFL and the future of highlights. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: sports rights, Diamond bankruptcy, Venu doom, and tangents.]
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Trakt.tv: Track shows and movies you watch. Discover what's hot and where to stream it. Get 50% off your first year.
Guest Starring: Will Carroll
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback | NTangible™ - Measure The Unmeasurable | Instagram (3) Under The Knife | Will Carroll | Substack NBC draws strong viewership for NFL Kickoff The NFL’s $20B Gamble on “Sunday Ticket” - Puck .@jessica_smetana gives @mikegolicjr and @golic the lowdown on the "Cal-gorithm".

Sep 6, 2024 • 1h 8min
77: TV Show Movies
Larry Ellison's ownership of Paramount and what it might mean for CBS News; why Netflix and Apple just don't get movies; Hallmark's new streaming service; the rise of Tubi and FAST; and streaming's lack of curation.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Trakt.tv: Track shows and movies you watch. Discover what's hot and where to stream it. Get 50% off your first year.
Guest Starring: Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Larry Ellison Will Control Paramount After Skydance Deal Closes Hallmark+ Is Launching the Company Into the Streaming Wars Chiefs' Hallmark Christmas Movie Gets Debut Date, First Look Photos Tubi’s Free Streaming Explodes in Popularity, Outranking Max and Apple TV+ - The New York Times Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses - The New York Times Edgar Bronfman Jr. Drops Pursuit of Paramount - The New York Times

Aug 23, 2024 • 23min
76: Defund the Bundle
A judge puts a stop to the launch of Venu, bringing the entire economics of the cable bundle into question. [Downstream+ subscribers also get: Paramount's sale complication, Disney+ success metrics, Olympics wrap-up, and theatrical's revival.]
Guest Starring: Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Venu Sports launch temporarily blocked following Fubo’s legal challenge - The Athletic Legal Headaches for the Venu Sports Streamer - Puck Venu Trial: Is the New Sports Streaming Service in Trouble? - Puck Live & On-Demand TV | Frndly TV

Aug 9, 2024 • 1h 8min
75: Playing the Long Game
Meg James of the Los Angeles Times joins Jason to discuss Paramount and WBD results, the WBD/NBA conundrum, Peacock and the Olympics, Venu's price, the NFL dodging the antitrust bullet, a Disney price hike, and the high cost of prestige TV.
This episode of Downstream is sponsored by:
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
Guest Starring: Meg James
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Paramount Global takes $6-billion write-down, announces layoffs - Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. Discovery Hits $107M Streaming Unit Loss, 103.3M Subs Warner Bros. Discovery's David Zaslav's struggles extend to a lost NBA contract - Los Angeles Times Warner Bros. Discovery sues NBA for not accepting its matching offer | AP News Warner Bros. Discovery-NBA lawsuit proceedings to drag into October How David Zaslav Killed the NBA on TNT - Puck Forget retirement or new network. Charles Barkley is staying with TNT - Los Angeles Times Roger Goodell’s $5 Billion Triumph & Michael Rubin Blowback - Puck Crunchyroll Officially Surpasses 15 Million Subscribers - Crunchyroll News

Jul 18, 2024 • 47min
74: The Infinite Stadium
Sportswriter Will Carroll joins Jason for an all-Sports Corner edition. We discuss the NBA TV deal, the NFL lawsuit, and the future of sports broadcasting. [Downstream+ members also get: the post-RSN world, Netflix and live sports, and more.]
Guest Starring: Will Carroll
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback

Jul 11, 2024 • 44min
73: Must-Stream TV
Vulture's Josef Adalian returns to discuss the ramifications of the sale of Paramount, and where the company might go next. We also once again consider that classic streaming question--to binge or not to binge?
Guest Starring: Josef Adalian
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Vox Media: Podcast Network | Land of the Giants RedBird’s Gerry Cardinale on the Next Steps for Paramount - Puck David Ellison Reveals Plans for Paramount - Puck Why Streaming Services Keep Screwing Up Binge-Watching | WIRED When 'The Bear' Release Strategy Is Working, Why Would Hulu Go Weekly?

Jun 27, 2024 • 41min
72: Harpoon Gun Salvaged from the Wreckage
TV critic Tim Goodman guests to discuss the WBD and Paramount messes and give an update about what he's been up to over at his Substack. [Downstream+ subscribers get to hear us talk about a very weird New York Times article about media moguls on a yacht.]
Guest Starring: Tim Goodman
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback CNN Reportedly Exploring Digital Subscriptions as News Gets the Streaming Treatment | PYMNTS.com 'Harry Potter' HBO Series Hires Writer, Director Dish Bundles Netflix for Free With New Two-Year Offer Paramount Chiefs: We're Cutting $500 Million in Costs After Profit Drop Shari Redstone's Paramount Sale Options: Who's In the Mix Now? Kanopy - Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries hoopla | streaming audiobooks, music, video & ebooks Hoopla, Kanopy and the Most Obvious Thing You're Not Doing Ever.

Jun 15, 2024 • 1h 4min
71: Mountain of Mishegas
Journalist Josef Adalian discusses the fate of Paramount post-deal fallout, Warner Bros. Discovery's sports rights plan B, and his Vulture streamer rankings. Topics include the future of Paramount, challenging industry speculation, navigating complex deals, and insights on streaming service rankings.

May 30, 2024 • 46min
70: They Stole Your Brain
Other strategies for WBD if it loses the NBA, we answer a bumper crop of listener letters, and Julia has some big career news. [Downstream+ subscribers also get to hear us discuss Netflix potential sports futures and the changing face of broadcast TV.]
Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback If the NBA on NBC Returns, Could Charles Barkley Defect? - Puck David Zaslav on TNT Without the NBA, and the Disney-Max Bundle Maybe TNT Doesn’t Need the NBA After All - Puck "Like the X Games"