Downstream

This episode of Downstream explores the battle between Disney and Charter Cable, the changing landscape of regional sports networks, and the challenges faced by leagues in transitioning to new strategies. It also discusses the potential consequences for cable providers and explores alternative streaming services for watching games despite carriage disputes.

The CNN streaming era re-begins--and we're still trying to figure out how TV news adapts to the streaming era. Also: Netflix makes a franchise bet on Zach Snyder, but is it shooting itself in the foot? And are streaming sports rights worth the high cost? This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Callsheet: Find information about your favorite movies and shows, without constant login prompts, ads, auto-playing videos, and other junk. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback CNN Taps Anchors for Original Streaming Shows on Max - Variety The Streamers’ Strike Vulnerability Index - Puck Apple’s Messi Complex - Puck

Disney alters the deal--pray they don't alter it further. But is Disney suffering from franchise fatigue, and is aggressively bunding Hulu with Disney+ the solution? Also: Jason's sad about Apple's failed college football deal. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Callsheet: Find information about your favorite movies and shows, without constant login prompts, ads, auto-playing videos, and other junk. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Disney Plus Price Increase, Hulu, ESPN Plus Hikes Coming This Fall - Variety Apple’s college football TV deal, and a century-old athletic conference, fall apart – Six Colors

Did Netflix lure the rest of the streaming industry into quicksand? We explore the difference between being an entertainment retailer and wholesaler. Then it's time to talk about the man, the legend, the human topic: Disney's Bob Iger. This episode of Downstream is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback How Hollywood Drove Its Business Model Off a Cliff - Plain English with Derek Thompson | Podcast on Spotify Has Netflix Officially Won the Streaming War? - The Ringer The Iger Streaming Beta Blocker - Puck

In a tale as old as time, we try and fail to understand the Emmy Awards. Also: Breaking down Netflix's new ratings math. Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Netflix’s New Math & HBO’s Pivot - Puck

CNN rises to the top of the conversation again, Netflix gets the ball back, Paramount sells some crown jewels, Sports Corner travels to Utah, and we answer four listener letters! Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Raiders of the Lost Art - Puck CNN Makes Plans to Go Live on Max Streaming Service - Bloomberg Warner Bros. Discovery In Talks To License HBO Originals To Netflix  – Deadline Netflix’s New Math & HBO’s Pivot - Puck Utah Jazz will have ‘entirely new model’ for TV deal — a sign of what’s to come for NBA teams - The Athletic

The head of CNN is out, but the larger issue is: what's the future of TV news in the age of streaming? Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Zaz’s CNN Streaming Conundrum - Puck In The Room

Subtitle: Introducing Downstream+The Max launch and prioritizing tech stacks; Netflix's ad viewers and the future of ad-free streaming; and in Sports Corner the regional sports network collapse has begun. Also, we announce our own plus--Downstream+! Links and Show Notes: Get Downstream+ and don't miss a segment! Submit Feedback Max Credits Display Changes Irk Creatives Amid Labor Standoff – The Hollywood Reporter We Need to Talk About Netflix’s Ad Numbers - Puck Cord-Cutting Q1 2023: Pay-TV Ops Lose 2.3M Subs, Worst Quarter to Date - Variety Phoenix Suns Strike New TV Deal With Local Stations, Streaming Firm – The Hollywood Reporter MLB to produce and broadcast Padres games Jason's Tweet about the Padres John Ourand's tweet

Julia's back at last, so we blast through discussing HBO Max becoming Max, Hulu going inside the Disney+ app, the WGA's "streaming strike", the NFL's Peacock playoff game, and ESPN plotting its inevitable over-the-top service. Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback HBO Max Renamed Max With Discovery+ Merger; Price and Launch Date - Variety Disney CFO Reveals More Details On Hulu Being Added Into Disney+ – What's On Disney Plus The Iger-Hulu Flip-Flop - Puck The Town Podcast Hollywood is calling it 'the Netflix strike.' Here's why - Los Angeles Times NFL fans will need to subscribe to Peacock if they don't want to miss a playoff game Jim Trotter on Twitter ESPN Plans to Stream Flagship Channel, Eyeing Cable TV’s Demise - WSJ ESPN WSJ story (Apple News+ link)

Jason's former co-host from another TV podcast, Tim Goodman, drops by to discuss his decision to be a TV writer at the very end of the Peak TV era, the challenges of TV criticism, and his return to writing about TV on his own terms via Substack. Guest Starring: Tim Goodman Links and Show Notes: Support Downstream with a Relay FM Membership Submit Feedback